NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s Efforts To Strip Away Health Care Benefits From Veterans Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxic Substances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, author of the burn pits section of the PACT Act, issued the following statement about President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to cancel contracts for the PACT Act Enterprise Program Management Office as a part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) funding cuts. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law in 2022. The historic legislation established a presumptive service connection to certain illnesses for service members and veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins, eliminating many obstacles they had to go through to receive crucial health care and benefits.

    In August 2024, Gillibrand announced that more than 1 million veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins have been awarded care and benefits through the PACT Act. It is estimated that roughly 3.5 million military personnel could have been exposed to burn pits and are eligible to receive benefits.

    “The PACT Act ensures access to critical health care for the millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving abroad. This bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, demonstrating that Congress understood its responsibility to care for our veterans as they battle diseases related to their service,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It is outrageous that President Trump and Elon Musk would cancel funded contracts that enable proper implementation of the PACT Act. This important work ensures that eligible veterans are tracked and also monitors implementation so that veterans get the health care and benefits they earned. I am calling on them to immediately reverse these cuts.”

    Gillibrand first introduced the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act in September 2020, alongside a bicameral group that included Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), comedian Jon Stewart, activist John Feal, and a strong coalition of veterans service organizations. The group introduced an updated, bipartisan version in the spring of 2021 together with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). In May 2022, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran announced a bipartisan deal on toxic exposure legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Gillibrand’s Presumptive Benefits bill formed the cornerstone of the presumptive care section of the final package. The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11 and was signed into law by President Biden on August 10th, 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Rural Healthcare

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis, alongside Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), introduced the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to increase the number of doctors working in rural and medically underserved areas. 

    “Too many rural areas in North Carolina and across the country lack the health care workforce needed to provide quality and timely care,” said Senator Tillis. “This bipartisan legislation will allow American-trained doctors to help fill those gaps so we can expand access to critical health care in medically underserved and health professional shortage areas.”

    “The Conrad 30 program continues to be a vital lifeline for rural and underserved communities facing physician shortages,” said Ram Alur, M.D., President, Physicians for American Healthcare Access. “However, without reforms, recruiting and retaining international medical graduates (IMGs) will become increasingly difficult. This reauthorization strengthens incentives for IMGs and streamlines the waiver process for employers, making it easier to recruit physicians in areas with persistent shortages. These updates will strengthen the U.S. position in the global competition for top medical talent and uphold access to care in underserved areas. Physicians for American Healthcare Access applauds Senators Klobuchar, Collins, Rosen, and Tillis for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation.” 

    Background: 

    The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Conrad 30 programs, which allows international doctors who have completed their residency training in the U.S. to remain in the country under the condition that they practice in areas experiencing physician shortages 

    Generally, doctors from other countries working in America on J-1 visas are required to return to their home country after their residency has ended for two years before they can apply for another visa or green card. The Conrad 30 program allows doctors to stay in the United States without having to return home if they agree to practice in an underserved area for three years. The “30” refers to the number of doctors per state that can participate in the program. 

    This legislation extends the Conrad 30 program for three years, improves the process for obtaining a visa, and allows for the program to be expanded beyond 30 slots if certain thresholds are met, while protecting small states’ slots. The bill also allows the spouses of doctors to work and provides worker protections to prevent the doctors from being mistreated. The legislation also allows physicians who serve in a Veterans Affairs (VA) facility or health professional shortage area for 5 years to get expedited consideration for a green card. 

    The legislation has been endorsed by more than 50 organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Academy of Neurology, the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, and Physicians for American Healthcare Access. 

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on Second Wave of VA Layoffs, Including Veteran Crisis Line Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 26, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees who still receives her own health care services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—issued the following statement after Donald Trump’s VA laid off an additional 1,400 employees, including workers with the Veteran Crisis Line (VCL), after laying off more than 1,000 employees earlier this month:

    “Donald Trump has fired more Veterans than any other Administration in our lifetimes. With yet another indiscriminate purge at the VA, Trump is leaving devoted public servants jobless—many of whom are Veterans themselves—and continuing to inflict needless pain on our nation’s heroes. Contrary to what VA Secretary Collins says, there are no ‘non-critical’ VA positions when it comes to ensuring Veterans receive the care they’ve earned—including at the Veteran Crisis Line.

    “After I pushed Secretary Collins to reinstate workers with VCL in the wake of the first VA purge, I’m outraged to learn that more VCL workers were caught up in the latest firings—and worse yet, that Secretary Collins continues to double down and deny that he ever inflicted any damage on the department at all. Well, that’s a lie. I heard from several workers who all play pivotal roles in helping ensure the hotline can best serve our Veterans in their darkest moments. Claiming that only those who answer the phones are essential is an insult to the service and commitment to our heroes of so many who ensure that someone is ready to listen and help in a moment of crisis.

    “Donald Trump promised to look out for our Veterans, but every day he allows Elon Musk—the world’s richest man—to fire VA employees or any Veteran in an effort to fund tax cuts for billionaires, he is proving he has no problem selling out our heroes if it means a chance to line his own pockets.”

    Last week, Duckworth joined U.S. Senator and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 34 Democratic Senators calling on Department of VA Secretary Collins to immediately reinstate the more than 1,000 VA employees terminated earlier this month who serve Veterans and their families nationwide, including critical employees addressing Veteran suicide working at the Veterans Crisis Line.

    Additionally, Duckworth led her fellow Democratic SVAC colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration and unelected billionaire Elon Musk immediately restart operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in order to protect our nation’s heroes from financial predators.

    If you are a VA employee or Veteran impacted, please reach out to the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee by filling out this form.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to restore injunctive relief for patent infringement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today introduced the Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive (RESTORE) Patent Rights Act of 2025. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would restore the presumption that courts will issue an injunction to stop patent infringers, strengthening protections for U.S. inventors, entrepreneurs, universities, and startups. This legislation was initially introduced in the 118th Congress. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) also introduced the House companion bill. 

    “Thanks to a wrongheaded decision from the Supreme Court, there are now companies who steal patented technologies rather than license them from inventors and then justify their actions as simply the cost of doing business. Innovators at universities and startups who lack resources are often unable to stop patent infringement in court and are forced into licensing deals they do not want,” said Senator Coons. “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act will protect innovators across the country, stop the infringe-now, pay-later model in its tracks, and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness for generations to come.”

    “American ingenuity should be rewarded and protected,” said Senator Cotton. “Current patent law fails to protect inventors and leaves them vulnerable to intellectual property theft from adversaries like China. This bipartisan legislation will help solidify America’s edge in technological innovation.”

    For more than two centuries, courts granted injunctive relief in most patent cases upon a finding of infringement, preventing patent infringers from continuing to produce goods that ran afoul of patent laws. However, this practice was upended in 2006 when the Supreme Court’s decision in eBay v. MercExchange created a four-factor test to determine whether a permanent injunction is warranted in infringement cases, altering the longstanding remedy for patent infringement.

    Since that decision, obtaining injunctive relief in patent cases has become significantly more difficult and rare. A recent study found that requests for permanent injunctions in patent cases fell by 65% for companies that use their patented technology to manufacture a product; grants of permanent injunctions to those companies fell even more significantly. Requests and grants for licensing patent owners like universities and research clinics dropped even further: Requests fell by 85%, and grants fell by 90%. 

    The RESTORE Patent Rights Act would undo the damage of the eBay decision by returning to patent owners a rebuttable presumption that an injunction is warranted after a court makes a final ruling that their rights are being infringed. This would deter predatory infringers and restore meaning to the right to exclude.

    “American innovation is only as strong as the confidence in knowing ideas cannot be stolen by competitors. In the last two decades, innovators have found it harder to obtain a permanent injunction from U.S. courts, which stops bad actors from stealing their intellectual property (IP). Our legislation will restore the rights of American innovators by ensuring permanent injunctions are accessible from U.S. courts. This bill will provide greater certainty in the protection of IP and prevent cases from being taken overseas to countries like China. When U.S. courts enforce the exclusivity of patent rights, America becomes a world leader in innovation,” said Congressman Moran.  

    “Enforceable patents are vital to our ability to invent, improve and advance – yet today, it is increasingly difficult for patent holders to enforce their rights through permanent injunctions, even after proving infringement in court,” said Congresswoman Dean. “The bipartisan, bicameral RESTORE Act addresses this issue and safeguards American innovation. I’m grateful to be joined by Congressman Moran, Senator Coons, and Senator Cotton in our push to protect patentholders, including universities, research laboratories, and startups.”

    The Innovation Alliance, Council for Innovation Promotion, Association of University Technology Managers, Conservatives for Property Rights, Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA, Inventors Defense Alliance, and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association have endorsed the RESTORE Patent Rights Act.

    “The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Coons and Cotton and Representatives Moran and Dean for reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral RESTORE Patent Rights Act. With a simple, single-sentence clarification of the law, RESTORE will bring balance back to patent law and allow small inventors to stand toe to toe with Big Tech after a court has ruled that Big Tech is stealing their inventions. We urge Congress to pass this vital bill,” said Brian Pomper, Executive Director of the Innovation Alliance.

    “Our nation’s economic success and national security depend on inventors having confidence that their intellectual property will not be unfairly exploited,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act will provide inventors with the reassurance they need to propel American leadership in critical technology fields.”

    “Now more than ever, it’s critical that our leaders stand up for the startups and entrepreneurs who drive our nation’s economy and create life-changing breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “By passing the RESTORE Patent Rights Act, Congress can reinvigorate the U.S. patent system and reaffirm America’s commitment to protecting its innovators.”

    “AUTM thanks Senator Coons and the other co-sponsors for introducing this legislation. Strengthening the ability of patent holders to protect their patents via injunction is crucial to incentivizing innovation. We look forward to working with the committee on this important legislation,” said Steve Susalka, CEO of AUTM. 

    “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act restores meaning to the promised exclusive rights to one’s invention. Without fully enforceable exclusive rights, the inventor’s end of the ‘patent bargain’ is broken. Since 2006, the Supreme Court’s eBay v. MercExchange ruling has made permanent injunction extremely difficult to obtain in patent infringement cases. Courts have thereby turned the right to exclude into a compulsory licensing clause. This is unjust. The RESTORE Patent Rights Act ends the judicially created categorical rule of routinely denying injunctions. It restores the historical remedy of injunctive relief in patent cases, as it is with other forms of property, including other intellectual property,” said James Edwards, Executive Director, Conservatives for Property Rights. 

    “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act is, perhaps, the most impactful thing that can be done to empower American inventors, entrepreneurs and disruptive startups. The ability to pursue injunctive relief when a competitor infringes on a patented invention was the standard in the United States for over 200 years. The Supreme Court moved the goalposts in 2006 and set up a convoluted test that makes it nearly impossible for a growth tech startup to stop the predatory infringement of their intellectual property by larger competitors. This practice has been perfected by Big Tech companies that now routinely ingest the innovations of disruptive competitors knowing that they cannot be stopped. Patent law and legislation is often complicated. The RESTORE Act is not. It is a clear and unambiguous bill that simply restores balance between large corporations that ingest others’ IP and the startups and entrepreneurs that invent it,” said Chris Israel, Executive Director of The Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs (USIJ).

    “A functioning IP system must be fair, and as importantly, be perceived to be fair. Nondiscriminatory access to the legal system for enforcing and defending IP property rights is essential for securing the property rights necessary for investment. When innovators are unable to secure the property right embodied in a patent, investment is deterred and commercial activity, innovation and job creation impeded,” said Timothy Lee, IEEE-USA president.

    “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act is a crucial step in safeguarding America’s small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs from predatory patent infringement. By providing a clear path for justice and injunctive relief, this bill empowers innovators and fosters a more equitable patent system that benefits American inventors and consumers,” said Kristen Osenga, the chief policy counselor at the Inventors Defense Alliance.

    “There unfortunately continues to be ongoing efforts across the world to steal American innovations and intellectual property, and it is critical that Congress establishes new protections so that the United States can remain the global leader in medical technology innovation,” said Mark Leahy, President and CEO, Medical Device Manufacturers Association. “The ‘RESTORE Patent Rights Act’ would help restore a level playing field if enacted, and would codify the presumption that a permanent injunction will be granted after infringement is proven.  MDMA applauds Senators Coons and Cotton and Representatives Moran and Dean for their leadership in helping America’s innovators protect their intellectual property, and we will continue to work closely with them so the medical technology ecosystem can deliver the cures, therapies and diagnostics that patients and providers need.”

    The text of the bill is available here.

    A one-pager is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Klobuchar, Agriculture Committee Democrats Press USDA on Indiscriminate Layoffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and all Committee Democrats in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explain recent mass layoffs at the Department. The Senators asked how many USDA employees were fired and for a breakdown by state, agency, job position, and veteran status—all details the Administration has not provided to date.

    In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the Senators wrote: “These widespread layoffs jeopardize USDA’s ability to respond to the ongoing avian flu outbreak, process farm loans, disaster relief and other assistance for farmers, and distribute grants and loans for infrastructure and services that rural Americans rely on.”

    The Senators continued: “We have deep concerns that the termination of thousands of nonpartisan USDA employees and contracts in less than a month will hinder the Department’s ability to address the challenges facing American agriculture and rural America.”

    In addition to Senators Luján and Klobuchar, the letter was joined by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

    Full text of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rollins,

    Amid layoffs across the federal government, we write to express grave concerns regarding the recent layoffs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and how they will affect the Department’s ability to serve farmers, ranchers, and rural America.

    On February 14, USDA issued a statement outlining the actions USDA has taken to eliminate positions at the Department and has reportedly terminated or put on administrative leave thousands of nonpartisan public servants across the Department, including at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Animal Health Laboratory program office, the Forest Service (FS), the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Rural Development mission area (RD).

    These widespread layoffs jeopardize USDA’s ability to respond to the ongoing avian flu outbreak, process farm loans, disaster relief and other assistance for farmers, and distribute grants and loans for infrastructure and services that rural Americans rely on.

    We request that USDA respond to the following questions:

    1. Please provide a list of the total number of USDA employees terminated or placed on administrative leave since January 20, 2025, with a break down by state, by USDA agency or office (e.g., APHIS, FSA, RD’s Rural Utilities Service and Rural Business and Cooperative Service, FS, NRCS, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of General Counsel) by job position, and by veteran status. Please include any individuals whom USDA may have rehired after February 14, 2025.
      1. For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, please provide a breakdown of the number of employees terminated or placed on leave who worked as part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, worked in an office handling animal disease prevention or control, or worked as a veterinarian.
      2. For the Food Safety and Inspection Service, please provide a breakdown of the number of employees terminated or placed on leave who worked as a veterinarian.
      3. For the Agricultural Research Service, please provide a breakdown of the number of employees terminated or placed on leave who worked on research related to animal diseases.
      4. For the Farm Service Agency, please provide a breakdown of the number of employees terminated or placed on leave in each state who processed or handled farm loans.
    2. What criteria and process did the Administration use when determining which employees to terminate or put on leave?
      1. Please provide examples of the termination notices sent out by each USDA agency or office, with any personal identification information removed.
      2. Please provide details on any employees exempted from terminations or leave.
    3. Has the Administration conducted any assessments of how the terminations will impact the services provided by each USDA agency and office? If so, please provide a copy of any such assessments.
    4. Has USDA rescinded any termination letters or rehired any individuals who were terminated on or after January 20, 2025?
      1. If so, what is the total number of individuals USDA attempted to rehire? Please provide a list of the positions that USDA rehired or rescinded termination letters to, with a breakdown by state, USDA agency or office, whether the individual was successfully rehired, as well as an explanation for why the individual was rehired.
    5. Does USDA intend to hire new employees to replace the employees who have recently been terminated? If so, please describe in detail the timeline and expected hiring process to replace employees.
    6. Does USDA have any plans to terminate any additional employees? If so, please describe in detail what criteria and process USDA will use to terminate additional employees and the estimated number of employees that will be terminated in each USDA agency and office.

    We have deep concerns that the termination of thousands of nonpartisan USDA employees and contracts in less than a month will hinder the Department’s ability to address the challenges facing American agriculture and rural America. Please provide responses to the information requested in questions 1, 2, 3, and 4 not later than Friday, February 28, and responses to questions 5 and 6 not later than Friday, March 7. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: RTR Bill Improves Housing, Trades and Charities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Indictment of Queens Residents for Deed Theft and Forgery Scam That Stole Over $1.5 Million from Elderly Queens Resident

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment and arraignment of Satwattie Martinez, 58, of Queens, and Joseph Uwagba, 68, of Queens, for their roles in stealing the home and personal funds of Martinez’s elderly and vulnerable neighbor. Martinez used forged documents notarized by Uwagba to steal her neighbor’s home and approximately $790,000 of the neighbor’s personal funds. Martinez then used the stolen funds for personal expenditures, including paying off credit card balances, shopping, travel, and remodeling the home that she stole. Martinez and Uwagba were each charged for forging documents and Martinez was separately charged with additional crimes for stealing her neighbor’s home and money. Using the documents that she forged and Uwagba falsely notarized, Martinez stole her elderly neighbor’s home and personal funds, together totaling more than $1.5 million.

    “Deed theft is a heartless, terrible crime that robs innocent people of their most valuable possession: their home,” said Attorney General James. “No one should ever have to fear their home being stolen out from underneath them, especially not from their own neighbor. Satwattie Martinez targeted her elderly neighbor to steal generational wealth that he built for himself and his family. I will continue to fight for New York homeowners and do everything in my power to keep them in their homes.”

    The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation found that starting in November 2021, Martinez preyed upon her elderly and vulnerable neighbor, who had been hospitalized and was residing in a nursing home prior to his death. Martinez allegedly forged a deed and filed falsified documents, which were notarized by Uwagba, to transfer her neighbor’s home located at 133-12 128th Street in Queens to herself as sole owner.

    In addition to forging the deed and stealing her elderly neighbor’s home, Martinez also falsified a power of attorney and appointed herself as the legal agent for her neighbor by forging the names of unsuspecting friends as witnesses. Martinez then used the power of attorney to steal more than $790,000 from her neighbor’s investment account and unsuccessfully attempted to steal additional funds from his bank account and other accounts. Martinez used part of the stolen funds for personal expenditures, including remodeling the stolen home, which her daughter and son-in-law moved into and currently reside in.

    Martinez also created a joint bank account using her neighbor’s personal information to steal additional funds. She deposited checks that were payable to her elderly neighbor and used these stolen funds for personal expenses.

    After forging the deed to her neighbor’s home and stealing his personal finances, Martinez also falsified a last will and testament for him by forging the signatures of the same two unsuspecting friends. In the will, Martinez falsely indicated that her neighbor had no family and that all of his property was bequeathed to her. Martinez was communicating with her neighbor’s brother, who resides outside the United States, and represented herself as his caregiver and friend.

    Upon discovery of Martinez’s thefts by a concerned citizen who reported the suspected crimes to the New York City Sheriff’s Office, Martinez tried to move her neighbor to a different nursing home and directed nursing home staff not to let anyone visit him. The deed, power of attorney, last will and testament, and other forged documents were falsely notarized by Uwagba, a notary qualified in Queens County.

    Martinez and Uwagba were arraigned today before Supreme Court Judge Leigh Cheng in Queens County. Following the arrests and arraignments, Martinez was ordered to surrender her passports and released on supervised release. Uwagba was released on his own recognizance.

    Martinez was charged with the following crimes:

    • Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony;
    • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a class B felony;
    • Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony;
    • Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; and
    • Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a class E felony.

    The maximum sentence on the top count is 25 years. Uwagba was charged with Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony. The maximum sentence is seven years. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    This is the latest action in Attorney General James’ efforts to protect New York homeowners from deed theft and other housing-related scams. In October 2024, Attorney General James and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced the arrests of three real estate scammers for stealing over $250,000 from New Yorkers and for their roles in a deed theft scheme to steal the childhood home of a Bronx resident. In July 2024, Attorney General James announced the conviction and sentencing of the leader of a Queens deed theft ring that stole homes in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens. In July 2023, she announced the indictment and arraignment of Joseph Makhani of Long Island for deed theft. In April 2023, Attorney General James announced two pieces of legislation to strengthen protections and remedies for victims of deed theft, which have both been signed into law. In February 2021, Attorney General James announced an $800,000 grant to combat deed theft in vulnerable neighborhoods. Attorney General James also launched the Protect Our Homes initiative in January 2020 and the formation of an interagency law enforcement task force to respond to deed theft and other real estate fraud.

    The OAG thanks the New York State Police for the criminal referral and its assistance with this investigation and prosecution. The OAG also thanks the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the New York City Department of Finance for their assistance.

    The case was investigated by Detectives Sal Ventola and Teresa Russo under the direction of Supervising Detectives Anna Ospanova and Walter Lynch, and all under the supervision of Deputy Chief Juanita Bright. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. The audit function was undertaken by Senior Auditor Investigator Brenna Magruder under the supervision of Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro. The audit team is led by Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri.

    Assistant Attorney General Lauren Sass is handling the prosecution in this matter under the supervision of the Real Estate Enforcement Unit Section Chief Nicholas John Batsidis, Public Integrity Bureau Chief Gerard Murphy, and Deputy Chief Kiran Heer, with assistance from Legal Support Analyst Meredith Youngblood and Legal Assistant Glenis Biscette. Both the Investigations Bureau and the Public Integrity Bureau are part of the Division for Criminal Justice. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ormat Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO EXPANSION SUPPORTS CONTINUED REVENUE AND ADJUSTED EBITDA GROWTH

    STRONG FULL-YEAR RESULTS REINFORCES ORMAT’S MOMENTUM, REMAINING ON PACE TO ACHIEVE GENERATING CAPACITY GOALS OF 2.6 TO 2.8 GW BY 2028

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE FULL-YEAR INCREASED 6.1% COMPARED TO 2023, DRIVEN BY GROWTH IN ALL THREE SEGMENTS
    • FULL YEAR OPERATING INCOME AND ADJUSTED EBITDA IMPROVED 3.5% AND 14.3%, RESPECTIVELY
    • FOURTH QUARTER NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED NET INCOME IMPROVED BY 14.3% AND 7.7% YEAR-OVER-YEAR, RESPECTIVELY
    • ORMAT ANNOUNCES FULL YEAR 2025 OUTLOOK AND GROWTH EXPECTATIONS

    RENO, Nev., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) (the “Company” or “Ormat”), a leading renewable energy company, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

      Q4
    2024    		 Q4
    2023    		 Change (%) 12 months 2024 12 months 2023 Change (%)  
    GAAP Measures              
    Revenues ($ millions)              
    Electricity 180.1   183.9   (2.1)%   702.3   666.8   5.3%    
    Product 39.6   50.4   (21.4)%   139.7   133.8   4.4%    
    Energy Storage 11.0   7.0   56.7%   37.7   28.9   30.6%    
    Total Revenues 230.7   241.3   (4.4)%   879.7   829.4   6.1%    
    Gross Profit              
    73.6   78.5   (6.2)%   272.6   264.0   3.3%    
    Gross margin (%)              
    Electricity 34.9%   39.5%     34.6%   36.6%      
    Product 24.5%   12.6%     18.4%   13.4%      
    Energy Storage 9.5%   (8.9)%     10.9%   6.4%      
    Gross margin (%) 31.9%   32.5%     31.0%   31.8%      
                   
    Operating income ($ millions) 49.1   51.6   (4.9)%   172.5   166.6   3.5%    
    Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 40.8   35.7   14.3%   123.7   124.4   (0.5)%    
    Diluted EPS ($) 0.67   0.59   13.6%   2.04   2.08   (1.9)%    
                   
    Non-GAAP Measures              
    Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 43.6   40.5   7.7%   133.7   121.9   9.7%    
    Adjusted Diluted EPS ($) 0.72   0.67   7.5%   2.20   2.05   7.3%    
    Adjusted EBITDA1($ millions) 145.5   139.0   4.6%   550.5   481.7   14.3%    

    “2024 was another successful year for Ormat and our growth trajectory, highlighted by a top-line improvement of 6.1%, translating into a 3.5% increase in operating income and a 14.3% increase in adjusted EBITDA, with solid growth performance across all three of our business segments,” said Doron Blachar, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat Technologies. “In 2024, we added 253MW of new capacity organically and through strategic, accretive M&A, with 133MW added to our Electricity segment and 120MW to our Energy Storage business.”

    “Within our Electricity segment, the Enel assets Ormat acquired at the beginning of the year have been immediately accretive and have played a key role in our year-over-year growth. Our performance was further supported by the Heber complex repowering project, the enhanced output at the Olkaria power plant, and the improved generation performance and pricing at the Puna power plant, helping to more than offset the impact of unplanned maintenance at Dixie Valley and the previously disclosed curtailments in the U.S.”

    “We continue to make great progress towards improving the revenue and margin profile of our Energy Storage business, positioning the segment to become a more stable and consistent factor in our consolidated growth. This strategic effort is reflected by the 56.7% and 30.6% increase in revenue on a quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year basis, respectively. We expect this improved performance to carry forward into 2025 as we begin to recognize the benefits of the recent CODs at our 80MW/320MWh Bottleneck and 20MW/20MWh Montague facilities, as well as the other Energy Storage projects in our development pipeline that are expected to come online later this year.”

    Blachar continued, “Looking ahead, we expect to benefit from the growing global demand for renewable power needed to support data centers and the transition to a cleaner energy future. We are currently in negotiations for approximately 250MW with hyper-scalers with favorable conditions for both new projects and expiring PPAs at rates exceeding $100 per MWh. To help ensure that we are well-positioned to meet the growing level of demand we have taken strategic actions to safe harbor, for PTC eligibility (pursuant to the current provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and related guidance), all geothermal projects with expected CODs through 2028, as well as the associated ITC benefits for all energy storage projects through 2026. This has strengthened our confidence in our trajectory, and we believe will help us remain on track to achieve our generating capacity goals of 2.6 to 2.8 GW by the end of 2028.”

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2024 was $40.8 million and $123.7 million, respectively, an increase of 14.3% and a decrease of 0.5%, respectively, compared to last year. Diluted EPS for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2024 were $0.67 and $2.04 per share, respectively, an increase of 13.6% and a decrease of 1.9%, respectively, compared to last year.
    • Adjusted net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and diluted EPS for the fourth quarter increased 7.7% and 7.5% compared to last year. Adjusted net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and diluted EPS for the full year 2024 increased 9.7% and 7.3% compared to last year.
    • Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter and for the year was $145.5 million, and $550.5 million, respectively, an increase of 4.6% and 14.3%, respectively, compared to 2023. The year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven, in the Electricity segment, by the contribution of the acquired assets in the first quarter of 2024, the improved performance of the Olkaria complex in Kenya, higher pricing of our Puna power plant and the sale of tax benefits from newly built plants. In the Product segment, the increase was derived from the improved contracts’ margin and Energy Storage drove improved performance due to the contribution of the new assets as well as a legal settlement with a battery supplier, which we expect to continue to receive over the next 5 quarters, to compensate us for lost revenues as a result of battery non- supply.
    • Electricity segment revenues decreased by 2.1% for the fourth quarter and increased by 5.3% in the full year 2024, compared to 2023. The year-over-year decrease in fourth quarter revenue was driven by the partial outage at our Dixie Valley power plant, which returned to full operation in November 2024. Additionally, in the fourth quarter we experienced heavy curtailments mainly to our McGinness complex due to maintenance on the transmission line by the local grid operator. Full-year revenue growth was driven by the contribution of our acquired Enel assets, Heber complex repowering, and higher generation and pricing at Puna.
    • Product segment revenues decreased by 21.4% in the fourth quarter and increased by 4.4% in the full year 2024, largely due to the timing of revenue recognition. Gross margin increased from 12.6% in the fourth quarter 2023 to 24.5% in 2024 and from 13.4% in the full year 2023 to 18.4% in 2024.
    • Product segment backlog stands at a record of approximately $340.0 million as of February 25, 2025, and includes approximately $210.0 million from the recently signed Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the development of the Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal plant in New Zealand.
    • Energy Storage segment revenues increased 56.7% for the fourth quarter and 30.6% for the full year compared to 2023, supported by a total of 120MW/360 MWh of new capacity that started operation since the beginning of 2024 as well as new assets that came online during the second half of 2023.

    BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS:

    • Won a tender, in February 2025, issued by the Israeli Electricity Authority and was awarded two separate 15-year tolling agreements for two energy storage facilities. The facilities under the tolling agreements are expected to have a combined capacity of approximately 300MW/1200MWh and we will have 50% equity interest.
    • In February 2025, commenced commercial operations of the 35MW Ijen geothermal power plant in Indonesia, in which the Company holds a 49% equity interest.
    • Signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), in January 2025, with Calpine Energy Solutions for up to 15MW of carbon-free geothermal capacity at favorable terms that will replace the current lower price PPA with Southern California Edison for Mammoth 2 in the first quarter of 2027.
    • In December 2024, commenced commercial operations at the Montague energy storage facility to deliver 20MW/20MWh of energy storage capacity to the PJM market.
    • In October 2024, commenced commercial operations of the 80MW/320MWh Bottleneck Energy Storage facility in the Central Valley of California. The Bottleneck facility is the Company’s largest energy storage facility in its portfolio.

    2025 GUIDANCE TBU

    • Total revenues of between $935 million and $975 million.
    • Electricity segment revenues between $710 million and $725 million.
    • Product segment revenues of between $172 million and $187 million.
    • Energy Storage revenues of between $53 million and $63 million.
    • Adjusted EBITDA to be between $563 million and $593 million.
      • Adjusted EBITDA attributable to minority interest of approximately $23 million.

    The Company provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024. However, the Company does not provide guidance on net income and is unable to provide a reconciliation for its Adjusted EBITDA guidance range to net income without unreasonable efforts due to high variability and complexity with respect to estimating certain forward-looking amounts. These include impairments and disposition and acquisition of business interests, income tax expense, and other non-cash expenses and adjusting items that are excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.

    DIVIDEND

    On February 26, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved, and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy. The dividend will be paid on March 26, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 12, 2025. In addition, the Company expects to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share in each of the next three quarters.

    CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

    Ormat will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and other matters discussed in this press release on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

    Participants within the United States and Canada, please dial +1-800-715-9871, approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. If you are calling outside of the United States and Canada, please dial +1-646-960-0440. The access code for the call is 9044930. Please request the “Ormat Technologies, Inc. call” when prompted by the conference call operator. The conference call will also be accompanied by a live webcast which will be hosted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

    A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call. To access the replay within the United States and Canada, please dial 1-800-770-2030. From outside of the United States and Canada, please dial +1-647-362-9199. Please use the replay access code 9044930. The webcast will also be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

    ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES

    With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (“REG”), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,400 MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Company’s activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormat’s current total generating portfolio is 1,538MW with a 1,248MW geothermal and solar generation portfolio that is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe, and a 290MW energy storage portfolio that is located in the U.S.

    ORMAT’S SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

    Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as our projections of annual revenues, expenses and debt service coverage with respect to our debt securities, future capital expenditures, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, development or operation of generation assets, market and industry developments and incentives and the growth of our business and operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, or “contemplate” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words or expressions. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat’s plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management’s current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Although we believe that our plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we may not achieve these plans or objectives. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties and other risks described under “Risk Factors” as described in Ormat’s most recent annual report, and in subsequent filings.

    These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and, except as legally required, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
    For the three and twelve month periods Ended December 31, 2024, and 2023

      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		 Year Ended 
    December 31,
      2024   2023   2024   2023  
      (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    Revenues:        
    Electricity 180,147   183,921   702,264   666,767  
    Product 39,643   50,432   139,661   133,763  
    Energy storage 10,951   6,987   37,729   28,894  
    Total revenues 230,741   241,340   879,654   829,424  
    Cost of revenues:        
    Electricity 117,340   111,201   459,526   422,549  
    Product 29,929   44,073   113,911   115,802  
    Energy storage 9,911   7,610   33,598   27,055  
    Total cost of revenues 157,180   162,884   607,035   565,406  
    Gross profit 73,561   78,456   272,619   264,018  
    Operating expenses:        
    Research and development expenses 1,391   2,452   6,501   7,215  
    Selling and marketing expenses 4,153   4,307   17,694   18,306  
    General and administrative expenses 19,583   18,654   80,119   68,179  
    Other operating income (3,125)   —   (9,375)   —  
    Impairment of long-lived assets —   —   1,280   —  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities and storage activities 2,474   1,415   3,930   3,733  
    Operating income 49,085   51,628   172,470   166,585  
    Other income (expense):        
    Interest income 1,389   2,363   7,883   11,983  
    Interest expense, net (34,525)   (25,803)   (134,031)   (98,881)  
    Derivatives and foreign currency transaction gains (losses) (4,319)   712   (4,187)   (3,278)  
    Income attributable to sale of tax benefits 20,020   18,676   73,054   61,157  
    Other non-operating income (expense), net 66   1,272   188   1,519  
    Income from operations before income tax and equity in earnings (losses) of investees 31,716   48,848   115,377   139,085  
    Income tax (provision) benefit 11,771   (8,188)   16,289   (5,983)  
    Equity in earnings (losses) of investees (862)   (1,827)   (425)   35  
    Net income 42,625   38,833   131,241   133,137  
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (1,804)   (3,107)   (7,508)   (8,738)  
    Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 40,821   35,726   123,733   124,399  
    Earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders:        
    Basic: 0.67   0.59   2.05   2.09  
    Diluted: 0.67   0.59   2.04   2.08  
    Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders:        
    Basic 60,480   60,367   60,455   59,424  
    Diluted 60,770   60,505   60,790   59,762  
             

    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
    For the Periods Ended December 31, 2024, and 2023

      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    ASSETS
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents 94,395     195,808  
    Restricted cash and cash equivalents (primarily related to VIEs) 111,377     91,962  
    Receivables:      
    Trade less allowance for credit losses of $224 and $90, respectively (primarily related to VIEs) 164,050     208,704  
    Other 50,792     44,530  
    Inventories 38,092     45,037  
    Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 29,243     18,367  
    Prepaid expenses and other 59,173     41,595  
    Total current assets 547,122     646,003  
    Investment in an unconsolidated company 144,585     125,439  
    Deposits and other 75,383     44,631  
    Deferred income taxes 153,936     152,570  
    Property, plant and equipment, net ($3,271,248 and $2,802,920 related to VIEs, respectively) 3,501,886     2,998,949  
    Construction-in-process ($251,442 and $376,602 related to VIEs, respectively) 755,589     814,967  
    Operating leases right of use ($13,989 and $9,326 related to VIEs, respectively) 32,114     24,057  
    Finance leases right of use (none related to VIEs) 2,841     3,510  
    Intangible assets, net 301,745     307,609  
    Goodwill 151,023     90,544  
    Total assets 5,666,224     5,208,279  
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses 234,334     214,518  
    Short term revolving credit lines with banks (full recourse) —     20,000  
    Commercial paper (less deferred financing costs of $23 and $29, respectively) 99,977     99,971  
    Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 23,091     18,669  
    Current portion of long-term debt:      
    Limited and non-recourse (primarily related to VIEs):
    (primarily related to VIEs and less deferred financing costs of $8,473 and $7,889, respectively)    		 70,262     57,207  
    Full recourse 161,313     116,864  
    Financing Liability 4,093     5,141  
    Operating lease liabilities 3,633     3,329  
    Finance lease liabilities 1,375     1,313  
    Total current liabilities 598,078     537,012  
    Long-term debt, net of current portion:      
    Limited and non-recourse (primarily related to VIEs and less deferred financing costs of $8,849 and $7,889, respectively) 578,204     447,389  
    Full recourse (less deferred financing costs of $4,671 and $3,056, respectively) 822,828     698,187  
    Convertible senior notes (less deferred financing costs of $6,820 and $8,146, respectively) 469,617     423,104  
    LT Financing liability-Dixie 216,476     220,619  
    Operating lease liabilities 22,523     19,790  
    Finance lease liabilities 1,529     2,238  
    Liability associated with sale of tax benefits 152,292     184,612  
    Deferred income taxes 68,616     66,748  
    Liability for unrecognized tax benefits 6,272     8,673  
    Liabilities for severance pay 10,488     11,844  
    Asset retirement obligation 129,651     114,370  
    Other long-term liabilities 29,270     22,107  
    Total liabilities 3,105,844     2,756,693  
           
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest 9,448     10,599  
           
    Equity:      
    The Company’s stockholders’ equity:      
    Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 60,500,580 and 60,358,887 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 61     60  
    Additional paid-in capital 1,635,245     1,614,769  
    Treasury stock, at cost (258,667 shares held as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) (17,964)     (17,964)  
    Retained earnings 814,518     719,894  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,731)     (1,332)  
    Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Company’s stockholders 2,425,129     2,315,427  
    Noncontrolling interest 125,803     125,560  
    Total equity 2,550,932     2,440,987  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity 5,666,224     5,208,279  

    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
    For the three and twelve month period ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

    We calculate EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, adjusted for (i) mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments; (ii) stock-based compensation, (iii) merger and acquisition transaction costs; (iv) gain or loss from extinguishment of liabilities; (v) costs related to a settlement agreement; (vi) non-cash impairment charges; (vii) write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities; and (viii) other unusual or non-recurring items. We adjust for these factors as they may be non-cash, unusual in nature and/or are not factors used by management for evaluating operating performance. We believe that presentation of these measures will enhance an investor’s ability to evaluate our financial and operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net earnings as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our Board of Directors and senior management use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our financial performance. However, other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do.

    The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:

      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Year Ended December 31,
      2024     2023     2024     2023  
      (Dollars in thousands)   (Dollars in thousands)
    Net income 42,625     38,833     131,241     133,137  
    Adjusted for:              
    Interest expense, net (including amortization of deferred financing costs) 33,136     23,440     126,148     86,898  
    Income tax provision (benefit) (11,771)     8,188     (16,289)     5,983  
    Adjustment to investment in unconsolidated companies: our Proportionate share in interest expense, tax and depreciation and amortization in Sarulla and Ijen 4,964     5,243     17,637     16,069  
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion 68,907     59,331     259,151     221,415  
    EBITDA 137,861     135,035     517,888     463,502  
    Mark-to-market on derivative instruments (14)     (2,490)     856     (2,206)  
    Stock-based compensation 5,310     4,243     20,197     15,478  
    Impairment of long-lived assets —     —     1,280     —  
    Allowance for bad debts 13     —     355     —  
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs 570     816     1,949     1,234  
    Legal fees related to a settlement agreement with a third-party battery systems supplier (750)     —     4,000     —  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration and Storage activities 2,474     1,415     3,930     3,733  
    Adjusted EBITDA 145,464     139,019     550,455     481,741  

    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted EPS
    For the Three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2024, and 2023

    Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted EPS are adjusted for one-time expense items that are not representative of our ongoing business and operations. The use of Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted EPS is intended to enhance the usefulness of our financial information by providing measures to assess the overall performance of our ongoing business.

    The following tables reconciles Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted EPS for the three and twelve -month periods ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.

                   
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
      2024     2023   2024   2023  
                   
    GAAP Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 40.8     35.7   123.7   124.4  
    Impact of changes in the Kenya Finance Act 2023 —     2.0   —   (7.4)  
    Tax asset write-off in Sarulla, our unconsolidated company 0.9     1.0   0.9   1.0  
    Impairment of long-lived assets —     —   1.0   —  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities and Storage activities 2.0     1.1   3.1   2.9  
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs 0.5     0.6   1.5   1.0  
    Allowance for bad debts 0.0     —   0.3   —  
    Legal fees related to a settlement agreement with a third-party battery supplier (0.6)     —   3.2   —  
    Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 43.6     40.5   133.7   121.9  
    GAAP diluted EPS 0.67     0.59   2.04   2.08  
    Impact of changes in the Kenya Finance Act 2023 —     0.03   —   (0.12)  
    Tax asset write-off in Sarulla, our unconsolidated company 0.01     0.02   0.01   0.02  
    Impairment of long-lived assets         0.02    
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities and Storage activities 0.03     0.02   0.05   0.05  
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs 0.01     0.01   0.03   0.02  
    Allowance for bad debts 0.00     —   0.00   —  
    Legal fees related to a settlement agreement with a third-party battery supplier (0.01)     —   0.05   —  
    Diluted Adjusted EPS ($) 0.72     0.67   2.20   2.05  
    Ormat Technologies Contact: Investor Relations Agency Contact:
    Smadar Lavi Joseph Caminiti or Josh Carroll
    VP Head of IR and ESG Planning & Reporting Alpha IR Group
    775-356-9029 (ext. 65726) 312-445-2870
    slavi@ormat.com ORA@alpha-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trupanion to Participate in the 46th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, announced today that Fawwad Qureshi, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the 46th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 8:05 a.m. ET and will participate in meetings with investors throughout the day.

    The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed on Trupanion’s Investor Relations website at http://investors.trupanion.com.

    About Trupanion:

    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, certain countries in Continental Europe, and Australia with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Contact: 

    Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
    Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
    Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Athene Names Louis-Jacques Tanguy Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athene Holding Ltd. (“Athene”), the leading retirement services company and subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO), announced today that it has appointed Louis-Jacques (LJ) Tanguy as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2025.

    LJ has served as the Chief Accounting Officer for Apollo since early 2022 and has over 25 years of extensive accounting and financial experience. Prior to joining Apollo, he spent 13 years at Deutsche Bank as a Managing Director in various finance leadership roles in London and New York. Prior to that, LJ was the Head of the Asia Pacific Product Valuation Group for Merrill Lynch Japan Securities in Tokyo and has also worked at Société Générale in Paris and Asia in various roles in Finance and Risk. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Management, a Master’s in Finance and a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Aix-Marseille.

    “We are very pleased that LJ will be Athene’s new CFO,” said Jim Belardi, CEO of Athene. “As Apollo’s Chief Accounting Officer, he successfully built and led a multifaceted organization spanning across the asset manager and retirement services businesses and played a key role in our successful merger. LJ is a champion for excellence and cross-functional collaboration, and his appointment appropriately supports the business now and for the long term.”

    “I am excited to support the continued growth and innovation of our firm by serving as Athene’s next CFO,” said Tanguy. “I look forward to working even more closely with my outstanding colleagues who have driven Athene to be the leading retirement services provider and partnering with them to achieve the next phase of our growth.”

    About Athene
    Athene is the leading retirement services company, with over $360 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2024 and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

    Contact:
    Jeanne Hess
    Vice President, External Relations
    +1 646 768 7319
    jeanne.hess@athene.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: APA Corporation Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial and Operational Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results. Results can be found on the company’s website by visiting www.apacorp.com or investor.apacorp.com.

    APA will host a conference call on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. Central time via the webcast link available on the company website to discuss the results. Following the conference call, a replay will be available for one year on the “Investors” page of the company’s website.

    About APA

    APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.apacorp.com.

    Contacts

    Investor: (281) 302-2286
    Media: (713) 296-7276
    Website: www.apacorp.com
       

    APA-F

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NTA and Enlight Sign a $22m Power Purchase Agreement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NTA, a government-owned company building the light rail and metro in the Tel Aviv metropolitan region, will operate the mass transit network using clean energy supplied by Enlight

    The agreement significantly reduces NTA’s electricity costs

    TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enlight Renewable Energy (“Enlight”, “the Company”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), a leading renewable energy platform, announced today that NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd. (“NTA”) has signed a 5-year PPA with an aggregate value of $22m, and also includes an option to significantly increase purchase volumes through the life of the contract.

    The agreement was signed within the framework of Israel’s deregulated electricity market, which allows independent power producers to enter into direct sales agreements with consumers. The agreement follows others reached by Enlight in recent months, with NTA joining Big Shopping Centers, SodaStream, Applied Materials, Amdocs, and other noteworthy companies in purchasing green electricity from Enlight. Serving as examples of environmental responsibility, these firms’ decision to switch to clean energy consumption will positively impact Israel’s economy. In January 2025, the Weizmann Institute of Science, based in Rehovot, signed an agreement with Enlight to supply all of the Institute’s electricity needs for the next 12 years.

    The agreement with Enlight will help NTA, which is building the light rail and metro networks in the Tel Aviv metropolitan region, to reduce its electricity costs significantly. It will also reduce annual carbon emissions equivalent to the planting of approximately 380,000 new trees per year or removing about 9,000 private fuel-powered vehicles from the road annually.

    Itamar Ben Meir, CEO of NTA, commented, “We welcome this important agreement with Enlight. The mass transit system being built by NTA is good news for the congested Tel Aviv region, and is similar to advanced countries around the world in its use of renewable energy. Green power dramatically cuts air pollution as well as representing a significant cost savings. Each light rail train removes more than 100 private cars from the road, reducing traffic congestion and wasted time, while increasing comfort and safety.”

    Gilad Peled, CEO of Enlight MENA, commented, “Enlight congratulates NTA on its transition to clean and environmentally friendly energy. The deal with Enlight will allow NTA to save millions of Shekels of public funds on its electricity bill, while simultaneously serving as an environmental leader. The agreement drives Enlight MENA’s growth further after doubling our revenues in Israel last year to over $150m. This agreement further reinforces the fact that today, clean energy is also the cheapest form of energy. Moreover, clean energy’s rising share of the deregulated power market leads to greater competition and lower electricity prices for all Israeli consumers.”

    About NTA

    NTA is a government-owned company building metropolitan Tel Aviv’s mass transit network as part of the largest infrastructure project ever initiated in Israel. The network comprises three light rail lines, including the Red Line, which already transports millions of passengers every month, and the Green and Purple Lines, which are expected to begin commercial operation in the coming years. The light rail network will be joined by three metro lines that will connect into the Tel Aviv region from Rehovot in the south and Kfar Saba in the north. With an annual expected ridership of 850 million passengers and 2 million trips per day, the project’s total cost is estimated at approximately ILS 200bn.

    About Enlight Renewable Energy

    Founded in 2008, Enlight develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects. Enlight operates across the three largest renewable segments today: solar, wind and energy storage. A global platform, Enlight operates in the United States, Israel and 10 European countries. Enlight has been traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 2010 (TASE: ENLT) and completed its U.S. IPO (Nasdaq: ENLT) in 2023. Learn more at www.enlightenergy.co.il.

    Contacts:

    Yonah Weisz
    Director IR
    investors@enlightenergy.co.il

    Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
    Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
    +1 617 542 6180
    investors@enlightenergy.co.il

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations relating to the Project, the PPA and the related interconnection agreement and lease option, and the completion timeline for the Project, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “forecasts,” “aims” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to site suitable land for, and otherwise source, renewable energy projects and to successfully develop and convert them into Operational Projects; availability of, and access to, interconnection facilities and transmission systems; our ability to obtain and maintain governmental and other regulatory approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits; construction delays, operational delays and supply chain disruptions leading to increased cost of materials required for the construction of our projects, as well as cost overruns and delays related to disputes with contractors; our suppliers’ ability and willingness to perform both existing and future obligations; competition from traditional and renewable energy companies in developing renewable energy projects; potential slowed demand for renewable energy projects and our ability to enter into new offtake contracts on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake contracts expire; offtakers’ ability to terminate contracts or seek other remedies resulting from failure of our projects to meet development, operational or performance benchmarks; various technical and operational challenges leading to unplanned outages, reduced output, interconnection or termination issues; the dependence of our production and revenue on suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, and our ability to accurately predict such conditions; our ability to enforce warranties provided by our counterparties in the event that our projects do not perform as expected; government curtailment, energy price caps and other government actions that restrict or reduce the profitability of renewable energy production; electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including the effects of climate change, could adversely affect wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission system constraints and the possibility that we may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; our dependence on certain operational projects for a substantial portion of our cash flows; our ability to continue to grow our portfolio of projects through successful acquisitions; changes and advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects or upsets the expectations underlying investments in our technologies; our ability to effectively anticipate and manage cost inflation, interest rate risk, currency exchange fluctuations and other macroeconomic conditions that impact our business; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to manage legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk across our global corporate structure; our ability to protect our business from, and manage the impact of, cyber-attacks, disruptions and security incidents, as well as acts of terrorism or war; the potential impact of the current conflicts in Israel on our operations and financial condition and Company actions designed to mitigate such impact; changes to existing renewable energy industry policies and regulations that present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to renewable energy projects; the reduction, elimination or expiration of government incentives for, or regulations mandating the use of, renewable energy; our ability to effectively manage our supply chain and comply with applicable regulations with respect to international trade relations, tariffs, sanctions, export controls and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws; our ability to effectively comply with Environmental Health and Safety and other laws and regulations and receive and maintain all necessary licenses, permits and authorizations; our performance of various obligations under the terms of our indebtedness (and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that we guarantee) and our ability to continue to secure project financing on attractive terms for our projects; limitations on our management rights and operational flexibility due to our use of tax equity arrangements; potential claims and disagreements with partners, investors and other counterparties that could reduce our right to cash flows generated by our projects; our ability to comply with tax laws of various jurisdictions in which we currently operate as well as the tax laws in jurisdictions in which we intend to operate in the future; the unknown effect of the dual listing of our ordinary shares on the price of our ordinary shares; various risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel; the costs and requirements of being a public company, including the diversion of management’s attention with respect to such requirements; certain provisions in our Articles of Association and certain applicable regulations that may delay or prevent a change of control; and other risk factors set forth in the section titled “Risk factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.

    These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: In-person learning exemption update: Minister Nicolaides

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Pam Bondi Dismisses DEI Lawsuits Involving Police Officers and Firefighters, Advances President Trump’s Mandate to End Illegal DEI Policies

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to dismiss lawsuits against various jurisdictions across the country involving the hiring of police officers and firefighters. These lawsuits, launched by the previous administration, unjustly targeted fire and police departments for using standard aptitude tests to screen firefighter and police officer candidates.

    “American communities deserve firefighters and police officers to be chosen for their skill and dedication to public safety – not to meet DEI quotas,” said Attorney General Bondi.

    Despite no evidence of intentional discrimination — only statistical disparities — the prior administration branded the aptitude tests at issue in these cases as discriminatory in an effort to advance a DEI agenda. And it sought to coerce cities into conducting DEI-based hiring in response and spending millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for payouts to previous applicants who had scored lower on the tests, regardless of qualifications.

    President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity nationwide, and in all sectors. But doing so is particularly important for front-line public-safety workers who protect our nation, including firefighters and police officers. Prioritizing DEI over merit when selecting firefighters and police officers jeopardizes public safety.

    Today’s dismissal is an early step toward eradicating illegal DEI preferences across the government and in the private sector. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMF Executive Board Approves New 40-month US.4 billion Extended Fund Facility Arrangement for El Salvador

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    IMF Executive Board Approves New 40-month US$1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility Arrangement for El Salvador

    February 26, 2025

    • The IMF Executive Board approved a new 40-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for El Salvador, with access equivalent to US$1.4 billion. The Board’s decision allows the authorities an immediate disbursement equivalent to around US$113 million.
    • The IMF-supported program aims to ensure conditions are in place to boost El Salvador’s growth prospects and resilience by strengthening public finances, rebuilding external and financial buffers, and improving governance and transparency. Bitcoin risks are also being addressed.

    Washington, DC: Today the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 40-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for El Salvador, with access of SDR 1033.92 million (around US$1.4 billion, or 360 percent of quota). The Board’s approval allows the authorities an immediate disbursement of SDR 86.16 million, equivalent to around US$113 million. The arrangement is expected to catalyze additional multilateral financial support, for a combined overall financing package of over US$3.5 billion over the program period.

    Building on recent progress, the authorities’ IMF-supported program aims at addressing macroeconomic imbalances and strengthening governance and transparency, with the objective of boosting El Salvador’s growth prospects and resilience. Under the program, the primary balance will improve by 3½ percent of GDP over three years, underpinned initially by a rationalization of the wage bill, while protecting priority social and infrastructure spending. This will be complemented by measures to rebuild reserve buffers and bolster financial stability, as well as actions to strengthen fiscal transparency and anti-corruption and Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks. The program also addresses risks arising from the Bitcoin project, including by making acceptance of Bitcoin voluntary and by confining public sector engagement in Bitcoin-related activities and transactions in and purchases of Bitcoins.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion on El Salvador, Mr. Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Salvadorean economy is steadily expanding on the back of robust remittances and tourism, and a greatly improved security situation. External deficits have narrowed, inflation has fallen, and recent liability management operations have reduced near-term financing needs. Nevertheless, El Salvador continues to face deep macroeconomic imbalances, stemming from high debt and weak external and financial buffers, as well as barriers to investment and productivity. The authorities’ economic program, supported by an Extended Fund Facility arrangement, aims to strengthen fiscal and external sustainability while creating the conditions for stronger and more inclusive growth.

    “The Fund-supported program is underpinned by an ambitious growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, aiming to put public debt on a firm downward path and building fiscal buffers. The consolidation is being supported by raising public spending efficiency and reforms of the civil service and the pension system over time, while providing sufficient space to protect priority social and infrastructure spending.

    “The program will enhance El Salvador’s resilience to shocks, through a gradual and determined strengthening of external and financial sector buffers. A plan to increase banks’ liquidity buffers has already been approved, with Fund financing also supporting government buffers and central bank reserves. Improvements in regulation and supervision as well as a new financial stability legislation will also bolster financial stability and inclusion.

    “Envisaged improvements in governance and transparency are expected to boost confidence and private investment. Early steps have been taken through the enactment of a new Anti-Corruption legislation, and publication by the Court of Accounts of audits of financial statements of government agencies and COVID audits. These will be followed by upgrades to procurement and accountability processes, as well as the strengthening of AML/CFT frameworks.

    “The potential risks of the Bitcoin project are being addressed in line with Fund policies and with Fund advice to the authorities. Prior actions include legal reforms that have made acceptance of Bitcoin by the private sector voluntary and ensured that tax payments are made only in U.S. dollars. Transparency of the public crypto e-wallet has been strengthened, and the government plans to gradually unwind its participation in the e-wallet. Going forward, program commitments will confine government engagement in Bitcoin-related economic activities, as well as government transactions in and purchases of Bitcoin. Regulation and supervision of digital assets will be enhanced in line with evolving international best practices.

    “Decisive ownership and implementation and broad political and public support will be critical to ensure the program’s success. Agile policy making and contingency planning will be essential to manage downside risks in the context of dollarization. Continued financial and technical support from other official creditors will also be necessary to support program implementation.’’

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Meera Louis

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Joint Senate-House Veterans Hearing, King Stresses Supporting Servicemembers Shifting to Civilian Life

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), Senator Angus King (I-Maine), spoke about the importance of ensuring a smooth transition from active duty status to civilian life for veterans with James LaCoursiere, Jr., the National Commander of The American Legion. In the exchange, Senator King referenced the bipartisan TAP Promotion Act, legislation he championed that would proactively help veterans in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) as they begin applying for their well-deserved benefits, and Commander LaCoursiere voiced his support for the bill — calling it “very critical.” According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 200,000 servicemembers make the transition to civilian life each year. Additionally, the first few months after leaving active duty are often the most fragile for veterans, putting them at an increased risk for self-harm and suicide. According to a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, suicide is the second leading cause of death in veterans under the age of 45.
    “Now, I do want to talk about transition for a minute. Be The One is one of the most important initiatives going on in the country right now. Thank you for staffing that, for setting it up and for making it actually happen. I have a simple formula for transition. I think the Defense Department should spend as much money on transition as they do on recruitment. One of the things we are working on here is something called the TAP Promotion Act which would bring Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) into the process of transition. We have to have a warm hand off. I think you quoted a number, a very large percentage of the suicides are at the first year or two after transition. That is a place where we really need to give some effort. Commander, tell me about how important you think transition is,” said Senator King.
    “Thank you very much for that question. The TAP program is very critical. It is a very important element and critical that [veterans] get 365 days to transition and educate themselves on it. As we all know, the more knowledge you have, it gives us a much better sense of direction on where to go and what you need but it serves you in the right direction for gainful future employment. As we all know, employment starts you in the right direction for stability with your family and it also drives the economy forward. Too often we sit back and they don’t know where to go for assistance when they get out of the military. I am not saying the second you get out of the military that you need assistance, but down the road you may need that assistance. They need to be afforded all the tools and resources and even get a start in their next career as they take off the uniform, replied Commander LaCoursiere.
    “My vision is someone meet you at the airport when you come home and says, ‘welcome home, here’s what the VA can do for you — here are the programs. Give me a call if you need any help.’ That is where things like the Be The One Program can be a difference. Thank you for what you’re doing. Be our eyes and ears and let us know what is happening out there so we can protect and defend the most sacred obligation this government has which is to its veterans,” said Senator King.
    Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Earlier this month, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. Previously, Senator King introduced the Lethal Means Safe Storage for Veteran Suicide Prevention Act to provide firearm storage to veterans in an effort to reduce suicides among the veteran population. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. This week, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Reed-backed Bill to Combat Crypto ATM Fraud

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – With scams using crypto kiosks (also known as ‘crypto ATMs’ or ‘Bitcoin ATMs’) to steal from older Americans on the rise, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is stepping up efforts to help fight fraud and prevent criminal from preying on senior citizens.  Federal law enforcement officials have referred to these crypto kiosks as ‘payment portals for scammers.’
    Reed is teaming up with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Peter Welch (D-VT) to introduce the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act (S. 710) to help prevent scammers from stealing Americans’ savings through cryptocurrency schemes.  The bill would improve fraud warnings on all crypto kiosks; make cryptocurrency ATM operators develop a comprehensive anti-fraud policy, which must be submitted to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN); and protect new customers — who are most likely to be victims of fraud — by limiting initial transaction amounts, requiring  verbal confirmation of major transactions, and making victims of fraud eligible for refunds if they file a report within 30 days.
    “Crypto kiosk operators need to ensure their machines aren’t being used to victimize vulnerable citizens and launder money for illegal activities.  This bill takes commonsense steps to ensure the businesses that profit from these machines are doing their part to prevent fraud.  It’s a positive first step towards stopping the surge in crypto kiosk scams and cracking down on criminals,” said Senator Reed.  “We must also continue working to educate vulnerable populations, especially older Americans, to recognize and avoid crypto scams.”
    Today, there are over 30,000 crypto kiosks nationwide, which are largely unregulated.  Many of them are placed in locations such as gas stations, vape shops, and laundromats.  These entities are paid a monthly fee by the crypto kiosk owner to allow the crypto kiosk to be operated on site.  While crypto ATMs are touted by operators as an easy way to change cash into crypto, in reality, they have become a preferred payment platform for international criminal enterprises who utilize the machines to carry out millions of dollars’ worth of anonymous, irreversible fraud – especially against older Americans.
    The proposed federal legislation would replace a patchwork of state regulations with a uniform national standard that would defer to state regulations as long as they don’t weaken or conflict with federal law.
    The Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, which is led by Senator Durbin, will require crypto ATM operators to warn consumers about scams and take reasonable steps to prevent fraud at their machines.  It will also put in place measures to limit the amount that new consumers lose when they do fall victim to scams and will give law enforcement new tools to track down scammers.
    Often, crypto scammers will contact elderly Americans, and using threats, intimidation, and fabricated backstories, try to coerce them into depositing large sums of money into the criminals’ crypto wallets via cryptocurrency ATMs.  According to data recently released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the amount consumers reported losing annually in this form of fraud increased nearly tenfold between 2020 and 2023—from $12 million to $114 million and topping $65 million in the first half of 2024.  In 2023, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 2,700 crypto ATM fraud complaints from individuals aged 60 and older—more than all other age groups combined.
    Specifically, the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act will:
    Require warnings about the risk of fraud: This bill would require cryptocurrency ATM operators to provide clear warnings to consumers about the risk of fraud, including warnings of common types of scams and that consumers should never send money to someone they have never met.
    Require operators to develop fraud prevention policies: For the first time, cryptocurrency ATM operators would be required to appoint a chief compliance officer and develop comprehensive anti-fraud policies, which must be submitted to the FinCEN Network.  Operators also would be required to provide live customer support during all operating hours.
    Special protections for first tim-users and new customers—who are most likely to be victims of fraud: New customers, defined as a customer within 14 days of their first transaction, would be protected by the following provisions:
    – Transaction limits of $2,000 per day, and $10,000 total over the first 14 days.
    – Full refunds for fraudulent transactions if the customer makes a report within 30 days.   
    – Requiring live, verbal confirmation for any transaction greater than $500.
    Require crypto ATM operators to register and disclose ATM locations: Cryptocurrency ATM operators would be required to register with the U.S. Treasury Department and to disclose and regularly update the locations of all their ATMs.  Operators also would be required to provide a point of contact to relevant regulators and law enforcement agencies.
    Require receipts and information sufficient to trace the transaction: Operators would be required to provide receipts for each transaction, including information sufficient to trace the transaction, such as the time, place, and amount of the transaction, and a transaction hash.  Receipts also would have to include contact information for relevant law enforcement and a link to the operator’s refund policy.
    The bill has earned the endorsement of Americans for Financial Reform, National Consumers League, Public Citizen, Better Markets, and the National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low-income clients.
    To spot and avoid scams visit ftc.gov/scams. Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan and Cornyn Introduce Bill to Improve Fentanyl Detection at Northern and Southern Borders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced the Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would help improve the process for inspecting cars, trucks, and cargo containers for fentanyl and other forms of contraband at both the Northern and Southern borders by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test new detection pilot projects while considering cost effectiveness, wait times, and existing infrastructure needs at land ports of entry.  
    “We must use every tool at our disposal to detect and seize illegal drugs like fentanyl before they reach our streets,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our infrastructure at the border and identify the most up-to-date, effective, and efficient technology to help law enforcement catch the fentanyl that is being smuggled over the border and into our communities. I will continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to get law enforcement agencies the resources that they need to tackle the fentanyl crisis.” 
    This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and target drug trafficking. Earlier this year, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, a bipartisan bill backed by Senator Hassan that empowers law enforcement with research, information, and technologies to find and eliminate illegal deadly drugs, was signed into law. Additionally, in December, Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law her bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the Southern border. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen, Crow Condemn Trump Admin’s Arbitrary Firings of Interior Department Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Letter comes after Trump administration fired 2,300 employees at the Department of the Interior, threatening Colorado’s economy and natural resources
    Colorado lawmakers: “The decision to fire these employees will reverberate throughout Colorado’s economy and across the places and resources the agency is meant to protect nationwide.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen, and Jason Crow denounced the Trump administration’s recent firing of 2,300 employees from the Department of the Interior (DOI), and demanded that they be immediately reinstated. The mass firings– including at the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs – threaten to limit Coloradan’s access to public lands and to weaken Colorado’s economy. 
    “The 6,000 DOI professionals in Colorado fill a critical role, not just within DOI but in communities across our state,” the Colorado lawmakers wrote.
    “Without these employees, the administration will not be able to process permits for activities on public land, including for grazing and energy production. DOI capacity for building our wildfire resilience and protecting our headwaters will diminish,” they continued.  
    “The indiscriminate and short-sighted nature of the firings will hamper the overall mission of the DOI, with the public and our natural resources bearing the brunt of this decision…We urge you to reinstate the recently terminated employees in their positions immediately.”
    Following Trump’s February 11th executive order, the DOI fired 1,000 employees at the National Park Service, 800 at the Bureau of Land Management, 420 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 260 at the U.S. Geological Survey. The Trump administration also fired employees at the Bureau of Indian affairs, a historically underfunded federal agency. The firings followed an even larger exodus of roughly 2,700 DOI employees who voluntarily accepted the Trump administration’s reckless “Fork in the Road” resignation offer. 
    Hickenlooper has sent multiple letters pushing back against the Trump administration’s blanket cuts to the federal government including:
    A letter sounding the alarm over the Office of Personnel Management’s blanket buyout offer to federal employees;
    A letter urging Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately resolve staff shortages at the National Park Service after they fired thousands of workers; and 
    A letter demanding SBA Administrator Loeffler address the devastating impacts of the arbitrary mass firings of SBA public servants.  
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Dear Secretary Burgum:
    We write to condemn the firing of over 2,300 Department of the Interior (DOI) employees, particularly those based in Colorado. The 6,000 DOI professionals in Colorado fill a critical role, not just within DOI but in communities across our state. DOI employees protect our public lands, fulfill our trust responsibilities to Tribes, conserve wildlife resources, support access to recreation on some of our state’s most beautiful landscapes, and manage land for grazing, energy, mining, and other activities. A robust workforce is critical to fulfilling DOI’s mission to steward our natural resources and cultural heritage. We urge you to promptly reinstate the terminated employees in Colorado and across the country.
    DOI employees manage and conserve the resources that are an essential part of what makes Colorado so special – including our 13 National Park Service (NPS) units, 8.3 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and 8 wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These workers keep our lands accessible to the public and help boost our state’s $14 billion recreational economy. Already, the repercussions of the terminations are evident at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, which now needs to close two days a week due to a lack of staffing. Blanket dismissals of NPS staff and other land management employees will continue to have a direct effect on public access for visitors statewide, as well as on the businesses in gateway communities surrounding federal lands.
    The decision to fire these employees will reverberate throughout Colorado’s economy and across the places and resources the agency is meant to protect nationwide. DOI’s land management employees often work in rural areas, where communities are tight-knit and often tied closely to the land – and workforce impacts will ripple across those local economies. In many places across Colorado, land management agencies are already challenged by the recruitment and retention of employees in remote areas, including those with a high cost of living. This unjust termination of employees will make management of lands in those areas all the more difficult.
    Just as the land managers in the field are critical to stewardship of our resources, so are the thousands of DOI scientists, grant managers, engineers, and other professionals based out of the Denver Federal Center. The agency’s decreased capacity from firing these employees is compounded by the administration’s recent hiring freeze and the 2,700 DOI employees that accepted the administration’s “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer. The current volatility and uncertainty affect DOI’s workforce as a whole, not just those who were fired – and that in turn threatens both our economy and Coloradans’ access to the places they love.
    We also object strongly to the fact that many who were terminated in this mass firing were told they were dismissed for performance reasons, regardless of the employees’ actual performance. The probationary employees who were fired range from those who joined the DOI workforce within the past year, bringing fresh enthusiasm and perspectives, to those with such strong experience that they were recently promoted. Without these employees, the administration will not be able to process permits for activities on public land, including for grazing and energy production. DOI capacity for building our wildfire resilience and protecting our headwaters will diminish. The indiscriminate and short-sighted nature of the firings will hamper the overall mission of the DOI, with the public and our natural resources bearing the brunt of this decision.
    DOI’s recent terminations hold serious on-the-ground consequences for our lands, waters, communities, Tribes, ranchers, and our state’s broader economy. We urge you to reinstate the recently terminated employees in their positions immediately.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott, Wicker, Griffith Push Back on EPA Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule. Amendments to NESHAP were finalized by the Biden administration in November 2024, despite the EPA’s own risk review finding that the rule was not necessary to protect public health or the environment and could not quantify any public health benefits from the rule.
    “The amended Biden NESHAP rule is counterproductive in every sense and the type of government inefficiency and overreach Americans are sick of. It will increase emissions and cost job creators millions in compliance expenses each year,” said Senator Scott.“I’m proud to join my Republican colleagues in pushing back on this rule that only serves to hurt South Carolina workers, businesses, and our economy.”
    “As Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, a key focus of mine is to get the EPA back to a compliance-focused regulatory regime,” said Representative Griffith. “In the waning days of the Biden Administration, scores of ill-advised, unreasonable regulations were issued to overburden American industry. Rubber tire manufacturers already comply with stringent air emission rules. I am introducing this CRA resolution to roll back a last-minute Biden EPA regulation that was based on questionable data and imposes onerous one-size-fits-all pollution controls. I am glad to join this legislative fight with strong leaders like Senators Tim Scott and Roger Wicker.”
    “In the final weeks of the Biden-Harris Administration, the EPA implemented burdensome rules that increase costs and harm American manufactures,” said House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Guthrie. “Unsurprisingly, the EPA failed to collect the necessary and specific data needed to inform this rulemaking, but went ahead and implemented a new set of emissions standards that will raise prices for consumers and put family-sustaining jobs at risk anyway. I’m grateful to Chairman Griffith for his work and look forward to working with my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues as well as President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address this issue.” 
    “Tire manufacturing facilities have long understood and complied with the existing National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) standards to reduce hazardous air pollutant emissions from rubber mixers. However, the agency’s revised final NESHAP rule actually creates an adverse environmental impact, while imposing significant financial burdens on tire manufacturing facilities and providing negligible, if any, benefits. While we continue to work with the EPA, we urge Congress to take action to undo this final rule in order to limit the deleterious effects on the U.S. tire manufacturing industry, the U.S. economy, and the environment,” said Anne Forristall Luke, President and CEO, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).
    In addition to Senators Scott and Wicker, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).
    In the House of Representatives, additional cosponsors include Reps. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Bob Latta (R-Ohio), and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).
    BACKGROUND
    The Rubber Tire Manufacturing source category is comprised of facilities that produce rubber components such as rubber compounds, tread, tire cords, and liners. The category is split into rubber processing, tire production, tire cord production, and puncture seal application subcategories. 
    In 2002, the original Rubber Tire Manufacturing NESHAP established emissions limits for the tire production, tire cord production, and puncture seal application subcategories.
    In 2020, a residual risk and technology review (RTR) found that the current NESHAP provided an ample margin of safety to protect public health and that the risk associated with air emissions from rubber tire manufacturing was acceptable. The RTR also clarified that emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction are subject to the NESHAP.
    The DC Court determined in Louisiana Environmental Action Network v. EPA that the agency should address unregulated emissions from a source category when the EPA conducts an eight-year technological review as required by the Clean Air Act.
    On November 16, 2023, the EPA proposed the emission standards to address unregulated hazardous air pollutants from the rubber processing subcategory pursuant to the decision in Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
    The EPA’s risk review found that the rule was not necessary to protect public health or the environment and could not quantify any public health benefits from the rule.
    To comply with the rule, tire manufacturers will have to install regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), which will cause an increase in CO2 emissions. As a result, the EPA quantified public health disbenefits associated with the rule ranging from $2.7 million to $8.1 million per year, in addition to $13.3 million per year in compliance costs.
    Full text of the resolution can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Approves New 40-month US$1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility Arrangement for El Salvador

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    IMF Executive Board Approves New 40-month US$1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility Arrangement for El Salvador

    February 26, 2025

    • The IMF Executive Board approved a new 40-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for El Salvador, with access equivalent to US$1.4 billion. The Board’s decision allows the authorities an immediate disbursement equivalent to around US$113 million.
    • The IMF-supported program aims to ensure conditions are in place to boost El Salvador’s growth prospects and resilience by strengthening public finances, rebuilding external and financial buffers, and improving governance and transparency. Bitcoin risks are also being addressed.

    Washington, DC: Today the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 40-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for El Salvador, with access of SDR 1033.92 million (around US$1.4 billion, or 360 percent of quota). The Board’s approval allows the authorities an immediate disbursement of SDR 86.16 million, equivalent to around US$113 million. The arrangement is expected to catalyze additional multilateral financial support, for a combined overall financing package of over US$3.5 billion over the program period.

    Building on recent progress, the authorities’ IMF-supported program aims at addressing macroeconomic imbalances and strengthening governance and transparency, with the objective of boosting El Salvador’s growth prospects and resilience. Under the program, the primary balance will improve by 3½ percent of GDP over three years, underpinned initially by a rationalization of the wage bill, while protecting priority social and infrastructure spending. This will be complemented by measures to rebuild reserve buffers and bolster financial stability, as well as actions to strengthen fiscal transparency and anti-corruption and Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks. The program also addresses risks arising from the Bitcoin project, including by making acceptance of Bitcoin voluntary and by confining public sector engagement in Bitcoin-related activities and transactions in and purchases of Bitcoins.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion on El Salvador, Mr. Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Salvadorean economy is steadily expanding on the back of robust remittances and tourism, and a greatly improved security situation. External deficits have narrowed, inflation has fallen, and recent liability management operations have reduced near-term financing needs. Nevertheless, El Salvador continues to face deep macroeconomic imbalances, stemming from high debt and weak external and financial buffers, as well as barriers to investment and productivity. The authorities’ economic program, supported by an Extended Fund Facility arrangement, aims to strengthen fiscal and external sustainability while creating the conditions for stronger and more inclusive growth.

    “The Fund-supported program is underpinned by an ambitious growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, aiming to put public debt on a firm downward path and building fiscal buffers. The consolidation is being supported by raising public spending efficiency and reforms of the civil service and the pension system over time, while providing sufficient space to protect priority social and infrastructure spending.

    “The program will enhance El Salvador’s resilience to shocks, through a gradual and determined strengthening of external and financial sector buffers. A plan to increase banks’ liquidity buffers has already been approved, with Fund financing also supporting government buffers and central bank reserves. Improvements in regulation and supervision as well as a new financial stability legislation will also bolster financial stability and inclusion.

    “Envisaged improvements in governance and transparency are expected to boost confidence and private investment. Early steps have been taken through the enactment of a new Anti-Corruption legislation, and publication by the Court of Accounts of audits of financial statements of government agencies and COVID audits. These will be followed by upgrades to procurement and accountability processes, as well as the strengthening of AML/CFT frameworks.

    “The potential risks of the Bitcoin project are being addressed in line with Fund policies and with Fund advice to the authorities. Prior actions include legal reforms that have made acceptance of Bitcoin by the private sector voluntary and ensured that tax payments are made only in U.S. dollars. Transparency of the public crypto e-wallet has been strengthened, and the government plans to gradually unwind its participation in the e-wallet. Going forward, program commitments will confine government engagement in Bitcoin-related economic activities, as well as government transactions in and purchases of Bitcoin. Regulation and supervision of digital assets will be enhanced in line with evolving international best practices.

    “Decisive ownership and implementation and broad political and public support will be critical to ensure the program’s success. Agile policy making and contingency planning will be essential to manage downside risks in the context of dollarization. Continued financial and technical support from other official creditors will also be necessary to support program implementation.’’

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Meera Louis

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/26/pr25043-el-salvador-imf-approves-new-40-month-us1-bn-eff-arr

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Educators welcome affirmative solution with reintroduction of the American Dream and Promise Act

    Source: US National Education Union

    By: Miguel A. Gonzalez

    Published: February 26, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Today, the American Dream and Promise Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Amidst threats and attacks on people who move seeking a better life and contribute to this country, this legislation offers an affirmative solution instead of demonizing and pushing people for the choices they make. The bill would create a pathway to citizenship for certain DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and some individuals with Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure. 

    The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle: 

    “Whether we’re born here or moved to make America our home, most of us do what it takes to make a better life for our families. We work, sacrifice, and even pack up everything to put food on the table, provide for our loved ones, or send our kids to great schools. But today, anti-immigrant and anti-public education politicians stoke fear against new immigrants—including our students and DACAmented educators—to distract us from the real issues facing America.

    “The good news is that the reintroduction of the American Dream and Promise Act is a timely and necessary step in the right direction towards ensuring a pathway to citizenship for many new immigrants and DACA recipients including an estimated 15,000 educators who are working in our nation’s schools. We encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to follow the lead of Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), who introduced the bill, and do what is right and just. 

    “Educators won’t be silent as anti-immigrant politicians demonize our students, educators, and communities for political gain. Together with parents and allies, we will support political leaders who put real solutions forward to create a fair immigration process for all families. We will continue to organize, advocate, and mobilize so that all students, regardless of the language they speak, place or birth, or ZIP code, have the opportunities to grow into their full brilliance.” 

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social 

    Keep up with the conversation at #DreamAct

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gibson Energy Announces 2024 Key Industry-Leading Sustainability Achievements and Safety Leadership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gibson Energy Inc. (“Gibson” or the “Company”), a leading North American energy infrastructure company, today highlights the significant progress in its annual sustainability performance. The Company’s exceptional operational management and safety commitment to achieve zero harm to people, the environment and assets is foundational to these efforts. 2024 marked the Company’s latest safety leadership milestone by recording 8.8 million hours without a lost time injury for its employee and contract workforce.

    “Sustainable practices and operational safety will always be embedded into our day-to-day, and I’m proud of our team reaching this latest safety milestone,” said Curtis Philippon, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Looking broadly at our sustainability commitments, to be externally recognized by key global rating agencies, including the A- we recently received from the Climate Disclosure Project, scoring 96 out of 100 points in the Globe and Mail Board Games Governance Ranking and placing in the 97th percentile of all energy companies by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, reinforces the progress we made this year. Our focus will not change in 2025, we remain committed to safety, innovation, collaboration and accountability as we continue to work toward our ambitious goals.”

    Gibson’s sustainability strategy is built on strong governance and strategic initiatives that focus on long-term value for our shareholders, employees, communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, customers and suppliers.

    “On behalf of the Management team, I’d also like to extend sincere thanks to our employees for their commitment to safety and our sustainability goals,” said Riley Hicks, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. “We will continue to build off this momentum, further leverage our world-class asset base and identify additional strategic growth opportunities to meet the evolving global energy demands.”

    2024 Ratings:

    The Company is proud to continue to rank at the top among its Canadian and US midstream peers, reaffirming its position as a global leader in sustainability.

    Rating Agency   Score / Ranking   Description of Score / Ranking
             
    MSCI ESG Risk Ratings   AAA   Gibson is one of only 10% of companies globally in the Oil & Gas Refining, Marketing, Transportation & Storage industry to receive this leadership rating

    Measurement of resilience to long-term, industry material ESG risks on a relative ranking from AAA being the best to CCC being the worst

    More information is available at www.msci.com
    CDP – Climate Change   A-   Maintained this leadership position within the CDP and among midstream peers for the fifth year in a row

    A- Supplier Engagement Rating

    A detailed and independent methodology is used by CDP with more information available at www.cdp.net
    S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment   66   Gibson placed in the 97th percentile of all energy companies and was the highest scoring Canadian midstream company

    Gibson was recognized in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for the fourth year in a row

    More information about The Sustainability Yearbook can be found here
    Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating   16.0   Top 1% within Refiners & Pipelines industry group (2nd out of 208 companies)

    Gibson was once again recognized on the Sustainalytics 2024 Industry Top-Rated List

    More information about Sustainalytics is available at www.sustainalytics.com
    Globe and Mail Board Games Governance Ranking   12th   Top quartile, ranking 12th out of 215 companies and trusts in the S&P/TSX Composite Index

    Received a score of 96 based on a rigorous set of governance criteria on a scale of 100 being the best to 1 being the worst, tying the Company with a peer as the highest ranked energy company
             
    ISS Governance Quality Score   1   Denotes decile ranking score on a scale of 1 being the best to 10 being the worst, with a score of 1 indicating top 10% performance within Energy industry group
           
    ISS Environmental Quality Score   1  
           
    ISS Social Quality Score   2  


    Note: ESG ratings as at February 21, 2025

    Key Achievements:

    Environmental and Operations Impact

    • Published the 2023 Sustainability Report, detailing progress toward ambitious 2025 and 2030 ESG targets, including the Net Zero by 2050 commitment for Scope 1 and 2 emissions
    • Gibson, in its pursuit of Mission Zero, recorded 8.8 million hours without a lost time injury for its employee and contract workforce
    • Successfully completed the Gateway Terminal acquisition and implemented several key mitigation strategies to safeguard marine environments
    • Gibson received the ‘Union Pacific Railroad Pinnacle Award’, which recognizes customers who implement release prevention protocols, corrective action plans and have zero non-accident releases of regulated hazardous materials shipments
    • Continued to regularly conduct Process Hazard Analysis to proactively identify, monitor and mitigate any potential impacts to operational excellence

    Social Responsibility

    • Exceeded its 2025 target with over 24% racial and ethnic minority representation and 5% Indigenous representation in the workforce
    • Successfully implemented Gibson’s inaugural Indigenous Peoples Development Program and announced a partnership with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business by participating in the PAIR program at the Committed level, both of which further embeds Indigenous Peoples culture, decision-making and business practices at all levels of the organization
    • Named as one of Alberta’s Top Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers by the annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers Project for the third consecutive year
    • Maintained a best-in-class position in employee participation in our community giving program with a rate of 94%
    • Gibson was awarded the ‘Better Benefits Award’ from Fertility Matters Canada for its leadership position in creating a family-friendly benefit plan and also, the ‘Best Wellness Program’ at the Canada’s Safest Employers Awards

    Governance and Transparency

    • In the Globe & Mail annual Board Games results, Gibson ranked 12th out of 215 companies, scoring 96 out of 100 points, which recognized the company’s approach to strong governance practices and tied the Company with a peer as the highest ranked energy company
    • Ahead of the 2025 target dates, achieved both Governance ESG targets by having 50% female representation and three racial, ethnic and or Indigenous representation on its Board of Directors
    • In line with the Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, published its inaugural Modern Slavery Report
    • Demonstrated a commitment to responsible procurement with 100% participation and completion of Supply Chain Human Rights training by members of Supply Chain Management, Legal and Sustainability teams
    • Published Gibson’s Sustainability Policy, which formalizes the Company’s long-standing sustainability commitments and enhances the governance approach

    Additional information on Gibson’s approach to Sustainability and ESG, is available at: https://www.gibsonenergy.com/sustainability.

    About Gibson
    Gibson is a leading liquids infrastructure company with its principal businesses consisting of the storage, optimization, processing, and gathering of liquids and refined products, as well as waterborne vessel loading. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the Company’s operations are located across North America, with core terminal assets in Hardisty and Edmonton, Alberta, Ingleside and Wink, Texas, and a facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

    Gibson shares trade under the symbol GEI and are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.gibsonenergy.com.

    Advisory Statements

    Definitions
    Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from facilities owned and operated by Gibson.

    Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy for Gibson’s owned and operated facilities.

    All references in this press release to Net Zero include Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions only. Targets currently do not include the Gateway Terminal.

    All references in this press release to Gibson’s business and asset base are only inclusive of the equity portion of facilities Gibson owns and operates.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information and statements (collectively, forward-looking statements). These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “plan”, “aim”, “target”, “goal”, “contemplate”, “continue”, “commit”, “estimate”, “expect”, “future”, “forecast”, “forward”, “further”, “intend”, “long-term”, “propose”, “might”, “may”, “maintain”, “will”, “shall”, “project”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “believe”, “opportunity”, “predict”, “pursue”, “potential” and “progress” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect Gibson’s beliefs and assumptions with respect to, among other things, its commitment to sustainability, ESG leadership and strong governance practices, its focus areas for 2025, its commitment to, and ability to maintain, its position as an industry ESG and sustainability leader; its ability to identify and realize opportunities to advance its sustainability journey and leverage its asset base and growth opportunities to a more secure and resilient energy future; its commitment to a safe and effective working environment; its sustainability strategy generating long-term value for key stakeholders; its Mission Zero commitment and the efforts undertaken to achieve such goal; the anticipated benefits of its renewable PPA and the timing thereof; the impact of the acquisition of STGT on Gibson’s sustainability profile; its ability to improve its operations, including with respect to emission reductions, biodiversity and Indigenous relations; its ESG goals, including its 2025 and 2030 ESG goals and its Net Zero by 2050 commitment; embedding Truth and Reconciliation principles into its culture and business practices; Gibson’s future climate and ESG targets and metrics and future ambitions, the global energy transition, and other assumptions inherent in management’s expectations in respect of the forward-looking statements identified herein.

    Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Although Gibson believes these statements to be reasonable, no assurance can be given that the results or events anticipated in these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. Actual results or events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other things, Gibson’s ability to execute its current strategy, related milestones; Gibson’s ability to meet its sustainability and ESG goals; risks inherent in applicable laws and government policies; economic, societal, political and industry trends; Gibson’s ability to access capital; Gibson’s ability to obtain the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of STGT and its renewable PPA; risks inherent our business and the businesses of our industry partners; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the availability and cost of labour, materials, services and infrastructure; the development and execution of projects; prices of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and renewable energy; the development, performance and viability of technology and new energy efficient products, services and programs including but not limited to the use of zero-emission and renewable fuels, carbon capture and storage, electrification of equipment powered by zero-emission energy sources and utilization and availability of carbon offsets; assumptions relating to long-term energy future scenarios; carbon price outlook; the cooperation of joint venture partners in reaching the Net Zero by 2050 commitment and other ESG goals; the power system transformation and grid modernization; levels of demand for our services and the rate of return for such services; the likelihood, timing and financial impact of certain risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information” in our current annual and interim management’s discussion and analysis and Annual Information Form (“AIF”) and identified in other documents the Company files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities, in each case as filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and available on the Gibson website at www.gibsonenergy.com.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Gibson’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change after such date. Gibson disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable laws. ​Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive. For a full discussion of our material risk factors, see “Risk Factors” in our current annual and interim management’s discussion and analysis and AIF, in each case as filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and available on the Gibson website at www.gibsonenergy.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    (403) 776-3077
    investor.relations@gibsonenergy.com

    Media Relations:
    (403) 476-6334
    communications@gibsonenergy.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trisura Chief Executive Officer David Clare to Hold Virtual Fireside Chat With TD Securities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trisura Group Ltd. (“Trisura” or “Trisura Group”) (TSX: TSU) Chief Executive Officer, David Clare, will join TD Securities Analyst, Mario Mendonca, in a virtual fireside chat to discuss the company’s 2024 results and outlook for 2025 on Thursday March 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET.

    To listen to the call via live audio webcast, please follow the link below:
    https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/tds/meetings/XL6A16.cfm

    A replay of the call will be available through the link above.

    About Trisura Group

    Trisura Group Ltd. is a specialty insurance provider operating in the Surety, Warranty, Corporate Insurance, Program and Fronting business lines of the market. Trisura has investments in wholly owned subsidiaries through which it conducts insurance operations. Those operations are primarily in Canada and the United States. Trisura Group Ltd. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSU”.

    Further information is available at https://www.trisura.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information. Details regarding the operations of Trisura Group Ltd. are also set forth in regulatory filings. A copy of the filings may be obtained on Trisura Group’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For more information, please contact:
    Name: Bryan Sinclair
    Tel: 416 607 2135
    Email: bryan.sinclair@trisura.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 02.26.2025 Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Eric’s Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced Eric’s Law. The legislation would allow prosecutors to impanel a new sentencing jury if an original jury fails to reach a unanimous decision in a capital sentencing hearing.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “Eric Williams was a dedicated federal officer who was murdered in the line of duty. His killer was not punished for the crime because the killer was already serving a life prison sentence and a single jury member would not vote for the death penalty, leaving Eric’s family in limbo. Honoring his legacy requires creating a justice system that never does so again to any family. Eric’s Law empowers federal prosecutors to impanel a second sentencing jury when the first panel fails to reach a unanimous verdict in capital cases, ensuring that every victim’s family receives the justice they deserve.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    Sen. Cruz previously introduced the legislation in 2023.
    The bill is named in honor of Eric Williams, a federal correctional officer who was murdered by an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary, Caanan in Wayne County, Pa. in 2013. The inmate was already serving a life sentence for murder when he murdered Officer Williams. A jury found the prisoner guilty of murder, however the inmate received no additional punishment for this crime because one out of 12 members of the jury refused to vote for a death penalty sentence. Eric’s Law would allow, but not require, prosecutors to impanel a second jury in these instances. The bill is modeled after state laws in California and Arizona.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Rural Seniors’ Access to Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.), reintroduced the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act. The legislation would reverse a Biden-era nursing home staffing rule that will harm facilities across rural America and could force many to close.
    The legislation would also establish an advisory panel on nursing home staffing that includes voices from both urban and rural communities. The panel would submit a report to Congress that analyzes workforce shortages and makes practical recommendations to strengthen the workforce.
    U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) introduced identical companion legislation in the House.
    “Nursing homes across the country face historic staffing shortages, and nowhere are those challenges more real than in rural states like Nebraska. This mandate from the Biden administration is on track to force many facilities to shut their doors, depriving America’s seniors of care. My legislation will reverse this staffing rule and create solutions that will protect rural facilities,” said Senator Fischer.
    “Oklahoma seniors, especially in rural communities, deserve quality, safe health care. CMS has proposed a one-size-fits-all staffing mandate that has significantly threatened the ability for patients to receive post-acute care in rural communities. My colleagues and I are taking all available steps to stop the overreaching staffing mandate from CMS—they are not in our communities and clearly do not adequately understand the problems families and seniors are facing when finding care in rural America,” said Senator Lankford.“The Biden Administration’s HHS nursing staff mandate was a half-baked, one-size-fits-none plan that will not solve the nursing staff shortage and will hurt nursing home facilities all across Minnesota’s Seventh District,” said Congresswoman Fischbach. “A report commissioned by CMS itself found that there is no single staffing level that guarantees quality care, and a mandated ratio will force facilities to turn away patients or close their doors altogether across communities like those in greater Minnesota. I am proud to lead the efforts of Congress to keep a potentially disastrous policy from being implemented and I look forward to working with The Trump Administration and stakeholders on policies that support nursing staff recruitment and retention to solve the ongoing workforce shortage in this country.”
    Nebraska Stakeholder Support:
    “Every Nebraskan should be concerned about this federal mandate because it directly impacts the viability of their local nursing home,” said Nebraska Health Care Association President and CEO Jalene Carpenter. “Eighty-eight percent of Nebraska’s nursing homes won’t be able to meet the new rule’s 24/7 RN requirement, and 90 percent won’t be able to meet every one of the rule’s requirements. Senator Fischer’s Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from finalizing a rule that will force even more facilities to close, especially in our rural communities. The workforce to implement this rule doesn’t exist, making Senator Fischer’s bill the most viable solution. We are grateful for Senator Fischer’s leadership and understanding that the mandate isn’t a path to quality; it’s a path to closure.”
    “The CMS nurse staffing mandate fails to account for the stark realities of rural Nebraska. It is a one-size-fits-all regulation that will stretch already thin resources to a breaking point, forcing closures and leaving our most vulnerable patients without access to critical care. The Nebraska Hospital Association is grateful for Senator Fischer’s leadership on this issue,” said Nebraska Hospital Association President Jeremy Nordquist. 
    National Stakeholder Support:
    “Seventy percent of the residents we serve live in rural towns. These are communities of 500 to 5,000 people, where our residents are retired teachers, farmers, pastors, business owners and veterans. Only five percent of our locations meet the requirement to have an RN on-site 24 hours a day. It’s impossible to imagine how a skilled nursing facility in a town of 1,500 people will be able to find 24-7 coverage for an RN when they already have open RN positions they can’t fill today. This unrealistic and unfunded staffing mandate will not improve quality. Instead, it will force rural nursing homes to close their doors when they can’t meet the minimum staffing requirements – taking seniors away from their loved ones, and the lives they know. We appreciate Senator Fischer’s leadership on this issue and look forward to continuing to work on meaningful common-sense solutions to attract, retain and grow the long-term care workforce and protect access to high-quality care for our nation’s seniors, particularly those living in rural areas,” said Good Samaritan President and CEO Nate Schema. 
    “We thank Senators Fischer and Lankford for their leadership in safeguarding seniors’ access to care by reintroducing this bill. The Biden Administration’s staffing mandate threatens to displace tens of thousands of nursing home residents in communities across the country. The concerns in Congress we’ve seen on both sides of the aisle reaffirm what the profession has been saying for years: these unrealistic standards will only force more nursing homes to downsize or close. There is a better way to support our nation’s seniors, and we look forward to working with members of Congress on more productive solutions to grow our workforce,” said American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Clifton J. Porter II.
    “Ensuring access to quality care is a top priority for our nonprofit and mission-driven nursing home members. Quality care and staffing are tightly connected. However, the federal minimum staffing rule for nursing homes, while well-intentioned, will only exacerbate the current challenges that providers, particularly those serving rural communities, must navigate: a shortage of qualified workers and a highly competitive labor market,” said LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan. “The federal staffing mandate does not include any funding to help pay for staff recruitment and training. Without staff, there is no care; shortages force providers to make difficult choices, including limiting admissions, taking beds offline, or, worse yet, closing wings or even ceasing operations. Solutions to address longstanding workforce issues in aging services are needed. We commend Senators Fischer and Lankford for their leadership on the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act to stop implementation of this unworkable staffing rule and also create an advisory panel to tackle the ongoing workforce shortages facing aging services providers.”
    Background:
    On September 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would mandate new minimum staffing standards for long-term care (LTC) facilities. According to CMS, 75 percent of nursing homes would have to increase staffing to comply with the proposed standards. This standard will be even harder to meet in rural areas, which already face historic staffing shortages.
    While CMS estimates that the cost for this rule is $4 billion, LeadingAge, the association for nonprofit providers of aging services, believes that the CMS proposed budget is significantly underestimating real costs. LeadingAge estimates that the rule’s staffing requirements will cost providers nearly $7 billion in the first year alone.
    According to the Nebraska Center for Nursing, 73 of Nebraska’s 93 counties have less than the national average ratio of registered nurses (RNs) to patients. Nine counties in Nebraska do not have any practicing RNs available. Furthermore, 66 of Nebraska’s counties have been deemed medically underserved. Nebraska nursing facilities are already being staffed by temporary workers, and many positions are being filled by LPNs. LPNs do not contribute to the number of staff required by the proposed rule.
    On September 15, 2023, Senator Fischer and the Nebraska congressional delegation sent a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure opposing the staffing rule. 
    On December 5, 2023, Senator Fischer first introduced the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act to stop the rule from being finalized. Despite bipartisan opposition, the CMS staffing rule was finalized in April 2024.
    On May 31, 2024, Senators Fischer and Lankford led a bipartisan group of 29 colleagues in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to keep nursing homes open. 
    Read the full text of the bill here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Welcomes National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein at Agriculture Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, welcomed fellow Nebraskan and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein to testify during a committee hearing.
    Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning
    Click here to download audio
    Click here to download video
    Following is a transcript of Senator Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:Thank you to all our witnesses for being here today. Nebraska is known as the Beef State, so I am particularly excited to have Mr. Buck Wehrbein here today as a witness.
    In May of 2023, when Chairman Boozman visited Nebraska on his Farm Bill tour, we were able to visit Buck’s feedlot and hear directly from him about how the Farm Bill could support cattle producers.
    Mr. Wehrbein grew up in eastern Nebraska on a farm raising cattle, hogs, and chickens. He has managed custom feedlots in Nebraska and Texas since 1984, while feeding his own cattle since 1980.
    He has been active in the beef industry and served as both chairman and treasurer for the Nebraska Beef Council, and served on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. He currently serves as President of the National Cattlemen Beef Association.
    Mr. Wehrbein and his wife have been married 50 years and have three children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. We’re so proud to have you representing Nebraska here today, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Gillibrand Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency of Milk Pricing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act. This bipartisan legislation would require manufacturers to report dairy processing costs every 2 years, which would help dairy farmers make sure that their prices accurately reflect the costs of production.
    “Maine’s dairy farmers work hard to produce high-quality milk, but they often don’t have clear information on how processing costs affect the prices they receive for their product,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would increase transparency across the dairy industry by requiring processors to report the costs of turning raw milk into products like cheese, butter, and yogurt, giving farmers the information they need to advocate for fairer pricing.”
    “New York dairy farmers deserve to be paid a fair price for their milk, and they need a milk pricing system that they can count on,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Requiring manufacturers to report dairy processing costs on a biennial basis will give dairy producers, processors, and cooperatives the data they need to ensure that their prices accurately reflect the costs of production. After successfully championing dairy pricing reforms in the last Congress, I look forward to supporting New York’s dairy industry by passing this vital bipartisan bill.”
    The Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, and Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives.
    “Timely authorization for regularly updated cost of processing surveys will provide dairy processors and producers the transparent data to ensure that the Federal Milk Marketing Orders accurately reflect ‘make allowances’ for manufacturing dairy products,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “This is critical to ensuring more accurate milk pricing, supporting continued investment in dairy, fostering innovation to meet consumer preferences, and driving overall demand for milk. IDFA is grateful to Senators Gillibrand and Collins for their leadership to advance this issue on behalf of the entire dairy industry.”
    “We thank Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, and Susan Collins, R-ME, for once again writing bipartisan legislation to require USDA to conduct mandatory dairy manufacturing cost surveys every two years,” said the National Milk Producers Federation. “Regular studies on the costs of processing raw milk into manufactured dairy products would make future dairy pricing conversations more accurate and based on better information, allowing future adjustments to reflect market conditions. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to enact it into law this year, as soon as possible.”
    “The Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives (NDFC), representing dairy farmer families in New York and New England, supports the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act,” said Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives. “We commend Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY) and Collins (R-ME) for their prodigious leadership in introducing this legislation, which will empower the USDA to conduct mandatory, auditable surveys every two years. This will ensure accurate cost data to stabilize dairy programs and support systems.”
    Senator Collins has long been a champion for fair market practices in the dairy industry. Senator Collins is an original cosponsor of the DAIRY PRIDE Act, bipartisan legislation that would combat the unfair practice of mislabeling non-dairy products using dairy names by requiring non-dairy products made from nuts, seeds, plants, and algae to no longer be mislabeled with dairy terms such as milk, yogurt, or cheese.
    Additionally, Last September, Senator Collins, along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), James Risch (R-ID), and Peter Welch (D-VT), sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture urging the Departments to carefully consider any changes to the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans that could add plant-based imitation products into the dairy category, despite their nutritional differences.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Statement on Firings at Togus VA Medical Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: February 26, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) firing of employees at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta: 
    “Maine has one of the highest numbers of veterans per capita of any state in the country, and I have always been a staunch advocate for funding for Maine’s only VA hospital, Togus. Our local VA understands the staffing they require to meet the needs of Maine veterans better than Washington. They deserve to be included in personnel decisions at their facility. It is my understanding that, on this occasion, they were not consulted. 
    “I have been in touch with the Trump Administration for more information on this matter. The Trump Administration has the right to examine ways to streamline service at the VA and ensure veterans are getting top-of-the-line health care, but it needs to be taking a careful look at the agency’s needs, not making sweeping, indiscriminate cuts—especially when we are dealing with something as critical as caring for our nation’s veterans.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Questions Trump’s Unfit Department of Justice Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla questions nominees Harmeet Dhillon, John Sauer, and Aaron Reitz on their alarming track recordsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned three of President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) nominees. The nominees before the Senate were John Sauer, to be Solicitor General of the United States, Harmeet Dhillon, to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and Aaron Reitz, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
    Padilla opened his questions with concerns over Republican DOJ nominees’ apparent willingness to disregard the rule of law and ignore court orders they disagree with.  
    “There’s been a number of Department of Justice nominees that have come before us, most, if not all, echoing over and over again, the respect for the Constitution, the commitment for the Constitution, a commitment to the rule of law, yet, when pressed about whether or not they would be loyal to the Constitution versus potential directives or decisions contrary to existing law in the Constitution, they don’t give strong answers, at least none that give us the comfort level that we, the American people, need and deserve.”
    Padilla also called out Harmeet Dhillon, a San Francisco-based lawyer nominated to lead the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, for her alarming track record of restricting the right to vote, spreading disinformation about the 2020 election, and perpetuating discriminatory laws. He also criticized Dhillon for her failed 2019 lawsuit against California’s Department of Motor Vehicles, alleging issues with the state’s motor voter program. An audit found no widespread voter fraud, and Dhillon’s lawsuit was unsuccessful, along with all of her other voting-related lawsuits brought against California while Senator Padilla was Secretary of State.
    “As a fellow Californian, I’ve seen your work closely. You’ve opposed key voting rights protections over the years, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. You fought against the use of [the] Voting Rights Act to challenge discriminatory laws. You’ve also spread disinformation about the 2020 election, and you’ve defended restrictive voting laws in multiple states. … How can you convince us that, based on this track record, that you would equally enforce, fairly enforce voting rights through the Department of Justice?”
    Padilla also pressed Solicitor General nominee John Sauer, Missouri’s former Solicitor General, on President Trump’s unlawful Executive Order attempting to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States in direct violation of the text of the Constitution and binding Supreme Court precedent. If confirmed, Sauer would be tasked with representing the United States before the Supreme Court, including for a potential case on birthright citizenship. Sauer refused to answer the Senator’s question.
    “As an attorney, though, admitted to any state bar in the country, you’re tasked with obeying and defending the Constitution of the United States. Now, the President’s already defied the Constitution and Supreme Court precedent in issuing an Executive Order in regards to birthright citizenship. We talked about this in my office, I told you I was going to ask you in this hearing, can you please articulate for the committee the current binding Supreme Court precedent with respect to birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment?”
    Additionally, Padilla criticized Aaron Reitz — who is nominated to lead the DOJ Office of Legal Policy — for his since-deleted tweets attacking landmark LGBTQ+ civil rights decisions in Bostock v. Clayton County and Obergefell v. Hodges, denouncing constitutional birthright citizenship, spreading false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, and even seemingly praising McCarthyism. Reitz admitted that each of these hateful tweets were his.
    Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.
    More information on the hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –