NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley Joins John Solomon Reports to Discuss Universal Injunctions, Whistleblower Protections and Biden’s Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined the John Solomon Reports podcast to discuss his legislation to end universal injunctions, his efforts to protect whistleblowers and undo retaliation, and his oversight of the Biden-Harris administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program.

    Grassley recently introduced the Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 (JRCA), to put a stop to universal injunctions and unconstitutional judicial overreach.

    Listen to the podcast HERE and see below for excerpts.

    On Universal Injunctions:

    “Normally, a case before a judge ought to apply just to that district and just to the people that are before the court. And [a district judge] makes his decision based on no influence outside of [those] individuals or that district. Now, when a national injunction is put in place, it affects all the other [93] district federal district courts.”

    “We want to limit what the judge can do to that district and to the [party], and we want it to be appealable very quickly. So, if the judge screws up constitutionally, we can do something about it… In the case of interpreting a law…leave your own personal views out of it and make sure you interpret the statute in a very strict way.”

    “Universal injunctions put unnecessary stress on the courts and politicize the courts, and we need a long-term solution to this problem. Because this is relatively new happening with national injunctions…

    “This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, because Democrats in the Biden administration were condemning judges that were putting national injunctions in, and we need to make sure that [this] hopefully becomes a bipartisan issue.”

    On Unaccompanied Minors:

    “[T]his Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report confirmed my oversight of the minor’s program [that] was practically non-existent. In fact, we have some evidence from a fired whistleblower that reported that they were sending some unaccompanied children to a family that had a connection with MS-13.”

    On Whistleblowers and Government Oversight:

    “We’ve got several [whistleblowers] that we’re trying to get their whistleblower security clearances back, so we can get them their job back… If they were good public servants before they became official whistleblowers and they didn’t do anything wrong, then they ought to have their job back yesterday

    “[We] did it very well with the IRS whistleblowers, but that’s only two people of dozens of whistleblowers that I’m trying to help get their job back.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cornyn Lead Reauthorization of Violent Crime Reduction Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in introducing the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Reauthorization Act. The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which uses evidence-based and data-driven approaches to identify, address and prevent violent crime. 

    “For over two decades, Project Safe Neighborhoods has worked to combat violent crime by fostering collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” Grassley said. “I’m proud to back the blue and support Project Safe Neighborhoods’ comprehensive approach to crime fighting, which includes a provision in honor of fallen Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith.”

    “For more than two decades, the Project Safe Neighborhoods program has successfully implemented data-backed solutions to lower the rate of violent crime and help keep dangerous criminals off our streets,” Cornyn said. “This legislation would build on this impressive track record and foster greater collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make America safe again.”

    “Building trust and partnerships between local law enforcement and the people they serve is absolutely essential to strengthening our communities,” Peters said. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is proven to be an effective tool for reducing violent crime, including drug and gun violence, so I’m proud to again lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure this important program can continue making a difference in the years to come.”  

    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

    The legislation is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National District Attorneys Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies and the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.

    Full bill text is available HERE.

    Background:

    Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors. Under this program, law enforcement agencies focus enforcement efforts on organized criminal networks and repeat offenders that drive crime rates in a particular region. The program also works to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve through outreach, awareness, intervention and collaboration.

    Since its inception in 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods has been successfully deployed by both Democrat and Republican administrations to reduce violent crime across the country. A Department of Justice-funded survey found that Project Safe Neighborhoods was associated with a 13.1 percent decrease in violent crime in cities with a high rate of program participation.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Courts, Congress and the Constitution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Q: What are “universal injunctions?”

    A: An injunction is a court order requiring someone to do or stop doing a specific action. Temporary restraining orders (TRO) are similar to injunctions but are short term, unappealable orders from the court directing someone to take or not take some action until the court can review more fully. Historically, injunctions and TROs were limited to the parties before the court. But in recent years, we’ve seen an eruption of court orders that apply far beyond the parties directly before the court — sometimes even the entire country. These universal injunctions, commonly referred to as “nationwide” injunctions, are an unconstitutional abuse of judicial power because they exceed Article III’s limitation whereby the judiciary may only resolve “cases” or “controversies” before the court.

    President Trump’s return to the White House has hit Washington like a hurricane. He’s keeping promises he made during the election that won a historic, decisive comeback victory. And yet, the lower courts are undermining the president’s work on behalf of the American people: the surge of universal injunctions are unilaterally derailing public policies being implemented by the executive branch.

    Universal injunctions have been used disproportionately to stop President Trump’s agenda, in both his first and second terms. Over two-thirds of all universal injunctions issued over the past 25 years were levied against the first Trump administration. And in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, the lower courts have issued more universal injunctions than President Biden faced in four years. Among the numerous Justices who have voiced concern, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has voiced disapproval of this precedent-breaking legal phenomenon, whereby individual district court judges are blocking federal government policies nationwide. It sidesteps the process of representative government by short-circuiting the implementation of policies made by elected leaders. Instead, it emboldens unelected judges who are sitting on the federal bench with lifetime appointments to make policy. Judges aren’t policymakers – that’s Congress’ job. And it’s the president’s job to execute laws. President Trump is carrying out the promises he made on the campaign trail. His opponents are misusing the lower courts to blunt the constitutional authority vested in the president.

    Q: Does Congress have the authority to rein in the lower courts?

    A: The founders enshrined the separation of powers in the Constitution and ensured one branch would not supersede the authority of the others by establishing our system of checks and balances. For example, Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution ordains Congress as the sole creator and organizer of the lower courts. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the three-tiered hierarchy of the federal judiciary. So, the answer is yes, Congress has a constitutional responsibility to require the federal judiciary to stay in its constitutional lane.

    The recent spate of universal injunctions tells me things have gotten out of whack. The orders being handed down from district court judges undermine the authority of the executive branch and overstep the authority of the lower courts. These rapid decisions also place undue stress on the judicial system by inserting political calculation into the selection of the judges and the resolution of legal disputes. Put more simply, litigants are judge-shopping and forum-shopping for a particular outcome. The judicial process is supposed to involve careful and deliberative review. Instead, it’s being used as an expedited means to a political end. Article III of the Constitution tasks the judicial branch with settling “cases” and “controversies.” Judges are meant to only resolve the dispute before them. So, it’s imperative to rein in this unconstitutional overreach once and for all. The Supreme Court could fix this problem. If it won’t, Congress must.

    As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’m urging lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to join me to put a check on this breach of authority. I convened a hearing to examine the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions and legislative solutions to fix it. After all, both Republicans and Democrats have cheered or criticized the policy implications from universal injunctions, including this senator. Now, we should all band together to fix the problem.

    I introduced the Judicial Relief Clarification Act to restore the constitutional role of lower courts by restraining their ability to issue universal injunctions. My bill would make temporary restraining orders against the government immediately appealable. The appellate process guarantees our judicial system retains its deliberative nature. What’s more, it would help prevent rash, biased decisions handed down in the heat of the political moment. It’s time to rein in unchecked authority from the lower courts that damages the separation of powers and undermines public confidence in the courts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Joins Effort to Expand Telehealth Access, Make Permanent Telehealth Flexibilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    CONNECT For Health Act holds broad bipartisan support, most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress; Current flexibilities set to expire September 30 without Congressional action

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them.

    “Telehealth is transforming the way Americans access health care, especially in rural communities like those in West Virginia. The flexibilities put in place during the pandemic proved how effective and efficient virtual care can be. This legislation ensures that patients can continue to receive timely, quality care no matter where they live,” Senator Capito said.

    Telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in a month, according to the most recent available data.

    The CONNECT for Health Act would:

    • Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
    • Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
    • Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
    • Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
    • Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
    • Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.

    ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

    The CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Since 2016, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis.

    Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio).

    The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations, including: the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and American Telemedicine Association.

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Fischer, Mullin Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Radical EV Mandate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal California’s EV waivers that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035, and set unrealistic and stringent requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.

    “By sending these rules to Congress, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration followed the law and addressed the Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress in this process. California’s extreme EV mandate imposes unrealistic and stringent requirements, fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for a waiver, forces the hand of American consumers, and makes our country more reliant on China for critical minerals. The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate. I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country,” Chairman Capito said.

    “As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will cripple the truck manufacturing industry nationwide, overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. This inevitably leads to increased prices for families across the nation. My resolution will overturn the Biden administration’s waiver allowing the ACT regulation to take effect without congressional review,” Senator Fischer said. 

    “We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to bankrupt families and eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families. Thankfully, after four years of ineffective one-size-fits-all crippling bureaucracy, the Trump administration is bringing back common sense. I’m grateful to my colleagues for partnering with me on this effort,” Senator Mullin said.

    BACKGROUND:

    • February 2024: Senator Capito joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.-05), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.-13), in a bicameral letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan warning of the legal and economic consequences of granting a Clean Air Act waiver request from the state of California, which would enable the state to require 35% of automobile sales to be zero-emission vehicles in model year 2026, and finally, 100% of them by 2035.
    • December 2024: Senator Capito pledged to work to reverse the Biden administration’s lame duck action of approving California’s waiver to implement its “Advanced Clean Cars II” regulation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Joins Push to Expand Telehealth Access

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined a bipartisan group of 60 senators led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) to introduce the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 without an extension from Congress. 

    “Telehealth keeps access to care within reach for Arkansans, especially those in rural and underserved communities. It is a proven tool that continues to transform the delivery of medical care and enhance patients’ well-being. There is widespread agreement that we should make this 21st century option a permanent tool to maximize and expand its positive impact,” Boozman said.

    “While telehealth use has rapidly increased in recent years, our laws have not kept up,” said Schatz. “Telehealth is helping people get the care they need, and it’s here to stay. Our comprehensive bill makes it easier for more people to see their doctors no matter where they live.”

    “We live in a digital world, and our health services should reflect that. In the past decade, telehealth has made medical care more accessible for patients across the state and country,” said Wicker. “It is time to make telehealth coverage permanent for Medicare recipients so that more Americans, especially those in rural Mississippi, have access to health care.” 

    Telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in a month, according to the most recent available data.

    The CONNECT for Health Act would:

    • Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
    • Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
    • Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
    • Remove the unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
    • Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
    • Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Peter Welch (D-VT) John Barrasso (R-WY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Fetterman (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), Jim Justice (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Todd Young (R-IN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) have cosponsored the bill.

    The CONNECT for Health Act also has the support of more than 150 organizations including the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics and American Telemedicine Association.

    Click here for full text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest alien fugitive wanted for homicide in Dominican Republic

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LAWRENCE, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners from the FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration arrested a Dominican fugitive wanted in his native country for homicide. Officers with ICE Boston working with agents from FBI Boston and DEA New England arrested the individual, April 3, in Lawrence.

    “This Dominican fugitive hoped to escape the law in his native country by hiding out in Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will now return him to the Dominican Republic to face the justice system there. We refuse to allow New England to become a safe haven for the world’s criminal elements. ICE Boston will continue to arrest and remove criminal alien offenders from our communities.”

    The alien illegally entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

    Dominican officials issued a criminal arrest warrant for him April 30, 2018, for homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

    Officers with ICE Boston, working with agents from FBI Boston and DEA New England, made the arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Partners Value Split Corp. to Redeem Its Class AA Preferred Shares, Series 11

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Partners Value Split Corp. (the “Company”) announced today its intention to redeem all of its 6,000,000 outstanding Class AA Preferred Shares, Series 11 (“Preferred Shares, Series 11”) for cash on April 22, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”) in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares, Series 11.

    The redemption price per Preferred Share, Series 11 will be equal to C$25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends of C$0.17 per share to April 21, 2025, representing a total redemption price of C$25.17 per share (the “Redemption Price”).

    Notice has been delivered to holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 11 in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares, Series 11.

    From and after the Redemption Date, the Preferred Shares, Series 11 will cease to be entitled to dividends or any other participation in any distribution of the assets of the Company and the holders thereof shall not be entitled to exercise any of their rights as shareholders in respect thereof except to receive the Redemption Price (less any tax required to be deducted and withheld by the Company). After the redemption of the Preferred Shares, Series 11, the Company will consolidate the existing capital shares held by Partners Value Investments Inc. so that there are an equal number of preferred shares and capital shares outstanding.

    About Partners Value Split Corp.

    The Company owns a portfolio consisting of approximately 120 million Class A Limited Voting Shares of Brookfield Corporation and approximately 30 million Class A Limited Voting Shares of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (collectively, the “Brookfield Shares”) which are expected to yield quarterly dividends that are sufficient to fund quarterly fixed cumulative preferential dividends for the holders of the Company’s preferred shares and to enable the holders of the Company’s capital shares to participate in any capital appreciation of the Brookfield Shares.

    Brookfield Corporation is a leading global investment firm focused on building long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. Brookfield Corporation has three core businesses: alternative asset management, wealth solutions, and its operating businesses which are in renewable power, infrastructure, business and industrial services, and real estate. Brookfield Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol BN.

    Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with approximately US$1 trillion of assets under management across renewable power & transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd.’s objective is to generate attractive, long-term risk-adjusted returns for the benefit of its clients and shareholders. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol BAM.

    For further information, contact Investor Relations at 416-643-7621.

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and regulations. The words “expected”, “will”, “agreed” and “enable” and other expressions are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and do not relate to historical matters or identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements with regard to the redemption of Class AA Preferred Shares, Series 11.

    Although the Company believes that the anticipated future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information and statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking information and statements.

    Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward‐looking statements and information include, but are not limited to: the financial performance of Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchanges rates; limitations on the liquidity of our investments; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation; changes in tax laws; risks associated with the use of financial leverage; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada.

    We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Reference should be made to the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form for a description of the major risk factors.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 118

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL8

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 118
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    510 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    South Central Illinois
    Southern Missouri

    * Effective this Friday afternoon from 510 PM until Midnight CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 60 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter likely
    A tornado or two possible

    SUMMARY…Clusters of thunderstorms will overspread the watch area
    through the evening, posing a risk of large hail and perhaps locally
    damaging wind gusts.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40
    statute miles north and south of a line from 30 miles south of
    Springfield MO to 50 miles east of Mount Vernon IL. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 113…WW 114…WW
    115…WW 116…WW 117…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 50 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector
    24035.

    …Hart

    SEL8

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 118
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    510 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    South Central Illinois
    Southern Missouri

    * Effective this Friday afternoon from 510 PM until Midnight CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 60 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter likely
    A tornado or two possible

    SUMMARY…Clusters of thunderstorms will overspread the watch area
    through the evening, posing a risk of large hail and perhaps locally
    damaging wind gusts.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40
    statute miles north and south of a line from 30 miles south of
    Springfield MO to 50 miles east of Mount Vernon IL. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 113…WW 114…WW
    115…WW 116…WW 117…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 50 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector
    24035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW8
    WW 118 SEVERE TSTM IL MO 042210Z – 050500Z
    AXIS..40 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    30S SGF/SPRINGFIELD MO/ – 50E MVN/MOUNT VERNON IL/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 35NM N/S /35S SGF – 25NNW PXV/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..50 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 37369338 38908795 37748795 36219338

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU8.

    Watch 118 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (10%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (10%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments and Nominations

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments and Nominations

    Governor Stein Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments and Nominations
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Boards and Commissions appointments and nominations.

    Governor Stein has nominated the following to the Governor’s Crime Commission: 

    • The Honorable Erin S. Hucks of Union County as a Chief District Court Judge. Hucks is the Chief District Court Judge for Judicial District 30, where she created the Union County Family Drug Treatment Court and serves as a member of the Union County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and the Union County Child Fatality Prevention Team.
    • Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough of Forsyth County in a Sheriff’s seat. Kimbrough has been serving as the Sheriff of Forsyth County since 2018. His career in law enforcement began in the Winston-Salem Police Department, where he served as a Police Officer and Arson Investigator. He also served as a Special Agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration in the US. Department of Justice
    • Nisha G. Williams of Durham County as a representative from a domestic or sexual assault program. Williams is the Legal Director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Historic Hillsborough Commission:

    • Joseph (Joe) Petrizzi of Orange County as an At-large member. Petrizzi is the Vice President of the Chapel Hill Historical Society and serves as the Associate Director of Development of the Office of University Development at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
    • Laura Juel of Orange County as an At-large member. Juel is currently the Lead Clinical Evaluator of Rare Disease Research and is an Occupational Therapist at Duke University Medical Center. She is also an active member of the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners: 

    • Dr. Kenneth Brown of Durham County as a Chiropractor. Brown has successfully owned and operated Back to Health Chiropractic Medical Center in Durham for over 25 years. Dr. Brown is an active member of the American Chiropractic Association, North Carolina Chiropractic Association, and a Lifetime Member of the American Black Chiropractic Association
    • Dr. Chad Robertson of Mecklenburg County as a Chiropractor. Robertson is the Co-Owner and Clinical Director of Queen City Chiropractic & Sports Performance and the Official Team Chiropractic Provider of the Charlotte Checkers Hockey Club. He is also a member of the National Athletic Training Association, the North Carolina Chiropractic Association, and the North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Board of Transportation: 

    • Graham Bennett of Forsyth County as a Representative of NCDOT District 9. Bennett was previously the Chairman and CEO of the Quality Oil Company in Winston-Salem. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Piedmont Triad Partnership and the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
    • Theresa (Tess) Judge of Dare County as a Representative of NCDOT District 1. Judge’s career has been dedicated to hospitality management and development. She serves on the Outer Banks Hospital Board of directors and is Vice Chair of the East Carolina University Health Foundation. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina College Foundation Incorporated Board of Trustees:

    • Shannon Trapp of Durham County as an At-large member. Trapp serves as the Chief of Staff at the Durham County Government. She also serves on the Leadership Triangle Alumni Board, the Museum of Life + Science Board of Directors, and the Durham Homeless Services Advisory Committee. Trapp is also a member of the International City/County Management Association, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, and the National Association of Counties. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Emergency Response Commission: 

    • Sheriff Willie Rowe of Wake County in a Sheriff’s seat. Rowe is a 30-year veteran of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. He also serves on the Governor’s Crime Commission and the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Legislative and Audit Committees and as a board member of the Wake County ABC Board, the Raleigh Inter-Church Housing Corporation, and the Foundation Board of the Fellowship Home of Raleigh.
    • Chief Robert Hassell of Nash County in a Chief of Police seat. Hassell currently serves as the Chief of Police at the City of Rocky Mount and is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Mount Olive.

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System Board: 

    • Commissioner Shinica Thomas of Wake County in a County Commissioner seat. Thomas currently serves as Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. Before Thomas was elected as Wake County Commissioner, she was the Director of Advocacy and Educational Partnership for the Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission: 

    • Raquel Painter of Onslow County as a retired servicemember residing near Camp Lejeune. Painter is a retired Marine Corps Sergeant with more than 26 years of military service. She is currently serving as the President/Chief Professional Officer for United Way of Onslow County. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2016, Painter began working with Hope For The Warriors as its Community Development Manager and subsequently as the Director of Community Development.

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board: 

    • Felita Livingston of Mecklenburg County as a public/at-large member. Livingston is a Professor of Management and Business Technologies at Sandhills Community College, where she also serves as an Academic Advisor and on the Student Success Committee.

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners: 

    • The Honorable Teresa H. Vincent of Guilford County as an at-large member. Vincent previously served as the District Court Judge of the 24th Judicial District serving Guilford County and has approximately 31 years of experience in the legal profession. 

    Governor Stein has nominated the following to the North State Board of Education: 

    • Dr. Janet Mason of Rutherford County as a Representative from the 8th Educational District. Dr. Mason currently serves as the Town Manager of the Town of Forest City and previously served as the Superintendent of Rutherford County Schools. She also serves as Chair of the Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation Board.

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Respiratory State Board of Examiners for Plumbing, Heating and Fire: 

    • Tommy Dean Rowland of Cleveland County as a Municipal Plumbing or Mechanical Inspector. Rowland serves as the Director of Building Inspections at the Town of Mooresville, a role he has served in since 2023. 

    Governor Stein has nominated the following to the North Carolina Utilities Commission: 

    • Michael Hawkins of Transylvania County as an at-large member. Hawkins currently works as a Business Officer in the Public Protection Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice. He is a former Transylvania County Commissioner. Hawkins also serves as a Trustee of Blue Ridge Community College, as a Board Member of the Transylvania Economic Alliance, and was a member of the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice from 2020-2024. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Veterans Affairs Commission: 

    • Louis D. Harvin-Ravin of Durham County as a representative of the 4th Congressional District. Harvin-Ravin serves as the Director of Veteran Services at the Curham County Department of Veterans Services. She also serves as the chair of the VA Greater Durham Community Veteran Engagement Board and as Vice President of the North Carolina Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Havin-Ravin served in the United States Army in multiple roles, finishing as a Non-commissioner Officer In-Charge of Security Plans and Operation.
    • The Honorable David Grier Martin III of Wake County as a representative of the 2nd Congressional District. Grier most recently served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and previously as the Assistant United States Secretary of Defense for Manpower & Reserve Affairs and as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Martin also served as a judge advocate and field artillery officer in the United States Army Reserve.
    • Pastor Charles Thomas Dudley of Craven County as a representative of the 3rd Congressional District. Pastor Dudley founded and currently serves as Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Ministry of Faith church and was consecrated to Bishop in 2009. He previously served in the United States Marine Corps, having been awarded the Meritorious Service, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement, Marine Corps Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Kuwait Liberation (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia), Southwest Asia Service and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals.
    • Jeff Joyner of Durham County of Durham County as a representative of the 8th Congressional District. Jeff served aboard the USS James Monroe in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea as a launcher technician in the US Navy. Joyner has been a member of Rockingham American Legion Post 147 since 1970. He retired as a salesman in the fertilizer and chemical industry. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the Underground Damage Prevention Review Board: 

    • Daryl Larimore of Forsyth County as a representative from a hazardous liquid transmission pipeline company. Larimore is the Right of Way Supervisor at the Colonial Pipeline Company. Larimore previously served as a CH-46 & MV-22 Crew Chief, Mechanic, and Shop Supervisor in the United States Marine Corps. 

    Governor Stein has appointed the following to the North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame Board of Directors: 

    • Larry Wooten of Wake County as an at-large member. Wooten joined the staff of North Carolina Farm Bureau in March of 1994, serving as Assistant to the President until his election as President in December 1999. He served as President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, the North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, and all affiliated corporations, until his retirement in December 2019. Wooten actively farmed for 21 years in partnership with his brother in a diversified tobacco and grain operation. 
    Apr 4, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Briefing with industry stakeholders on Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs

    Source: Government of Canada News

    April 4, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    Today, the Department of Finance hosted a recurring briefing with Canadian industry and labour stakeholders, as well as provincial and territorial representatives, on Canada-U.S. economic issues. Canada’s Embassy in the U.S. also joined the call.

    The discussion focused on the recent tariff actions by the U.S., including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act invoked on April 2 to apply “reciprocal tariffs” on goods from nearly all countries, not including Canada and Mexico, as well as new U.S. tariffs imposed on automobiles that entered into force on April 3.

    Officials highlighted Canada’s countermeasures response to U.S. auto tariffs, including yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister, and outlined the tariff support measures that have been introduced to support Canadian workers and businesses. This includes introducing temporary special measures to the EI Work-Sharing Program, providing up to $40 billion in liquidity to businesses by deferring corporate income tax payments and GST/HST remittances, and providing liquidity support through Canada’s financial Crown corporations.

    The government underscored its commitment to continue fighting against the unjustified tariffs imposed by the U.S. while protecting impacted workers and businesses and building Canada’s economy.

    Related links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada providing assistance in response to earthquake’s devastation in Myanmar

    Source: Government of Canada News

    April 4, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Following the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, and the resulting significant loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure, Canada is responding by providing up to $9.75 million in humanitarian assistance. This funding will support emergency medical services and provide shelter, food and other essential items, and is being allocated as follows:

    • $4 million to the Canadian Red Cross to support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
    • $2 million to the World Food Programme
    • $2 million to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to support the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund
    • Up to $1.75 million to the Humanitarian Coalition and its members through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund.

    Canada also welcomes the release of US$5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Canada is a long-standing donor, to support urgent humanitarian needs such as shelter, food and water. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Sentenced to Seventeen Years in Prison for Murder on the Colville Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Joseph Zacherle, age 38, to 204 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Threats in Interstate Commerce. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release and restitution payable to the Colville Confederated Tribes for the murder victim’s funeral expenses.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on the evening of October 18, 2022, Zacherle was in a domestic dispute with his intimate partner (Victim 1) near a gas station on the Colville Indian Reservation. During the dispute, Victim 1 drove away from the area without Zacherle, who had gone inside a nearby store.

    When Zacherle realized Victim 1 had left him, he began calling and texting her, demanding she return, or he was going to “kill” and “hurt people.” About the same time as Zacherle was making these threats to Victim 1, Dion Boyd, an elder within the Colville Tribe, exited the nearby gas station. Zacherle and Mr. Boyd walked the same direction for a short distance. Zacherle then attacked Mr. Boyd, striking him in the head.

    Within minutes of that attack, Zacherle called Victim 1 and referenced the assault, bragging that he had knocked someone out.  He then asked Victim 1 whether she wanted to see what Zacherle had done.  Victim 1 reported that she could hear garbled breathing and snorting on the phone line.

    Shortly after the assault, Omak Police and first responders located Mr. Boyd, who was unresponsive and face down, bleeding from his head. Medical providers later determined Mr. Boyd was braindead and that Mr. Boyd would never recover from the injuries Zacherle inflicted. Mr. Boyd’s family spent the next twenty days at Mr. Boyd’s bedside in the hospital hoping for a miracle, but Mr. Boyd ultimately died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault.  The Medical Examiner determined Mr. Boyd suffered a severe brain hematoma and cracked skull because of the unprovoked attack.

    “My heart goes out to the Boyd family, who have suffered so much pain as a result of Mr. Zacherle’s unprovoked attack,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “My office is fully committed to working federal, state, local, and Tribal leaders to fully prosecuting violent crimes on Tribal land. The victims and survivors of these terrible crimes deserve nothing less.”

    At sentencing, MMIP AUSA Bree Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s family and friends have uniformly described Mr. Boyd as a kind, generous person who helped raise his younger siblings and later his own children. Mr. Boyd also served his Tribe as an IT technician, ensuring Colville Tribal members living in rural areas could have cell service.”

    In recommending the Court impose a 17-year sentence, MMIP AUSA Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s violent and senseless death at the hands of Zacherle has severely impacted the large family Mr. Boyd has left behind. And, Mr. Boyd is now among the disproportionate number of murdered Indigenous people and Mr. Boyd’s family has joined the ranks of too many other MMIP families throughout Eastern Washington and elsewhere.”

    “This appalling attack was truly senseless.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Mr. Zacherle displayed a shocking disregard for the value of human life when he took his frustrations out on an innocent bystander, recklessly costing that person his life.  The Colville Indian Reservation is a safer place with him off the streets.”

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.

    2:23-cr-00007-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER ON TRUMP TARIFFS: TRUMP’S MAKING THE WRONG KIND OF HISTORY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs:

    “The President keeps using tariffs. I don’t think tariffs work the way the President thinks. The headlines tell the story…

    The Wall Street Journal: “The Dumbest Trade War in History.” 

    CNN: “Trump aide says tariffs will raise $6 trillion, which would be largest tax hike in US history”

    Daily Telegraph: “Trump is plotting the biggest tax rise in global history”

    Trump’s making the wrong kind of history. 

    Republicans must join with Democrats and put Congress back in the driver’s seat.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER LEADS HOUSE DEMS IN DEMANDING ANSWERS ON IRS FIRINGS, IMPACTS FOR TAXPAYERS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    The Department of Treasury’s plan to shrink the IRS workforce will have devastating effects on taxpayer service, tax compliance and enforcement, and, ultimately, revenues

    WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, is leading a group of 22 Democrats in demanding answers from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about IRS workforce cuts, revenue losses, and his plan to maintain quality of services despite cuts.  

    In a letter sent on April 2, 2025, the group of lawmakers relayed their deep concerns that the Treasury Department has not fully considered the real-world impact of its actions to gut the IRS and requests the Department:  

    1. Provide details on its specific target for the number of workforce cuts at the IRS, including the timeline for staff reductions and departments where reductions will occur;
    2. Share the estimate of the expected revenue loss from the scheduled staff reductions at the IRS;
    3. Detail the steps being taken to ensure the remaining IRS workforce is adequately equipped to provide the services needed by taxpayers; and,
    4. Provide its plan to ensure taxpayers receive timely, excellent service after staff reductions are complete. 

    “We have seen concerning media reports that the IRS is rolling back audits as the Treasury Department reduces the IRS workforce and cuts thousands of jobs,” the members wrote. “The Administration has already fired 7,400 probationary employees—or seven percent of all IRS employees, mostly from enforcement staff—and has implemented a hiring freeze. Additionally, 4,700 employees at IRS have accepted the deferred resignation offer. Reporting has shown that as IRS agents leave the agency, the IRS is closing audits before they are complete, and some were even closed without seeking money owed.”  

    “We are deeply concerned the Treasury Department has not fully considered the real-world impact that these actions would have on the American public,” the members continued. “Implementing major changes to the workforce will no doubt result in diminished taxpayer services, which would have devastating consequences for taxpayers in need of assistance. Laying off thousands of employees that are directly involved in collecting unpaid taxes does not improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the IRS; it will only reduce taxpayer services and ultimately cost the government tens of billions of dollars in revenue, thereby increasing our nation’s deficit and adding to our debt.” 

    Full text of the letter is available here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schweikert Leads Legislation Targeting Fentanyl and Foreign Evasion

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ), alongside China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Manifest Modernization Act— legislation that will help law enforcement track fentanyl precursors entering the U.S., identify major sanction evasions schemes meant to skirt American law, and will uncover Uyghur and forced labor in supply chains. Currently, only ocean vessels must publicly disclose manifest information. The bill would extend the public disclosure requirement to aircraft, truck, and rail manifests. 

    Millions of shipments entering the country each day face little scrutiny. Public disclosure of shipping manifests is critical for tracking imports of unsafe or illegal goods like fentanyl, goods made with forced labor, trade-based money laundering and illicit finance, sanctions evasion, and counterfeit goods.

    “Modern problems require modern solutions. Transparency and advanced data analytics can close the gap drug traffickers and bad actors exploit to smuggle illicit drugs and goods into the country,” said Rep. David Schweikert [AZ-01]. “The Manifest Modernization Act is like putting headlights on a car that was driving with one out—you’re not reinventing the system; you’re just completing it.”

    “The Manifest Modernization Act closes a critical loophole, ensuring air, truck, and rail shipments are held to the same standards as goods arriving by ship. By requiring public disclosure of this shipment data, we’ll improve enforcement against unsafe and illicit goods—effectively stopping fentanyl, counterfeits, and products made with forced labor. This legislation also targets PRC companies that transship through third countries to dodge President Trump’s tariffs, leveling the playing field for American workers,” said House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar [MI-01].

    “The Manifest Modernization Act will strengthen and secure our supply chains by improving transparency and efficiency at our ports of entry. By modernizing outdated customs processes, this bipartisan bill will help prevent illicit goods, such as fentanyl, and products made with forced labor in the PRC from entering our country while ensuring lawful shipments can move swiftly and safely,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi [IL-08].

    “We need to shine a light on the labor and supply chains responsible for unsafe shipments entering the United States by air, land, and rail. Hiding import data allows the abuse of human rights to flourish in the shadows,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett [TX-37]. “Our legislation seeks to improve accountability while giving American consumers the confidence they are not purchasing products that contributed to environmental harm, forced labor or any other form of wrongdoing, or laced with fentanyl.”

    Background on the Manifest Modernization Act:

    • Under current law, when an import enters the U.S. via ocean carrier, vessel manifest information must be publicly disclosed while imports that arrive via aircraft, truck, or rail do not.
    • Ocean vessels have long been required to disclose manifest information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including the name and address of the shipper, general character of the cargo, number of packages and gross weight, name of vessel or carrier, port of exit, port of destination, and country of destination. 
    • In 1996, Congress expanded disclosure requirements to include aircraft manifests to help law enforcement and trademark holders track counterfeit goods.
    • However, due to a drafting error in a later bill, courts have ruled that aircraft manifests are not subject to public disclosure. Vehicles, including trucks and rail, have never been required to disclose manifest information.
    • Today, nearly half of the value of imports comes either by air or land. Ocean manifest data has aided investigations that have identified major Russia sanctions evasion schemes, uncovered Uyghur forced labor in supply chains, tracked tainted pharmaceutical products, and helped law enforcement find shipments linked to criminal activity, including drug smuggling.
    • Businesses also rely on data gleamed from ocean manifests to find and evaluate suppliers, identify new customers, research market trends, and protect their intellectual property.
    • The Manifest Modernization Act would simply require all imports to be publicly disclosed by CBP to the American public.
       

      You can read the full bill text here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Secures the Extradition from Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain and Thailand of Fugitives Wanted for Murder, Drug Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse and Cybercrime in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minne

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the United States Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailandresulted in the extraditions last week of individuals alleged to have committed murder child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, and fraud.

    The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

    • Roberto Avina-Casillas, 30, a Mexican citizen, was extradited from Mexico to stand trial in Franklin County, Ohio for murder, felonious assault and endangering children. Avina-Casillas evaded arrest for more than 11 years after he was accused of the Aug. 7, 2013 death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.
    • Justin David Lanoue, 44, a Canadian citizen, was extradited from Canada to stand trial in Washington County, Utah, on charges filed against him in 2015 related to child rape and felony sexual abuse of a minor. The Washington County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
    • Dominik Rydz, 24, a Polish national, was extradited from Germany to stand trial in the state of Michigan, where he faces two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and one count of unlawful imprisonment. On the night of Sept. 3, 2023, Rydz allegedly lured a woman away from her friends at a social gathering and proceeded to sexually assault the victim and would not let her leave. Rydz’s extradition was first sought from Poland, where he resided. While out on release from the Polish proceedings, Rydz travelled to Germany and was arrested there on an INTERPOL Red Notice.
    • Olof Kyros Gustafsson, also known as “El Silencio,” 31, a Swedish national, was extradited from Spain to face conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering charges in a 115-count federal indictment filed in the Central District of California alleging that he licensed the rights to use the name and persona of the late Colombian narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar and defrauded investors around the world by marketing and selling products — including flamethrowers and cellphones — that did not exist and that he never delivered to paying customers.
    • Ardit Kutleshi, 26, and Jetmir Kutleshi, 28, both Kosovo nationals, were extradited from Kosovo to face identity theft, access device fraud, and money laundering charges in the Western District of Pennsylvania for their roles as the alleged administrators of the Rydox cybercrime marketplace, an illicit website dedicated to selling stolen personal information, access devices, and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud. The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania are handling the prosecution.
    • Rene Javier Santos Alfaro, 53, a Honduran citizen, was extradited from Honduras to stand trial in the Southern District of Florida for drug trafficking offenses. Santos Alfaro is an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization based in Honduras that was allegedly responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine from Honduras directly into Miami via commercial aircraft.
    • Cristian Eduardo Garcia Jerez, 36, a Colombian national, was extradited from Colombia to face drug trafficking charges in the Northern District of Georgia. Garcia Jerez is alleged to have owned two cocaine processing laboratories and coordinated the manufacturing of cocaine in Colombia and the smuggling of cocaine from Colombia into the United States.
    • Jose Guillermo Granja Rojas, 36, a Mexican national, was extradited from Colombia to face a money laundering conspiracy charge in the Northern District of Georgia. Granja Rojas was allegedly a money launderer for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) who collected hundreds of thousands of dollars of proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the United States and transferred them to Mexico. DTO members directed the deposit of drug proceeds into accounts allegedly controlled by Granja Rojas, and Granja Rojas also allegedly traveled from Mexico to the United States to receive cash drug proceeds in person.
    • Tien Vy Tai Truong, 46, an alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Thailand to face conspiracy to export methamphetamine charges in a 2024 indictment filed in the Central District of California. Truong is alleged to have engaged in negotiations with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential human source to export about 200 pounds of methamphetamine from the United States to Australia for sale.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand for making these extraditions possible.

    An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Statement On Ousting Of Head Of National Security Agency And U.S. Cyber Command

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s politically motivated firing of General Timothy Haugh, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and Wendy Noble, the deputy director of the NSA.

    “President Trump’s dismissal of General Haugh and Ms. Noble at the insistence of a far-right conspiracy theorist is unprecedented and deeply disturbing. General Haugh served our country for over 30 years and was confirmed to his former position with unanimous bipartisan support. This is the latest in the president’s chilling purge of military and national security leadership, and the loss of decades of experience leaves civilians, critical infrastructure — including elections — and our men and women in uniform more vulnerable to sabotage, espionage, and compromise. I demand President Trump immediately justify to Congress why he valued the opinion of a far-right conspiracy theorist over decades of nonpartisan national security leadership in service of the United States. 

    The military is not a partisan institution, and Congress must ensure that President Trump does not make it one.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Gillibrand, Schumer, and Capito Introduce Commemorative Coin Bill To Honor 25th Anniversary Of 9/11

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Yesterday, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles E. Schumer, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act, which would require the U.S. Mint to design and mint coins to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The coins would be sold in 2027 at a price that would pay back the U.S. Mint for production, and surcharge proceeds would go to support the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and its mission to “never forget.”

    “On the 25th anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, we must continue to honor our promise to never forget,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act would do just that while also generating funds to ensure that the 9/11 Memorial & Museum can sustain itself – two other ways we commit to never forget. Our city and nation owe our 9/11 heroes a tremendous debt, and it is time to get this done.”

    “Minting commemorative coins for the 25th anniversary of September 11th provides a unique way to honor those who lost their lives and those who undertook brave acts of heroism, and to recall the patriotism and community that their sacrifice inspired,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to support this legislation that will honor those we lost, support the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and uphold our sacred promise to never forget.”

    “As we approach the 25th anniversary of the attack on America, with each passing year and day it becomes more necessary to tell the story of what happened that day. This story is told powerfully at the9/11 Memorial and Museum. I was proud to join with my colleagues to introduce this legislation, which would mint a coin to help to preserve the lessons we need to never forget from that day and what it did to New York City and our nation,” said Senator Capito.

    Representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, and the bill is supported by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

    “The 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act is a poignant reminder of the most deadly terrorist attack in U.S. history and an embodiment of our commitment to never forget the sacrifice so many made that day,”said Congressman Goldman. “By minting coins in honor of the 25th anniversary of September 11th and raising funds for the national 9/11 Memorial and Museum, this bill would ensure that future generations understand the profound impact of that day, as well as the resilience of our nation in the face of tragedy. I am proud to join a bipartisan, bicameral group of my colleagues to champion this legislation honoring the sacrifice of our brave survivors and first responders.”

    “As we approach 25 years since 9/11, we do so with the same resolve we felt in the days, weeks, and months that followed these attacks,” said Rep. Garbarino. “This legislation helps uphold our promise to Never Forget by supporting the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s mission to honor the lives lost, recognize the courage and sacrifices of our first responders, and educate future generations about the impact of that day. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort and ensure that the stories of 9/11 are never lost to history.”

    “As we plan for the observance of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in 2026, we are grateful to Senators Capito and Gillibrand for their sustained commitment to never forget the 2,977 victims killed nearly a quarter century ago. This commemorative coin will serve as a physical reminder of our nation’s resilience in the aftermath of the attacks and a keepsake that can help the 100 million Americans too young to remember that tragic day better understand its ongoing significance,” said Beth Hillman, President & CEO, 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

    In addition to the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act, Senator Gillibrand leads the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act in the U.S. Senate. The bill provides permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and updates an outdated funding formula to prevent a future funding shortfall and ensure that survivors and first responders don’t lose access to care. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Trump administration cut staff that provide critical support for the WTCHP, which offers medical monitoring and treatment for first responders and survivors diagnosed with 9/11-related health conditions, including many types of cancers, respiratory illnesses, and more. The cuts include the dismissal of Dr. John Howard, the administrator of the WTCHP, who makes critical decisions regarding covered conditions and ensures the WTCHP complies with statutes enacted by Congress.

    The full bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Deter Malicious Foreign Influence in Postsecondary Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) led the introduction of the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, legislation that brings much-needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for American colleges and universities. Joining Senators Tillis and Cassidy were Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO). 

    “America’s foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, are targeting our nation’s students by stealing research, spewing anti-American propaganda, and censoring free speech by providing American academic institutions with lucrative funding opportunities,” said Senator Tillis. “Too often, schools fail to report these foreign gifts and funding, leaving our adversaries with an unchecked influence over U.S. academic institutions. The DETERRENT Act is essential to countering this threat and safeguarding our educational integrity. I applaud the House of Representatives for passing this important legislation and I urge the Senate to take swift action to take up and pass this legislation.” 

    “The DETERRENT Act brings important transparency and ensures our universities are not susceptible to foreign influence,” said Dr. Cassidy. “If America’s adversaries are using these gifts to infiltrate college campuses, we need to know about it.”

    Background:

    The DETERRENT Act:

    • Slashes the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 down to $50,000, with an even stricter $0 threshold for countries of concern.
    • Closes reporting loopholes and provides transparency to Congress, intelligence agencies, and the public.
    • Requires disclosure of foreign gifts to individual staff and faculty at research-heavy institutions to protect those targeted the most by our adversaries.
    • Holds our largest private institutions accountable for their financial partnerships by revealing concerning foreign investments in their endowments.
    • Implements a series of repercussions for colleges and universities that remain noncompliant in foreign gift reporting such as fines and the loss of Title IV funding.

    Currently, colleges and universities are legally required to report foreign funding under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. However, a series of recent oversight efforts make alarmingly clear the law is vague, poorly enforced, and full of loopholes. Recent reports show billions in foreign money, often from adversarial regimes like the Chinese Communist Party, coming into U.S. campuses with little to no oversight or transparency. The single biggest enforcement tool to protect against the threats posed by foreign adversaries is in desperate need of reform.

    A Senate report from 2019 found that up to 70 percent of all institutions failed to comply with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. Section 117’s loose legislative language, a lack of enforcement efforts, and institutions’ refusal to adhere to the law have resulted in billions of dollars in foreign funds infiltrating our country undetected.

    A one-pager of the legislation is available HERE. Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester demand Trump rescind illegal executive order threatening federal employee collective bargaining agreements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester (both D-Del.) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Donald Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus. In their letter, Senator Coons, Senator Blunt Rochester, and their colleagues blasted the move as a “gross overreach” of presidential authority, asserting that the executive order is a clear attempt to gut the federal merit-based civil service and implement a system of political cronyism. They stressed that the order poses a grave threat to the ability of over 1 million federal workers to carry out their missions and deliver important services for the American people, and thus should be rescinded immediately.

    “We write today in outrage over your recent executive order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, a gross overreach of the authority granted in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA),” the senators wrote. “This order is an insult to the hardworking public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people. They care for our veterans, deliver disaster assistance, prevent wildfires, help farmers improve crop yields, manage health benefits for 9/11 first responders, research treatments and cures for diseases, keep air travel safe, process tax returns, staff our national parks and much, much more. Nearly one third of these dedicated civil servants are veterans seeking to continue their service to our country out of uniform.”

    “The executive order effectively classifies two thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions, a blatant misuse of a limited authority intended to provide operational flexibility to address legitimate security needs,” the senators added. “There is no evidence that the long-standing collective bargaining agreements at these agencies have jeopardized our nation’s security in any way; to the contrary, the protection collective bargaining has provided for employees allows them to conduct their work on behalf of the American people—including blowing the whistle on fraud or abuse—without political interference.”

    “This administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of federal collective bargaining agreements and is actively trying to bend the law to undermine protections for federal civil servants. We urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order so that our dedicated public servants can continue to work on behalf of the American public without fear for their job or political retribution,” the senators concluded.

    The senators’ letter is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

    In addition to Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester, the letter was also signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    You can read the full text of the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Latta, Matsui Reintroduce Bill to Reauthorize NTIA, Ensure Taxpayer Dollars are Responsibly Used to Increase Broadband Internet Connectivity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

    Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA7) reintroduced the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization Act. This legislation will improve the management of spectrum and update the mission and functions of the agency.

    With Congress recently providing NTIA with $42.8 billion to address broadband deployment and digital equity and inclusion, Latta’s NTIA Reauthorization Act would give NTIA the tools to be successful in their mission and ensure American tax dollars are not wasted.

    “NTIA plays a role in closing the digital divide for Americans who lack basic broadband Internet access, and it is the responsibility of Congress to re-evaluate these duties and ensure the agency has the tools and guidance to appropriately carry them out,” Latta said. “As the former Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I’m pleased to reintroduce this legislation to reauthorize the NTIA for the first time in 30 yers. This important, bipartisan legislation I’m leading with my colleague, Congresswoman Matsui, will help the agency carry out their mission to connect more Americans while ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted.”

    “Since NTIA was last reauthorized over three decades ago, the pace of technological innovation has accelerated exponentially,” Matsui said. “From spectrum governance to the digital economy, NTIA must be empowered to keep America the vanguard of global tech leadership. The bipartisan NTIA Reauthorization Act modernizes NTIA’s mission and provides new tools to ensure the agency can keep up with the pace of innovation.”

    Congressman Latta and Congresswoman Matsui introduced the NTIA Resolution in the last Congress, where it successfully passed the House of Representatives.

    Background on the NTIA:

    NTIA plays a significant role in closing the digital divide, managing our nation’s spectrum, and advocating the United States’ telecommunications position on the world stage. NTIA has not been reauthorized since 1992, causing it to fall behind in new tools and direction to carry out the mission of connecting all Americans and finally closing the digital divide.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McGovern Leads 38 Members of Congress in Demanding Answers from USDA Over Abrupt Cancellation of Farm to School Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and a Senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee, led 38 House Democrats in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding answers after the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program was abruptly terminated without Congressional consultation or notice, harming farms and schools in communities across America, and making it harder to get healthy food into cafeterias across the country.

    The letter was co-led by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME), with strong support from Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) and Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

    “Every child in America deserves access to nutritious food as part of the school day to fuel their learning,” the lawmakers wrote. “The highly successful Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program provides just that. As you know, it helps schools across the country purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate into tasty and nutritious meals for kis, as well as provide hands-on education activities related to agriculture and nutrition. The program is good for kids, good for families, and good for farmers.”

    The Members expressed alarm that USDA inappropriately terminated the program’s grants on March 24, 2025, despite being authorized and funded by Congress. “To the best of our knowledge, there was no communication or consultation with Congress prior to the termination of this Congressionally authorized and funded program, and we are deeply concerned about the impact this program cancellation will have on students, schools, and farmers in our districts,” the letter states.

    They also noted the broader trend of USDA eliminating nutrition and agricultural programs, writing that: “[i]n just the past few weeks, USDA has terminated at least four programs that achieve the goals of improving health and supporting our farmers.”

    The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program has awarded over $100 million in funding to 1,275 projects nationwide since 2013, with a particular focus on rural communities. The program helps schools incorporate locally grown foods into their meal programs, supports school gardens, and promotes nutrition education. In their letter, lawmakers cited USDA’s own findings that 61% of school food authorities using the program reported increased fruit and vegetable consumption among students, and 57% said it improved access to higher quality foods. They also noted that Farm to School grantees have already reached out to their offices expressing confusion and distress about how to continue their programs without support.

    The letter demands a response by April 11, 2025, and asks USDA to clarify the scope of the termination, its legal authority to cancel funding, and what steps will be taken to fulfill the agency’s Congressionally mandated responsibilities.

    The signed letter is available here.

    The letter was signed by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT); Nanette Barragán (D-CA); Sanford Bishop (D-GA); Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR); Julia Brownley (D-CA); Shontel Brown (D-OH); Nikki Budzinski (D-IL); André Carson (D-IN); Troy Carter (D-LA); Kathy Castor (D-FL); Angie Craig (D-MN); Sharice Davids (D-KS); Diana DeGette (D-CO); Rosa DeLauro (D-CT); Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ); Jahana Hayes (D-CT); Jared Huffman (D-CA); Seth Magaziner (D-RI); John Mannion (D-NY); April McClain Delaney (D-MD); Betty McCollum (D-MN); Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI); James McGovern (D-MA); Seth Moulton (D-MA); Brittany Pettersen (D-CO); Chellie Pingree (D-ME); Stacey Plaskett (D-VI); Mark Pocan (D-WI); Andrea Salinas (D-OR); Adam Smith (D-WA); Mark Takano (D-CA); Shri Thanedar (D-MI); Jill Tokuda (D-HI); Paul Tonko (D-NY); Lori Trahan (D-MA); Eugene Vindman (D-VA); Maxine Waters (D-CA); and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Norma Torres Blasts Trump’s Tariffs for Harming California Families and Businesses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    April 04, 2025

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Norma Torres today condemned President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs, warning that they represent an existential threat to working families and businesses in California’s 35th Congressional District.

    “Donald Trump’s tariffs are a direct tax on working families, and we’re already paying the price. This is an economic nightmare that will force businesses to slash costs, which means layoffs, higher prices, and an impending recession,” said Congresswoman Torres. “The residents of my district—many of whom are already scraping by—cannot afford the chaos Trump is creating.”

    California’s Inland Empire, a key economic engine for the state, relies heavily on trade and manufacturing industries such as agriculture, logistics, and construction. These sectors will be obliterated by Trump’s tariffs. Businesses that depend on imported goods will face immediate cost hikes that could bankrupt them, resulting in widespread job losses and economic collapse. Union jobs, the lifeblood of working-class families, will be first on the chopping block as businesses struggle to survive.

    “He’s not just hurting businesses—he’s jeopardizing the futures of millions of seniors,” Torres continued. “Just look at the stock market today—retirement accounts are hemorrhaging, and for millions of Americans, their life savings are disappearing. These are people who’ve worked their entire lives, only to be told by Trump that they’ll never retire with dignity. For seniors on fixed incomes, like Social Security, the damage is immediate and irreversible. These price hikes will crush them—forcing them to choose between food, medicine, or basic necessities. And for those with their savings tied up in 401(k)s, retirement is slipping farther out of reach. This is financial ruin for the most vulnerable among us. This is economic malpractice, and I will fight it with everything I’ve got!”

    The ripple effect of Trump’s tariffs will be catastrophic. As people lose their retirement savings, they will cut back on spending, throwing local economies into a tailspin. Small businesses will close, and demand for goods and services will plummet. This isn’t just a downturn—it’s an economic meltdown. If Trump’s tariffs are allowed to stand, the damage will devastate California’s economy for years to come, increase inflation, and raise the cost of housing. This will hit hardest in the communities that can least afford it.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Court Order Against Trump Administration over Continued Disruptions to FEMA Funding

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granting the motion to enforce the preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration as states continue to face obstacles in accessing obligated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, including FEMA funding for critical emergency preparedness and recovery programs. Specifically, the Court found that FEMA’s current freeze violates the Court’s preliminary injunction order. 

    “Today’s court order makes it unequivocally clear: the Trump Administration’s reckless effort to hold up millions in emergency funds is unlawful,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We won’t stand idly by as we continue to see the Trump Administration breaking the law and will be closely monitoring to ensure that the Administration follows the court’s order and critical funds are released.” 

    In January, a coalition of 23 attorneys general, led by the attorneys general of California, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Massachusetts, sued the Trump Administration over its attempt to freeze up to $3 trillion in federal funding. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island quickly granted the attorneys general’s request for a temporary restraining order, blocking the freeze’s implementation until further order from the court. Soon after, the attorneys general filed motions to enforce and a preliminary injunction to stop the illegal freeze and preserve federal funding that Congress appropriated and that families, communities, and states rely on. The Court granted the motion to enforce, ordering the Administration to immediately comply with its temporary restraining order, and later, the motion for a preliminary injunction. Despite the coalition’s success in unlocking billions in wrongfully frozen funds through a preliminary injunction and earlier motion to enforce, the Trump Administration has continued to freeze millions of dollars in FEMA funding for critical emergency preparedness and recovery programs. The current FEMA freezes have not affected Los Angeles wildfire recovery funds but have affected wildfire recovery funding in other states, including for the Maui wildfires. Today’s order grants the motion the coalition made last week, asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island to enforce its preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration’s FEMA freeze.

    Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in securing this motion. 

    A copy of the order is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Secures the Extradition from Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain and Thailand of Fugitives Wanted for Murder, Drug Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse and Cybercrime in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minne

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the United States Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailandresulted in the extraditions last week of individuals alleged to have committed murder child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, and fraud.

    The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

    • Roberto Avina-Casillas, 30, a Mexican citizen, was extradited from Mexico to stand trial in Franklin County, Ohio for murder, felonious assault and endangering children. Avina-Casillas evaded arrest for more than 11 years after he was accused of the Aug. 7, 2013 death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.
    • Justin David Lanoue, 44, a Canadian citizen, was extradited from Canada to stand trial in Washington County, Utah, on charges filed against him in 2015 related to child rape and felony sexual abuse of a minor. The Washington County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
    • Dominik Rydz, 24, a Polish national, was extradited from Germany to stand trial in the state of Michigan, where he faces two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and one count of unlawful imprisonment. On the night of Sept. 3, 2023, Rydz allegedly lured a woman away from her friends at a social gathering and proceeded to sexually assault the victim and would not let her leave. Rydz’s extradition was first sought from Poland, where he resided. While out on release from the Polish proceedings, Rydz travelled to Germany and was arrested there on an INTERPOL Red Notice.
    • Olof Kyros Gustafsson, also known as “El Silencio,” 31, a Swedish national, was extradited from Spain to face conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering charges in a 115-count federal indictment filed in the Central District of California alleging that he licensed the rights to use the name and persona of the late Colombian narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar and defrauded investors around the world by marketing and selling products — including flamethrowers and cellphones — that did not exist and that he never delivered to paying customers.
    • Ardit Kutleshi, 26, and Jetmir Kutleshi, 28, both Kosovo nationals, were extradited from Kosovo to face identity theft, access device fraud, and money laundering charges in the Western District of Pennsylvania for their roles as the alleged administrators of the Rydox cybercrime marketplace, an illicit website dedicated to selling stolen personal information, access devices, and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud. The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania are handling the prosecution.
    • Rene Javier Santos Alfaro, 53, a Honduran citizen, was extradited from Honduras to stand trial in the Southern District of Florida for drug trafficking offenses. Santos Alfaro is an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization based in Honduras that was allegedly responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine from Honduras directly into Miami via commercial aircraft.
    • Cristian Eduardo Garcia Jerez, 36, a Colombian national, was extradited from Colombia to face drug trafficking charges in the Northern District of Georgia. Garcia Jerez is alleged to have owned two cocaine processing laboratories and coordinated the manufacturing of cocaine in Colombia and the smuggling of cocaine from Colombia into the United States.
    • Jose Guillermo Granja Rojas, 36, a Mexican national, was extradited from Colombia to face a money laundering conspiracy charge in the Northern District of Georgia. Granja Rojas was allegedly a money launderer for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) who collected hundreds of thousands of dollars of proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the United States and transferred them to Mexico. DTO members directed the deposit of drug proceeds into accounts allegedly controlled by Granja Rojas, and Granja Rojas also allegedly traveled from Mexico to the United States to receive cash drug proceeds in person.
    • Tien Vy Tai Truong, 46, an alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Thailand to face conspiracy to export methamphetamine charges in a 2024 indictment filed in the Central District of California. Truong is alleged to have engaged in negotiations with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential human source to export about 200 pounds of methamphetamine from the United States to Australia for sale.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand for making these extraditions possible.

    An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Hut 8 Operations Update for March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    102% increase in deployed hashrate from an average of 4.6 EH/s in February 2025 to 9.3 EH/s as of the end of March 2025

    31% improvement in fleet efficiency from an average of 29.3 J/TH in February 2025 to 20.1 J/TH as of the end of March 2025

    Launch of American Bitcoin in partnership with Eric Trump

    MIAMI, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq | TSX: HUT) (“Hut 8” or the “Company”), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing, today released its operations update for March 2025.

    “This month, we achieved strong alignment between operational momentum and long-term strategic direction,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8. “Thanks to our team’s disciplined execution, our fleet upgrade has already more than doubled deployed hashrate to 9.3 EH/s while driving fleet efficiency down to 20.1 J/TH as of the end of March.”

    “This operational progress set the stage for a pivotal milestone in our platform strategy: the carveout of substantially all of our ASIC miners into American Bitcoin, a standalone mining entity and majority-owned subsidiary of Hut 8 purpose-built for scale, speed, and capital efficiency. We are excited to launch American Bitcoin in partnership with Eric Trump and to welcome him as a strategic advisor to Hut 8 as we scale our platform.”

    “As we advance the evolution of Hut 8 toward Power and Digital Infrastructure, we are also evolving our approach to disclosure. Going forward, Hut 8 will no longer publish monthly operational updates. Instead, we’ll provide more holistic updates on a quarterly basis or as material developments arise, aligning with disclosure standards followed by peers in the energy and digital infrastructure sectors.”

    “Importantly, the ASIC miners we now operate for American Bitcoin generate revenue for Hut 8 across two distinct reporting segments: Managed Services within Power and ASIC Colocation within Digital Infrastructure.”

    Highlights

    • Step function changes in deployed hashrate and fleet efficiency
    • Launch of American Bitcoin, a pure-play mining subsidiary formed with Eric Trump
    • Shift to institutional reporting cadence

    Operating Metrics

      March 2025 February 2025
      As of the end of the period Average during the period unless otherwise noted
    Total energy capacity under management (mining)1,3 665 MW 665 MW2
    Total deployed miners under management4 120.8K 109.2K
    Total hashrate under management5 16.9 EH/s 12.3 EH/s
         
    Bitcoin Mining6    
    Deployed miners7,8 53.8K 41.5K
    Deployed hashrate9 9.3 EH/s 4.6 EH/s
    Fleet efficiency 20.1 J/TH 29.3 J/TH
    Bitcoin produced10 88 BTC 46 BTC2
    Bitcoin held in reserve11 10,264 BTC 10,237 BTC2
         
    Managed Services12    
    Energy capacity under management 280 MW 280 MW2
    Deployed miners under management8 83.8K 84.4K
    Hashrate under management 9.3 EH/s 9.4 EH/s
         
    ASIC Colocation    
    Deployed miners under management8,13 67.0K 67.7K
    Hashrate under management14 7.6 EH/s 7.7 EH/s


    Energy Infrastructure Platform    2

            Contracted Revenue Stream(s)15
    Site Location Owner16 Power Capacity Bitcoin Mining Managed Services ASIC Colocation CPU Colocation / Data Center Cloud Power Generation
    Vega17 Texas Panhandle Hut 8 205 MW     Yes    
    Medicine Hat Medicine Hat, AB Hut 8 67 MW Yes18        
    Salt Creek Orla, TX Hut 8 63 MW Yes18        
    Alpha Niagara Falls, NY Hut 8 50 MW Yes18        
    Drumheller19 Drumheller, AB Hut 8 42 MW          
    Kelowna Kelowna, BC Hut 8 1.1 MW       Yes  
    Mississauga Mississauga, ON Hut 8 0.9 MW       Yes  
    Vaughan Vaughan, ON Hut 8 0.6 MW       Yes  
    Vancouver II Vancouver, BC Hut 8 0.5 MW       Yes  
    Vancouver I Vancouver, BC Hut 8 0.3 MW       Yes  
    King Mountain20 McCamey, TX Hut 8 (JV) 280 MW Yes18 Yes Yes    
    Iroquois Falls21 Iroquois Falls, ON Hut 8 (JV) 120 MW         Yes
    Kingston21 Kingston, ON Hut 8 (JV) 110 MW         Yes
    North Bay21 North Bay, ON Hut 8 (JV) 40 MW         Yes
    Kapuskasing21 Kapuskasing, ON Hut 8 (JV) 40 MW         Yes
    Total     1,020 MW          
    Notes:  
      (1) Energy capacity under management (mining) includes (i) 180 MW of Bitcoin Mining sites comprised of Alpha, Medicine Hat, and Salt Creek, (ii) 205 MW of ASIC Colocation capacity at Vega, which is currently under construction, and (iii) 280 MW of capacity under management at King Mountain.
      (2) As of the end of the period.
      (3) Includes 205 MW of capacity at Vega as the site is expected to host miners for BITMAIN.
      (4) Includes all miners that are racked with power and networking, rounded to the nearest 100, in Bitcoin Mining, Managed Services, and ASIC Colocation infrastructure with power and networking, including all miners at the King Mountain site.
      (5) Includes all Bitcoin Mining, Managed Services, and ASIC Colocation hashrate, including 100% of the hashrate at the King Mountain site.
      (6) Bitcoin Mining operations for Hut 8 include 100% of operations at the King Mountain site.
      (7) Deployed miners are defined as those physically racked with power and networking, rounded to the nearest 100; deployed Bitcoin Mining miners net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 45.4K during March and 33.1K during February.
      (8) Miners are rounded to the nearest 100.
      (9) Indicates the target hashrate of all deployed miners; deployed Bitcoin Mining hashrate net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 8.5 EH/s during March and 3.8 EH/s during February.
      (10) Bitcoin produced net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 78 during March and 38 BTC during February.
      (11) Includes 968 Bitcoin pledged and transferred to a third-party wallet to finance Hut’s previously announced fleet upgrade.
      (12) Managed Services includes 280 MW of capacity under management at King Mountain.
      (13) 41.9K deployed miners under management net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner during March compared to 33.8K during February.
      (14) 4.7 EH/s under management net of Hut 8’s joint venture partner’s 50% share of the King Mountain JV during March compared to 3.8 EH/s during February.
      (15) Reflects revenue sources to Hut 8, its subsidiaries, and/or joint ventures in which they participate during the period.
      (16) Owned denotes ownership of power infrastructure at owned or leased data center locations, except for HPC sites where owned denotes ownership of mechanical and electrical infrastructure at leased data center locations.
      (17) Site is currently under development.
      (18) As of April 1, 2025, as a result of the launch of American Bitcoin, the site no longer generates revenue under Bitcoin Mining and instead generates revenue under Managed Services and ASIC Colocation.
      (19) Site currently shut down; Hut 8 maintaining lease with option value of re-energizing site.
      (20) Owned by a JV between Hut 8 and a Fortune 200 renewable energy producer in which Hut 8 has an approximately 50% membership interest.
      (21) Owned by a JV between Hut 8 and Macquarie in which Hut 8 has an approximately 80% membership interest.


    About Hut 8     

    Hut 8 Corp. is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-potential computing. We take a power-first, innovation-driven approach to developing, commercializing, and operating the critical infrastructure that underpins the breakthrough technologies of today and tomorrow. Our platform spans 1,020 megawatts of energy capacity under management across 15 sites in the United States and Canada: five colocation and Managed Services sites in Alberta, New York, and Texas, five high performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, four power generation assets in Ontario, and one non-operational site in Alberta. For more information, visit www.hut8.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Hut8Corp.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward–Looking Information

    This press release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, “forward-looking information”). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the Company’s platform strategy and evolution, including the success of American Bitcoin.

    Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; construction of new data centers, data center expansions, or data center redevelopment; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company’s recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Hut 8 Corp. Investor Relations
    Sue Ennis
    ir@hut8.com

    Hut 8 Corp. Public Relations
    Gautier Lemyze-Young
    gautier.young@hut8.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Statement on Mishandling of the Economy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, Ohio — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement in response to the economic impact and fallout of President Trump’s tariff announcements this week.

    “America’s enemies around the world today are applauding. They also are plotting as they watch US stock markets plummet even further. Nearly $5 Trillion more in US wealth has been lost this week due to chaotic moves on tariffs arbitrarily imposed by the Trump administration. None of the tariffs that the President has proposed and implemented have ever had a single vote in the US Congress. This is unconstitutional.  

    “Where is Speaker Johnson… asleep at the wheel?  Where is the Ways and Means Committee…asleep at the switch?  The Trump Administration’s dangerous overreach is totally damaging to the US economy and unnerving to America’s Allies around the globe. Crashing the US economy is not in the short nor long term interest of the American people. What has occurred in America’s markets this week is dangerous. Descent into economic chaos is consequential to every single citizen. Retirement plans are put at risk. Jobs are put at risk. Savings are put at risk. Investments are put at risk. 

    “I have spent the majority of my time in the House trying to repair the economic damage to our economy of poorly conceived trade agreements that hollowed out the industrial and agricultural economy of our region. As a private businessman and billionaire, Donald Trump never lifted a finger to help us as industrial firms, his included, shipped jobs offshore or collapsed family farm after farm through consolidation. 

    “Now this unnecessary market implosion has been forced on the American people without a single vote in Congress. I call on Speaker Johnson to do his job. Call the House back into Special Session to address this illegal tariff regime. Our grandparents and millions of Americans suffered through the ‘Great Economic Depression’ in the last century. That is not a route any American wants to endure.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Blasts Republicans, NJ’s Grid Manager for Raising Electricity Rates in the State

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

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr (NJ-06), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today lashed out at PJM, the organization that manages New Jersey’s electric grid, for raising electricity bills in the state.

    Pallone explained over 27 years ago, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 888 brought competition to electricity markets around the country. Since that time, the competition encouraged by these markets has broadly lowered wholesale energy prices and made the grid cleaner, all while ensuring reliability.

    “But that’s not guaranteed, and I’m worried that some of the rules of the road that govern PJM and other Regional Transmission Organizations could start to harm consumers. Last year, partially as a result of poor market design, capacity prices in the PJM region exploded from $29 to $270 per megawatt-day. These price increases aren’t abstract – they are directly responsible for a roughly $25 per month increase in New Jersey power bills that my constituents will start feeling in June,” said Pallone.

    “For the third time this Congress, we’re having an important hearing focusing on the reliability and affordability of electricity in this country. And for the third time, my Republican colleagues are going to purposefully ignore the fact they’re attempting to repeal the single biggest incentive to build electricity capacity in this country – the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Pallone. “Repealing billions of dollars in technology funding for all types of new energy is not the way you address the increasing need for energy.”

    “It also ignores the fact that the Trump Administration is freezing federal funding and trying to rescind grants for grid reliability projects that the grid operators sitting before us today have said are vital to addressing increasing energy demand. It also ignores the fact that President Trump is attempting to put tariffs on electricity imports from Canada, which could seriously drive-up energy costs for people in the Midwest and Northeast,” Pallone continued.

    Pallone mentioned that last week, yet another study came out – this time from Energy Innovation – showing that repealing the Inflation Reduction Act would increase American families’ power bills. Pallone said that Republicans are talking about the importance of affordability, but their actions don’t match their words.

    “As we continue this discussion today, it’s important we recognize that in this time of increased demand for electricity, families are increasingly at risk of their power bills becoming unaffordable. Grid operators – and, frankly, FERC – must remember that they have a legal obligation to ensure that their policies are just and reasonable. Anything else does a disservice to the American people who depend on you,” Pallone continued.

    The interconnection process — how regional grid operators like PJM approve new energy projects — has become one of the biggest bottlenecks to expanding affordable, clean electricity. It now takes up to five years for a typical wind or solar project to gain approval, compared to less than two years in 2008. In response, FERC issued Order 2023, which requires grid operators to shift from a “first-come, first-served” approach to a “first-ready, first-served” model that prioritizes viable projects and penalizes delays. While PJM has filed a plan to comply with Order 2023, FERC found the proposal lacking in detail and has yet to approve it. Until PJM fully complies and clears its interconnection backlog, consumers will continue bearing the cost of inaction — both in higher bills and in lost opportunity to add low-cost, low-carbon energy to the grid.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Condemns Trump-Musk Cutting 6,900 Jersey Teaching Jobs, Including 400 in NJ-06

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today blasted a sweeping education funding rollback by Donald Trump and Elon Musk that would gut federal support for public schools and result in the firing of nearly 300,000 teachers nationwide—including 6,914 in New Jersey and 399 in the Sixth Congressional District alone.

    Pallone denounced the plan as part of a broader billionaire-driven effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and eliminate Title I grants, which provide critical resources to schools serving low-income students.

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are teaming up to destroy public education in this country,” said Pallone. “Their plan to eliminate Title I funding is a direct attack on working families. In New Jersey alone, millions of students would be left behind. This is cruelty masquerading as reform. At the same time, Trump and Republicans are working to give trillions of dollars in tax breaks to big corporations and billionaires.”

    The proposed cuts stem from Trump’s recent executive order to dismantle the Department of Education and slash Title I grants, as well as Title II teacher support and IDEA special education programs. The result: fewer teachers, larger class sizes, and an increased burden on local taxpayers to keep schools afloat.

    Pallone and members of the New Jersey congressional delegation sent a letter on March 24 to Education Secretary Linda McMahon warning that the Trump-Musk proposal would have devastating consequences for New Jersey’s students, educators, and school districts. The letter outlines how the plan would decimate education budgets, trigger mass layoffs, and force local governments to raise property taxes to cover the shortfall.

    Pallone, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has long fought to preserve robust federal investments in public education and is now leading efforts to block what he calls “a billionaire power grab that leaves our kids in the dust.”

    “Every student deserves a teacher who believes in them—not a billionaire who wants to balance the budget on their backs,” Pallone added. “We won’t let them get away with it.”

    Pallone’s full March 24 letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –