NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Dr. Brian Christine of Mountain Brook in Senate HELP Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced Dr. Brian Christine during his nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP). President Trump nominated Dr. Christine of Mountain Brook, Alabama to be Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During their exchange, Sen. Tuberville and Dr. Christine discussed the importance of the Make America Health Again movement, along with Dr. Christine’s goals for improving rural healthcare.

    Read excerpts from their exchange below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. It’s an honor to introduce my friend and constituent, Dr. Brian Christine. Also thrilled to welcome today his wife, Helena, and sister, Kathleen. Thank you for being here.

    Dr. Christine is a board-certified urologic surgeon with nearly 30 years of clinical experience serving patients in Birmingham, Alabama. A recognized medical expert, Dr. Christine is known for teaching and demonstrating advanced surgical techniques, both nationally and internationally. Born in West Germany to a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and the grandson of Italian immigrants, he will bring a lifelong dedication to service, resilience, and American values to this role. Dr. Christine attended college in Georgia, what’s going on here? And earned his medical degree from Emory University. He later moved to Birmingham for his residency and has since dedicated his career to caring for the men and women of Alabama. Beyond the operating room, he has supported local law enforcement by volunteering as a trauma surgeon with tactical police units. If confirmed, Dr. Christine will oversee critical public health programs, regional health offices and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he has pledged to accept a commission and lead with a Main Street medicine approach. 

    His top priorities include addressing chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, pediatric obesity, mental health, and the nation’s physician shortage crisis. He is particularly focused on expanding access to primary care and improving health in rural and underserved communities.

    With deep medical expertise, leadership experience, and a clear vision for reform, he is well equipped to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, and I hope my federal colleagues will support his nomination – Dr. Christine.”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you so much for your kind words. Thank you also for the service that you’ve rendered to our nation here in the U.S. Senate and the service you have and will render to our home state of Alabama.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Christine, in my lifetime, I’ve never seen the deterioration of an institution like we have in the trust of the American people after COVID. How are you gonna try to put that back together? Because we desperately need some help in getting a positive attitude towards our hospitals and our doctors back to the American people.”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator Tuberville, number one, thank you so much for being here. Again, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for meeting with me before today’s hearing. I’m truly appreciative. The loss of trust that we have seen in our healthcare institutions and the healthcare policies emanating from this city are the worst that I’ve seen in over three decades of practice. People feel that during the pandemic particularly they were led astray, some people feel they were lied to. We have to work to restore that trust. Secretary Kennedy is 100% committed to doing that, as is President Trump.

    In my career as a surgeon, I’ve had to earn the trust of my patients, allowing me to operate on them, literally take their life within my hands. I believe I have the ability to communicate to patients and now hopefully to the American public at large and approach them and give them a sense that what I’m saying, what I’m telling is truly for the good of the country [and] comes from a position of honesty and transparency. I’ve had to do that for over 30 years as a surgeon and as a physician. I truly believe I can bring that skillset to the office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. The American people are tired of being lied to about their food, the ingredients, things that we’re now finding out that are detrimental to our health. And up here, you know, we seem to overlook all that, but we need to start looking out for the American people. How do you plan to help the Secretary with that?”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Well, we know that Secretary Kennedy is absolutely committed to the Make America Healthy Again agenda to remove toxins from our foods, to make sure that all have access to clean water, that we focus on not just treating chronic disease, but finding out what causes chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and work to not only cure those diseases, but really prevent and eliminate those diseases. Secretary Kennedy is always wanting to approach things from the foundation of science. He truly believes in that. I agree with the Secretary on all of those things. I intend to support him. I intend to work diligently if I have the privilege of being confirmed. To support him in that quest to make Americans healthier than they’ve ever been.” […]

    TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Christine, rural America. We got problems getting healthcare. Our state is 60% rural in Alabama. Most of the south is rural. How do we handle that problem?”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator. [I think] one of the things you’re speaking about are healthcare deserts – those areas where men, women and their children don’t have ready access to primary care services such as pediatrics or gynecologic services or family practice. We have to find ways to bridge those gaps. I think that absolutely telehealth can help provide a bridge to these individuals. We’ll see what AI brings in the future. But again, technology can help bridge this gap. We absolutely must encourage and must increase the number of primary care physicians, family practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists and opticians and primary care nurses […] to help bridge this gap as well. Now that takes a while to spin that up. But in the interim, we have to find ways to bridge the gaps. We do have to use technology. I believe that I, as Assistant Secretary for Health, one of the things that I intend to do, if I’m privileged to be in that position, will be to be a true evangelist to really go out and encourage young men and women who are in medical school and nursing school to serve in these areas. Young men and women getting into healthcare, they want a mission. Wanna help them understand that that mission to serve our brothers and sisters in rural America and healthcare deserts is truly noble and is worthwhile.”

    TUBERVILLE: “And one thing we need to sell to in rural hospitals is loyalty to the people in these communities to go to these rural hospitals so we can save them. It’s not just that they’re not being served. It’s just we have to have loyalty in those areas. Thank you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Estes Op-ed Celebrates Historic Legislation to Restore Foundational Values and Support Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

    U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in the Daily Wire on why the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is the most pro-family, pro-life piece of legislation in American history. 

    “The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law,” wrote Rep. Estes. “It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country. But embedded in the wonky tax policy is a reflection of a larger American desire to return to the foundational values that made our country great. It’s a statement that the commitment to life and family is still a pillar of this nation.”

    Read the op-ed here or below.

    How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Make Big Beautiful Families

    Most of the conversation about the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act has rightly focused on the bill’s pro-growth economic reforms. But something that deserves more attention is the fact that the bill is the most pro-life and pro-family piece of legislation signed into law in decades.

    For years, the federal government has been funneling Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, skirting the Hyde Amendment and Congress’ intent. That is both wrong and a betrayal of taxpayers. Medicaid, a program meant to help protect and preserve life, should not be used to end it.

    The Big Beautiful Bill directly addresses this issue by prohibiting Medicaid funding from being directed to Planned Parenthood through Fiscal Year 2026, and allowing Congress essential time to permanently enshrine this in law. This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that states can block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood.

    The urgency of protecting life is underscored by recent data. In Kansas, birth rates have dropped to just 11.7 per 1,000 people, the lowest in more than a century. This mirrors a nationwide trend: in 2022, our birth rates hit a historic low of 1.67 births per woman, indicating that American families are simply not having enough children.

    For the United States to maintain economic and societal stability, experts assert that our country should have a birth rate of 2.1 births per woman. The long-term consequences of missing this marker are serious, from a shrinking workforce to a weakened social safety net. 

    Republicans in Congress addressed this issue in the Big Beautiful Bill Act by making meaningful adjustments to support American families. The legislation enhances and adjusts for inflation the Child Tax Credit (CTC), raising it to $2,200 per child and indexing it to inflation. The law also boosts the adoption tax credit by ensuring it will be partially refundable for up to $5,000 and similarly indexed for inflation. These provisions are significant victories for life, for children yet to be born and for families across America. 

    The law also supports families through newly-established Trump Accounts, which set up American children for success, providing a financial “welcome” of $1,000 to every newborn American citizen. Similar to a Health Savings Account or 529 education savings plan, Trump Accounts empower parents to make tax-free contributions over time that can eventually be used by the child for education, housing, health care or any other qualifying expense to jumpstart their entrance into adulthood. It also allows churches, charities and employers to contribute up to $5,000 a year to the accounts.

    As the former Kansas State Treasurer, I have a deep appreciation for programs that empower families to take control of their finances and build financial stability for their families’ well-being. The Trump Accounts encourage early and consistent saving, establishing the foundation for hardworking families and everyday Americans to develop generational wealth. 

    In addition, the Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the Employer-Provided Childcare Credit so that working families can afford quality early education while continuing to participate in the workforce. It also makes permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave so that families have a lifeline if the breadwinner becomes ill or in the case of a family emergency.

    The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law. It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Scott Perry Leads GOP Effort to Save Pennsylvania’s Chocolate

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

    Congressman Scott Perry Leads GOP Effort to Save Pennsylvania’s Chocolate

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cranial Drill Recall: Integra LifeSciences Recalls Codman Disposable Perforators Due to Risk of Device Disassembly

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it.
    Affected Product

    Product Name
    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)

    Codman Disposable Perforator 14 mm
    10381780513599

    Codman Craniotomy Kit Containing Disposable Perforator 14 mm, Cranio-blade, Wire Pass Drill
    10381780513629

    Lot/Serial Numbers: Full List of Affected Lots
    What to Do:

    Stop using and immediately quarantine all affected products.
    Review inventory and identify affected lot numbers using the provided lot list.

    On April 11, 2025, Integra LifeSciences sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification recommending the following actions:

    Stop using and quarantine all affected product immediately.
    Review your inventory and identify impacted lot numbers.
    Complete and return the appropriate Acknowledgement Form to Integra via email at FCA3@integralife.com or fax to 1-609-750-4220.
    Notify all appropriate clinical or distribution staff.
    Return affected product after receiving a Return Material Authorization (RMA). Credit will be provided for returned affected lots.

    Reason for Recall
    Integra LifeSciences is recalling specific Codman Disposable Perforators and Craniotomy Kits due to an inadequate ultrasonic weld (a “proud weld”) on the outer sleeve of the device. This weld defect may cause the perforator to disassemble before, during, or after use in craniotomy procedures. In some cases, the device may fail to disengage, preventing the device from stopping immediately.
    The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including damage to the dura, bleeding, brain injury, extended surgery, irreversible brain damage, and death.
    There have been 10 reported injuries including those from procedural delay, device becoming lodged in the patient’s skull during use, difficulty removing device fragments, bleeding, dural injury, and cerebral injury. There have been no reports of death.
    Device Use
    Codman Disposable Perforators are single-use surgical tools used in neurosurgical procedures to drill access holes into the skull. They are designed to automatically disengage once drilling is complete.
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Integra LifeSciences at 1-800-654-2873.
    Additional FDA Resources (listed in order of most to least recent):
    FDA’s Enforcement Report:

    Medical Device Recall Database:

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly. 

    How do I report a problem? 
    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. 

    Content current as of:
    07/16/2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Software Catalog Puts Agency Solutions at Innovators’ Fingertips

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s latest open Software Catalog, released Wednesday, offers more than 1,200 downloadable codes developed by agency engineers that could enable faster solutions to energize the space economy and stimulate American ingenuity. The catalog is part of NASA’s effort to place advanced technologies, including agency software, into the hands of businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs to foster economic growth and innovation.
    Agency developers will provide more information about the Software Catalog, the only repository of its kind in the federal government, during NASA’s summer software webinar series beginning Tuesday, July 22.
    “NASA has droves of talented experts creating software to automate elements of agency missions,” said Dan Lockney, program executive, Technology Transfer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The resulting efficiency benefits humankind, and its public value increases exponentially when the agency provides access to those software programs for companies, enabling them to save time and money, improve commercial offerings, and build their businesses.”
    The four webinars accompanying this year’s NASA Software Catalog feature developers of popular programs for mission planning, systems design, propulsion analysis, and more, each consisting of a presentation followed by a live question-and-answer session.
    Programs offered in NASA’s 2025-2026 Software Catalog are grouped into 15 categories that may be useful for organizations working with spacecraft and aircraft. For example, the Vehicle Management category includes a tool for designing satellite constellations and a software library for minimizing public safety risks around expendable launch vehicles. The Aeronautics section includes several programs that are widely used by industry for creating, modifying, and analyzing aircraft designs.
    Although the categories have specific themes, the codes are meant to be useful to various innovators. Companies can use aircraft programs NASA wrote to design cars, trucks, and countless other products. The catalog’s Business Systems and Project Management section includes software for estimating project costs, building and assessing complex schedules, and uncovering root causes of mishaps. Other popular programs support 3D rendering for simulation and virtual reality, bring hyper-accuracy to GPS tracking, and analyze electrical power system architectures.
    NASA released its first Software Catalog more than a decade ago in 2013, and since then, the agency’s annual rate of software downloads has skyrocketed, reaching up to 5,722 downloads in a single year.
    The Software Catalog is a product of NASA’s Technology Transfer program, managed by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA routinely makes improvements to the Software Catalog website, ensuring the process is fast and easy. Access restrictions apply to some software that may be limited to use by U.S. citizens or for U.S. government purposes only.
    View and learn more about NASA’s Software Catalog by visiting:
    https://software.nasa.gov
    -end-
    Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington321-432-4624jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aurora Australis

    Source: NASA

    The aurora australis arcs above a partly cloudy Indian Ocean in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 269 miles above in between Australia and Antarctica on June 12, 2025.
    Astronauts aboard the space station take photos using handheld digital cameras, usually through windows in the station’s cupola, for Crew Earth Observations. Crew members have produced hundreds of thousands of images of the Moon and Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere.
    Image credit: NASA/Nichole Ayers

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Sees Key Progress on Starlab Commercial Space Station

    Source: NASA

    As NASA continues its transition toward a commercial low Earth orbit marketplace, an agency-supported commercial space station, Starlab, recently completed five development and design milestones. Starlab’s planned design consists of a service module and a habitat that will be launched to orbit on a single flight.
    The milestones, part of a NASA Space Act Agreement awarded in 2021, focused on reviews of Starlab’s preliminary design and safety, as well as spacecraft mockup and procurement plans. Each milestone provides NASA insight into the company’s development progress.
    “As we work toward the future of low Earth orbit, these milestones demonstrate Starlab’s dedication to building a commercial space station that can support human life and advance scientific research,” said Angela Hart, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Both the insight shared by Starlab and the expertise shared by NASA are critical to future mission success.”
    Starlab recently completed a preliminary design and safety review of its station’s architecture and systems. The company now will begin detailed design and hardware development, culminating in a critical design review later this year. Critical design reviews are an important step in a station’s development, assessing design maturity before proceeding with fabrication and assembly.

    Starlab also has begun construction of a full-scale, high-fidelity mockup of the station. The mockup, which will be housed in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA Johnson, will be used for human-in-the-loop testing, during which participants perform day-in-the-life walkthroughs and evaluate the interior design, crew training, procedure development, hardware checks, and in-flight issue resolution.
    In addition, Starlab completed reviews of the system design architecture, procurement plan, and Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft docking system design. In 2023, Northrop Grumman teamed up with Starlab to provide cargo logistics services and engineering consultation to support the commercial space station. These reviews included design configuration updates of solar arrays, docking ports, crew quarters, and more.
    NASA supports the design and development of multiple commercial space stations through funded and unfunded agreements. Following the design and development phase, NASA plans to procure services from one or more companies as part of its strategy to become one of many customers for low Earth orbit stations.
    Learn more about commercial space stations at:
    www.nasa.gov/commercialspacestations

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Citizen Science and Your Career: Stories of Exoplanet Watch Volunteers

    Source: NASA

    Doing NASA Science brings many rewards. But can taking part in NASA citizen science help your career? To find out, we asked participants in NASA’s Exoplanet Watch project about their experiences. In this project, amateur astronomers work together with professionals to track planets around other stars.
    First, we heard from professional software programmers. Right away, one of them told us about getting a new job through connections made in the project.
    “I decided to create the exoplanet plugin, [for citizen science] since it was quite a lot of manual work to check which transits were available for your location. The exoplanet plugin and its users got me in contact with the Stellar group… Through this group, I got into contact with a company called OurSky and started working for them… the point is, I created a couple of plugins for free and eventually got a job at an awesome company.”
    Another participant talked about honing their skills and growing their confidence through Exoplanet Watch.
    “There were a few years when I wasn’t actively coding. However, Exoplanet Watch rekindled that spark…. Participating in Exoplanet Watch even gave me the confidence to prepare again for a technical interview at Meta—despite having been thoroughly defeated the first time I tried.”
    Teachers and teaching faculty told us how Exoplanet Watch gives them the ability to better convey what scientific research is all about – and how the project motivates students! 
    “Exoplanet Watch makes it easy for undergraduate students to gain experience in data science and Python, which are absolutely necessary for graduate school and many industry jobs.”
    “Experience with this collaborative work is a vital piece of the workforce development of our students who are seeking advanced STEM-related careers or ongoing education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) fields after graduation… Exoplanet Watch, in this way, is directly training NASA’s STEM workforce of tomorrow by allowing CUNY (The City University of New York) students to achieve the science goals that would otherwise be much more difficult without its resources.”
    One aspiring academic shared how her participation on the science team side of the project has given her research and mentorship experience that strengthens her resume. 
    “I ended up joining the EpW team to contribute my expertise in stellar variability… My involvement with Exoplanet Watch has provided me with invaluable experience in mentoring a broad range of astronomy enthusiasts and working in a collaborative environment with people from around the world. … Being able to train others, interact in a team environment, and work independently are all critical skills in any work environment, but these specific experiences have also been incredibly valuable towards building my portfolio as I search for faculty positions around the USA.”
    There are no guarantees, of course. What you get out of NASA citizen science depends on what you put in. But there is certainly magic to be found in the Exoplanet Watch project.  As one student said:
    “Help will always be found at Hogwarts, to those who need it.” Exoplanet Watch was definitely Hogwarts for me in my career as an astronomer!”
    For more information about NASA and your career, check out NASA’s Surprisingly STEM series highlighting exciting and unexpected jobs at NASA, or come to NASA Career Day, a virtual event for students and educators. Participants must register by September 4, 2025. The interactive platform will be open from September 15-19, with live panels and events taking place on September 18.

    Exoplanet Watch volunteer Bryan Martin
    Credit: Bryan Martin

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ejection Mechanism Design for the SPEED Test Architecture

    Source: NASA

    The The Stratospheric Projectile Entry Experiment on Dynamics (SPEED), a two-stage stratospheric drop test architecture, is currently under development to bridge the state-of-the-art gap that many NASA flagship missions require to reduce system risk and enable more optimized designs via margin reduction. To do this, a two-stage vehicle will drop from a high-altitude balloon and use the first stage (an LV-Haack cone aeroshell) to accelerate the sub-scale test model to supersonic conditions. The onboard avionics will then release the test model into freestream flow at the proper altitude in Earth’s atmosphere for dynamic Mach scaling to the full-scale flight trajectory. SPEED leverages low-cost methods of manufacturing such as 3D printing and laser/water-jet cutting to enable 8 or more two-stage vehicles to be dropped in a single test, making the science-to-dollar density much higher than any current ground-test facility NASA has at its disposal. The goal is to develop a robust ejection system that can reliably introduce the test models into supersonic flow with a tight variance on initial condition perturbation. The separation system must be capable of handling a range of initial angle-of-attacks, keep the test model secure in the first stage during take-off and descent, and eject the test model in such a way that it does not linger behind the first stage and be affected by the resulting wake. As current ejection system designs are conceptual, complex, and untested, NASA is looking for alternative ideas that can be incorporated into the design of their next iteration of SPEED flight vehicles to increase system reliability. We are challenging the public to design innovative concepts for a separation mechanism that can be used to assess NASA and commercial reentry vehicle stability.
    Award: $7,000 in total prizes
    Open Date: July 14, 2025
    Close Date: September 8, 2025
    For more information, visit: https://grabcad.com/challenges/ejection-mechanism-design-for-the-speed-test-architecture

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Funds Early Career Employee Research

    Source: NASA

    Sylvie Crowell, a materials researcher at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, has received a NASA Early Career Initiative (ECI) award for a research proposal titled “Lunar Dust Reduction through Electrostatic Adhesion Mitigation (L-DREAM).” The research focuses on developing a passive lunar dust mitigation coating for solar cells and thermal control surfaces. 
    Operated under the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, the award will fund Crowell’s research in fiscal year 2026, beginning Oct. 1, 2025.  
    NASA’s ECI is a unique opportunity for the best and brightest of NASA’s early career researchers to lead hands-on technology development projects. The initiative aims to invigorate NASA’s technological base and best practices by partnering early career NASA leaders with external innovators. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Glenn Experts Join Baseball Fans in Omaha

    Source: NASA

    Thousands of baseball fans travel across the country annually to watch teams compete in Omaha, Nebraska, during the NCAA Men’s College World Series in June. This year, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland swung for the fences to celebrate the city’s Diamond Anniversary of hosting the event and to highlight the intersections of sports and STEM.  

    As part of a larger outreach program across the region, NASA Glenn, the only NASA center in the Midwest, continues to meet audiences where they are to make space relatable to all.  
    “We brought NASA to Omaha during the College World Series to connect with a broader audience through one of the country’s most celebrated sporting events,” said NASA Glenn Public Engagement Specialist Heather Brown, who led the event. “Our goal was to spark curiosity, inspire the next generation, and demonstrate how science and exploration intersect with everyday passions — like baseball.” 

    Situated next to the Kiewit Luminarium on the Lewis and Clark Landing of Omaha’s RiverFront, NASA Glenn engaged fans with Artemis-themed displays, interactive kiosks, a Space Launch System inflatable rocket, and the 53-foot Journey to Tomorrow traveling exhibit. In addition, Omaha-born NASA Flight Director Brandon Lloyd greeted visitors and participated in an event at the Branched Oak Observatory, where a large crowd of space enthusiasts asked questions and learned more about NASA’s missions.  
    “This was an incredible opportunity to tell NASA’s story and showcase our work in a setting that was already energized and ready to engage,” Brown said. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Glenn Announces 2025 Drop Tower Challenge Winners 

    Source: NASA

    Nineteen teams of students from across the nation in grades 8-12 worked for months in classrooms, labs, basements, and garages for the opportunity to test their projects at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. This spring, the teams’ hard work was put to the test in the 2.2 Second Drop Tower facility at NASA Glenn.  
    The “2025 Drop Tower Challenge: Paddle Wheel” invited teams to design and build paddle wheels that rotate in water during free fall. The wheels could not rotate by mechanical means. A better understanding of fluid behavior in microgravity could improve spacecraft systems for cooling, life support, and propellants.

    Based on test performance, analyses, reports, the students’ approach to the challenge, and more, the following teams have been identified as the winners:  

    First Place: Arth Murarka, Umar Khan, Ishaan Joshi, Alden Al-Mehdi, Rohnin Qureshi, and Omy Gokul (advised by David Dutton), Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, California  

    Second Place: Emma Lai, Keaton Dean, and Oliver Lai (advised by Stephen Lai), Houston, Texas  

    Third Place: Chloe Benner, Ananya Bhatt, and Surabhi Gupta (advised by SueEllen Thomas), Pennridge High School, Perkasie, Pennsylvania 

    “We’re impressed with the variety of designs students submitted for testing in Glenn’s drop tower,” said Nancy Hall, co-lead for the 2025 Drop Tower Challenge. “The teams showed significant creativity and background research through their paddle wheel designs and analysis of results.”  
    Students from Bellarmine College Preparatory shared how they navigated through the process to earn first place. Using NASA guidelines and resources available to assist students with the challenge, the team submitted a research proposal, including two 3D designs. Learning their team was selected, they reviewed feedback from the NASA staff and set to work.  

    To start, students stressed that they conducted a large amount of research and testing of materials to use in their paddle wheels before deciding on the final design.  
    “I learned that something doesn’t need to be super expensive or complex to work,” said student Umar Khan. “We found that white board sheets or packing peanuts — just household items — can be effective [in the design].”  
    Student Arth Murarka added, “Our original design looks a lot different from the final.” 
    Bellarmine staff member and team advisor David Dutton helped the students get organized in the beginning of the process, but said they worked independently through much of the project.  

    Once the design was finalized, the team shipped their hardware to NASA Glenn. NASA technicians then tested how the paddle wheels performed in the drop tower, which is used for microgravity experiments.
    Students said they studied concepts including capillary physics and fluid dynamics. They also learned how to write a research paper, which they said they will appreciate in the future.  
    The team dedicated a lot of time to the project, meeting daily and on weekends. 
    “We learned a lot of useful skills and had a lot of fun,” Murarka said. “It was definitely worth it.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Trump cut to LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, California steps up to fill the gap

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 16, 2025

    What you need to know: On July 17, the LGBTQ support option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will end thanks to the Trump administration – but California is stepping up and doubling down on life-saving support for young gay people in crisis. 

    LOS ANGELES – Just weeks after the Trump administration announced that they would eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, California is taking action to improve behavioral health services and provide even more affirming and inclusive care. Through a new partnership with The Trevor Project, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will provide the state’s 988 crisis counselors enhanced competency training from experts, ensuring better attunement to the needs of LGBTQ youth, on top of the specific training they already receive.

    This partnership builds on existing collaborations, like those under California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, and reflects a shared commitment to evidence-based, LGBTQ+ affirming crisis care. Callers to 988 will continue to be met with the highest level of understanding, respect, and affirmation when they reach out for help.

    “While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we’re here for you. We’re proud to work with the Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “To every young person who identifies as LGBTQ+: You matter. You are not alone. California will continue to show up for you with care, with compassion, and with action,” said Kim Johnson, Secretary of CalHHS. “Through this partnership, California will continue to lead, providing enhanced support for these young people.”

    “There could not be a more stark reminder of the moral bankruptcy of this Administration than cutting off suicide prevention resources for LGQBT youth. These are young people reaching out in their time of deepest crisis—andI’m proud of California’s work to partner with the Trevor Project to creatively address this need. No matter what this Administration throws at us, I know this state will always meet cruelty with kindness and stand up for what’s right,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

    California’s crisis call centers

    Across California, twelve 988 call centers remain staffed around the clock by trained crisis counselors, ready to support anyone in behavioral health crises, including LGBTQ youth.

    If you, a friend, or a loved one are in crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call, chat, or text 988 and be immediately connected to skilled counselors at all times. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth are also available via The Trevor Project hotline at 1‑866‑488‑7386, which continues as a state-endorsed access point.
     

    State supports

    California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a key component of Governor’ Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, offers behavioral health services and supports for children, youth, and families.  In addition to focused messaging for LGBTQ youth within three ongoing statewide youth mental health campaigns, CYBHI has funded more than a dozen community organizations to provide targeted services for LGBTQ youth by establishing or expanding LGBTQ community spaces, increasing workforce supports, reducing behavioral health stigma, and raising awareness about suicide prevention. 

    Additional free continuum-of-care services are available to help address concerns before they become crises, including peer support through CalHOPE and virtual behavioral health services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna. These resources are available for all California youth, young adults, and families, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

    Why this matters

    LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and without affirming services, their risk increases dramatically. Since its launch in 2022, the 988 LGBTQ+ “Press 3” line connected more than 1.5 million in crisis.

    How to get help 

    Call, text or chat 988 at any time to be connected with trained crisis counselors.

    Text PRIDE, or dial 1‑866‑488‑7386, to reach Trevor Project specialists.

    Visit CalHOPE for non-crisis peer and family support.

    Recent news

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two MS-13 Members Sentenced for Racketeering

    Source: US FBI

    Defendants responsible for murder in Chelsea, Mass. in 2010

    BOSTON – Two members of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their roles in a previously-unsolved murder.

    Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “Cholo,” a/k/a “Little Crazy,” 31, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Vasquez pleaded guilty to violent crime in aid of racketeering. Vasquez was already serving a 212-month prison sentence for a May 2018 federal conviction for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. In total, Vasquez will serve a total of 37 years for his MS-13-related crimes.

    William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, a Salvadoran national who was unlawfully residing in Everett, was sentenced by Judge Young to 16 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2023, Pineda Portillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy.

    Pineda Portillo and Vazquez were indicted by a federal grand jury along with other MS-13 members in September 2024. Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, the victim was found with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.  

    In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a vehicle registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under an on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.

    An undercover recording obtained approximately six weeks after the murder, captured one MS-13 member acknowledging his participation in the murder and other gang members disciplining him for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission.

    Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to a cooperating witness, in exchange for money. On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.”

    Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. Shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Effect of the emissions trading system on the attractiveness of the outermost regions for air and sea transport – the case of Guadeloupe – E-001915/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the permanent constraints faced by the outermost regions, notably their heavy dependence on air and sea transport. This is why these regions benefit from specific conditions under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS[1]).

    Nearly 100%[2] of all the emissions from flights to/from Guadeloupe are connected to France and therefore not priced under the ETS before 2031[3].

    Despite these flights not being subject to carbon pricing, the ETS provides a higher level of support when sustainable aviation fuels[4] are uplifted at airports in outermost regions, when 100% of the cost difference with traditional kerosene is covered.

    Similarly, until end of 2030, the ETS imposes no surrendering obligation for maritime transport emissions from voyages between a port in an outermost region and a port in the same Member State.

    The FuelEU Maritime Regulation[5] also covers only half of the voyages to/from outermost regions, and Member States can fully exempt voyages between two outermost regions until 2029.

    The Commission is carefully monitoring the implementation of the ETS and FuelEU in relation to maritime, taking due account of outermost regions.

    The first Commission report[6] does not find any evidence of major changes in the market being directly attributable to the introduction of the ETS — including for outermost regions. The Commission will continue its monitoring activities and propose, if necessary, measures to ensure the effective implementation of the ETS.

    In terms of support mechanisms, Member States are required to use all revenues generated by the ETS to tackle climate change, including in outermost regions. Several other EU instruments include favourable conditions for these regions to address their transport needs[7].

    • [1] Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
    • [2] Eurocontrol data indicates that, in 2024, the emissions from flights to and from Guadeloupe were 98.7% domestic.
    • [3] Flights to/from an outermost region within the same Member State are exempt, thus no additional costs stem from the application of the ETS.
    • [4] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/7eace0de-fbc8-46c5-b52c-80d50f406c58_en?filename=policy_transport_aviation_airport_100_support_en.pdf.
    • [5] Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, p. 48, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj).
    • [6]  COM(2025) 110 final — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0110.
    • [7] The European Regional Development Fund supports airport infrastructure and compensates for their higher operating costs. The Connecting Europe Facility supports transport infrastructure with higher co-financing rates in these regions. Moreover, several Public Service Obligations ensure connectivity with outermost regions. Social aid schemes support air transport for residents of remote regions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Young, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Investment in Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 16, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R–IN), Ruben Gallego (D–AZ) and Jim Risch (R–ID) in reintroducing the Investing in Main Street Act to increase investment in small businesses by permitting banks to invest up to 15 percent of their capital in Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC). 

    “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy—when they grow, our economy grows,” said Duckworth. “Yet too many small business owners have trouble accessing affordable capital to grow their business and create new jobs in their communities. I am proud to join Senators Young, Risch and Gallego in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help get more dollars in the hands of small business owners in Illinois and across our nation.”

    “The Small Business Investment Company program has provided critical support to countless Hoosier small businesses,” said Young. “Our legislation will help spur further investment in innovative startups and unlock capital for existing, high-growth small businesses across America.”

    “Starting a small business gives those willing to work hard a shot at achieving the American dream. But without access to capital, it’s nearly impossible to get a small business off the ground,” said Gallego. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill helps unlock more capital for Main Street, empowering small businesses across the country to grow, innovate and create jobs. I’m proud to introduce it with my colleagues.”

    “Idaho small businesses fuel our economy, employ our friends and family and are the lifeblood of our communities,” said Risch. “The Investing in Main Street Act supports our Gem State entrepreneurs’ access to early-stage capital by allowing banks to invest more into Small Business Investment Companies.”

    In 1958, the Small Business Administration launched the SBIC program to facilitate and regulate investment from privately owned companies to U.S. small businesses. This program has successfully allowed more small businesses across America to expand their competitive edge, create more jobs and contribute to the local economy.

    Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Stresses Urgent Need to Modernize Our Air Traffic Control Systems at Summit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 15, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee—today underscored both the long-term and immediate actions the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must take to improve and modernize our air traffic control systems in order to safeguard our aviation system and the flying public. At today’s Air Traffic Control Modernization Summit hosted by aviation industry stakeholders, Duckworth also emphasized her grave concerns over the Trump Administration firing hundreds of FAA employees and appointing a new FAA Administrator with an established track record of opposing the 1,500-hour pilot training standard, which is critical to ensuring our nation’s pilots are experienced and prepared for any scenario. Photos of the event can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    “The deadly DCA crash, spike in near misses and air traffic control equipment outages our nation has seen are terrifying, but they are not surprising,” said Duckworth. “I’ve been sounding the alarm about close calls and aging equipment for years because the urgent need to overhaul our air traffic control systems, which will take years, has been so clear for so long. But in addition to that long-term overhaul, FAA needs to ensure our current system remains safe—not fire hundreds of staff or reduce our nation’s pilot training gold standard.”

    For years, Duckworth has been sounding the alarm that we must make these critical aviation safety investments immediately to prevent all-too-often near-misses from becoming catastrophic tragedies. Last Congress, Duckworth chaired two CST Aviation Subcommittee hearings—one last December and the other a year prior—to address our aviation industry’s chilling surge in near-deadly close calls and underscore the urgent need to improve air traffic control systems to protect the flying public.

    Last week, Duckworth voted against the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA Administrator after he refused to commit to upholding the 1,500-hour rule when she pressed him on the issue during his nomination hearing. Duckworth criticized Bedford for leaving the door open for him to unilaterally attempt to weaken this standard and produce less-prepared pilots despite the serious challenges our nation is facing with regard to aviation safety.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Budd, Justice, Hawley, Ricketts Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency of Foreign Funds Fueling Left-Wing Agitators

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    FRONT Act would require U.S. nonprofits to register under FARA if they accept funds from hostile nations

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led his colleagues in introducing the Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency (FRONT) Act today, which would require nonprofits in the United States that receive funding from foreign principals in countries of concern, such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill would also require nonprofits to disclose the activities they use foreign funds to engage in to mitigate future unrest.

    “There are serious indicators recent left-wing riots, protests, and rallies resulting in violence and political unrest are funded by foreign agitators. It’s time for American nonprofit organizations to be transparent about where they are getting their funding from. No foreign country with hostile intentions should be meddling in our democratic process. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the FRONT Act to increase transparency and help put a stop to this,” said Senator Budd.

    “Let me just say this and be clear: foreign influence in our country’s nonprofits ends now. The FRONT Act ensures that any money coming from our adversaries, like China, will be fully disclosed. This bill is common-sense, provides much needed transparency, and I’m proud to join Senator Budd in this effort,” said Senator Justice.

    “I am concerned that U.S. non-profits are receiving foreign funding from our adversaries and countries of concern. Senator Budd’s FRONT Act hardens the United States’ ability to monitor potentially malign influence of non-profits from foreign adversaries. In order to stop adversaries such as Communist China, Russia, and Iran, we must have the tools to better understand their efforts to infiltrate our American system and influence our institutions,” said Senator Ricketts.

    Senators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) joined Senator Budd in introducing the bill.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    Recent civil unrest has raised alarms about possible foreign influence impacting U.S. nonprofits that organize and provide material support for protests.

    For example, when it comes to riots against ICE enforcement operations, FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly stated, “The FBI is investigating any and all monetary connections responsible for these riots.” Reports have also indicated that “[the] socialist group [which] promoted the chaotic anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles…is tied to a network of groups bankrolled by a pro-China millionaire.”

    But this is just the surface of a deeply troubling trend of foreign interference in our political processes. As former Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines claimed, “We have observed actors tied to Iran’s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters,” following the October 7 attacks.

    What we’re witnessing is not isolated. Safeguarding our political system from continued foreign interference must be a top national security priority to protect the integrity of our democracy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on the Murder of Saifullah Kamel Musallet

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    July 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) issued a statement following reports of the horrific murder of Florida resident, Saifullah Kamel Musallet, a Palestinian-American visiting family in the West Bank.

    In a statement, Rep. Frost says:

    “The horrific and cold-blooded murder of an American citizen by Israeli settlers in the West Bank cannot be ignored. Saifullah Kamel Musallet, a Palestinian-American and Floridian, was brutally murdered, and his attackers reportedly deliberately obstructed medical assistance to ensure he would die.

    “The loss of his life serves as a stark reminder of the pain, suffering, and conflict ongoing in the West Bank and Gaza.

    “As our country’s self-proclaimed peacekeeper, Donald Trump has a moral and constitutional obligation to direct the Department of State to conduct a thorough investigation and, more importantly, to demand full justice and accountability for those responsible for this heinous act. Our country must ensure the protection and safety of Americans abroad.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maxwell Frost Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Public Transit and Lower Bus Procurement Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    July 16, 2025

    Frost’s Transit Bus Affordability Act Would Empower the Federal Government to Help Cities Purchase Buses More Efficiently and Expand Local Transit Access

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH) introduced the Transit Bus Affordability Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at helping local transit agencies and bus manufacturers find ways to reduce the cost of new buses in order to meet the growing demand for bus ridership.

    The legislation comes at a pivotal moment: in 2024, Americans took 7.7 billion public transportation trips – nearly half a billion more than the previous year – marking a 25% increase in ridership since 2022. To meet this rising demand and better serve existing riders, communities need more buses. But steep and rising prices are making that difficult. Today, a single transit bus can cost upwards of $1 million, with average prices hovering around $800,000.

    Despite the severity of the issue, there has been little federal-level analysis or strategy to reduce transit bus procurement costs. The Transit Bus Affordability Act would change that as the bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and analyze the current drivers of transit bus costs and recommend actionable strategies to reduce them.

    “Public transit is a lifeline for folks who depend on these services to get to work, school, doctor appointments, and more,” said Rep. Frost. “But the rising cost for a city or town to purchase a single bus is holding back local transit agencies from meeting demand and expanding service. This bill is a first step toward understanding the root of the problem and driving down costs so that communities can invest in more reliable, affordable transit options.”

    “As the former Mayor of Dayton, I understand the burden procurement costs place on local transit agencies, which subsequently impact the availability and reliability for riders,” said Congressman Turner. “That is why I am proud to work with Rep. Frost on the Transit Bus Affordability Act. Our bipartisan legislation will help inform lawmakers on the federal, state and local levels on options to lower bus costs – which will ultimately lead to savings-generating strategies for transit agencies providing essential services to riders in communities like Dayton and those across the country.”

    The bill is endorsed by The Bus Coalition, GILLIG, and ABC Companies.

    “At ABC Companies, our commitment to advancing safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation spans the full spectrum of passenger mobility, from public transit to private motorcoach fleets. We proudly endorse the Transit Bus Affordability Act and commend Representatives Frost and Turner for their bold, bipartisan leadership. With more than five decades of experience serving operators across North America, we understand the cost pressures and operational challenges transportation providers face every day. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) study presents an important opportunity to explore practical and scalable solutions that can help make modern transportation more accessible and cost-effective for the communities that depend on it,” said Jay Oakman, Chief Operating Officer, ABC Companies.

    “Simply put, transit buses are too expensive, and it takes too long for new buses to hit the road. The Transit Bus Affordability Act is an essential tool to help us better understand how to stretch federal dollars further, streamline the procurement process, and incentivize competition in the bus manufacturing marketplace. The Bus Coalition applauds Representatives Frost and Turner for introducing a commonsense bill to objectively examine the bus market and identify the impediments to a more efficient and cost-effective procurement system. We need this legislation to foster a healthy marketplace—and ultimately to make transit more affordable and accessible for riders across the country,” said Ed Redfern, Executive Director, The Bus Coalition.

    The Transit Bus Affordability Act instructs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the factors responsible for the current costs of transit bus manufacturing and procurement in order to recommend ways to mitigate those costs. The review must look at several factors including:

    • Cost drivers in design and procurement; 
    • How transit bus costs and prices in the United States compare with those in other countries;
    • How transit bus costs compare with the manufacturing of other large vehicles; and
    • Steps taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the states, transit agencies, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to reduce costs and accelerate delivery times.

    As this work is already within GAO’s mandate, this legislation has no budgetary impact while offering a path toward cost savings, economic growth, and more effective use of local, state, and federal taxpayer dollars.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Clyde & McCormick Introduce Legislation to Help Keep Lake Lanier Parks Open

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and Rich McCormick (GA-07) introduced the Lanier Parks Local Access Act to allow local partners that manage multiple recreation sites at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works project to use collected user fees across all sites they oversee at that project, rather than being limited to spending the fees only at the specific site where the funds were collected. Both Members represent and serve portions of Lake Lanier.

     

    Constructed by the USACE in the 1950s, Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas, including 37 Corps-operated parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas, and the Lake Lanier Islands. The remaining sites are leased to local governments or other organizations.

     

    “I’ve long fought to protect Lake Lanier, including against misguided efforts to rename the lake as well as recent temporary closures of parks and boat ramps,” said Clyde. “Expanding local governments’ authority over user fees provides a strong incentive for cities and counties to lease recreational sites from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, therefore ensuring more areas remain open. I’m confident that my legislation offers a simple yet effective solution to help keep Lake Lanier parks open, safe, and well-maintained for residents and visitors alike.”

     

    “I’m proud to join Rep. Clyde in supporting the Lanier Parks Local Access Act, a commonsense piece of legislation that empowers local governments with the flexibility they need to effectively manage and maintain public recreation sites,” said McCormick. “This bill ensures that user fees work smarter, not harder, to keep our parks accessible, safe, and clean. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Rep. Clyde to support strong community spaces for families and visitors to enjoy!”

     

    Bill text of the Lanier Parks Local Access Act is available HERE.

     

    Background

     

    Due to staffing shortages, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been unable to keep all its recreation sites on Lake Lanier open and well-maintained. While some parks have reopened in recent weeks due to Reps. Clyde and McCormick’s efforts, the two partnered on legislation to provide a permanent solution to help keep these sites open and avoid additional closures in the future.

     

    Current law enables local governments to keep user fees they collect, but only if the funds are used at the same park where they were collected. This creates issues for day use parks that don’t charge fees. Therefore, local governments are less likely to manage these sites given there are no funds available to support their upkeep.

     

    The Lanier Parks Local Access Act fixes this problem by allowing local partners to use collected fees for any park or facility within the project site. This solution provides local governments with more flexibility to keep all public recreation sites open, safe, and clean — regardless of whether the area charges fees.

     

    While the legislation delivers this commonsense solution to any local government managing recreation sites or facilities located at a USACE-operated civil works project, the bill bears Lake Lanier’s name given the tremendous impact it would have on the lake and surrounding communities. Reps. Clyde and McCormick both represent portions of Lake Lanier, which is the most-visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Works to Reform Our Nation’s Immigration System

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Rep. Salazar (FL-27), Rep. Escobar (TX-16), and a bipartisan delegation of 17 members to introduce the Dignity Act of 2025. This bill creates the Dignity Program, which offers a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for 5 years or more (since before 2021) and can meet certain other requirements, including the ability to pass a criminal background check. Once completed, they will be granted legal status, allowing them to live and work in the United States.

    Congressman Valadao was a co-sponsor of the Dignity Act in the 118th Congress.

    “It’s past time for Congress to pass reasonable immigration reform that restores law and order while recognizing the contributions of undocumented immigrants who have built their lives here,” said Congressman Valadao. “In the Valley there are many people who have lived and worked peacefully for years, and they deserve a fair opportunity to earn legal status. The Dignity Act is a bipartisan step toward fixing our broken immigration system and delivering the reforms our communities need, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in support.”

    “The Dignity Act of 2025 is a revolutionary bill that offers the solution to our immigration crisis: secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and provide an earned opportunity for long-term immigrants to stay here and work,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “No amnesty. No handouts. No citizenship. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.”

    “I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of our broken immigration system, and as a member of Congress, I take seriously my obligation to propose a solution. Realistic, common-sense compromise is achievable, and is especially important given the urgency of this moment. I consider the Dignity Act of 2025 a critical first step to overhauling this broken system,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Immigrants – especially those who have been in the United States for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy. The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents; and, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms. We can enact legislation that incorporates both humanity and security, and the Dignity Act of 2025 offers a balanced approach that restores dignity to people who have tried to navigate a broken system for far too long. The reintroduction of this legislation includes changes that reflect the challenges in today’s political environment. I’m proud of my bipartisan work with Representative Salazar, who has been a strong partner on this issue since December 2022. It is our hope that Congress seizes the opportunity to take an important step forward on this issue.”

    Key provisions of the Dignity Act include:

    • Grants legal status and a path to permanent residency for Dreamers. 
    • Supports American industries—including agriculture—by addressing labor shortages.
    • Takes steps toward legal immigration reform by updating visa categories to align with 21st century needs.
    • Reduces backlogs for high-skilled Employment Based (EB) worker visas.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez Blasts Outrageous Probe, Subpoenas Border Czar Homan, Governor DeSantis, Secretary Rubio for their Unlawful Anti-Immigrant Campaign

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    Washington, IL — Today, during a House Homeland Security Committee Hearing,  Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) blasted Republicans’ reckless and ill-intentioned probe into non-profit service organizations, which persecute organizations that have provided duly authorized, law-abiding services in an effort to intimidate organizations and suppress dissent. 

    While Republicans seek to drag nonprofit organizations for their lawful work, Ramirez and her colleagues demanded that Administration officials come to the committee and account for their complicity in unlawful activities, including:

    • enabling racial profiling by ICE, 
    • misusing federal funding for the construction of a mega prison, 
    • and back-door deals with third-party countries for deportations. 

    To that end, Congresswoman Ramirez moved to subpoena Border Czar Thomas Douglas Homan, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio.

    “Today, Republicans will lie and gaslight us to help their fascist boss suppress dissent. Who drags the reputations of essential non-profits in our communities? I’ll tell you who – authoritarians, bullies, weak wanna be kings who are scared of civil society,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Today’s hearing is unserious, especially since the illegal and unlawful activities are actually being perpetrated by the people in the White House, Cabinet, and Republican leadership. Enough is enough. We demand that Border Czar Homan, Governor DeSantis, and Secretary Rubio come and testify before this committee.”

    Watch her full remarks here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Introduces Legislation to End ICE Targeting of US Citizens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is introducing legislation to formally block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens. 

    “ICE is acting like a rogue force, kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets with no due process,” said Jayapal. “When ICE is conducting immigration enforcement, arresting and detaining U.S. citizens is illegal — and deporting U.S. citizens is illegal, full stop. But since Trump took over, ICE has been consistently breaking these laws and going after U.S. citizens, including young children. Congress must act to make it abundantly clear, with absolutely no grey area, that ICE cannot do this and ensure that agents who do act outside of their authority are held accountable.”

    Since Trump returned to office, multiple reports have surfaced of U.S. citizens being wrongfully arrested, detained, and deported. One citizen, a 19-year-old, was held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 10 days after he suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital without his ID. He approached a Border Patrol agent asking for help, and instead was held for over a week under the false claim that he was a Mexican national. Two U.S. citizen children were also deported to Honduras after their mother was taken by ICE when she showed up for a regular check-in. Another family experienced the exact same situation when their two-year-old was deported with her mother, who was attending a regular check-in. And in the recent California ICE raids, a 25-year-old disabled veteran who is a US citizen was detained and held for three days without access to legal representation or any charges against him.

    ICE has no authority to arrest, detain, or deport U.S. citizens. Their own internal guidance states, “As a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.” U.S. citizens also cannot be deported under U.S. law. 

    The Stop ICE from Kidnapping US Citizens Act is sponsored by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-30), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

    Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal, Cisneros Reintroduce Bill Allowing DACA Recipients to Join the Military

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Gil Cisneros (D-CA-31) reintroduced the Fight for the American Dream Act, legislation that allows participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program to serve in the United States military and provides them a pathway toward U.S. citizenship after their service.

    “I’m a proud immigrant and a proud U.S. Marine. Serving in our armed forces was an honor, but DACA recipients don’t have that option,” said Rep. Carbajal. “That’s why I’m proud to partner with my colleague, Congressman Cisneros, on this commonsense bill to provide a clear, stable pathway toward citizenship for DACA recipients who want to serve the country they already call home.”

    “I championed this legislation as the Under Secretary of Defense and I will continue to be a champion for it as a member of Congress,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Our military is made up of people from all backgrounds, united by the desire to protect and serve our nation. DACA recipients, who call this country home, want to contribute and make our country better.  One of the best ways they can do that is by joining the United States Armed Forces.”

    Currently, DACA recipients are barred from joining the U.S. military. The Fight for the American Dream Act would reverse that restriction. Under this Act, Dreamers who are honorably discharged after their service would be given a pathway to grant them U.S. citizenship.

    To read the full bill text, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 1685

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 1685

    Mesoscale Discussion 1685
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1240 PM CDT Wed Jul 16 2025

    Areas affected…Central/Southern OH into Far Northern KY

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch unlikely

    Valid 161740Z – 161945Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…20 percent

    SUMMARY…Increasing thunderstorm coverage is expected across
    central/southern Ohio and far northern Kentucky this afternoon.
    Isolated damaging gusts are possible with a few of these
    thunderstorm clusters.

    DISCUSSION…Thunderstorm coverage is expected to increase across
    central/southern OH and far northern KY over the next few hours as
    the well-defined MCV currently over far southeast IN progresses
    northeastward into the moist and destabilizing downstream airmass.
    Deep-layer flow across the region is modest, resulting in a
    predominantly multicellular storm mode. However, some enhanced
    low/mid-level southwesterlies will accompany the MCV, which could
    contribute to a few loosely organized, northeastward-progressing
    clusters capable of isolated damaging gusts. Limited severe coverage
    is expected to preclude the need for watch.

    ..Mosier/Smith.. 07/16/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…PBZ…RLX…CLE…JKL…ILN…LMK…IWX…

    LAT…LON 40048474 40848401 41008225 40288168 38668224 38128386
    38938467 40048474

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…UP TO 60 MPH

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3382, Small Entity Update Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 3382 would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study its current definition of “small entity” under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and revise its rules based on the results of the study. Under current law, agencies subject to the RFA need to determine if their rules have a significant economic effect on small entities, including businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental jurisdictions. If so, agencies must consider alternatives that minimize that effect.

    Using information about the cost of similar provisions, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $2 million over the 2025-2030 period. CBO expects that the SEC would need about five employees, at an average annual cost of $330,000 for each employee, to carry out the study and amend the rules. Because the SEC is authorized to collect fees each year to offset its annual appropriation, CBO expects that the net effect on discretionary spending over the 2025-2030 period would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority.

    If the SEC increases fees to offset the costs associated with implementing the bill, H.R. 3382 would increase the cost of an existing mandate on private entities required to pay those assessments. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below the threshold established in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) for private-sector mandates ($206 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    H.R. 3382 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in UMRA.

    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aurora Swanson (for federal costs) and Rachel Austin (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3351, Improving Access to Small Business Information Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 3351 would exempt the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from most provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The bill would not affect requirements to estimate the burden of collecting information, verify that its collection is necessary, and ensure that people providing information are informed about how it will be used. Under the bill, the office would no longer be required to seek or obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget to collect information or announce such collections in the Federal Register.

    The exemption under the bill could reduce the SEC’s costs by an insignificant amount each year. Because the SEC is authorized to collect fees each year to offset its annual appropriation, CBO expects that the agency would adjust fees to match lower operating costs. On that basis, CBO estimates that the net effect on discretionary spending over the 2025-2030 period would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Congress Controls Purse Strings, Not Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today urged his colleagues to reject President Donald Trump’s efforts to enact a harmful $9 billion cut to foreign aid and public broadcasting. The Republican rescissions bill would devastate public TV and radio stations across the country, making it more difficult for people – especially those in Native communities and rural areas – to get news and critical emergency alerts. The bill would also gut lifesaving foreign aid programs that millions of people around the world rely on.
    “Being part of the Article One branch means something very specific, and it means that we’re the legislature, and we control the purse strings,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill reduces funding for Ukraine. It reduces funding for global health. It continues to reduce funding for public television and public radio. Republicans don’t actually have to do this.”
    The full text of Schatz’s remarks can be found below. Video is available here. 
    Republicans don’t actually have to do this. I understand as well as anybody wanting to go along with your party’s president, especially in the early months. But being part of an independent and co-equal branch has to mean something. Being part of the Article One branch means something very specific, and it means that we’re the legislature and we control the purse strings.
    Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that if the president wants something, you must do it. And what worries me the most about this rescissions package, if it passes it is one thing for the president’s signature accomplishment, signature policy priority to be supported by Republicans in the legislature. I understand that. I understand the inevitable political momentum behind that. But this isn’t that. And we have now gone six months. Without a single instance of Republicans and Democrats coming together and establishing that there are some limitations on this president’s power.
    And if you remember the first Trump term, there were a couple of moments when the legislature actually stood up to the president, overrode a veto of his rejected a rescissions package. They stood up for their prerogatives. And you know what happened next? Nothing. Why? Because that’s actually how the system is supposed to work. We are not a parliamentary system. We are not a monarchy where the president says by tweet, by tweet, if you don’t adopt this exactly how it’s written, you will not receive my political support. Thank you for your attention to this matter. And that set us on a course towards passing this legislation, which I know a dozen, at least a dozen Republicans hate.
    It reduces funding for Jordan. It reduces funding for Ukraine. It reduces funding for global health. It did reduce funding for PEPFAR. It continues to reduce funding for public television and public radio. By the way, public radio is not just National Public Radio. If you were on a reservation. If you were in a very rural part of your state, it’s often not just the only radio station, the only communications infrastructure that exists in a rural area. So it’s the only platform for news. That’s true. It’s also the only emergency communications infrastructure, because still many places across the United States lack internet. And so Mike Rounds got his deal so that his tribes will be taken care of and I’m glad for him. But there are 49 other states where your emergency communications infrastructure is about to be defunded. Nobody likes that. Some people are pissed off about NPR’s coverage or PBS’s coverage. But come on, you defund an agency because you disagree with their editorial choices? Which country is this? Which country is this?
    I want to tell you something a little technical, but I think it gives away the whole game. So I’m the top Democrat on the foreign ops subcommittee. What does that mean? We do funding for U.S. aid in the State Department and a few other things. When we do the appropriations process, we get letters from every other member. They’re private letters, and a lot of people sign them and they say, “could you please give more money to whatever it is, maternal and child health or malaria prevention or, the PEPFAR program, the initiative to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission.” So we get a bunch of letters saying “please plus up this, please, plus up that” bipartisan letters. And we are trying to write a bill that accommodates all these needs. A lot of people who are about to vote to cut all the stuff are on the side writing me a letter saying, “please increase these accounts.” And why does this matter? This matters because nobody’s voting – I shouldn’t say nobody – many, many people are not voting their conscience tonight. And that’s just a fact.
    There’s a there’s a characterization in poker when you know you’re beat and someone puts money in on the river and you call anyway, it’s called a crying call. You give away your money sort of crying. This is a crying call. This is a “I know I’m beat, I vote aye,” and here’s the thing: we don’t actually have to do this.
    President Trump’s attention is famously divided, and if something pops next week, he will be on that thing next week. He did not wake up every morning thinking, I want to defund UNICEF. I want to defund PEPFAR. His attention will be divided, and the moment the legislature stands up for himself, usually what he does is he understands power and he says, “okay, those guys are asserting themselves. They’re a co-equal branch of government, and I’m going to have to move on from this.” Because why do I know this? We literally did the same thing. There was a rescissions package, which nobody remembers. Why? Because we quietly with Dick Shelby and others appropriators, all said “no, we hold the purse strings here. We write the laws that determine appropriations.” We’re not going to do this thing on a bipartisan basis, enact a spending plan, and then come in on a partisan basis and say, you know, that wasn’t actually the spending plan. That was just the spending cap. And the administration is going to come in and do whatever it wants on a partisan basis. And so what happened is they rejected the rescissions package on the motion to discharge, which is happening in about an hour and five minutes. And then you know what happened? Nothing. Nothing politically. Nothing substantively, except that we kept the appropriations process alive. We kept the filibuster alive. We kept bipartisanship alive. And in this instance, it’s not just about this institution. It is literally about people being kept alive.
    For the last five months, because of the United States’ actions, tens of thousands, at least, maybe hundreds of thousands of babies have gotten HIV/AIDS from their moms because we pulled funding. Because Elon Musk had some bug in his ear about USAID. And one weekend he said, we’re going to feed this thing to the woodchipper. And because Democrats too and pundits decided, you know what, foreign aid isn’t so important to voters. I don’t care if it’s important to voters, if it ranks on the number one, number two, or number three. We’re the United States of America and one of the reasons that we have such a strong reputation is that we do things that are right because they’re right, not because our voters are going to reward us immediately, not because we get some geopolitical advantage, but because we’re the damn good guys.
    And right now, we are ratifying a bunch of decisions against our will. We don’t have to do this. Donald Trump will move on to the next thing tomorrow. And if it’s not on this thing which has low salience for the voters, is 18 months from the next election. If it’s not on this, at what point are my Republican colleagues going to stand up for this branch of government?
    I remain ready to work with anybody on anything. I have talked to Chairman Graham about the possibility of literally enacting these rescissions, or at least a portion of them in the state and foreign ops mark, and yet they choose this legislative violence. We don’t have to do this. We don’t have to operate under the assumption that this man is uniquely so powerful. He’s the most powerful president. He owns the legislature in a way that no president has ever owned the legislature. And we all act like we’re just sort of observers, like clicking on the TV and seeing how our fantasy football team is doing this Sunday.
    We have agency tonight to reestablish that. We are the Article One branch of government, and that means something.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding helps B.C. artists inspire, connect, create

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Sae-Hoon Stan Chung, chair, B.C. Arts Council –

    “Artists and arts and culture organizations continued to demonstrate an extraordinary impact on citizens’ lives and to ground arts and culture in meaningful ways in communities throughout British Columbia. The B.C. Arts Council remains committed to supporting arts and culture in the province. Reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion and access are foundational to this work as, together, we build a thriving, stable and sustainable arts and culture sector.”

    Jennifer Pighin, Omineca Arts Centre, Prince George –

    “As a volunteer-run entity, we constantly grapple with the challenge of limited time and resources. However, the provision of funds enabling us to hire our inaugural staff member has proven to be a transformative milestone. The impact has been profound, propelling us from obscurity to becoming a household name featured across various media platforms, including radio and television. It’s not just beneficial, it’s absolutely essential, marking a definitive turning point in our journey.”

    Rose Clark, Bella Coola Music Festival, Bella Coola –

    “The Bella Coola Music Festival (BCMF) is honoured to host and highlight the work of First Nations artists who are honing their craft and telling their stories on their own terms. Many young Indigenous performers are writing songs in their ancestral languages, contributing to the conservation of cultural heritage, and inspiring future generations. Programming that the B.C. Arts Council grant supports creates meaningful opportunities for these voices to be celebrated and shared, and continues to be an essential part of the BCMF experience.”

    Marnie Temple, Empire of Dirt Residency, Creston –  

    “These grants are important and life-changing opportunities. Without them, I cannot imagine providing artists with the time and space to develop their work in rural B.C. It is encouraging to imagine more artists getting this chance and developing creative connections.”

    Kihlyahda Christian White, Tluu Xaada Naay Society, G̱aw Tlagée, Haida Gwaii –

    “B.C. Arts Councils’ programs help support our growth, skills and strength for our foundational expansion in planning, marketing, training and product development to promote Haida arts, culture and experiences.”

    Joanna Garfinkel, Playwrights Theatre Centre, Vancouver –

    “Funding from the BCAC’s Arts Impact program allowed Playwrights Theatre to approach creating our new strategic plan meaningfully, and with adequate time and resources to involve community, sectoral and host Nation consultation. There is no way we would have the capacity to undertake this project without BCAC Arts Impact.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –