NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Republicans Block Markey Amendment to Budget Resolution that Would Extend Alzheimer’s Research Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Watch: Senator Markey Introduces Amendment to Fund Alzheimer’s Research
    Washington (February 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security and founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s, yesterday introduced an amendment to the Senate’s budget resolution, which would increase funding for Alzheimer’s research amidst cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding. Republicans overwhelmingly voted down the amendment from passing. 
    Below is an excerpt from Senator Markey’s remarks on the Senate floor.
    “Funding for Alzheimer’s research at the NIH is essential. Nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s right now and if nothing changes, fifteen million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050 with a cost of one trillion dollars a year to our health care system. We need to tackle this challenge head on by increasing funding for NIH research for Alzheimer’s. Trump and DOGE have already cut and slowed down NIH research, interfering with our ability to cure this disease. We must guarantee that Alzheimer’s research is protected.”  
    In October 2024, Senators Markey and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced President Biden signed their bipartisan Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA) and National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization into law. These bills cement and build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease.
    Senator Markey is a leader in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and to support family caregivers. In July 2024, Senator Markey applauded the HELP Committee’s passage of Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, which included provisions based on his Respite Care And Resources for Everyone (CARE) Act and Convenient Care for Caregivers Act to expand respite care for family caregivers of older adults that need long-term care, including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Earlier that month, Senator Markey unveiled his “Caring for Caregivers” family caregiving agenda, which included his Convenient Care for Caregivers Act to support family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s receiving health care services at the same time and location to improve health outcomes.
    As a member of the House of Representatives, Senator Markey founded the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s to develop a whole-of-government approach to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. He created the Independence at Home program to provide seniors, including individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, the option to receive primary care in their home. Senator Markey authored the bipartisan Spending Reductions Through Innovations in Therapies (SPRINT) Act, which would encourage drug development for high-cost, chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer’s, the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) Act to improve early detection and diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and support caregivers, and the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act, which would require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) work to improve treatment outcomes and engage federal agencies in the effort to combat Alzheimer’s.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Demand VA Secretary Reverse Mass Terminations of VA Employees, Put Veterans Above Politics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Demand VA Secretary Reverse Mass Terminations of VA Employees, Put Veterans Above Politics

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), alongside Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), led a group of 34 Senators calling on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reinstate the more than 1,000 VA employees terminated last week—essential employees who serve veterans and their families nationwide, including those combatting veteran suicide at the Veterans Crisis Line.
    The Trump Administration’s mass terminations of VA employees, which included numerous veterans and military spouses, comes at a time when the VA faces critical staffing shortages and increased demand for its services, such as urgently needed mental health care to reduce the veteran suicide rate. In addition, many of these terminated employees had exemplary performance records and multiple years of work experience in government service.
    “Last week, we were outraged by the Administration’s abrupt and indiscriminate termination of tens of thousands of workers across almost every government agency, including more than 1,000 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees,” wrote Senator Reverend Warnock and his colleagues. “We were further disturbed by the manner in which you publicly celebrated this reprehensible announcement – a clear departure from the assurances provided throughout your confirmation process to never ‘balance budgets on the back of veterans’ benefits’ and to always ‘put the veteran first.’ Not only will this latest action put veterans’ care and benefits at risk, but it further confuses, demoralizes, and threatens a VA workforce we need to fulfill our nation’s sacred promise to our veterans and their families who have already sacrificed so much.”
    The Senators directly refuted VA Secretary Collins’ vague assurances that these terminations “will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits, or beneficiaries,” by detailing how Trump Administration’s directives to gut VA’s workforce are already negatively impacting veterans:
    Openings for new clinics have been delayed because VA cannot hire the necessary staff to open their doors;
    Service lines at VA hospitals and clinics have been halted;
    Beds and operating rooms at VA facilities have been suspended;
    Support lines for caregivers have been reduced;
    Veterans Crisis Line employees have been fired, and suicide prevention training sessions have been postponed or canceled; and, 
    Transportation options for disabled veterans, which help ensure veterans can attend regular health care appointments, have been cut back because volunteer drivers are now unable to get credentialed.
    Beyond the obvious harm to veterans, the Senators also underscored how these terminations are a massive waste of taxpayer dollars that have already been spent recruiting, vetting, and training these VA employees: 
    “Because probationary employees tend to be younger, many of them represented the next generation of VA employees – talented men and women who chose a long-term career path of serving veterans. VA already invested in recruiting and training these individuals because veterans deserve the very best staff possible,” the Senators continued. “The list of real-life negative impacts of this Administration’s directives is expansive and growing every day. Rather than putting the interests of veterans first, you made your priorities abundantly clear in your statement applauding the mass firings: ‘At VA, we are focused on saving money.’ It’s clear from the slashing of services and benefits this priority is coming directly at the expense of veterans.”
    The Senators concluded by calling on Secretary Collins to put veterans first and rescind the blanket layoffs of the more than 1,000 VA employees: “With the best interests of veterans in mind, and to ensure VA is capable of carrying out its sacred obligation of behalf of veterans, we urge you to immediately reinstate all of the employees dismissed in the latest indiscriminate terminations and commit to VA employees and veterans that no additional widespread terminations will occur without advanced notification to Congress, a detailed justification, coordination with service-level leadership, and an appropriate assessment of potential impacts on veterans’ health care and benefits. Congress remains ready to collaborate with you, if you are willing to come to the table and put the needs of our veterans above all else.”
    In addition to Senator Reverend Warnock, the letter was led by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal and joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Timothy Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacklyn Rosen (D-NV), Bernard Sanders (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Collins:  
    Last week, we were outraged by the Administration’s abrupt and indiscriminate termination of tens of thousands of workers across almost every government agency, including more than 1,000 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees. We were further disturbed by the manner in which you publicly celebrated this reprehensible announcement – a clear departure from the assurances provided throughout your confirmation process to never “balance budgets on the back of veterans’ benefits” and to always “put the veteran first.” Not only will this latest action put veterans’ care and benefits at risk, but it further confuses, demoralizes, and threatens a VA workforce we need to fulfill our nation’s sacred promise to our veterans and their families who have already sacrificed so much.
    The more than 1,000 VA employees whose lives and careers you have upended included a substantial number of veterans and military spouses. Many had exemplary performance records. Because probationary employees tend to be younger, many of them represented the next generation of VA employees – talented men and women who chose a long-term career path of serving veterans. VA already invested in recruiting and training these individuals because veterans deserve the very best staff possible. And they all deserved better than to be casually discarded by an Administration that places a greater priority on political loyalty than fitness to serve.
    You have repeatedly claimed these massive, arbitrary staff terminations – done without advance consultation with service-level leadership or advisement from experienced senior leaders trained to manage VA’s health care, benefits, and memorial workforce –– “will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries.” However, we have heard directly from VA employees and veterans across the country that this is absolutely not the case. In fact, we have been made aware of numerous detrimental developments as a direct result of the actions of this Administration. Openings for new clinics have been delayed because VA cannot hire the necessary staff to open their doors. Service lines at VA hospitals and clinics have been halted. Beds and operating rooms at VA facilities have been suspended. Support lines for caregivers have been reduced. Veterans Crisis Line employees have been fired, and suicide prevention training sessions have been postponed or canceled. And transportation options for disabled veterans, which help ensure veterans can attend regular health care appointments, have been cut back because volunteer drivers are now unable to get credentialed.
    The list of real-life negative impacts of this Administration’s directives is expansive and growing every day. Rather than putting the interests of veterans first, you made your priorities abundantly clear in your statement applauding the mass firings: “At VA, we are focused on saving money.” It’s clear from the slashing of services and benefits this priority is coming directly at the expense of veterans.
    With the best interests of veterans in mind, and to ensure VA is capable of carrying out its sacred obligation of behalf of veterans, we urge you to immediately reinstate all of the employees dismissed in the latest indiscriminate terminations and commit to VA employees and veterans that no additional widespread terminations will occur without advanced notification to Congress, a detailed justification, coordination with service-level leadership, and an appropriate assessment of potential impacts on veterans’ health care and benefits. Congress remains ready to collaborate with you, if you are willing to come to the table and put the needs of our veterans above all else.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Issues Directive to Prevent the Unfair Exploitation of American Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS ECONOMY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a memorandum to defend American companies and innovators from overseas extortion.
    This Administration will consider responsive actions like tariffs to combat the digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies.
    DSTs allow foreign governments to collect tax revenue from American companies simply because they operate in foreign markets, even though those companies are generally not otherwise subject to foreign jurisdiction.

    President Trump will not allow foreign governments to appropriate America’s tax base for their own benefit.
    This memorandum directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to renew the DST investigations under Section 301 that were initiated during President Trump’s first term, and investigate any additional countries that use a DST to discriminate against U.S. companies. 
    The Administration will review whether any act, policy, or practice in the European Union or United Kingdom incentivizes U.S. companies to develop or use products and technology in ways that undermine free speech or foster censorship.
    Foreign governments will invite responsive actions from the Administration if they take steps to coerce U.S. businesses to hand over their intellectual property.
    Regulations that dictate how American companies interact with consumers in the European Union, like the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, will face scrutiny from the Administration.
    DEFENDING AMERICAN COMPANIES FROM EXTORTION: President Trump’s memorandum unveils a comprehensive approach to ensuring that U.S. products and services are governed by the United States of America, not foreign governments.
    Rather than position their own companies and workers for success, foreign governments have been taxing the success of America’s companies and workers.
    America’s economy will not be a source of revenue for countries that have failed to cultivate economic success of their own.  

    To the detriment of America’s economy, in recent years, a number of our trading partners began enacting DSTs to raise revenue for their own government spending.
    Foreign governments could collect billions in DSTs from U.S. companies annually.

    This exploitation goes beyond DSTs to other forms of unfair fines, practices, and penalties that undermine the ability of American companies to operate as intended and force them to incur additional compliance costs, lowering U.S. global economic competitiveness.
    In terms of GDP, the United States digital economy has been larger than most countries’ entire economy in recent years, including Australia, Canada, and most members of the European Union.
    America’s digital economic dominance is driven by cutting-edge American tech companies, and the American innovation and workers behind them.
    RESTORING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF AMERICA: President Donald J. Trump has a track record of protecting American manufacturers and empowering American innovators and workers.
    During his first administration, President Trump initiated Section 301 cases against DSTs and negotiated platinum-standard rules for digital trade with Japan and separately through the USMCA.  
    President Trump demonstrated in his first term that punitive measures like tariffs strengthened the U.S. economy and brought back American industry.
    Just last week, President Trump announced the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on trade to restore fairness in U.S. trade relationships and counter non-reciprocal trade agreements.    
    On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America’s economy great again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
         THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
         THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
         THE SENIOR COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT FOR TRADE
         AND MANUFACTURING
    SUBJECT:       Defending American Companies and Innovators From               Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties      Section 1.  Purpose.  In recent years, the gross domestic product of the United States’ digital economy alone, driven by cutting-edge American technology companies, has been bigger than the entire economy of Australia, Canada, or most members of the European Union.  Instead of empowering their own workers and economies, foreign governments have increasingly exerted extraterritorial authority over American companies, particularly in the technology sector, hindering these companies’ success and appropriating revenues that should contribute to our Nation’s well-being, not theirs.        Beginning in 2019, several trading partners enacted digital services taxes (DSTs) that could cost American companies billions of dollars and that foreign government officials openly admit are designed to plunder American companies.  Foreign countries have additionally adopted regulations governing digital services that are more burdensome and restrictive on United States companies than their own domestic companies.  Additional foreign legal regimes limit cross-border data flows, require American streaming services to fund local productions, and charge network usage and Internet termination fees.  All of these measures violate American sovereignty and offshore American jobs, limit American companies’ global competitiveness, and increase American operational costs while exposing our sensitive information to potentially hostile foreign regulators.      My Administration will not allow American companies and workers and American economic and national security interests to be compromised by one-sided, anti-competitive policies and practices of foreign governments.  American businesses will no longer prop up failed foreign economies through extortive fines and taxes.      Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of my Administration that where a foreign government, through its tax or regulatory structure, imposes a fine, penalty, tax, or other burden that is discriminatory, disproportionate, or designed to transfer significant funds or intellectual property from American companies to the foreign government or the foreign government’s favored domestic entities, my Administration will act, imposing tariffs and taking such other responsive actions necessary to mitigate the harm to the United States and to repair any resulting imbalance.      In taking such responsive action, my Administration shall consider:      (a)  taxes imposed on United States companies by foreign governments, including those that may discriminate against United States companies;      (b)  regulations imposed on United States companies by foreign governments that could inhibit the growth or intended operation of United States companies;      (c)  any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that could require a United States company to jeopardize its intellectual property; and      (d)  Any other act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that serves to undermine the global competitiveness of United States companies.   
         Sec. 3.  Agency Responsibilities.  (a)  The United States Trade Representative shall determine, in accordance with applicable law, whether to renew investigations under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411) of the DSTs of France, Austria, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, which were initiated under my Administration on July 16, 2019, and June 5, 2020.  If the United States Trade Representative determines to renew such investigations, he shall take all appropriate and feasible action in response to those DSTs.
         (b)  The United States Trade Representative shall determine, consistent with section 302(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2412(b)) (section 302(b)), whether to investigate the DST of any other country that may discriminate against United States companies or burden or restrict United States commerce.  He shall further determine whether to pursue a panel under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on the DST imposed by Canada and whether to investigate Canada’s DST under section 302(b).  In making these determinations, the United States Trade Representative shall consult with the Secretary of the Treasury, as appropriate.      (c)  The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative shall jointly identify trade and other regulatory practices by other countries, including, without limitation, those described in section 2 of this memorandum, that discriminate against, disproportionately affect, or otherwise undermine the global competitiveness or intended operation of United States companies, in the digital economy and more generally, and recommend to me appropriate actions to counter such practices under applicable authorities.  The United States Trade Representative shall include the results of this review as part of the report required in section 5(c) of the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 (America First Trade Policy) (America First Trade Policy Memorandum).      (d)  The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative shall investigate whether any act, policy, or practice of any country in the European Union or the United Kingdom has the effect of requiring or incentivizing the use or development of United States companies’ products or services in ways that undermine freedom of speech and political engagement or otherwise moderate content, and recommend appropriate actions to counter such practices under applicable authorities.  The United States Trade Representative shall include the results of this review as part of the report required in section 5(c) of the America First Trade Policy Memorandum.      (e)  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, shall determine whether any foreign country subjects United States citizens or companies, including, without limitation, in the digital economy, to discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes, or has any tax measure in place that otherwise undermines the global competitiveness of United States companies, is inconsistent with any tax treaty of the United States, or is otherwise actionable under section 891 of title 26, United States Code, or other tax-related legal authority.  The Secretary of the Treasury shall include the results of this determination as part of the report required in section 2 of the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 (The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal).      (f)  The United States Trade Representative shall identify tools the United States can use to secure among trading partners a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.  The United States Trade Representative shall include the results of this review as part of the report required in section 5(c) of the America First Trade Policy Memorandum.      (g)  The United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, shall establish a process that allows American businesses to report to the United States Trade Representative foreign tax or regulatory practices that disproportionately harm United States companies.      Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
         (d)  The United States Trade Representative is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Legislation to Reaffirm Access to Legal Counsel During Immigration Proceedings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce the Access to Counsel Act to protect permanent residents’ access to legal counsel when facing immigration proceedings. This bill would ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports.
    “As the Trump Administration continues to pursue extreme immigration policies that hurt our communities, it is clear that Congress needs to take action to protect the rights of individuals who are legally in the United States,” said Senator Rosen. “This legislation will ensure that people with legal status, including permanent residents and citizens can’t be unjustly detained without access to a lawyer or trusted contact.”
    Senator Rosen has been clear in her support for securing the border and making sure the asylum process is humane and orderly. She has also been outspoken in opposing mass deportation, and strongly supporting DACA and TPS recipients and their families. She condemned the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke a previously authorized TPS extension for Venezuelans and released a statement condemning President Trump’s unconstitutional attempt to end birthright citizenship. She has raised concerns over the significant application delays impacting DACA recipients, and gave a floor speech urging her Senate colleagues to take immediate action to permanently protect Dreamers, while simultaneously continuing to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Demands Answers On Closure Of Social Security Administration Office In White Plains

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Thousands of Social Security Cases are Still Pending for Hudson Valley Residents

    Closure of the White Plains SSA Hearing Office will Require Beneficiaries to Travel More Than 20 Miles to be Serviced by a Nearby Office

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to Michelle King, the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), requesting answers on the scheduled closure of the White Plains, New York hearing office on May 31, 2025. The White Plains hearing office is the only location in the seven-county Hudson Valley region. The closure of the office was announced with no plans to open an alternative location, approximately 2,000 cases currently pending, and individuals waiting nearly eight months for a redetermination hearing.

    The letter requests answers on how the SSA plans to address the office closure impact on the already long hearing wait times and how the SSA plans to facilitate case hearings and services for those who lack dependable internet access and personal transportation. The letter also expresses concern for the public servants affected by the closure at a time of unrelenting attacks on the federal workforce by the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk.

    The senator noted that “Access to SSA’s hearing offices is critical for those who were denied eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Initial denials occur fairly frequently in the disability determination process, with many individuals receiving an initial denial and ultimately receiving approval for benefits.”

    She continued, “Maintaining and improving the services that SSA offers to the public is essential to ensuring that Americans can access their earned benefits. Over the past decade, SSA has faced stagnant budgets and an increasing workload, while it has also closed field offices and seen the deterioration of in-person and phone services and shifting more interactions online. Specifically, since 2010, SSA’s customer service budget has fallen 17 percent (adjusted for inflation) and staffing at SSA is at a 25-year low. Despite this and despite pleas from Democrats in the House and Senate, Republicans have resisted increases to SSA’s operational budget, and have in fact, suggested cuts.”

    A full copy of the letter can be found here and below:

    Dear Acting Commissioner King,

    I am writing to express my concern regarding reports that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will be closing the White Plains, New York, hearing office on May 31, 2025, with no plans to open an alternative location.

    The White Plains hearing office is located in Westchester County and provides services to constituents in seven counties, including Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. As the only hearing office in the lower Hudson Valley region, its closure will negatively impact thousands of constituents who reside in these seven counties. If SSA does not open an alternative site, beneficiaries will be required to travel between 24 and 135 miles to be serviced by the closest offices in New York City, Albany, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Travel by private vehicle or public transportation to any of these alternative locations would pose greater hardship for constituents, while also significantly increasing the costs and time associated with travel.

    To date, the White Plains office has approximately 2,000 cases pending, with individuals waiting almost eight months for a redetermination hearing. Access to SSA’s hearing offices is critical for those who were denied eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Initial denials occur fairly frequently in the disability determination process, with many individuals receiving an initial denial and ultimately receiving approval for benefits.

    Apart from the impact that this closure will have on those who are serviced by the White Plains office, I am also concerned about the employees who work at this location. At a time when President Trump is trying to gut the federal workforce, this closure would affect the staff who strive every day to provide the American people with high-quality service.

    Maintaining and improving the services that SSA offers to the public is essential to ensuring that Americans can access their earned benefits. Over the past decade, SSA has faced stagnant budgets and an increasing workload, while it has also closed field offices and seen the deterioration of in-person and phone services and shifting more interactions online. Specifically, since 2010, SSA’s customer service budget has fallen 17 percent (adjusted for inflation) and staffing at SSA is at a 25-year low. Despite this and despite pleas from Democrats in the House and Senate, Republicans have resisted increases to SSA’s operational budget, and have in fact, suggested cuts. Current estimates indicate that if SSA funding is cut back below 2022 levels, the agency will be forced to lay off additional staff and add to an already large backlog. Former Commissioner Martin O’Malley worked to rectify the issues at SSA, but change cannot be achieved overnight, and further cuts to staff and services endanger SSA and benefit delivery further.

    Therefore, I urge you to consider securing an alternative hearing office location in the lower Hudson Valley and request a written response by March 3, 2025, to address the following questions and concerns:

    1.         Individuals are already waiting almost eight months for a hearing in the White Plains office. How will this closure impact wait times? What steps is the Administration taking to reduce wait times?

    2.         Given that many constituents who have open cases lack dependable internet access and are without dependable personal transportation, how will SSA facilitate hearings and related services for these constituents?

    3.         SSA already operates local field offices in Middletown, Orange County; Monticello, Sullivan County; New Rochelle and Peekskill, Westchester County; Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County; and West Nyack, Rockland County. Would SSA provide accommodations to allow constituents to participate in hearings at their closest local field office or another remote site in the lower Hudson Valley? What additional resources or funding would be needed to secure an alternative site for SSA hearings in the region?

    4.         Please share how the decision to close the White Plains hearing office was made. Did the Administration’s directive to the General Services Administration to revoke all leases for federal offices nationwide have an impact on SSA’s decision to close the White Plains hearing office? Does the Administration have plans to close additional SSA offices? 

    Sincerely,

    Kirsten Gillibrand

    United States Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests another illegal alien outside Northampton County Prison, following county’s release and failure to honor immigration detainer

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegal alien and Columbian citizen, Feb. 21, after Northampton County Prison refused to honor the ICE immigration detainer request to hold him in a secure location inside prison walls, but instead released the alien into the community.

    “Failing to honor immigration detainers jeopardizes public safety and wastes taxpayer funding by forcing ICE to divert significant resources to locate and arrest criminal aliens in unpredictable, high-risk public settings,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “I commend the prison and law enforcement officials in Northampton County for doing what they can to support ICE’s public safety mission, however they are hamstrung by an irresponsible and nonsensical executive order. This order endangers the public, our officers, and the criminal alien themselves. Instead of allowing the safe transfer of the criminal alien directly from local to federal law enforcement custody within the confines of a secure facility, the executive order forces prison staff to hold criminal aliens in their custody for an additional 48 hours, at the expense of Northampton County residents. At the end of the 48-hour period, the county simply releases the criminal alien to the street hoping ICE officials are there to rearrest the alien before they can evade ICE and potentially commit additional crimes.” 

    The U.S. Border Patrol encountered the alien after he illegally entered the United States in May 2022 near Rio Grande, Texas, without inspection from immigration officials. The Border Patrol arrested, processed, and charged the alien as removable and released him on his own recognizance. The Easton Police Department arrested the alien and charged him with simple assault and harassment Feb. 16.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the Northampton County Prison Feb. 18, requesting local officials both notify ICE as early as possible before they release a removable alien and hold the alien for up to 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release him so ICE has time to assume custody in accordance with federal immigration law. Despite his criminal charges and the immigration detainer, the alien was allowed to post bail on Feb. 19 and was released from the prison on Feb. 21.

    In another recent case, ICE was forced to arrest a criminal alien and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member Luis Gualdron-Gualdron, whose criminal history included indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age and harassment, after Northampton County Prison was forced to release him into the community Jan. 31, despite an immigration detainer.

    “This is an unnecessary recipe for disaster,” said McShane. “Northampton County executives have stated in the past that all ICE needs to do is obtain a judicial warrant. Congress has authorized ICE to issue arrest warrants and copies of these warrants are provided to the county when ICE lodges a detainer, however the Northampton County’s executive order erroneously attempts to invalidate the laws enacted by Congress, by requiring ICE obtain a different type of warrant which is not legally applicable to most aliens that ICE seeks to arrest. By placing this unattainable requirement, a requirement which is not part of the immigration laws enacted by Congress, Northampton County executives place politics over public safety. Despite these unnecessary hurdles, the men and women of ICE, and our federal law enforcement partners, continue to faithfully execute their sworn duties to protect both the residents of Northampton County and the homeland.”

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

    Read about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X, @EROPhiladelphia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Care Coordination for Veterans Using Both VA Health Care and Medicare

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), a member and chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) respectively, are introducing legislation to better coordinate and manage health care for veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system. The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act would create a three-year pilot program where veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare and VA health care would be assigned a case manager to help them develop individualized care plans and manage the delivery of health care services in an effort to increase access to care, eliminate duplication of services, improve quality of care and lower expenses for taxpayers.

    “Our veterans gave their very best while serving and they deserve that same focus in return long after they’ve hung up the uniform,” said Senator King. “Navigating the VA health care system is already challenging enough, but for veterans who also receive benefits through Medicare, it can be extra difficult to navigate between the two providers — both for veterans and caregivers. The bipartisan Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act will work to seamlessly merge and coordinate care between the VA and Medicare, helping to connect the dots for former servicemembers, eliminate duplicative services and lower costs for taxpayers. It’s a win-win across the board.”

    “Helping veterans, as well as their caregivers and providers, understand and navigate both Medicare and VA health care will eliminate gaps in care, improve outcomes and quality and lower expenses for taxpayers,” said Sen. Moran. “The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act helps make certain veterans can fully use the care they have qualified for and earned through their service. I am grateful to Sen. King for co-leading this bill and our veterans service organization partners for their support.”

    “Wounded Warrior Project is pleased to support the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Access Act,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government and Community Relations for the Wounded Warrior Project. “Innovative pilot programs like the one envisioned by this bill help us better understand what’s possible in our effort to improve the systems of care that support our nation’s heroes.? With better case coordination and health care outcomes as the goal, this pilot program can help younger veterans who use Medicare earlier in life because of catastrophic injuries from military service.? We thank Senators Moran and King for their vision and leadership on this issue and urge Congress to pass this important legislation.”

    “Many veterans with disabilities rely on both VA health care and Medicare to meet their healthcare needs,” said Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “This can lead to a duplication of care, poor coordination of services, higher costs; and in the worst of cases, endangers the health and wellbeing of the veteran. PVA supports the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act, which tests VA’s ability to coordinate and manage care and benefits between these two systems for covered veterans.”

    “AMVETS proudly endorses the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act,” said Joe Chenelly, the National Executive Director of AMVETS. “Ensuring easy access to healthcare services and seamless system interoperability is essential for all veterans.”

    “We hear from caregivers every day who struggle to navigate the complex system of available VA services on behalf of their loved ones,” said Steve Schwab, Chief Executive Officer of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Too often, this means that the veteran is unable to access needed care, and the caregiver suffers added stress, anxiety, and frustration. Therefore, we are very pleased that Chairman Moran and Senator King are joining together to re-introduce the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act to help these especially vulnerable veterans and their families connect to vital programs.”

    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. Last year, the Wounded Warrior Project named Senator King the Legislator of the Year Award for “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” Earlier this week, 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. Senator King also cosponsored legislation to ensure military families have access to critical health care during pregnancy, rather than waiting until after childbirth to increase their coverage. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine Slam GOP Budget Resolution to Cut Taxes for Ultra Rich, Cut Programs Virginia Families Depend On

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), both members of the Senate Budget Committee, issued a statement after the Republican-led Senate voted to move a budget plan that will cut resources for programs everyday Virginians rely on in order to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans:

    “As prices continue to rise, instead of focusing on finding ways to lower costs and cut taxes for the middle-class, Republicans in Washington are focused on cutting taxes for the wealthy at the expense of American families, seniors, veterans and students. In order to pay for Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax cut, the benefits of which will largely flow to billionaires like Elon Musk, Republicans will have to gut vital programs that working- and middle-class Americans rely on, including health care, education, housing, and more. If Republicans continue to move forward with this short-sighted proposal, make no mistake: American families will be paying the price.”

    Warner and Kaine filed a series of amendments to the Republican proposal that would have protected Virginia families against cuts to vital health, education and safety programs and held the Trump administration accountable for its assault on a responsive, accountable government, but Republicans refused to incorporate them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia Lawmakers to Trump Administration: Reverse Park Service Staffing Cuts

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott, Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam and Eugene Vindman (all D-VA) pushed the Trump administration to reverse staffing cuts at the National Park Service (NPS), outlining the effect directives to eliminate employees and rescind and delay job offers will have on safety at Virginia’s 22 national park units, which serve 22 million visitors and contribute $1.5 billion to local economies each year.

    “We write today to express our deep concern over alarming directives issued to eliminate roughly one thousand full-time employees, rescind hundreds of offers for full-time positions, and delay thousands of offers for seasonal positions at the National Park Service (NPS). These roles are critical to protecting America’s treasured natural assets, maintaining public safety, and promoting exceptional standards expected at national parks across Virginia and the nation,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “We urge you to reverse these directives and prevent additional cuts to existing staffing going forward given the critical role that the vast majority of NPS staff play in ensuring public safety. If these directives are not reversed, we fear it will significantly undermine the Park Service’s ability to protect both visitors and park resources, particularly as we approach peak visitation season.”

    The NPS  workforce plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of our nation’s parks and the safety of the millions of visitors who explore them each year, and are also responsible for protecting the priceless natural, historic, and cultural resources that belong to the American people. However, recent staffing directives from the Trump administration – which included the dismissal of probationary employees and the rescinding of job offers at NPS with no input from park superintendents – are expected to make it significantly more difficult for NPS to carry out its mission, especially as peak visitor season approaches. Staff positions affected by the administration’s unilateral staffing directives include frontline park rangers responsible for ensuring visitor safety and protecting park assets, maintenance staff tasked with addressing the deferred maintenance backlog and reducing the risk of wildland fires, and support staff responsible for raising revenue for NPS through fee collections.

    “It has been reported that the only exemptions offered were for positions that respond to public safety incidents, including law enforcement rangers, public safety dispatchers, and wildland firefighters. However, public safety response is just part of the work that goes into protecting the public,” wrote the lawmakers. “Countless other positions from rangers to natural resource specialists to wastewater specialists to maintenance mechanics that are not covered under the exemptions have wide-ranging responsibilities for preventing public safety incidents in the first place. Eliminating these positions put our parks at greater risk of damage and make them less safe for visitors. We are particularly concerned about reports that NPS rescinded offers for positions directly responsible for fire safety at Shenandoah National Park – coinciding with the start of wildfire season.”

     

    Continued the members, “While it is encouraging that NPS recently walked back its decision to rescind offers for nearly 5,000 seasonal positions, park superintendents have received no guidance as to the next steps they can take to move forward with seasonal hiring. The late winter and early spring months are critical for ramping up seasonal staff in preparation for the summer visitation surge. Without clear guidance for superintendents on seasonal hiring, the continued delay in hiring could jeopardize the ability of these parks to safely accommodate millions of visitors this summer.”

    In the letter, the Virginia lawmakers also noted that the staffing directives threaten to undermine the progress Congress has made in recent years to invest in repairing and restoring our national parks.

    “For over one hundred years, NPS has been charged with safeguarding millions of acres of America’s irreplaceable natural, historic, and cultural resources. However, persistent underfunding of NPS resulted in the Service’s inability to properly staff park units and the growth of a multi-billion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance projects. In recognition of the worsening situation at our national parks, bipartisan majorities in Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 (GAOA), one of the largest ever investments in conservation and public lands in our nation’s history. The GAOA gave NPS the resources it needed to dedicate billions of dollars for addressing deferred maintenance across the country, including over $470 million for projects in Virginia. As a result of these staffing directives, units will be forced to reallocate remaining staff to support regular operations at the expense of staff hours dedicated to reducing the deferred maintenance backlog,” they wrote.

    Concluded the lawmakers, “Significant disruptions to NPS staffing during the critical months prior to peak season threaten to harm the tourism economy associated with Virginia’s national parks that supports hundreds of small businesses and thousands of jobs. We urge you to swiftly reverse these directives and communicate clear guidance to park superintendents to ensure that NPS units in Virginia and across the country can move forward with hiring both seasonal and permanent positions that are critical to ensuring the safety of millions of park-goers.”

    A copy of the letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter – DOGE’ing the Collapse of our Republic

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Dear Friends,
    This past month has been a remarkable period in our national history.  The new Department of Government Efficiency, known colloquially as DOGE, has uncovered waste, inefficiency and corruption at unprecedented levels and in every agency examined so far.
    USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, has been at the center of this first round of audits. From DEI projects in Serbia to transgender operas and comic books in South America, to tourism promotion in Egypt and sex changes in Vietnam, the USAID projects appear to lack both fiscal restraint and accountability.  Tens of millions, hundreds of millions, even billions of taxpayer dollars are being carelessly thrown at projects around the globe without consideration for our national security, priorities, or strategic interests. USAID resources have even ended up in the hands of designated terrorist organizations like Hezbollah.
    Other upcoming audits include FEMA, which recently sent $59 million to New York City to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels instead of providing disaster relief in North Carolina.  Also being examined is the Pentagon, which failed its seventh straight audit last year.  Another essential audit will be the Department of the Treasury, which issues every government check.  Following the money is critical in any competent review.
    Those reviews recently uncovered that the Environmental Protection Agency recklessly distributed $20 billion to outside financial institutions in the final hours of the Biden Administration, just to get the money off the books.  Just this week, it was discovered that two billion of those dollars were given to an organization connected to die-hard Biden supporter and two-time failed Georgia democratic gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams, for “climate change.”  One Biden-appointed bureaucrat confided that it was, “throwing gold bars off the Titanic.”
    These audits aren’t without controversy for some.  Seventy-seven million Americans who voted for President Trump may cheer the well-advertised reckoning that was promised daily in his campaign to root out government fraud and waste.  Others have expressed concerns that their private data may be accessed by enthusiastic auditors.
    Unsurprisingly, the oversight bureaucracies previously set up to find fraud appear to be disinterested, at best, and complicit, at worst. Instead of investigating the billions of dollars wasted, they repeat the talking points of the coordinated efforts opposing the Trump Administration’s in-depth review.  They say that unelected and “unvetted” bureaucrats, specifically Elon Musk and the DOGE team, might access their social security and tax data, and that unelected people just aren’t accountable.
    Having spent four terms in Congress representing Idaho, I can say confidently there are exactly 537 elected people in your entire federal government:  435 Congressmen, 100 Senators, the Vice-President, and the President.  That’s it!   Everyone else is an unelected bureaucrat — from the agency heads to the generals, all the way to the accountants who currently have access to your personal data — well over two million government workers in total.  I have to admit that I am amused by the Left’s newfound skepticism of unelected bureaucrats. Welcome to my side.  In reality, if these groups are concerned about DOGE, it’s because of what Elon Musk and his team are likely to uncover and not the fact they are unelected.
    This isn’t a partisan issue, or at least it shouldn’t be.  We as taxpayers have a very vested interest in where our money is going and why.  No single political party has a monopoly on improper spending.  Waste and corruption have occurred across many administrations, Republican and Democrat alike.  Those who have taken advantage of the system to enrich themselves or others need to be held accountable, regardless of any party affiliation.  I have confidence that accountability will happen under these audits, and it hints at why there was such unnaturally visceral opposition to President Trump, even before DOGE was a common term.
    As your Attorney General, my office is monitoring the situation closely in the interest of Idahoans.  While I am confident that no Idaho laws are being broken, I will stand up for the protection of Idahoans’ information and privacy.  At the same time, I will also stand up against the corruption and waste in our federal government.  Those two goals are not in conflict at all.  We absolutely can and should do both.
    President Trump was very clear about his promise to audit how the federal government spends money, and his appointed team is carrying that promise out.  Those weren’t just empty words on a campaign stage.  People aren’t used to politicians keeping promises and it likely shocks some people.
    But that shock is something we as a nation must work through.  Our Republic is strong enough to ask hard questions and demand hard answers, because that’s how we grow, adapt, and improve.  Change is uncomfortable, even painful.  But the slow decay of disinterest is terminal.  We need to see these audits through.  America’s best years are ahead of us, and we need to push forward to get there.
    Alexander Fraser Tytler, a Scottish author and jurist, wrote:
    “A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.  It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse [money] from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefit from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.”
    We simply cannot allow the loose fiscal policy Tytler warned against to collapse our country.  Our nation must stand strong against the graft and self-interest of bureaucrats and technocrats and reclaim the authority of our national checkbook – not to vote ourselves money, but to ensure that money spent is in the very best interests of America and Americans.  This will require restraint, vigilance, and discipline.
    To avoid the dangers of a direct democracy and the temptation to vote ourselves money from the public treasury, our Founders wisely gifted us with a Constitutional Republic. As your Attorney General, I’ll fight with all my might to keep it and will support President Trump’s efforts to rein in government fraud, waste and abuse.

    Best regards,
    Not yet subscribed to the Labrador Letter?  Click HERE to get our weekly newsletter and updates.  Miss an issue?  Labrador Letters are archived on the Attorney General website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mississippi Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Relief Program of Over $5,000,000

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Memphis, TN – A Mississippi woman has pled guilty to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program intended to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic, of over $5,000,000. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

    On February 20, 2025, Lisa Evans, 42, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, pled guilty before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  She will be sentenced on May 22, 2025 and faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to information presented in court, Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for numerous individuals who were not entitled to PPP loans. The applications Evans submitted contained false representations, including fake federal tax documents.  When the individual borrowers obtained the PPP loan funds, they then paid Evans kickbacks of 20 to 30 percent.  The loss to the PPP program was $5,126,258.  

    Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren stated: “Individuals cheating the Paycheck Protection Program stole money from U.S. taxpayers who desperately needed these loans to keep their small businesses afloat and pay their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would especially like to commend and thank the federal law enforcement agencies who uncovered this fraud and brought this defendant to justice: the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Gulf States Field Division; the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Secret Service, Memphis Field Office; and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. My office will continue to work with these law enforcement partners to bring those who committed pandemic benefit fraud in the Western District of Tennessee to justice and to recover stolen pandemic relief funds.”

    Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brazilian Extradited from Switzerland to the United States to Face Indictment Charging Involvement in $290M+ Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tens of thousands of investors deposited bitcoin expecting an investment strategy – Instead, new investor bitcoin used to pay off other investors in a Ponzi scheme

    SEATTLE – A citizen of Brazil appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today, after being extradited from Switzerland to face a 13-count indictment for wire fraud and conspiracy regarding his bitcoin investment scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Douver T. Braga, 48, lived in Florida between approximately 2016 and 2021 during the bulk of the alleged fraud. The indictment alleges Braga operated a bitcoin investment scheme that was really a Ponzi scheme, as well as an illegal multilevel marketing scheme.

    The grand jury returned the indictment in October 2022. It was unsealed last week following Braga’s arrest in Switzerland. Today Braga pleaded “Not Guilty,” and trial was scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on April 28, 2025.

    “Mr. Braga allegedly ran a fraud scheme that harkens back more than a century, but he updated his ‘Ponzi’ scheme with the hot new thing: bitcoin,” said U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. “The victim investors have waited years to see justice. I commend our federal partners at the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation for their diligent work on this case.”

    According to the indictment, Braga conspired with others to create a cryptocurrency trading platform called Trade Coin Club (TCC) with an office in Belize. As early as 2016, Braga worked with others to promote TCC, claiming that investors would make money because the TCC had a sophisticated software program that allowed investors to profit on the fluctuating price of bitcoin. Braga also promised that investors could make money by referring other investors to the platform. In reality, there was no investment platform and no sophisticated software. Those who invested early were paid off by later investors as in a Ponzi scheme.

    Braga traveled the world promoting TCC: In Thailand in March 2017, in Nigeria and Macau in May 2017.  TCC was promoted on social media and in videos. At various events Braga claimed TCC had as many as 126,000 members in 231 different countries.

    Through his false promises of sophisticated investments and high returns, Braga induced tens of thousands of people to entrust over 82,000 bitcoin, valued at over $290 million at the time of investment, and to deposit it with TCC. Braga continued the false representations, creating an “online portal” where investors could track the supposed activity of their investment accounts. The site was a fiction as there was no trading activity.

    Braga withdrew and misappropriated investor funds. Between December 2016 and July 2019, at least $50 million in bitcoin was transferred to accounts Braga controlled.

    However, by late 2017 and early 2018, investors had trouble accessing their funds. In January 2018, TCC announced to investors that it was ceasing to operate in the United States and was cancelling their accounts.  Many investors were located in the Western District of Washington.

    Braga allegedly profited handsomely, while failing to report the earnings to the IRS. In 2017, he received bitcoin worth $30.5 million, but only reported income of $152, 298. In 2018, he reported $73,473 in income but got $13.1 million in bitcoin and in 2019, reported $72,870 in income while he received $10 million in bitcoin.

    “The type of scheme Mr. Braga is charged with operating is not new, he just used the allure of a flashy new technology to obscure the well-worn scam.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “While the victims in this case waited and wondered about the fate of their investments, he siphoned off millions of dollars for his personal use. This case demonstrates the determination of the FBI and our partners in IRS Criminal Investigation to hold fraudsters accountable, no matter where in the world they may be.”

    “The charges against Mr. Braga and his co-conspirators reflect a well-designed scheme to solicit investment in a fake cryptocurrency trading platform from victims around the globe,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI), Los Angeles Field Office.  “Furthermore, Mr. Braga is alleged to have knowingly ignored and circumvented laws regulating multi-level marketing programs in the U.S.- laws that exist to protect investors from becoming victims in pyramid schemes.  Despite the complexity of this scheme, IRS Criminal Investigation and our partners at the FBI successfully uncovered the evidence necessary to bring forth these charges.”

    Braga is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud reflecting 12 wires investors sent to TCC for deposits in their “accounts.” Braga is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case was investigated by the IRS-CI and the FBI.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Dion and Phillip Kopczynski. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance with securing the extradition.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: $TOCKHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Continues To Investigate The Merger – YOTA, PORT, ACCD, ESSA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm by ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    • Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA), relating to its proposed merger with DRIVEiT Financial Auto Group, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, DRIVEiT securityholders are expected to own approximately 78.4% of the combined company.

    Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/yotta-acquisition-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Southport Acquisition Corporation (OTC: PORT), relating to its proposed merger with Angel Studios, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Angel Studios shares will automatically be converted into the right to receive Southport shares.

    Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/southport-acquisition-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Accolade, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACCD), relating to the proposed merger with Transcarent. Under the terms of the agreement, Transcarent will acquire Accolade for $7.03 per share in cash.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for March 27, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/accolade-inc-accd/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESSA), relating to the proposed merger with CNB Financial Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, ESSA shareholders will receive 0.8547 shares of CNB common stock for each outstanding share of ESSA common stock.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/essa-bancorp-inc-essa/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nevada Woman Indicted In Romance Scheme To Defraud Seniors

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas, Nevada, woman has been charged in a 21-count superseding indictment for allegedly luring older men she met through online dating services and stealing their monies for her personal benefit.

    Aurora Phelps, 43, with residences in Las Vegas and Guadalajara, Mexico, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico.

    According to allegations contained in the superseding indictment, from July 1, 2021, to December 9, 2022, Phelps would meet older men on dating websites or services, then meet them in-person. It was part of her scheme to drug the older men to gain unauthorized access to and steal money from their financial accounts to personally benefit herself and her family members.

    The superseding indictment stems from a two-year investigation by the FBI Las Vegas Division. The superseding indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in September 2023.

    Photo of defendant Aurora Phelps, from court document in United States of America v. Aurora Phelps, number 2:23-cr-0167-CDS-DJA, in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

    In romance scams, the scammer gains an unsuspecting individual’s affection and trust, then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. These schemes not only cause significant financial losses, but also deeply impact the lives of victims.

    If convicted on all counts, Phelps faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison.

    The charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division.

    The investigation is a result of the close cooperation between the United States and Mexican authorities. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing significant assistance in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Schiess and Steven J. Rose are prosecuting the case.

    An FBI website has been established seeking to identify potential victims. Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Phelps or otherwise have information related to the case are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or complete a survey via this website https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-in-aurora-phelps-investigation.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, which can be found at elderjustice.gov. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Block Booker-Duckworth Amendment to Help Make IVF More Affordable for Middle-Class Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked an amendment led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) from being included in the Senate’s budget proposal that would mirror their Right to IVF Act and help lower the costs of IVF treatment for the millions of middle-class Americans who need it to have children. This comes days after President Donald Trump signed an overly vague, toothless executive order requesting policy recommendations to ensure reliable access to IVF as Republicans continue to claim to support IVF treatment nationwide.

    “My Republican colleagues once again had the opportunity to recommit to protecting reproductive freedoms and Americans’ right to make their own medical decisions,” said Senator Booker. “Unfortunately, they voted against making IVF treatments more affordable for the thousands of families across our country who depend on it to start and grow their families.”

    “Tonight, Senate Republicans once again had a chance to put up or shut up and prove that their self-proclaimed support for IVF is more than just lip service,” said Senator Duckworth. “Instead, they voted to block our amendment that would help lower costs for middle-class Americans who depend on it to build their families—after blocking our Right to IVF Act twice last year. So let there be no confusion: Senate Republicans may claim they support IVF, but their actions speak louder than words.”

    Booker’s Right to IVF Act—co-led by Duckworth and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)—is comprehensive legislation that would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite many of them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again in September last year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Meets with Secretary of the Air Force Nominee Troy Meink

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today met with President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to be the 27th Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Troy Meink.

    In the meeting, Chairman Wicker and Dr. Meink discussed challenges and opportunities in the future Air Force fleet structure, including sixth-generation aircraft, unmanned systems, and American dominance in space.

    “It was good to meet with President Trump’s choice to lead the Department of the Air Force. We have a lot of work to do to ensure that the Air and Space Forces own the skies and stars, including standing up the Next-Generation Air Dominance Fighter (NGAD), accelerating the procurement of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), preserving existing and effective Air Force fighters, and constructing platforms that will be critical to a future national missile defense system. I appreciated Dr. Meink’s perspective on these and other issues,” said Chairman Wicker. “Dr. Meink also understands that air and space power are essential to America’s military rebuild under President Trump. I look forward to leading his confirmation hearing.”

    Troy Meink recently served as the Principal Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. He was previously the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space.

    Read more about Senator Wicker’s vision for the Air Force here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Statement on Pentagon Budget Reallocations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to reports about a potential 8 percent “cut” to defense spending directed by the Secretary of Defense:

    “The Biden administration sent Congress four consecutive budgets with military cuts. It aggressively opposed bipartisan attempts to increase defense spending. On the way out the door, the Biden administration found religion and increased the 051 DOD request from $850 billion in FY25 to $926.5 billion in FY26.”

    “Secretary Hegseth’s memo merely re-starts that process, allowing the new administration to review the entire budget. This process will enable the Secretary to offset needless and distracting programs – such as those focused on climate change and DEI – and direct focus on important warfighting priorities shared by the Congress. Moreover, the Biden administration ran a similar review for the FY22 process four years ago.”

    “I have spoken with President Trump repeatedly, and he intends to deliver a desperately needed military rebuild and Pentagon reform agenda. This agenda requires significant real growth in the defense topline through the combination of reconciliation and annual spending.”

    “As I have said before, the Department of Defense desperately needs to re-arm and reform simultaneously. New growth in defense spending should be allocated strategically, as I outline in my document, 21st Century Peace Through Strength. And it must be paired with common-sense reforms, as I offer in another report called Restoring Freedom’s Forge. The Senate Armed Services Committee will work aggressively to achieve both goals in 2025.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Votes to Promote Prosperity, Make America Safe Again

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    February 21, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement after voting in support of the budget resolution.

    “Under President Biden’s failed leadership, hardworking families across Wyoming shelled out more of their hard-earned money than ever to keep up with record-breaking inflation and watched as Biden’s policies jeopardized our national security,” said Lummis. “This budget resolution isn’t perfect, but it is a first step towards securing our southern border, making our military strong again, and unleashing American energy. President Trump promised to deliver peace through strength, and we are ensuring he has the resources necessary to put hardworking Wyoming families first. This first step will be followed by making tax cuts permanent, cutting wasteful spending, and growing our economy.”

    Sen. Lummis also filed several amendments to address some of her key priorities:

    • Protecting traditional energy sources and grid reliability 
    • Addressing rising domestic energy consumption 
    • Enhancing forest management and wildfire prevention 
    • Streamlining federal permitting processes 
    • Strengthening multiple-use management of public lands 
    • Modernizing Endangered Species Act implementation 
    • Delisting the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear and returning management to states

    The amendments include deficit-neutral reserve funds that would allow for legislation on these issues through fiscal year 2034. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Colleagues Seek Clarification from SEC on Digital Asset ETP Staking Restrictions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, joined by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), sent a bipartisan letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting clarification of the agency’s position regarding protocol staking in digital asset exchange traded products (ETPs).

    “The current lack of availability of protocol staking for these issuers significantly impacts the investment potential of digital asset ETPs in the U.S. and challenges the competitive positioning of U.S. asset managers in the global market,” the senators wrote. “ETPs in Canada and Europe do not prohibit protocol staking. By not permitting certain digital asset ETP issuers to include protocol staking in their S-1 filings, the SEC is undermining the consensus mechanisms underpinning certain digital assets, weakening the resilience and integrity of the data stored on certain distributed ledgers.”

    The letter requests specific answers from the SEC regarding:

    • The analysis used to restrict protocol staking from certain S-1 filings 
    • Identified opportunities and risks associated with protocol staking 
    • The rationale for prohibiting staking within securities instruments 

    The letter requests a response from the SEC by March 21, 2025.

    The full text of the letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Punchbowl News: Can Senate Republicans pull off permanent tax cuts?

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 20, 2025

    President Donald Trump dealt Senate Republicans a blow Wednesday in the seemingly never-ending struggle over how to move his agenda on Capitol Hill. Trump sided with the House GOP’s reconciliation roadmap right as the Senate began floor consideration of its own plan.

    However Congress decides to package top GOP priorities — one bill, two bills — Senate Republicans are gearing up for an arguably more consequential fight on the substance of the legislation.

    Senate GOP leaders have drawn a red line on the need to make the expiring 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. That’s not feasible under the House’s budget resolution, which would give the tax committees $4.5 trillion of room for tax cuts.

    It doesn’t include a “current policy baseline,” which Republicans view as the only realistic way to make the Trump tax cuts permanent. This scoring method would consider extensions of existing tax policy cost-free and get around Senate reconciliation rules that otherwise end up requiring big offsets down the line.

    So can Senate Republicans secure that victory?

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Laura Weiss, Samantha Handler
    Source: Punchbowl News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Variety: Disney-Fubo Deal Raises Antitrust Concerns, Senator Says

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 20, 2025

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren has urged the Justice Department to carefully scrutinize Disney‘s deal to acquire a controlling stake in Fubo, saying the consolidation presents antitrust concerns.

    Disney announced in January that it would merge its Hulu + Live TV service with Fubo and take 70% ownership of the combined company. A few days later, Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery dropped their plans to launch Venu Sports, a combined streaming service.

    In a letter to the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, Warren argued that the Disney-Fubo deal allows the company to “gobble up a competitor” and could lead to higher prices.

    “This proposed acquisition raises significant concerns under antitrust law, would give Disney increased market power and incentives to increase costs for viewers, and should be regarded as another data point in Disney’s history of anticompetitive behavior,” Warren wrote.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Gene Maddaus
    Source: Variety

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Kootenai County Men Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Children

    Source: US State of Idaho

    [BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested three North Idaho men after the serving of residential search warrants this past week.
    “Our growing network of agency partnerships across the state is showing that, together, we are making a difference in protecting children,” said Attorney General Labrador.  “I’m grateful for the efforts of everyone working to keep Idaho’s kids safe from abuse and exploitation.”
    On Tuesday February 18th, 2025, Travis McClure (42) was arrested on seven (7) counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material. The Idaho ICAC Task Force was assisted by Coeur d’Alene Police Department and the Kootenai County Prosecutors Office.
    On Wednesday February 19th, 2025, Dakotah Kitchen (28) was arrested on seven (7) counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material, two (2) counts of distribution of child sexual exploitation material and one (1) count of possession of visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. The Idaho ICAC Task Force was assisted by Post Falls Police Department, and the Kootenai County Prosecutors Office.
    On Thursday, February 20th, 2025, Matthew Cash (43) was arrested on eight (8) counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material, and two (2) counts of possession of visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. The ICAC Task Force was assisted by Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and Kootenai County Prosecutors Office.
    Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
    The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children. Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
    The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces February 2025 Cash Distributions for ETF Series Securities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the February 2025 cash distributions for its ETF Series securities. The record date for the distributions is February 28, 2025. All distributions are payable on March 7, 2025.

    The per-unit February 2025 distributions are detailed below:

    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of

    capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227
    nross@ninepoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Estimated February 2025 Cash Distributions for Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the estimated February 2025 cash distribution for the ETF Series of Ninepoint Cash Management Fund (the “Fund”). Ninepoint Partners expects to issue a press release on or about February 27, 2025, which will provide the final distribution rate. The record date for the cash distribution is February 28, 2025, payable on March 7, 2025.

    All estimates in this document are based on the accounting data as of February 21, 2025. Due to subscriptions and/or redemptions and/or other factors, the final February 2025 distribution may differ from these estimates and the difference could be material. The information included in this letter is for reference purposes only. Please reconcile all information against your official client statements. This is not intended to be a statement for official tax reporting purposes or any form of tax advice.

    The actual taxable amounts of distributions for 2025, including the tax characteristics of the distributions, will be reported to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. in early 2026. Securityholders can contact their brokerage firm for this information.

    The per-unit estimated February 2025 distribution is detailed below:

    Ninepoint ETF Series Ticker Cash Distribution per
    unit    		 Notional Distribution
    per unit    		 CUSIP
    Ninepoint Cash Management Fund NSAV $0.11942 $0.00000 65443X105
             

    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227
    nross@ninepoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Reintroduces Legislation to Advance Establishment of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.21.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today reintroduced his legislation to support the establishment of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Hoeven’s bipartisan bill, which is cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would:

    • Authorize the Department of the Interior to provide grants to establish the presidential library and support the display of materials.
      • This legislation follows the model of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, located in Springfield, Ill., which authorized the use of materials and objects relating to Abraham Lincoln, as well as $50 million over five years for its establishment under fiscal year (FY) 2001 appropriations legislation.
    • Require the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation to utilize non-federal funds to provide a 2:1 match for each federal grant awarded.
    • Prohibit the use of federal grants for maintenance or operations of the interpretive center.

    Hoeven previously secured the bill’s passage by the U.S. Senate during the 118th Congress, and the senator is reintroducing the legislation as the House did not act on the bill prior to the end of the last Congress.

    “The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt is inseparable from the history of North Dakota, with his time in the Dakota Territory having fundamentally shaped his perspective and character,” said Senator Hoeven. “Between the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and this new presidential library, our state will honor his life and his lasting contributions to our nation. That’s exactly what we seek to help accomplish through our legislation.”

    “Teddy Roosevelt’s life was so much more than his presidency,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill will help bring artifacts held by the federal government to Medora. Visitors from around the world will be immersed in the life of our favorite Rough Rider and experience firsthand the Badlands that shaped him.”

    The bill comes as part of Hoeven’s efforts to support the establishment of the presidential library, having worked as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to:

    • Sponsor and successfully pass legislation enabling the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation to purchase U.S. Forest Service land in Billings County to construct a library and museum honoring the life and legacy of President Teddy Roosevelt. 
    • Secure legislation in the Interior appropriations bill to support loans of historic artifacts for display at the library.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Newark, law enforcement partners arrest illegal alien in New Jersey with extensive criminal history

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from law enforcement partners, apprehended Richard Alfanso Smith, 48, an illegally present Jamaican national subject to a final order of removal, Feb. 19. Smith tried to abscond and evade arrest during a routine enforcement operation in Basking Ridge, New Jersey and remains in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

    “In a collaborated effort, ICE arrested Richard Alfanso Smith, a citizen of Jamaica who has more than 15 criminal arrests with his convictions,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris. “His extensive track record of arrests, convictions and imprisonments is not compliant with our nation’s immigration laws. We are grateful for the resources our law enforcement partners were able to pool together quickly in real time to ensure the target was apprehended.”

    Smith’s criminal history began when he was convicted of assault, burglary, harassment and disorderly conduct in May 1996.

    Smith was sentenced to four years in June 1999, for aggravated assault and resisting arrest and, during the same month, was sentenced to another four years for manufacture, distribution, and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

    He was convicted October 8, 2002, for possession of marijuana and sentenced to 36 days imprisonment.

    Smith was sentenced March 5, 2004, for assault and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and ordered to four years’ imprisonment.

    He was sentenced March 17, 2006, to six years for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of weapon.

    Smith was convicted April 25, 2014, for resisting arrest and assessed a fine.

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DoD Probationary Workforce Statement

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    As the Secretary announced yesterday, the Department of Defense is re-evaluating our probationary workforce, consistent with the President’s initiative to reform the Federal workforce to maximize efficiency and productivity.

    This re-evaluation of probationary employees is being done across government, not just at the Defense Department, but we believe in the goals of the program, and our leaders are carrying out that review carefully and smartly.

    We anticipate reducing the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force.

    We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws.

    As the Secretary made clear, it is simply not in the public interest to retain individuals whose contributions are not mission-critical. Taxpayers deserve to have us take a thorough look at our workforce top-to-bottom to see where we can eliminate redundancies.

    As we take these important steps to reshape the workforce to meet the President’s priorities, the Department will treat our workers with dignity and respect as it always does. Those who commit themselves to defending our nation deserve nothing less.

    – Darin Selnick, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: California Remains Unwavering in Our Commitment to Protecting Gender-Affirming Care

    Source: US State of California

    Co-leads coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing amicus brief to support plaintiffs in PFLAG v. Trump 

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland supporting the motion for a preliminary injunction sought by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, and individual patients and their families in their lawsuit against the Trump Administration. On February 4, 2025, PFLAG challenged President Trump’s Executive Orders 14168 and 14187 targeting transgender individuals by stating that gender identity was a “false” idea and by attempting to strip federal funding from institutions that provide life-saving gender affirming care for young people under the age of 19. The attorneys general argue that these actions blatantly and unlawfully discriminate against transgender youth based on their identity, and urge the Court to grant PFLAG’s motion for a preliminary injunction. 

    “Health care decisions, including gender-affirming care, should be made by patients, families, and doctors, free from political interference,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As we continue to face relentless attacks on transgender rights, my office remains unwavering in our commitment to defending the rights of transgender individuals as they seek to live their lives as their authentic selves. Alongside attorneys general nationwide, I am proud to submit this amicus brief today in defense of the law and against the federal government’s unlawful, hate-mongering attempts to strip away the right to access gender-affirming care.”

    The states submitting today’s amicus brief have enacted their own laws, policies, and protections for transgender residents, including transgender youth under the age of 19. California law, including the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code section 51, and Government Code section 11135, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Electing to refuse services to a class of individuals based on their protected status, such as withholding services from transgender individuals based on their gender identity or their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, while offering such services to cisgender individuals, is discrimination. 

    In today’s amicus brief, the attorneys general argue that there is considerable medical evidence showing that gender-affirming care improves the health outcomes for individuals with gender dysphoria, a medical condition characterized by significant distress that occurs when an individual’s gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Denying this care can have tragic consequences on patients’ physical and mental well-being. A recent study conducted by the University of Washington found that in individuals ages 13-20, receiving gender-affirming care was associated with 60% lower odds of moderate to severe depression and 73% lower odds of having suicidal thoughts over a 12-month period. 

    The attorneys general also argue that the Administration’s Executive Orders have sown chaos and confusion among gender-affirming care providers and caused anxiety and fear among transgender youth and their families. The Trevor Project, which provides confidential counseling to LGBTQ+ youth, reported a 700% increase in access to its crisis services since the Presidential election and a 46% increase in volume following Inauguration Day. In the immediate aftermath of the Executive Orders, facilities across the country halted gender-affirming care for young people, citing fears of losing federal funding for healthcare unrelated to gender-affirming care.    

    While gender-affirming care remains available in California, the Executive Orders have undeniably and unacceptably scared providers and patients here and across the country. Shortly after PFLAG filed their lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joined 14 other attorneys general in issuing a statement reaffirming their commitment to protecting access to gender-affirming care, reminding providers that federal courts have stopped the Administration from withholding federal funding from institutions, including ones that provide gender-affirming care, and making clear that no federal law prohibits or criminalizes gender-affirming care.  

    In submitting this brief, which is co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, are the attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. 

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Carlos Man Charged with Arson for Causing Watch Fire on San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Keanu Rudy Dude, 25, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and a San Carlos, Arizona resident, was arrested today on an outstanding indictment issued by a federal grand jury in Phoenix. He is charged with Arson for the July 2024 Watch Fire on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

    The Watch Fire burned over 2,000 acres of land owned by the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Twenty-one homes identified in the indictment were destroyed by the fire. Four hundred families had to be evacuated from their homes and the areas surrounding San Carlos. Dude will have his initial appearance on Monday, February 24, 2025.

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the San Carlos Apache Police and Fire Departments and the San Carlos Ranger and Forestry Departments conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
     

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-1579-PHX-DJH
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-022_Dude

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –