NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump administration revokes hundreds of visas for foreign students

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Trump administration has revoked visas for more than 300 international students across the United States, a move confirmed by universities and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of a nationwide effort targeting foreign students.

    “Maybe more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said during a press conference in Guyana on March 27.

    Over the weekend, the visa revocations were reported by dozens of universities nationwide, including prestigious ones like Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Stanford.

    Many affected students had participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests. But university officials said that others with no connection to protests had also suffered visa revocations without explanation.

    At Tufts University, Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by masked immigration agents on March 25 while walking near her home. Video of the arrest showed plainclothes officers taking the 30-year-old into custody as she was heading to break her Ramadan fast with friends, according to her attorney.

    The Department of Homeland Security claimed Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” though they provided no evidence for this allegation. Ozturk co-authored an opinion piece in the student newspaper criticizing Tufts’ response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

    The Turkish embassy said it was working with U.S. authorities regarding Ozturk’s detention. “Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizen,” the embassy stated.

    At Columbia University, graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who has legal permanent residency, was detained by immigration authorities last month.

    Khalil said in his Columbia Daily Spectator opinion piece that the school “laid the groundwork for my abduction” and urged the students not to “abdicate their responsibility to resist repression.”

    “Since my abduction on March 8, the intimidation and kidnapping of international students who stand for Palestine has only accelerated,” Khalil wrote in Friday’s piece.

    The actions extend beyond East Coast schools. The University of Colorado and Colorado State University reported a combined total of 10 students with revoked visas this weekend. Meanwhile, Minnesota State University identified five students whose visas were canceled for unclear reasons.

    In California, the situation is equally concerning so far.

    University of California, Los Angeles reported nine affected international students, while UC Berkeley confirmed six visa revocations — four for current students and two for recent graduates.

    UC Davis officials stated seven students and five recent graduates had their visas terminated, and Stanford University confirmed six visa revocations.

    “The federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations,” UC Davis said in a statement as reported by NBC News.

    Universities are scrambling to support affected students.

    “We are focused on supporting the success of all of our students, including international students. Each one of our students is seeking to advance their careers and the lives of their families, and we understand the anxieties that visa revocations cause to impacted students,” reported NBC News, citing University of Colorado.

    The Council of University of California Faculty Associations issued a statement Sunday, urgently calling upon the University of California to address the revocation of visas and deportation of international students.

    “It has been reported that in the past week alone, at least 44 students across the UC system have had their I-20 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record terminated by the Department of Homeland Security, with at least one deportation occurring,” the statement noted.

    Civil rights organizations have condemned the administration’s actions. The American Civil Liberties Union issued an open letter to universities warning: “The federal government cannot mandate student expulsions or threaten funding cuts to suppress constitutionally protected speech.”

    College officials worry this crackdown will deter international students from studying in the United States in the future.

    The situation is “a far different, unprecedented intrusion by the executive branch” involving “revoking student visas for different reasons than we have seen previously and at higher rates than we have ever seen,” said Violeta Chapin, a University of Colorado Boulder law professor and immigration expert. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Work Requirements Critical to Rein in Spending

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced his support for work requirements for able-bodied Americans as a part of means-tested programs in the Senate’s reconciliation legislation, which would help rein in spending. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    “We are on our way to what President Trump likes to call ‘One big beautiful bill.’”
    “The critical matter at hand in this budget resolution is to make sure that we don’t impose a multi-trillion dollar tax increase on the American people.”
    “Back home in Texas, my constituents would see their taxes increase by $3,000 on average next year.”
    “In addition to preventing the biggest tax increase in history, this bill will provide an opportunity for us to take important steps in controlling spending and addressing our national debt.”
    “One of the ways we can do this, which I hope we will embrace wholeheartedly, is to look at means-tested federal programs.”
    “They need to have work requirements for able-bodied adults because there are a lot of able-bodied adults that are simply living off of the American taxpayer, costing billions and billions of dollars…running up our national debt, when they should be contributing to our economy and contributing to their families and their communities by doing meaningful work.”
    “Gainful employment has dignity.”
    “So I would encourage my Republican colleagues to join me in strengthening work requirements across means-tested programs when the time comes to identify these savings within our committees.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Bill to Reassert Congressional Authority Over Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Legislation requires President to explain reasoning and impacts of new tariffs to Congress within 48 hours. All new tariffs would expire after 60 days unless Congress explicitly approves them.

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of 12 of her Senate colleagues in cosponsoring the Trade Review Act of 2025, a bill to reaffirm Congress’ constitutional role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy. The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973, would reestablish limits on the President’s ability to impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.

    “The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the President without congressional oversight undermines Congress’ constitutional role and can have serious consequences for American workers and businesses,” said Senator Collins. “This bill ensures that Congress retains its responsibility in major tariff decisions that affect our economy, our trading relationships, and the prices families pay for everyday goods.”

    The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the President’s power to impose tariffs:

    • To enact a new tariff, the President must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours;
    • The congressional notification must include an explanation of the President’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers;
    • Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff; otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline;
    • Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval; and
    • Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.

    In addition to Senator Collins, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have also co-sponsored the bill.

    The full text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan, Shaheen Speak Out Against Trump Administration’s Reckless Actions that Weaken Services for Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    MANCHESTER – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen spoke out this morning against the Trump Administration’s reckless actions to weaken services for America’s veterans. The Senators were joined by local veterans who get their care at the Manchester VA Medical Center, as well as representatives of employees at both the Manchester and White River Junction VA Medical Centers – the two VA facilities at which most New Hampshire veterans receive their care. 
    “Instead of supporting our veterans, the Trump Administration has issued orders that will hobble the VA’s ability to support those who have served by dismantling the Department’s workforce,” said Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “It is deeply concerning that the Trump Administration would even consider trying to weaken the VA and drastically reduce the number of staff to serve veterans, let alone actually issue this chaotic and destructive order. America’s best deserve nothing less than our full commitment to their care.” 
    “America has a sacred bargain with our veterans: they served our nation, and we agreed to honor and care for them after their service,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was pleased to join folks today who are willing to speak out about the harm that will come if the Trump administration follows through with their plan to fire thousands of Veterans Affairs employees. Crippling the Department isn’t going to make services better, it’s going to make it harder for veterans to access the care they deserve.” 
    The Trump Administration plans to cut 80,000 staff from the VA – nearly one in five employees – who help veterans get care and benefits. The support staff that could be impacted include those who perform indispensable work such as answering phone lines to set appointments for veterans, ordering supplies that doctors and nurses use to provide care, and processing claims.  
    Senator Hassan helped develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which fundamentally reforms and improves the ways in which veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA. To date, more than two million PACT Act-related claims have been filed and over 200,000 veterans have enrolled for VA health care under the PACT Act. In order to meet this intended increase in demand, the VA hired thousands of additional VA staff – staff that the Trump Administration now plans to fire. These planned cuts would undermine PACT Act-veterans’ ability to receive the timely care and benefits that they have earned and deserve. 
    Senator Shaheen has spearheaded efforts in the Senate to support veterans and military families. In the committee-passed (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Shaheen secured Granite State priorities, including expanding access to child care for military families, expanded efforts to research the health impacts of harmful forever chemicals and a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted (E1-E4) and a 4.5% pay raise for all other service members and civilians to ensure military families receive the pay and benefits they deserve. Each year, Shaheen leads a bipartisan Senate resolution to recognize an annual National Warrior Call Day, which encourages Americans to reach out and build meaningful relationships with both those currently serving and veterans. In 2023 and 2024, Shaheen pressed the VA and Federal Trade Commission to crack down on “claim sharks” who are unaccredited entities charging veterans exorbitant fees for filing disability claims. Shaheen has also worked to get the VA to address problems in the compensation and examination (C&P) process that are not serving our veterans. In 2022, Shaheen worked to include provisions and helped pass the historic PACT Act, which expanded health care for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Apr 8, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Apr 8, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Tue Apr 8 00:53:26 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 080053

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0753 PM CDT Mon Apr 07 2025

    Valid 080100Z – 081200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF
    EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA…

    …SUMMARY…
    A couple of strong to severe storms capable of wind damage and
    perhaps a brief tornado are possible in parts of eastern North
    Carolina into mid-evening before activity moves offshore.

    …Synopsis…
    A large upper-level trough continues eastward this evening and is
    supporting convection along a cold front near the southeastern
    Atlantic coastline. This front is nearly offshore in southeastern
    Georgia and much of coastal South Carolina. In eastern North
    Carolina, the front will reach the coast sometime in the 10 PM – 12
    AM EDT.

    …Eastern North Carolina…
    One more prominent linear segment is moving northeastward south of a
    warm front just south of the Virginia border. The observed 00Z
    sounding from Morehead showed poor mid-level lapse rates. Objective
    mesoanalysis suggests MLCAPE may be around 250-500 J/kg. Continued
    forcing from the approaching trough and strong effective shear
    (45-55 kts) will support a few more hours of wind damage and brief
    tornado potential this evening.

    ..Wendt.. 04/08/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    .html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No MDs are in effect as of Tue Apr 8 02:02:01 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated:  Tue Apr 8 02:15:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.

    Notice:  The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice.
    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Tue Apr 8 02:02:01 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Tue Apr 8 02:15:06 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Southeast Asia Poised to Become a Global Hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

    Source: ASEAN

    JAKARTA, 8 April 2025 — Southeast Asia’s abundant agricultural feedstocks offer potential for the region to become a global hub for SAF, according to a joint Canadian-ASEAN research project.

    The “Promoting the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) from Agricultural Waste in the ASEAN Region” project marks a significant step towards a more sustainable aviation future in Southeast Asia. It was carried out by the ASEAN Secretariat, GHD, Boeing, Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF), funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and implemented by Cowater International, the Institute of Public Administrators of Canada (IPAC).

    SAF is a renewable or waste-derived aviation fuel that meets sustainability criteria, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and is compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure, as a “drop-in” fuel.  Aviation engines can currently run on a mix of 50% SAF and 50% conventional aviation fuel, but the industry is working towards a 100% SAF mix. SAF lowers carbon emissions over the fuel’s life cycle by up to 80%, depending on the feedstock, with the potential to reduce even more in the future. SAF can be made from a wide variety of sources: cover crops and other nonedible plants, agricultural and forestry waste, non-recyclable municipal waste, industrial plant off-gassing and other feedstocks.

    As part of the project, a techno-economic assessment was conducted in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, focusing on feedstock availability, technology pathways, carbon intensity, logistics, environmental and social aspects, institutional frameworks, and financial assessment.

    With improvements in economic feasibility, SAF production in ASEAN could surpass regional demand, enabling exports both within and beyond ASEAN.

    The expansion of SAF feedstock supply is expected to stem from enhanced farming practices and large-scale biomass utilisation rather than land expansion. The report emphasised that mechanisation, improved irrigation, and R&D in crop optimisation could boost feedstock availability without increasing deforestation or land conversion.

    Beyond environmental benefits, the project highlighted SAF’s role in fostering gender equality and economic development. The SAF sector offers opportunities for job creation, upskilling, and workforce diversification, with a strong emphasis on inclusive participation of women and marginalised communities.

    Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh, commended the initiative, stating: “This initiative marks a significant step in advancing ASEAN’s commitment to sustainable aviation. By leveraging regional resources and innovation, we are not only addressing environmental challenges but also driving economic growth and enhancing energy security. The successful completion of this project underscores ASEAN’s capacity for effective collaboration in tackling climate challenges while creating new opportunities for our communities.”

    CTIF Project Manager Hendry Predy also commented on the initiative stating “CTIF technical assistance supported Southeast Asia countries with a project to improve the ability of the energy sector to assess the reliability of the upstream feedstock supply and the potential for sustained use and production within the region. The recommendations from the proposed project informed on the future development and operation of the pilot areas in selected member countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam) to convert agricultural waste and residues to SAF. The project and recommendations supported the ASEAN Secretariat in ascertaining the reliability of feedstock supply for renewable fuels.”

    Sharmine Tan, Boeing’s regional sustainability lead for Southeast Asia said “SAF is the biggest opportunity to cut aviation emissions over the next 30 years. This research highlights Southeast Asia’s rich SAF feedstock potential, positioning the region as a key player in meeting global SAF demand. To unlock this potential, governments and industry must act decisively, harmonise sustainability policies, invest in infrastructure, and scale local production to build a robust regional SAF ecosystem. Southeast Asia has a unique opportunity to lead sustainable aviation while driving economic growth and environmental stewardship.”

    Sachin Narang, GHD’s Executive Advisor – Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The successful completion of this project represents a major milestone in ASEAN’s journey toward sustainable aviation. The insights gained will serve as a foundation for future SAF initiatives, investments, and policy development across the region.”

    The ASEAN Secretariat, together with its partners, invites continued collaboration with governments, industry leaders, research institutions, and investors to support the regional transition to SAF. Building on the findings of this project, the next phase will focus on areas such as enabling policy development, strengthening technical capacity, and mobilising investment to support SAF deployment, among other collaborative efforts. Together, ASEAN governments, businesses and communities can help shape a sustainable aviation future that contributes meaningfully to regional and global sustainability goals.

    The full Techno-Economic Assessment Report for the project can be referred to here: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/12634962-RPT-6-Techno-Economic-Assessment-Final-Report_April-2025.pdf

    Media contacts:

    ASEAN Secretariat

    Mustika L. Hapsoro Media Officer, mustika.hapsoro@asean.org

    Image Credit: ASEAN Secretariat
    The post Southeast Asia Poised to Become a Global Hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI This Week: Rep. Meeks Advocates for Stablecoin Regulations and Calls out Trump Administration for Cuts to HHS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    April 4, 2025

    ICYMI This Week: Rep. Meeks Advocates for Stablecoin Regulations and Calls out Trump Administration for Cuts to HHS  

    Congressman Meeks Advocates for Regulations on Stablecoin during Financial Services Committee Markup Hearing 

    My constituents want to use payment stablecoins, as do our allies in developing nations on the continent of Africa and around the world. We must establish clear, high regulatory standards for stablecoin issuers. Certainty is key for companies, which is why I supported the STABLE Act during a recent Financial Services Committee Markup Hearing.  
    Rep. Meeks Joins a Letter Calling Out the Trump Administration for Cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

    I joined a letter led by Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05) to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy condemning the cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that include terminating 10,000 employees and dismantling health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is unacceptable. My democratic colleagues and I explained our disapproval of this recent action in the letter. You can read more, here.    
    Share Your Story: How Have You Been Impacted by President Trump’s Executive Orders?

    I’d like to hear from my constituents about how the Trump administration’s actions have affected you and your loved ones. Over the past few months, we’ve witnessed mass layoffs across government agencies, executive orders impacting various issues, threats against immigrants, potential tariffs on neighboring countries, and much more. 

     
    My office is working with state and local officials to learn more about how these actions could affect our district and provide resources for people who have been affected. 

    Please complete the form here to explain how these actions are affecting you and the organizations, nonprofits and businesses you support.  

    Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on this issue and others!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Financial Services Committee Stablecoin Markup

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    REMARKS

    MEEKS: However, stablecoins are here to stay. And as I’ve said before, it’s our responsibility to establish clear rules with a high regulatory standard for issuers to meet. I talk to individuals in my district who want to invest in stablecoins, And in my role as RM of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve talked to our allies in developing nations on the continent of Africa and in Central and South America, they too are using stablcoins. 
     

    Unlike the President’s tariff policy, I believe certainty is crucial, so companies know exactly what rules they need to follow and can plan accordingly.
     

    With that, I appreciate the opportunity to express my support for the STABLE Act.

    Full committee markup, here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Fatal Shooting of New Jersey Teen in the West Bank

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
    “The death of a 14-year-old New Jerseyan and American citizen, Amer Mohammad Saada Rabee, in the West Bank is another devastating reminder of the horrific human cost of ongoing conflict and tensions in the region.  There must be a full and transparent accounting of the circumstances around his death and the actions of Israeli security forces.  During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the White House today, I urge President Trump to seek answers and accountability. 
    “From the death of Amer Rabee, Shireen Abu Akleh, and family members of constituents across New Jersey, to Hamas taking Edan Alexander, also an American citizen from New Jersey, hostage – our New Jersey communities are reeling every day because of the personal impact of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
    “I’ve long had disagreements with the actions of the Netanyahu government, from their efforts to erode Israeli democracy to their interference in US politics — to their settlement expansion policy in the West Bank. I have also long warned of the increasing danger posed by extremist Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.  I call on the Trump administration to reinstate sanctions on perpetrators of such violence, which directly threatens the objectives of protecting innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians and preventing the war in Gaza and tensions in the West Bank from escalating into a wider regional conflict.
    “To press for change, I traveled to Israel and the West Bank in March 2024 to meet with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders and continue to engage with our government as well as with leaders across the region.  “And I will continue to do everything I can to push for a two-state solution, where we protect Israel’s right to exist as a democratic Jewish state and affirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a state of their own.  To start this work, all parties must recommit to working toward a ceasefire agreement that gets the hostages home, facilitates humanitarian aid into Gaza, and breaks the cycle of violence in the West Bank and the region. This is the only way to truly create a pathway towards a just and sustainable peace in the region that protects Israelis and Palestinians.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Global: Recorded executions highest since 2015 – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

    Global: Recorded executions hit their highest figure since 2015
    – Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia responsible for 91% of executions
    – States weaponizing death penalty against protesters and ethnic groups
    – Rise in drug-related executions in violation of human rights
    Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.
    According to the report, Death Sentences and Executions 2024 , 1,518 executions were recorded in 2024 – the highest number since 2015 (at least 1,634) – with the majority in the Middle East. However, for the second year in a row, countries carrying out executions remained at the lowest point on record.
    The known totals do not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remains the world’s lead executioner, as well as North Korea and Viet Nam which are also believed to resort to the death penalty extensively. Ongoing crises in Palestine (State of) and Syria meant that Amnesty International could not confirm a figure.
    Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the overall rise in known executions. In total, the trio accounted for a staggering 1,380 recorded executions. Iraq almost quadrupled its executions (from at least 16 to at least 63) and Saudi Arabia doubled its yearly total (from 172 to at least 345), while Iran executed 119 more individuals than last year (from at least 853 to at least 972) – accounting for 64% of all known executions.
    “The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in today’s world. While secrecy continued to shroud scrutiny in some countries that we believe are responsible for thousands of executions, it’s evident that states that retain the death penalty are an isolated minority. With just 15 countries carrying out executions in 2024, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year, this signals a move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
    “Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the sharp spike in deaths last year, carrying out over 91% of known executions, violating human rights and callously taking people’s lives for drug-related and terrorism charges.”
    The five countries with the highest number of recorded executions in 2024 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.
    Authorities weaponizing death penalty
    Throughout 2024, Amnesty International witnessed leaders weaponizing the death penalty under the false pretence that it would improve public safety or to instil fear among the population. In the USA, which has experienced a steady upward trend in executions since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, 25 people were executed (against 24 in 2023). Newly elected President Trump repeatedly invoked the death penalty as a tool to protect people “ from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters“. His dehumanizing remarks promoted a false narrative that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crime.
    In some countries in the Middle East region, death sentences were used to silence human rights defenders, dissidents, protesters, political opponents, and ethnic minorities.
    “Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out,” said Agnès Callamard.
    “In 2024, Iran persisted in their use of the death penalty to punish individuals who had challenged the Islamic Republic establishment during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Last year saw two of those people – including a youth with a mental disability – executed in connection with the uprising following unfair trials and torture-tainted ‘confessions’, proving how far the authorities are willing to go to tighten their grip on power.”
    Saudi authorities continued to weaponize the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish nationals from the country’s Shi’a minority who supported “anti-government” protests between 2011 and 2013. In August, the authorities executed Abdulmajeed al-Nimr for terrorism-related offences related to joining Al-Qaeda, despite initial court documents referring to his participation in protests.
    The Democratic Republic of Congo announced its intention to resume executions while Burkina Faso’s military authorities announced plans to reintroduce the death penalty for ordinary crimes.
    Rise in executions for drug-related offences
    Over 40% of 2024’s executions were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences. Under international human rights law and standards, the use of the death penalty must be restricted for the ‘most serious crimes’ – sentencing people to death for drug-related offences does not meet this threshold.
    “Drug-related executions were prevalent in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and, while no confirmation was possible, likely Viet Nam . In many contexts, sentencing people to death for drug-related offences has been found to disproportionately impact those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while it has no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking,” said Agnès Callamard.
    “Leaders who promote the death penalty for drug-related offences are proposing ineffective and unlawful solutions. States considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, such as the Maldives, Nigeria and Tonga, must be called out and encouraged to put human rights at the centre of their drug policies.”
    The power of campaigning
    Despite a rise in executions, just 15 countries were known to have carried them out – the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year. As of today, 113 countries are fully abolitionist and 145 in total have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
    In 2024, Zimbabwe signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. For the first time, more than two thirds of all UN member states voted in favour of the tenth General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Death penalty reforms in Malaysia also led to a reduction by more than 1,000 in the number of people at risk of execution.
    Furthermore, the world witnessed the power of campaigning. Hakamada Iwao – who spent nearly five decades on death row in Japan – was acquitted in September 2024. This has continued into 2025. In March, Rocky Myers – a Black man sentenced to death in Alabama despite serious flaws in the proceedings – was granted clemency following calls from his family and legal team, a former juror, local activists and the international community.
    “When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work,” said Agnès Callamard. “Despite the minority of leaders determined to weaponize the death penalty, the tide is turning. It’s only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Here’s who topped the rankings in this year’s scorecard for sustainable chocolate – and which confectionery giant refused to participate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Perkiss, Associate professor in accounting, University of Wollongong

    Jiri Hera/Shutterstock

    With the Easter weekend now around the corner, the sixth edition of the Global Chocolate Scorecard has just been released.

    This is an annual initiative produced by Be Slavery Free, in collaboration with two Australian universities and a wide range of consultants and sustainability interest groups.

    It ranks companies across the entire chocolate sector – from major multinational producers through to retailers – on a wide range of sustainability policies and practices.

    This year, there have been some improvements across the board.

    Transparency has increased, with 82% of companies now fully disclosing child labour data, up from 45% in 2023. The data reported also shows the discovery of child labour is down in the sector.

    On other measures, the sector is less commendable. Deforestation is still high, with more than a third of cocoa bought by companies coming from deforested or unknown sources.

    Companies reported that 84% of cocoa farmers in their supply chain are not earning a living income – or their income is unknown. And there hasn’t been enough progress on the use of pesticides to address the chronic exposure of communities to harmful chemicals.

    Chocolate’s annual scorecard

    The Global Chocolate Scorecard evaluates and ranks chocolate traders, manufacturers, brands and retailers.

    The Global Chocolate Scorecard is released every year around Easter time.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    This year, 60 companies from around the world were invited to participate. Collectively, these companies purchase more than 90% of the world’s cocoa.

    Companies are categorised as either large, small (less than 1,000 tons of cocoa) or retailers. They’re evaluated based on a range of policies and practices.

    These include:

    • traceability and transparency levels across supply chains
    • whether they pay farmers a living income
    • efforts to prevent the use of child labour
    • action on climate and deforestation
    • how they support agroforestry
    • efforts to eliminate the use of harmful pesticides.

    Top of the class

    Awards were given out this year to the best and the worst performers – a “Good Egg” award in each category, a gender award, and a “Bad Egg” award overall.

    This year, Tony’s Chocolonely won the Good Egg award in the large company category. It scored the highest against the six markers, representing the most sustainable chocolate company according to the scorecard.

    The Gender award went to Mars Wrigley – which produces Mars, Snickers, Twix and Malteasers – recognising the company for work supporting gender equality.

    The Good Egg award for smaller companies went to US chocolate manufacturer Beyond Good. Beyond Good buys beans directly from farmers in Madagascar and Uganda, ensuring traceability and fair trade practices.

    Unlike indirect sourcing in the cocoa commodity supply chain, Beyond Good’s direct trade model means the company buys cocoa direct from the farmers. Bypassing intermediaries enables better transparency and supply chain relationships.

    Companies reported 84% of cocoa farmers either weren’t earning a living income, or their income was unknown.
    Narong Khueankaew/Shutterstock

    The ‘bad egg’ award

    This year, multinational chocolate manufacturer Mondelēz, producers of Cadbury, Toblerone, Green & Black’s, Oreo and Daim, was given the “Bad Egg” award.

    The award recognises the company’s decision not to participate in this year’s chocolate scorecard process, indicating of a lack of transparency and public accountability.

    Mondelēz did participate in the last (fifth) edition, ranking 25th out of 38 large companies. The company has not provided a reason for not participating this year. However, it is an outlier, as all other large chocolate companies participated.

    Another notable absence from this year’s scorecard was major Australian retailer Coles, which has participated in the past.

    Transparency allows consumers to find out what steps companies are taking to improve sustainability in their supply chains.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    The understanding that businesses have a responsibility to be accountable to their consumers is not new. It encompasses aspects of corporate social responsibility – compliance, ethical and sustainable practices, and transparency.

    To be transparent, companies need to be open and honest about how their products are made, how their prices are set and what policies they follow.

    A sector in turmoil

    The global chocolate sector is facing some serious challenges. About 75% of the world’s cocoa is produced in West Africa.

    Cocoa prices surged to record highs in 2024. Many major chocolate companies increased their prices as a result.

    Despite the price of chocolate rising, these increases are often not passed on, leaving many cocoa farmers in extreme poverty. This is in addition to struggling with the impacts of climate change.

    New uncertainty for producers are only set to worsen in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and International Labour Affairs Bureau programs. Such cuts ending projects for health, humans rights and monitoring risk reversing the much celebrated progress on reducing child labour in chocolate supply chains.

    Stephanie Perkiss is part of the Chocolate Scorecard’s Data Integrity & Ethics and Research team.

    – ref. Here’s who topped the rankings in this year’s scorecard for sustainable chocolate – and which confectionery giant refused to participate – https://theconversation.com/heres-who-topped-the-rankings-in-this-years-scorecard-for-sustainable-chocolate-and-which-confectionery-giant-refused-to-participate-253933

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trinidad and Tobago

    Source:

    The Trinidad and Tobago government has declared a State of Public Emergency due to heightened criminal activity (see ‘Safety’). Expect an increased police and military presence and minor disruptions, such as roadblocks. Monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of local authorities.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This Easter, check out which chocolate brands are most ethical

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Perkiss, Associate professor in accounting, University of Wollongong

    Jiri Hera/Shutterstock

    With the Easter weekend now around the corner, the sixth edition of the Global Chocolate Scorecard has just been released.

    This is an annual initiative produced by Be Slavery Free, in collaboration with two Australian universities and a wide range of consultants and sustainability interest groups.

    It ranks companies across the entire chocolate sector – from major multinational producers through to retailers – on a wide range of sustainability policies and practices.

    This year, there have been some improvements across the board.

    Transparency has increased, with 82% of companies now fully disclosing child labour data, up from 45% in 2023. The data reported also shows the discovery of child labour is down in the sector.

    On other measures, the sector is less commendable. Deforestation is still high, with more than a third of cocoa bought by companies coming from deforested or unknown sources.

    Companies reported that 84% of cocoa farmers in their supply chain are not earning a living income – or their income is unknown. And there hasn’t been enough progress on the use of pesticides to address the chronic exposure of communities to harmful chemicals.

    Chocolate’s annual scorecard

    The Global Chocolate Scorecard evaluates and ranks chocolate traders, manufacturers, brands and retailers.

    The Global Chocolate Scorecard is released every year around Easter time.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    This year, 60 companies from around the world were invited to participate. Collectively, these companies purchase more than 90% of the world’s cocoa.

    Companies are categorised as either large, small (less than 1,000 tons of cocoa) or retailers. They’re evaluated based on a range of policies and practices.

    These include:

    • traceability and transparency levels across supply chains
    • whether they pay farmers a living income
    • efforts to prevent the use of child labour
    • action on climate and deforestation
    • how they support agroforestry
    • efforts to eliminate the use of harmful pesticides.

    Top of the class

    Awards were given out this year to the best and the worst performers – a “Good Egg” award in each category, a gender award, and a “Bad Egg” award overall.

    This year, Tony’s Chocolonely won the Good Egg award in the large company category. It scored the highest against the six markers, representing the most sustainable chocolate company according to the scorecard.

    The Gender award went to Mars Wrigley – which produces Mars, Snickers, Twix and Malteasers – recognising the company for work supporting gender equality.

    The Good Egg award for smaller companies went to US chocolate manufacturer Beyond Good. Beyond Good buys beans directly from farmers in Madagascar and Uganda, ensuring traceability and fair trade practices.

    Unlike indirect sourcing in the cocoa commodity supply chain, Beyond Good’s direct trade model means the company buys cocoa direct from the farmers. Bypassing intermediaries enables better transparency and supply chain relationships.

    Companies reported 84% of cocoa farmers either weren’t earning a living income, or their income was unknown.
    Narong Khueankaew/Shutterstock

    The ‘bad egg’ award

    This year, multinational chocolate manufacturer Mondelēz, producers of Cadbury, Toblerone, Green & Black’s, Oreo and Daim, was given the “Bad Egg” award.

    The award recognises the company’s decision not to participate in this year’s chocolate scorecard process, indicating of a lack of transparency and public accountability.

    Mondelēz did participate in the last (fifth) edition, ranking 25th out of 38 large companies. The company has not provided a reason for not participating this year. However, it is an outlier, as all other large chocolate companies participated.

    Another notable absence from this year’s scorecard was major Australian retailer Coles, which has participated in the past.

    Transparency allows consumers to find out what steps companies are taking to improve sustainability in their supply chains.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    The understanding that businesses have a responsibility to be accountable to their consumers is not new. It encompasses aspects of corporate social responsibility – compliance, ethical and sustainable practices, and transparency.

    To be transparent, companies need to be open and honest about how their products are made, how their prices are set and what policies they follow.

    A sector in turmoil

    The global chocolate sector is facing some serious challenges. About 75% of the world’s cocoa is produced in West Africa.

    Cocoa prices surged to record highs in 2024. Many major chocolate companies increased their prices as a result.

    Despite the price of chocolate rising, these increases are often not passed on, leaving many cocoa farmers in extreme poverty. This is in addition to struggling with the impacts of climate change.

    New uncertainty for producers are only set to worsen in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and International Labour Affairs Bureau programs. Such cuts ending projects for health, humans rights and monitoring risk reversing the much celebrated progress on reducing child labour in chocolate supply chains.

    Stephanie Perkiss is part of the Chocolate Scorecard’s Data Integrity & Ethics and Research team.

    – ref. This Easter, check out which chocolate brands are most ethical – https://theconversation.com/this-easter-check-out-which-chocolate-brands-are-most-ethical-253933

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Coons slams President Trump’s sweeping tariffs during Fox News Sunday interview

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream this weekend to push back against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed last week. 
    Following Trump’s announcement of tariffs last week, the U.S. has begun collecting a 10% “baseline” tariff on nearly all imports and will soon begin collecting “reciprocal” tariffs as high as 50% on approximately 60 countries, including many of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Financial markets have seen the largest declines since the start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
    In his interview, Senator Coons highlighted the pain that these tariffs will cause for all American families, regardless of whether or not they’re invested in the stock market. The price of everyday goods will quickly jump for everything from fruits and vegetables to consumer electronics to clothing, hitting working-class families hardest. Even American manufacturers will see their costs soar, as they often rely on inputs created overseas.
    A video and partial transcript of Senator Coons’ interview are available below.
    WATCH HERE
    Senator Coons: President Trump announced tariffs this week on almost every country on Earth, including many with which we have a trade surplus. What my colleague, Senator Mullin, just said about how President Trump is rebalancing trade and he’s going after those that have a trade surplus with us, doesn’t account for the fact that he’s slapping tariffs on every country, including our closest partners and allies. That’s going to raise prices for middle Americans. They’re going to pay more for fruits and vegetables, gas, cars, furniture, clothing. It’s going to make America less affordable, not more affordable, which was a key campaign promise of President Trump’s.
    …
    Shannon Bream: Some autoworkers, some farmers, some ranchers––what do you say to them? They think that this is going to actually help them, that they’ve been at a very unfair disadvantage.
    Senator Coons: I would say to them that targeted tariffs that are clearly focused on a few countries where we have bad trade practices, and deep trade imbalances, can be smart economic policy and can help protect American farmers and ranchers and American manufacturers. That’s not what Donald Trump is doing. He’s slapping massive tariffs on almost every country in the world, and it’s hard to explain or justify some of the tariffs he’s imposing. 
    In the coming weeks and months, when millions of Americans see their 401Ks dissolve, the stock market lost 10% just in the last two days of last week, and when hundreds of millions of Americans pay more for everything that they need for daily living––the groceries that they buy, and the food that they put on the table, and the cost of housing, I think they’re going to be upset and I think we’re going to see long term, broad economic damage, not for a few targeted industries or companies but across the entire American landscape.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: American Library Association, AFSCME Challenge Trump Administration Gutting of Institute of Museum and Library Services

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    Cuts to Independent Agency Threatens Libraries Nationwide

    Washington, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA), the largest library association in the world, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union representing museum and library workers, are challenging the Trump administration’s gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – a non-partisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums and libraries and museums and the crucial community services they provide in every state across the country. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of ALA and AFSCME by Democracy Forward and co-counsel Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, asks the court to block the dismantling of the IMLS as directed by a Trump executive order.

    “Libraries play an important role in our democracy, from preserving history to providing access to government information, advancing literacy and civic engagement, and offering access to a variety of perspectives,” said American Library Association President Cindy Hohl. “These values are worth defending. We will not allow extremists to threaten our democracy by eliminating programs at IMLS and harming the children and communities who rely on libraries and the services and opportunities they provide.”

    “Libraries and museums contain our collective history and knowledge, while also providing safe spaces for learning, cultural expression and access to critical public resources,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “They represent the heart of our communities, and the cultural workers who keep these institutions running enrich thousands of lives every day. Library workers do everything from helping people apply for jobs to administering lifesaving care all while facing increasing violence on the job. Their work deserves support, not cuts. On behalf of the 42,000 AFSCME cultural workers, we’re suing to stop the wrongful closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and protect this critical resource for our communities.”

    IMLS was first created and funded by Congress in 1996 and charged with supporting America’s libraries and museums. The agency has had bipartisan support throughout its history, having been reauthorized under the Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. IMLS is bound by laws requiring that the agency conduct certain activities to support libraries and report on important issues to Congress. The complaint argues that cutting programs at IMLS will violate the law by eliminating programs Congress has provided funding for and directed IMLS to undertake.

    “Libraries are vital for people and communities across our nation. Attacking libraries and those who ensure the continuity of their services is yet another move by the Trump administration that does nothing to make Americans’ lives better or easier,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Reducing the IMLS workforce would undermine the agency’s ability to faithfully execute its legal obligations, and harm the operations of libraries. Democracy Forward is honored to continue our work with librarians to protect these important educational institutions in our country.”

    Shortly after the executive order was announced, the ALA sent a letter to the new IMLS acting director, warning not to cut any programs at the agency protected by law. 

    This case continues Democracy Forward’s record of working with communities, parents, and libraries to defend the freedom to read. That work has previously included efforts in Arkansas, where Democracy Forward represented a coalition of librarians, booksellers, and readers who successfully prevented portions of an Arkansas law that threatens to criminalize librarians and booksellers from taking effect is asking a court to permanently stop the law from being enforced; Florida, where Democracy Forward represented the Florida Education Association, Florida Freedom to Read Project, and Families for Strong Public Schools to challenge the DeSantis administration’s actions that shutter classroom libraries and undermine public education in Florida; and in Alabama, where Democracy Forward is representing a group of Alabama families and librarians with a broad array of political and religious backgrounds in a suit to stop policies approved by the library board that threaten to keep constitutionally protected books like To Kill a Mockingbird off of public library shelves.

    Read the full complaint here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Chart That Saved Trump’s Life

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    I’ve been tracking the crisis at our southern border for well over a decade. We are still in the first 100 days of President Trump’s presidency and just look at the tail end of this updated chart. Turns out we didn’t need a new law. All we needed was a new president. We needed President Trump!
    April 2 was the one-year anniversary of the day I gave President Trump my border chart on Trump Force One. That was the same chart President Trump was showing the crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 when he turned his head to look at the chart and narrowly escaped an assassin’s bullet that grazed his ear. 
    I’m glad the chart came in handy. God works in mysterious ways.

    I don’t think Trump voters expected Republicans to continue spending at Biden’s spending levels. If we want to defeat the deep state, we have to stop funding it!
    I put together this video to remind my fellow Republicans that many of us agree. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. $7.3 trillion in spending cannot be justified. It’s time to focus on reducing spending and return to a reasonable pre-pandemic level. In 2019, we spent $4.4 trillion. That’s a 63% increase!
    Now’s the time to insist on returning to a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending and a process to achieve it.
    READ: Sen. Johnson Op-Ed: Is this Any Way to Run a Budget? 
    Time for Big Pharma to Come Clean

    It is time for Big Pharma to come clean on what and when they knew about mRNA injection adverse events.
    As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), I sent letters to Moderna, Pfizer, BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson seeking records and communications about the development and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. 
    These companies received billions of taxpayer dollars to manufacture and deliver COVID-19 vaccines. These federally-funded vaccines have since been associated with reports of myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
    READ: The Federalist: “Sen. Ron Johnson Probes ‘Development’ And ‘Safety’ Of Big Pharma’s Covid Shots”

    On Triggered with Donald Trump Jr., we talked about Wisconsin’s Supreme Court and why Congress needs to scrutinize spending line-by-line just like a business.  

    On The Charlie Kirk Show, I talked about the budget process, spending cuts, and the “one big beautiful bill.” 
    On The Sean Spicer Show, I outlined why we urgently need to return to pre-pandemic spending levels. 

    On March 26, I met with UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and other UW affiliated research leaders. 

    On April 1, I met with students from Saint Paul Lutheran School in Bonduel on the Capitol steps during their tour of Washington, D.C.

    March 28 was peak bloom for the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. There are about 3,800 cherry trees in Washington. In 1912, 3,000 cherry trees were gifted to us by the People of Japan. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington Delegation Honors WSU President Dr. Kirk Schulz

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Washington Delegation Honors WSU President Dr. Kirk Schulz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Members of the Washington Congressional Delegation congratulated Washington State University President Dr. Kirk Schulz on his outstanding tenure and retirement with a written statement in the Congressional Record. 

    The Congressional Record statement reads as follows:  

    Honoring the Legacy of Washington State University President Kirk Schulz 

    April 7, 2025

    Mr. Newhouse of Washington. Mister Speaker, I rise today, alongside my colleagues from Washington state, Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Michael Baumgartner, Emily Randall, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland, to recognize and commend the distinguished tenure of Dr. Kirk Schulz as President of Washington State University (WSU). Since 2016, President Schulz has guided WSU through a period of immense growth, advancing research, student success, and statewide partnerships. As he prepares for retirement, we honor his leadership and dedication to higher education in Washington State.

    Under President Schulz’s tenure, WSU has strengthened its reputation as a world-class research institution, addressing critical challenges in agriculture, medicine, and clean energy. His efforts have ensured that students across our state have access to high-quality education, and his work with Washington’s congressional delegation has helped secure funding for key university initiatives.

    Each of Washington’s ten congressional districts has benefited from President Schulz’s leadership, reinforcing WSU’s role as an institution that serves all Washingtonians. I would like to highlight a few key impacts across the state:

    1st District: WSU has built strong partnerships with the region’s tech industry, working with companies in King and Snohomish counties to prepare students for careers in artificial intelligence, software development, and semiconductor manufacturing. These efforts ensure Washington remains at the forefront of technological advancement.

    2nd District: WSU’s agricultural extension programs in Northwest Washington have played a vital role in supporting farmers and sustaining fisheries in the region. WSU’s Everett campus provides entrepreneurs critical business management skills and trains engineers for the world-class aerospace and high-tech industries in Northwest Washington.

    3rd District: WSU Vancouver has expanded opportunities in STEM education, creating new pathways for students to enter high-demand fields like engineering and healthcare. By connecting with local industries and healthcare providers, WSU is strengthening Southwest Washington’s workforce and economic outlook.

    4th District: Home to some of the nation’s premier vineyards, Central Washington has benefited from WSU’s viticulture and enology programs. Through cutting-edge research and collaboration with winemakers, WSU has helped the region maintain its reputation as a world-class wine producer.

    5th District: WSU’s Pullman campus is a cornerstone of agricultural research, and the completion of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) building has only strengthened that legacy. The facility provides farmers and food producers with critical innovations in crop science and food security, supporting one of Washington’s most essential industries.

    6th District: WSU researchers have been at the forefront of sustainable forestry and climate resilience efforts. Their work supports the health of Washington’s forests, which are vital for the economy, outdoor recreation, and the environment, ensuring these natural resources are protected for future generations.

    7th District: WSU’s collaborations with Seattle-area institutions have led to major advancements in medical research, including breakthroughs in cancer treatment and biomedical engineering. These efforts not only push the boundaries of science but also create opportunities for students to engage in life-changing research.

    8th District: With a focus on clean energy, WSU has led the way in developing innovative hydroelectric, wind, and solar power solutions. These advancements have benefited communities across the Cascades, helping Washington transition to a more sustainable energy future.

    9th District: The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has provided new opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to enter the medical profession. By expanding access to healthcare education, WSU is addressing physician shortages and improving healthcare access across Washington.

    10th District: Military families near Joint Base Lewis-McChord have benefited from WSU’s extension programs, which provide educational support and workforce development opportunities. These initiatives ensure that service members and their families have access to the resources they need to succeed.

    Mister Speaker, as President Schulz concludes his tenure, we recognize his transformative impact on Washington State University and our communities. His leadership has strengthened WSU’s role as a center of innovation, education, and economic opportunity.

    I thank President Schulz for his years of service, and I look forward to seeing how WSU continues to grow and thrive in the years to come. 

    Members of the delegation personally congratulated Dr. Schulz on his retirement: 

    Rep. Susan DelBene (WA-01) said, “As Dr. Schulz prepares for retirement after his impactful tenure at Washington State University, I want to recognize his contributions to the students, the faculty, and the entire community. Under Dr. Schulz, WSU has become a leader in research and innovation, forging partnerships with tech companies in Washington’s 1st Congressional District to equip students with the skills needed for careers in artificial intelligence and software development. His legacy as president will continue to inspire and benefit students for years to come.” 

    Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) said, “During President Schulz’s tenure at Washington State University, tens of thousands of Cougars got a quality education and entered the workforce ready to succeed. Thank you President Schulz for your hard work, years of service and contributions to agriculture in Northwest Washington.” 

    Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) said, “Under my friend President Schulz’s tenure, WSU has strengthened its reputation as a world-class research institution, addressing critical challenges in agriculture, medicine, and clean energy. His efforts have ensured that students have access to high-quality education, and his work with Washington’s congressional delegation has helped secure funding for key university initiatives.” 

    Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06) said, “President Schulz’s leadership can be felt across our entire community, as he has been a champion not just for education but for ensuring students have the resources they need to live and build their best lives. President Schulz and I worked closely together when I served as chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Committee in the Washington State Senate where I got to see first hand the care, intention, and passion he brought to this role — a legacy that will be hard to match.” 

    Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) said, “Thanks to President Schulz’s leadership, WSU’s students, faculty, and staff have played a significant role in groundbreaking innovations in the Seattle area and throughout our region, including supporting major advancements in medical research, cancer treatment, and biomedical engineering. There is no doubt that his partnership and leadership have positively impacted and inspired thousands of students across our district and our state. I wish him all the best as he enters retirement and this next chapter!” 

    Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09) said, “I appreciate the years of service of Washington State University President Kirk Schulz. Under his guidance, WSU has not only excelled as a world-class research institution but also expanded opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds and enabled student success. I wish him the best in his next chapter and look forward to seeing how his legacy continues to inspire WSU in the coming years.”

    Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) said, “Land grant universities are special, and I thank President Schulz for his commitment to student success and expanding opportunities for all students. Because of Schulz’s leadership, WSU has made a positive impact in my district, and communities across the entire state.” 

    ###  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Case, Neguse Introduce Resolution To Designate April as National Native Plant Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai’i-01), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colorado-02), today introduced a resolution to designate April as National Native Plant Month to promote the importance of biodiversity, climate and water conservation throughout our country. The Senate passed its version of the resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono.

    “Native plants are not just a vital part of our natural landscape; they are integral to the environmental health of our nation,” said Case. “From supporting biodiversity to enhancing local ecosystems, native plants play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and resilience in our environment.”

    Colorado is home to over 3,000 native plant species, all of which play a crucial role in environmental conservation. As biodiversity declines, we must continue to advocate for and take action that protects our environment while highlighting the importance of native plant species. That’s why I’m proud to join Rep. Case in leading the effort to designate April as National Native Plant Month,” said Neguse, House Assistant Minority Leader.

    Case continued: “In my home state of Hawai‘i, our kuleana (responsibility) is to care for over 1,400 native plant species, nearly 90% of which are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. These plants are not only critical to the islands’ biodiversity but also serve as living treasures that reflect the resilience and adaptation of life in an isolated, often harsh environment.”

    “Native plants are those best suited to our local climates and support native insects and wildlife,” said Jennifer Neale, Director of Research & Conservation, Denver Botanic Gardens. “We connect people with plants, native plants in particular, through our horticultural displays, educational programming and scientific studies. We should all celebrate our native plants and the unique beauty they bring to our local landscapes.”

    “The Hawai‘i Nature Center’s core mission is to connect children and families to nature via environmental education and outdoor exploration,” said Todd Cullison, the Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Nature Center. 

    “A main focus is teaching our keiki about their island home and how to mālama ‘āina (care for the land).  A significant tenet of this is the ecological and cultural importance of native and endemic plants, how they provide ecosystem services like soil formation and nutrient cycling, promote clean water and provide habitat for native wildlife . 

    “This resolution by Representative Neguse of Colorado and Representative Case of Hawai‘i further solidifies the importance of native plants and provides a pathway for future celebration and education that Hawai‘i Nature Center and other entities can embrace into the future.”

    “At the National Tropical Botanical Garden, we are committed to the perpetuation of Hawaiʻi’s irreplaceable native plants and native biodiversity everywhere,” said Tami Rollins, Interim CEO, National Tropical Botanical Garden.

    “Hawaiian native plants are at the very foundation of our island ecosystems, the livelihoods of our communities, and the essence of Hawaiian culture. Dedicating a month to native plants across the country is a great way to foster appreciation and inspire action for these increasingly imperiled species that are critical to life on our island home – from the ʻāina of Hawaiʻi to the entire planet.”

    Case continued: “Beyond their ecological value, native plants in Hawai‘i hold profound cultural and historical significance for Native Hawaiian communities. For centuries, Hawaiians have relied on these plants for a variety of essential purposes, including as staple foods like sweet potato (‘uala), taro (kalo), and breadfruit (‘ulu), which were central to their diet and agricultural system. These plants also provided medicinal benefits, with species like ‘a‘ali‘i (hopbush) and ni‘oi (chili pepper) integral to the holistic health practices of Native Hawaiians  By designating this month, we can shine a spotlight on the importance of native plants in maintaining the ecological balance of our communities and encourage the public to take steps to protect and conserve these species.”

    Attachment(s):

    ·        Text of measure here

    ·        Case remarks here

    ·        Picture of ‘Ōhi‘a lehua with ʻIʻiwi bird – Hawai‘i courtesy Keith Burnett

    ·        Picture of acacia koa – Hawai‘i courtesy National Tropical Botanical Garden

    ·        Picture of native plants – Plains Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens courtesy Scott Dressel-Martin

    ·        Picture of endangered Penstemon Penlandii  – Colorado courtesy Scott Dressel-Martin

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Bice & Senator Lankford Host Oklahoma Commemorative Survivor Tree Dedication Ceremony

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Bice and Senator Lankford hosted a Commemorative Survivor Tree Dedication Ceremony on the United States Capitol Grounds. As part of this ceremony, a sapling from the Survivor Tree was planted on the Northwest corner of the Capitol Grounds facing the National Mall. This honor tree was in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and pays tribute to the 168 lives lost, the survivors, rescuers, and all those impacted by the April 19, 1995, domestic terror attack in Oklahoma City. The event was attended by Members of the Oklahoma delegation, representatives from the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, and individuals who were directly impacted by the bombing.  

    “The Alfred P. Murrah Building Bombing changed Oklahoma and our nation forever. In the aftermath of this tragic event the state and city came together creating the Oklahoma Standard,” said Congresswoman Stephanie Bice. “Planting a sapling of the Survivor Tree, which is a symbol of hope and resilience for our community, on the Capitol Grounds is an immense honor. The location of this tree will serve as a place for every American to reflect and remember the impact of April 19th, 1995. I look forward to watching the tree grow and having a piece of OKC in Washington.” 

    “We still feel the pain and loss of April 19, 1995. Each year, we remember the 168 lives lost, those who survived, those who were changed forever, and the heroes who ran toward the devastation,” said Senator Lankford. “The Survivor Tree endured the blast and became our symbol of hope. 30 years later, a ‘child’ of the Survivor Tree now stands each day at our nation’s Capitol. The living memorial honors the legacy of those we lost and reminds the country of the strength, resilience, and compassion that define the Oklahoma Standard.”

    “A tiny seed grown from the Memorial’s Survivor Tree stands as a testament that this seedling will spread its roots and grow at the United States Capitol marking both memory and time. Memory of those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. And time – 30 years later — of how this nation came together and stood united. As we approach this anniversary, may we remember the Day of Darkness and Years of Light,” stated Kari Watkins, President & CEO, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. 

    “We are so honored to plant this Survivor Tree at the United States Capitol as a symbol of people coming and working together to find common ground,” said Dr. Susan Chambers, Chairman Board of Trustees, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “It stands here today to bring hope to our city and nation.” 

    “Nearly 30 years ago, 168 beautiful souls were taken from our community in a horrific tragedy. We will never forget those that we lost and the loved ones they left behind,” said Senator Mullin. “We will continue to strive towards the Oklahoma Standard in their honor.” 

    “On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City was struck by an unconscionable act of domestic terrorism, shocking the world. 168 precious lives were senselessly taken and hundreds more were left injured and heartbroken. Today, we honor and remember those lives taken, grieve with the families who mourn, and stand strong with our fellow Oklahomans,” said Congressman Cole. 

    “The resilience of Oklahomans in the aftermath of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing has always inspired me. This commemorative tree on the grounds of our nation’s Capitol is symbolic of that strength and the hope that endures in Oklahoma,” said Congressman Kevin Hern.“Thirty years have passed since 168 lives were cut short, but those souls will never be forgotten. Neither will we forget the selflessness and courage of those who ran toward the smoke, risking their lives to rescue survivors. Our nation honors their legacy.”  

    “This is an important anniversary to remember, not just for the sheer tragedy of the day, but also for the overwhelming unity that Oklahomans displayed in the aftermath,” said Congressman Frank Lucas. “While we continue to hold that memory in our hearts, today we get a physical reminder in our nation’s capital. Thank you to Congresswoman Bice for making this possible.” 

    “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, I am honored to stand with my colleagues in the Oklahoma delegation as we dedicate this tree to all those affected on that devastating day. This tree will long stand as a symbol of resilience and hope as we remember the 168 innocent people whose lives were taken too soon,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Retail Federation – World’s Largest Retail Trade Association – Endorses Cantwell’s Bipartisan Trade Review Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.07.25

    National Retail Federation – World’s Largest Retail Trade Association – Endorses Cantwell’s Bipartisan Trade Review Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that the National Retail Federation (NRF) sent a letter endorsing her bipartisan Trade Review Act.

    The NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association. In the letter, David French, the NRF’s Executive Vice President, Government Relations, writes:

    “The Trade Review Act of 2025 will provide Congress with the opportunity to review and vote on whether to keep announced tariff actions in place. Requiring an explanation as well as an assessment of the tariff actions from the administration is critical. We have seen that the recently announced ‘reciprocal’ tariffs will have a significant negative impact on businesses, especially small retailers. One estimate indicates these tariffs could lead to a $2,100 tax increase per household. The increased tariffs are not sustainable for small businesses that have to pay the tax. Many are concerned about their ability to stay in business as a result.”

    “We applaud you for introducing such important legislation to reassert Congress’s role in setting trade and tariff policy. We strongly urge the Senate to quickly support and pass the bill.”

    Sen. Cantwell introduced the bipartisan bill on Thursday to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs.

    The bill has since picked up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the Main Street Alliance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Community Action Leaders Discuss Trump Administration Cuts Targeting Vulnerable RIers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WARWICK, RI – Following a roundtable discussion with the leadership of Rhode Island’s seven community action programs (CAPs), U.S. Senator Jack Reed today addressed the Trump Administration’s mass-layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other cuts that will impact Rhode Island and put at risk child care and preschool programs, home heating assistance, and other essential services.

    Rhode Island’s seven CAPs collectively serve more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders and help connect low-income individuals and families to health care, job training and skills building, energy assistance, affordable housing, and much more.

    Senator Reed joined Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, at Westbay’s location in Warwick to detail how these cuts could decimate services and support for vulnerable Rhode Islanders and how uncertainty stemming from Trump Administration actions is impacting community organizations across the state.

    “As the Trump Administration plows ahead with erratic, misguided cuts and no analysis whatsoever on impacts to our communities, I met with leaders on the ground here in Rhode Island to get their feedback, hear their concerns, and discuss how we can work together to continue uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “The leaders I met with today know better than almost anyone how programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, the Administration for Community Living, and other critical supports strengthen our communities and help Rhode Islanders stay healthy, safe, and productive.  Eliminating the key staff who help Rhode Islanders and slashing funding just to give massive tax giveaways to a small group of billionaires will likely end up costing taxpayers much more in the long run and shifts increasing tax burdens onto our state and local communities.”

    Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, said, “The Rhode Island Community Action Agencies are grateful to Senator Reed and his team for this opportunity to shed some light on all the Administration’s proposed cuts and what this will mean to the more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders we all serve.  It is a breath of fresh air knowing that Senator Reed is fighting for all of us to ensure that the much needed Safety Net programs stay intact for the most vulnerable in Rhode Island.”

    Last week, the Trump Administration moved forward with its plans to cut 20,000 federal employees at HHS. According to CBS News, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. estimated that about 1 in every 5 of the employees who were fired at HHS were mistakenly let go.

    Rhode Island’s seven community action programs are: Westbay Community Action; Community Action Partnership of Providence; Tri-County Community Action; Blackstone Valley Community Action; Community Care Alliance; East Bay Community Action; and Comprehensive Community Action.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Leads Calls for Hearings on Trump’s Tariff Chaos & Misuse of Executive Power

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – As President Donald Trump’s tariff taxes continue to increase prices on American consumers and businesses, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a leading member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the committee, and every Democrat on the committee in urging Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) to convene a hearing on President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his tariff tax.

    The Senate Banking Committee has critical responsibilities for overseeing the use of IEEPA, which gives the President broad authority to impose economic measures in response to declared national emergencies. But that authority is not intended as a blank check for the President to create national emergencies out of thin air so he can use IEEPA to circumvent Congress and enact economic policies that are unrelated to any actual threats or emergencies facing the U.S., as President Trump has done with his sweeping new trade policies that harm hard-working American families.

    “The committee has jurisdiction over key aspects of IEEPA and tariffs policy, and we have a responsibility to the American people to exercise our oversight function to scrutinize how the President is using these tools,” the eleven Senate Banking Democrats wrote to Chairman Scott.

    In the letter, the U.S. Senators raise concerns that Trump’s tariff policies lack a coherent strategy that could damage the economy and hurt American consumers by needlessly driving up prices.

    The letter also warned that President Trump could unfairly grant tariff exemptions to friendly business leaders and preferred industries, noting: “The president’s tariffs also raise concerns about whether he will repeat mistakes from his first term in handing out exceptions to well-connected friends or companies at the expense of everyone else.”

    According to joint research from Fordham University, Lehigh University, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the University of Oklahoma published in The Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis: politically-connected companies that made contributions and investments to help Republicans before and during Trump’s first term were more likely to win tariff exemptions.

    “We urge you to hold a hearing so the American people can understand the President’s plan and how it will affect their economic futures,” the Senators implored.

    In addition to Reed and Warren, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Reuben Gallego (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Chairman Tim Scott

    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

    United States Senate

    Washington, D.C. 20510

    Chairman Scott,

    We write to request that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hold hearings on President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement his tariff agenda. The committee has jurisdiction over key aspects of IEEPA and tariffs policy, and we have a responsibility to the American people to exercise our oversight function to scrutinize how the President is using these tools.

    Tariffs can be critical to grow American industry and promote good manufacturing jobs. But many of the President’s tariffs lack a coherent strategy, generating economic chaos and giving giant corporations an excuse to raise prices on Americans — which the President and his Administration have no plan to prevent. The President’s tariffs also raise concerns about whether he will repeat mistakes from his first term in handing out exceptions to well-connected friends or companies at the expense of everyone else.

    We urge you to hold a hearing so the American people can understand the President’s plan and how it will affect their economic futures.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Calls on Secretary Kennedy to Restore $80 Million in Federal Funding to Address Substance Use and Mental Health Crises

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) are calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately restore $80 million in federal funding that New Hampshire relies on to address public health crises, including the substance use and mental health epidemics.

    The delegation wrote, in part: “During his first term, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency, stating, ‘We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.’ It seems that is no longer a goal of the current administration. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated approximately $80 million in public health funding for New Hampshire, including programs administered by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).”

    They continued: “For New Hampshire, this harmful decision to eliminate funding weakens our state’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, cuts support services for individuals suffering from mental health crises and substance use disorders and undermines efforts to adequately care for rural and underserved populations […] Staff across the state have already been terminated, and these terminations include our vital community health workers serving our most at-risk populations. Communities and organizations across New Hampshire, including community health centers, hospitals, mental health providers, schools and small businesses, are currently left without resources and holding the bag on already promised funding.”

    They concluded: “Clawing back these funds does nothing to improve our state’s public health system. Instead, you are needlessly putting our communities’ health at risk and jeopardizing our constituents’ livelihoods and their organizations. We urge you to reinstate this vital funding immediately.”

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    Senator Shaheen and the New Hampshire delegation have led efforts to address the substance use and mental health crises. Just last year, the delegation celebrated $29,890,890 in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants heading to New Hampshire to help address the substance use disorder epidemic. In recent years, Shaheen and Hassan successfully pushed HHS to maintain SOR funding levels for New Hampshire and avoid significant cliffs in funding year-over-year. Shaheen and Hassan’s efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire.

    Shaheen has been vocal in her disapproval of the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS Secretary, including delivering remarks in opposition to his nomination on the Senate floor. Shaheen also recently called on Secretary Kennedy to reverse drastic funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator program, which helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

    Senator Hassan has spoken out about the dangers that Secretary Kennedy poses to the health and safety of Americans. Senator Hassan pushed Kennedy during multiple confirmation hearings and delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting the ways in which Kennedy’s abandonment of his prior support for reproductive freedom, lack of knowledge about the basics of the health care programs that he would oversee, and history of promoting dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracy theories put the health and safety of Americans at risk.

    Congressman Pappas led 50 of his House colleagues in urging HHS Secretary Kennedy to reverse the cancellation of over $12 billion in federal grants for state health services from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Murkowski Seek Immediate Explanation for Department of Homeland Security’s Erroneous and Threatening Email to Ukrainians in the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday seeking answers following reports that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States had received threatening emails from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that their humanitarian parole status had been terminated and that they had seven days to depart the country.  

    The Senators wrote, in part: “Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest. At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin.” 

    They continued: “The fact that DHS drafted such a notification is alarming. DHS has not issued a public announcement about any planned policy change and the agency’s website continues to display information about the availability of parole for Ukrainians. Nor has Congress been notified regarding any proposed changes to the program.” 

    The lawmakers concluded: “We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia. We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.” 

    The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 

    Dear Secretary Noem:  

    We are extremely concerned about notifications that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States have received official notifications from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—apparently in error—that their parole had been terminated and that they are required to depart the United States within seven days.  

    Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest. At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin. 

    Ukrainians who have participated in the Uniting for Ukraine program have entered the U.S. lawfully, passed rigorous screening and vetting requirements and have been required to find financial support from private U.S. sponsors. These are individuals, including children, who have fled a war zone and followed a lawful process. Many are working in our states, paying taxes and contributing to local communities. Abruptly and cruelly telling victims of Russia’s war to leave the country would not reflect American values—and it risks emboldening Putin to continue the war, despite President Trump’s stated objectives to establish peace.  

    For many Ukrainians, conditions on the ground in Ukraine remain unsafe for them to return, as Putin continues to violate the limited ceasefire Russia pledged it would honor on March 18. Twenty percent of Ukraine remains occupied, the frontline in Donbas remains volatile and Russia has escalated the use of swarms of drones to attack population centers across the country, including Kyiv. We support the Administration’s desire to reach a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, but until that goal is realized, we must continue to offer safe harbor to the Ukrainian families that have found temporary homes in our states.  

    The fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) drafted such a notification is alarming. DHS has not issued a public announcement about any planned policy change and the agency’s website continues to display information about the availability of parole for Ukrainians. Nor has Congress been notified regarding any proposed changes to the program. Congressional staff inquiries to DHS on Friday resulted in conflicting responses that demonstrated a disturbing lack of interagency coordination or strategy on the status of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians.  

    We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia. We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.  

    We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intel Vice Chair Warner Presses Trump Administration on TikTok Extension, Potential Divestiture Deal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) wrote a letter to President Trump expressing concerns over the administration’s handling of the legally-required divestiture of the social media platform TikTok, including the decision by the administration to once again extend the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, China-based Bytedance, to continue to operate the service and collect Americans’ data.

    “The news reports around the extension suggest that the likely deal under consideration would not meet the clear statutory thresholds for eliminating ByteDance’s influence over TikTok’s U.S. operations,” Sen. Warner wrote. “Specifically, it would preserve a material, operational role for ByteDance by not only allowing it to retain a significant equity stake in the divested entity, but also an active role in technology development and maintenance, including over the algorithm governing content displayed to TikTok U.S. users. I also will note that the law passed by Congress only allowed for a single extension of no more than 90 days.  This second delay, announced April 4, 2025, is a clear violation of the law while also continuing to leave Americans vulnerable to malign influence operations conducted by an adversary country.”

    “A successful and comprehensive divestiture will require any successor to scrupulously prevent influence or access by ByteDance or other entities under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China.  The deal being discussed undermines confidence that the divested app can be trusted to protect national security and ensure compliance with the law,” he continued.

    Sen. Warner also reiterated the role of Congress in regulating foreign and interstate commerce, emphasized that the bill that requires divestment passed with bipartisan support, and pressed the Trump administration to follow the law.

    He continued, “I strongly encourage you actually adhere to the law Congress passed and immediately convene an inter-agency team to evaluate any prospective divestiture based on genuine, risk-based criteria.  Any qualified divestiture must ensure a clean operational break from ByteDance and TikTok USA, including by preventing either company from continuing to develop, influence, or access personal data or source code (including the content recommendation algorithm) maintained by the divested company.”

    Sen. Warner long led the charge in Congress to combat foreign social media influence campaigns, and keep Americans’ sensitive personal data out of the hands of the Communist Party of China, and has been vocal about the national security threat that ByteDance poses. He has repeatedly said the only eligible buyers of the app are companies that are not beholden to a U.S. adversary.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear President Trump:

    I write to express concerns with the extension that you announced on Friday April 4, 2025 to allow TikTok to continue its U.S. operations, as well as deep reservations with how you and other involved parties are carrying out the negotiations around the sale of TikTok. The news reports around the extension suggest that the likely deal under consideration would not meet the clear statutory thresholds for eliminating ByteDance’s influence over TikTok’s U.S. operations.  Specifically, it would preserve a material, operational role for ByteDance by not only allowing it to retain a significant equity stake in the divested entity, but also an active role in technology development and maintenance, including over the algorithm governing content displayed to TikTok U.S. users. I also will note that the law passed by Congress only allowed for a single extension of no more than 90 days. This second delay, announced April 4, 2025, is a clear violation of the law while also continuing to leave Americans vulnerable to malign influence operations conducted by an adversary country.

    In key respects, the reported deal or arrangement appears to closely resemble the proposed “Project Texas” partnership that ByteDance previously sought approval for through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  As I and colleagues made clear at the time – and as CFIUS concluded in withholding its approval – such an arrangement would not sufficiently address the data security, counter-intelligence, and covert influence threats posed by ByteDance’s continued role in the provision of social media services in the United States.  More importantly, the bipartisan law the Congress overwhelmingly passed explicitly proscribes such an arrangement – both by categorically prohibiting a qualified divesture from being operated directly or indirectly (including through a parent company, subsidiary, or affiliate) by ByteDance, TikTok or a subsidiary or successor of either company, as well as by requiring that any qualified divestiture preclude “the establishment or maintenance of any operational relationship between the United States operations of the relevant foreign adversary controlled application and any formerly affiliated entities that are controlled by a foreign adversary, including any cooperation with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm or an agreement with respect to data sharing.” 

    A successful and comprehensive divestiture will require any successor to scrupulously prevent influence or access by ByteDance or other entities under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China.  The deal being discussed undermines confidence that the divested app can be trusted to protect national security and ensure compliance with the law. For instance, industry outlets currently note that the company announced to manage the divested operations, Oracle, has facilitated ByteDance’s access to controlled advanced semiconductors, raising concerns about its willingness to proactively safeguard U.S. interests. Perhaps more concerningly, Oracle has recently suffered two significant data breaches – including a compromise to sensitive health records hosted by its Oracle Health division, as well as a separate breach involving Oracle Cloud.  Each of these incidents – that Oracle has continued to publicly deny despite sustained reports of confirmation and of private acknowledgement to clients – raise questions about whether Oracle can be trusted as the custodian of sensitive TikTok user data.

    In addition, it appears that the efforts to facilitate a qualified divestiture have not followed the substantive, risk-based inter-agency process contemplated in the law.  Rather, reports have consistently painted a picture of an ad hoc process, driven by White House personnel.  Perhaps most concerning, you have explicitly suggested that your compliance with the statutorily mandated divestiture could be tied to negotiations over tariffs with the People’s Republic of China.

    Congress retains the constitutional authority to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.  I strongly encourage you actually adhere to the law Congress passed and immediately convene an inter-agency team to evaluate any prospective divestiture based on genuine, risk-based criteria.  Any qualified divestiture must ensure a clean operational break from ByteDance and TikTok USA, including by preventing either company from continuing to develop, influence, or access personal data or source code (including the content recommendation algorithm) maintained by the divested company.

    Sincerely,

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Reed, Coons Lead National Security Members in Letter Expressing Concern over Recent Firings at NSA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chris Coons (D-DE), led their committee colleagues in a letter to President Trump regarding the firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble.

    Joining Vice Chairman Warner and Ranking Members Reed and Coons in this letter are Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

    “These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure,” the senators wrote. “In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.”

    The senators also highlighted the impact this move would have on the dual-hat arrangement, in which a single officer leads both the NSA and CYBERCOM, and stressed that prematurely severing this agreement could put U.S. national security at risk.

    They continued, “Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As members of the key committees tasked with conducting oversight over NSA, the senators requested written justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts, and asked for a Congressional briefing regarding any additional actions the administration plans to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear President Trump,

    We write with alarm at the sudden and inexplicable firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble. Not only have both dutifully served this nation for decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations, but their removals were conducted in the middle of the night with no consultation with Congress and, according to reports, at the behest of a private citizen who has a record of promoting conspiracy theories.

    These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure. In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.

    Furthermore, we urge you to exercise careful consideration and consultation with Congress on any further actions that may impact NSA’s or CYBERCOM’s abilities to provide the critical intelligence and operational support to policymakers and warfighters. This includes, but is not limited to, any considerations to terminate the dual-hat arrangement. Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As Members of the respective committees of oversight, we request that you formally provide in writing a justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts and provide a briefing to Congress on any additional actions you plan to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Sanders, DeLauro, Scott, Baldwin Demand McMahon Reverse Abrupt Policy Change Halting Funding for Schools Nationwide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Top appropriators and authorizers press Trump’s Department of Education for details about its’ abrupt halt of funding for state governments and school districts that adds a bureaucratic hurdle to reimbursement and will harm student recovery following the pandemic

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, led a letter to Secretary Linda McMahon demanding a reversal of a new policy the Department of Education announced recently that suddenly upended departmental policy and imposed new red tape on states, which will prevent them from accessing pandemic relief funds they are counting on to support students’ learning.

    In their letter, the lawmakers press McMahon for immediate reversal of the Department’s revision to its longstanding liquidation extension policy for COVID-19 education recovery funding—warning that the Department’s change, along with the myriad other harmful actions taken at ED recently, seriously jeopardizes students’ learning and growth.

    “We write to request the immediate reversal of the Department of Education’s recent March 28, 2025, action to revise the liquidation extension policy for COVID-19 relief funds,” write the lawmakers. “Just over a month ago, the Department announced a policy change to the longstanding extension policy that imposed an additional step for processing of extension reimbursements. … However, on March 28, 2025, with many state extension requests having been approved more than six months ago,  the Department suddenly announced on March 28 that ‘the Department is modifying the liquidation period to end on March 28, 2025,’ the very same day as the announcement.”

    “In short,” the lawmakers state, “the Department changed the spending rules it affirmed just one month ago, without providing any notice, and imposing more federal red tape.”

    The lawmakers continue: “This abrupt and chaotic revision of policy is not helpful to students whose states, school districts, or institutions of higher education are uncertain about the Department’s commitments to implementing federal funding designed to support students. The March 28th decision is an imposition of an unauthorized layer of bureaucratic red tape on the expenditure of resources passed by Congress to support learning recovery for our nation’s students.”

    The lawmakers note that the abrupt change—coupled with the mass firings at ED—seriously threaten the ability of schools to support students’ learning: “When combined with the massive reduction in force announced earlier this month, the Department jeopardizes an estimated $4 billion from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in nearly all of our states and outlying areas and roughly 1,000 school districts nationwide. This action is particularly harmful to rural school districts that faced the greatest disruptions during the authorized program period. This will also have a disproportionate impact on $800 million reserved for identification and support for students experiencing homelessness, which was implemented slowly in many states. The March 28th decision of the Department improperly imposes its will on state and local budget decisions in a manner not contemplated by Congress.”

    The lawmakers note their alarm about the Department’s lack of recognition of the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, with the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores showing national scores are below pre-pandemic levels in all grades and subjects.“We are alarmed by your lack of a recognition of the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our nation’s students,”write the lawmakers. “Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, our schools and communities still have much work to do to help students recover and the Department’s termination of the remaining resources Congress passed for that purpose will only serve to delay and undermine our students’ recovery.”

    They also note Congress provided flexibility when providing the funding to ensure it best supports communities across the country:  “Congress intended the Secretary to support states and districts in their use of the flexibility under the law to ensure the unique needs of their communities were met and to implement evidence-based learning loss interventions. The Department is now trying to change the spending rules and impose an administrative hurdle by stating ‘the Department will consider an extension to your liquidation period on an individual project-specific basis.’…We are astonished by the amount of hypocrisy here from an administration that has repeatedly said it wants to return education to the states, including your recent statement that ‘Education is fundamentally a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states…’ Now, it appears the Department is turning its back on states by arbitrarily imposing more federal red tape.”

    The lawmakers also called out that while the Trump administration works to cut off this funding for schools, it is pushing to pass new tax cuts for billionaires: “Let’s be very clear: The abrupt change in the liquidation extension policy is yet another way this administration is seeking to strip educational opportunities for students in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are intent in claiming any savings they can in the federal budget that they intend to use to pay for their tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations.”

    “We believe there is a better way,” they conclude. “We urge you to immediately rescind your March 28 revision to the longstanding liquidation extension policy. Further, we believe you should work with us to start properly executing our federal education laws as Congress intended.”

    In addition to Senators Murray, Sanders, and Baldwin, the letter was signed by Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-MO), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in the Senate.

    In addition to Representatives DeLauro and Scott, the letter was signed by Alma Adams (D, NC-12), Donald Beyer (D, VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), Julia Brownley (D, CA-26), Shontel Brown (D, OH-11), André Carson (D, IN-07), Greg Casar (D, TX-35), Sean Casten (D, IL-06), Joaquin Castro (D, TX-20), Steve Cohen (D, TN-09), Joe Courtney (D, CT-02), Danny Davis (D, IL-07), Diana DeGette (D, CO-01), Chris Deluzio (D, PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10), Sarah Elfreth (D, MD-03), Veronica Escobar (D, TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13), Dwight Evans (D, PA-03), Shomari Figures (D, AL-02), Jesús García (D, IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (D, TX-29), Vicente Gonzalez (D, TX-34), Jahana Hayes (D, CT-05), Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-06), Jonathan Jackson (D, IL-01), Hank Johnson (D, GA-04), Robin Kelly (D, IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (D, NY-26), John Larson (D, CT-01), Summer Lee (D, PA-12), Lucy McBath (D, GA-06), Sarah McBride (D, DE-01), Jennifer McClellan (D, VA-04), Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D, MI-08), Jim McGovern (D, MA-02), LaMonica McIver (D, NJ-10), Donald Norcross (D, NJ-01), Johnny Olszewski (D, MD-02), Chellie Pingree (D, ME-01), Mark Pocan (D, MI-02), Andrea Salinas (D, OR-06), Linda Sánchez (D, CA-38), Terri Sewell (D, AL-07), Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (D, CA-12), Darren Soto (D, FL-09), Haley Stevens (D, MI-11), Mark Takano (D, CA-39), Dina Titus (D, NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D, MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, NY-12), Frederica Wilson (D, FL-24), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D, DC-01) in the House.

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary McMahon:

    We write to request the immediate reversal of the Department of Education’s (“the Department”) recent March 28, 2025, action to revise the liquidation extension policy for COVID-19 relief funds. Just over a month ago, the Department announced a policy change to the longstanding extension policy that imposed an additional step for processing of extension reimbursements. That policy stated “Beginning today, all future payments under the CARES Act, CRRSA Act, and ARP Act spent on allowable expenditures must be paid by the states in advance and then submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for reimbursement.” While the Department’s action added an unnecessary burden on states, it continued the longstanding extension policy established years ago in stating “All [COVID-19 Pandemic relief funding] expenditures must fall under the approved expenditures as outlined in guidance for ESSER, ARPA, and HEERF.”

    However, on March 28, 2025, with many state extension requests having been approved more than six months ago, the Department suddenly announced that “the Department is modifying the liquidation period to end on March 28, 2025”, the very same day as the announcement. Specifically, the Department stated that “The extension approval was issued recently, so any reliance interests developed are minimal…So you could not rely on the Department adhering to its original decision.” In short, the Department changed the spending rules it affirmed just one month ago, without providing any notice, and imposing more federal red tape.

    This abrupt and chaotic revision of policy is not helpful to students whose states, school districts, or institutions of higher education are uncertain about the Department’s commitments to implementing federal funding designed to support students. The March 28th decision is an imposition of an unauthorized layer of bureaucratic red tape on the expenditure of resources passed by Congress to support learning recovery for our nation’s students. When combined with the massive reduction in force announced earlier this month, the Department jeopardizes an estimated $4 billion from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(“ARP Act”) in nearly all of our states and outlying areas and roughly 1,000 school districts nationwide. This action is particularly harmful to rural school districts that faced the greatest disruptions during the authorized program period. This will also have a disproportionate impact on $800 million reserved for identification and support for students experiencing homelessness, which was implemented slowly in many states. The March 28th decision of the Department improperly imposes its will on state and local budget decisions in a manner not contemplated by Congress.

    Second, we are alarmed by your lack of a recognition of the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our nation’s students. The Department’s March 28 policy change asserts “Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.” We are surprised to learn the Department is unaware of recent results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (“NAEP”) which show “National scores are below pre-pandemic levels (2019) in ALL tested grades and subjects.” NAEP results also reveal “Gaps are growing between higher-performing and lower-performing students.” Further, chronic absenteeism still is too high with the latest data indicating “a majority of students still attended schools with 20% or higher levels of chronic absence. This serious absenteeism is in stark contrast to 2019, when slightly over a quarter of schools experienced such high levels of chronic absence.” Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, our schools and communities still have much work to do to help students recover and the Department’s termination of the remaining resources Congress passed for that purpose will only serve to delay and undermine our students’ recovery.

    Third, Congress intended the Secretary to support states and districts in their use of the flexibility under the law to ensure the unique needs of their communities were met and to implement evidence-based learning loss interventions. The Department is now trying to change the spending rules and impose an administrative hurdle by stating “the Department will consider an extension to your liquidation period on an individual project-specific basis.” This is despite the fact that such extensions to liquidation periods were noticed more than one year ago, with some granted more than six months ago, and that states assured to the Department that “The SEA will ensure that LEAs [school districts] use ARP ESSER funds for activities allowable under section 2001(e) of the ARP.” We are astonished by the amount of hypocrisy here from an administration that has repeatedly said it wants to return education to the states, including your recent statement that “Education is fundamentally a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states…”. Now, it appears the Department is turning its back on states by arbitrarily imposing more federal red tape.

    We would be heartened if the Department’s new policy was really intended to better support students. However, actions of the past two months tell a starkly different story. The Department has cancelled hundreds of millions in teacher training grants that were at work in addressing educator shortages and improving the quality of instruction in our schools. The Department has cancelled hundreds of millions of research and evaluation contracts on critical issues like an evaluation of transition supports for students with disabilities, which was intended to provide states and school districts with high quality evidence on approaches to support students with disabilities with their transition to post-school outcomes. The Department also cancelled an evaluation of the programs that receive the largest amount of funding appropriated for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, depriving Congress and the Department of critical information about the implementation of those programs. The Department cancelled contracts for the Comprehensive Centers program, which—in addition to being statutorily required—were poised to provide effective capacity building support and technical assistance to states, school systems, and schools in addressing chronic absenteeism, and math and literacy learning, among other locally and regionally identified challenges. The Department also canceled the Long Term Trend NAEP for 17 year olds, which has been providing data on student achievement for decades. The Department has implemented a massive dismantling and reduction in staff, which has reduced the number of staff available at the Office for Civil Rights to protect the rights of all students. Finally, the massive reduction also appears to have delayed the processing of COVID-19 relief reimbursement requests prior to the announcement of the changed policy that is the subject of this letter.

    Let’s be very clear: The abrupt change in the liquidation extension policy is yet another way this administration is seeking to strip educational opportunities for students in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are intent in claiming any savings they can in the federal budget that they intend to use to pay for their tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations. It is appalling to us that those billionaire and corporate giveaways are valued over the students in rural school districts that faced supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the districts’ need for these liquidation extensions, valued over students experiencing homelessness who have seen the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds dedicated to them spent down slowly, and valued over so many other students that will be attending schools that are already facing difficult budget choices for the next school year without the additional burden of this changed policy. That is, unless states undertake the newest burden put in place by your Department and are able to navigate the Department’s bureaucratic maze and receive funds for projects that may have been committed to years ago.

    We believe there is a better way. We urge you to immediately rescind your March 28 revision to the longstanding liquidation extension policy. Further, we believe you should work with us to start properly executing our federal education laws as Congress intended.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE removes criminal alien wanted for drug trafficking in Costa Rica

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SEATTLE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Josseth Santos-Fonseca, 30, a citizen of Costa Rica, to his home country where he is wanted by law enforcement authorities for drug trafficking.

    Santos entered the U.S. near Laredo, Texas, without inspection or admission by an immigration official. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Santos on Nov. 8, 2018. While continuing with immigration proceedings, ICE received notification from Costa Rican authorities of Santos conviction related to drug smuggling. Once an immigration judge ordered Santos removed, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle removed Santos to Costa Rica without incident.

    “ERO Seattle continues to work with our international partners to ensure criminal aliens are unable to find refuge in the U.S. from justice in their home country,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley. “Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the risk it presents will always be a motivator for our officers to locate and arrest those wanted in their country of origin.”

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X at @EROSeattle.

    MIL OSI USA News –