NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. RaShaun Kemp Introduces Legislation to Ban Use of Three-Cueing System

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (February 5, 2025) — This week, Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D–South Fulton) introduced legislation that would ban schools from using the three-cueing system in educational materials for teaching reading. The three-cueing method relies on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues to help students identify words. Senate Bill 93, which has bipartisan support, would also establish rules for curricula in state-approved educator preparation programs.

    “This method, which encourages students to guess words rather than decode them, sets our kids up for failure and contradicts the principles of the science of reading,” said Sen. Kemp. “I’ve seen firsthand how this flawed approach leaves too many children struggling to read. It’s well past time we give them all the tools they need to succeed.”

    Sen. Kemp added, “This legislation will build on two critical bills passed during the 2023 Legislative Session: House Bill 538, or the “Georgia Early Literacy Act,” and Senate Bill 211, which established the Georgia Council on Literacy. It is essential that our children continue to receive instruction based on evidence-based principles, as outlined in these bills. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure this vital legislation is passed.”

    If passed, Georgia would join 11 other states that have banned three-cueing, including Ohio, where the method was originally developed and widely used.

    SB 93 can be found here.

    # # # #

    Sen. RaShaun Kemp represents the 38th Senate District, which includes a portion of Fulton County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0105 or by email at rashaun.kemp@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hassan, Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Adjust Military Life Insurance for Inflation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Keith Self (TX-03) today introduced the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, which would help ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation:  

    “While we can never fully repay the debt that we owe to those who serve our country, we should work each and every day to get them the benefits that they deserve,” said Sen. Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the life insurance offered for our veterans and servicemembers is keeping pace with real-world costs to help protect the financial security of the families of those who serve.”

    “As the nation continues to feel the effects of inflation, we need to make sure service members, veterans, and their families have the financial support they need and deserve,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would help ensure the Veterans Affairs Department can offer competitive life insurance packages that keep pace with the current cost of living.” 

    “Our nation’s service members and veterans put their lives on the line to protect America and defend our freedom,” said Sen. Cruz. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues to honor and provide for those who bravely sacrificed to serve the United States of America. Adjusting the value of the life insurance policies of servicemembers and veterans in line with inflation will ensure that America rightly honors their memory and cares for their loved ones after they are gone.”

    “Our servicemembers, veterans and their families make countless sacrifices every day to protect our nation, and we are indebted to their selfless service,” said Sen. King. “With the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, we can ensure life insurance packages for military members adjust with the rising cost of living — giving more peace of mind to military families when they face difficult times. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to honor our commitment to the brave men and women who have given so much to our country.”

    “When we ask servicemembers to put their lives on the line for our country, we promise to have their backs. We must take care of their families and loved ones in the event of tragedy,” said Rep. Strickland. “This bill makes it clear that Congress stands by our military families.”

    “We must ensure our veterans receive the benefits they’ve rightfully earned,” said Rep. Self. “This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to review and adjust the maximum coverage for servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs to keep pace with inflation, ensuring these benefits keep pace with rising costs.”

    Background:

    The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act would help ensure the maximum group insurance available to service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living. From 2006 to 2023, the maximum insurance value available for service members and veterans remained static, lagging far behind inflation rates. This bill would strengthen the financial safety net for veterans, service members, and their families by requiring a report to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding cost of living increases and inflation rates every five years to ensure they don’t go years without assessing inflation rates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Reintroduces Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here for audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers. 

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, reintroduced his Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 

    “When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,” said Cramer. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”

    Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

    The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. Cramer helped craft the rule, and his legislation codifies these protections. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

    Cramer’s legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.  

    In the years since Cramer first introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.

    The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, Lignite Energy Council, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, and National Mining Association.

    The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Trump’s Trade Philosophy: No to Tariffs, Yes to Innovation, Collaboration & Growth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    02.05.25

    Cantwell Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Trump’s Trade Philosophy: No to Tariffs, Yes to Innovation, Collaboration & Growth

    In speech on Senate floor, Cantwell advocates for new U.S. trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, & the Americas to strengthen ties with allies & grow the economy at home; Cantwell slams proposed Trump tariffs: “The payers in this dispute are never the government leaders … it’s the workers who lose their job.”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the United States to establish new trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America – and to repudiate the trade philosophy of President Donald Trump, whose proposed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China would spark a trade war, drive up costs for American consumers, harm domestic businesses across hundreds of industries, and compromise the United States’ global leadership in the free trade ecosystem.

    “It’s better to have a job than be attracted to join a terrorist organization. It’s better to create economic stability than fueling poverty and migration […] Last week, I spoke about additional investments the United States needs to make in Panama, Latin America, and others, to link and modernize bilateral agreements that help us counter China,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Free trade agreements are a way for us — not tariffs — to gain the leverage we want. South Asia could play an important role in this coalition building, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. But I want us to go further. I want us to understand that U.S.-led negotiations in a Middle East free trade agreement to build on the momentum of a ceasefire in Gaza could further stabilize that region.”

    In her speech, Sen. Cantwell railed against President Donald Trump’s tariff’s proposal, likening his isolationist trade policies to an attempt to make time stand still – a futile goal at any point, but especially during the modern information age, when countries are more interconnected than ever and the United States is locked in an innovation race in artificial intelligence and quantum technology. She also called on the United States to invest in its workforce, research & development, science, and capital investment to modernize its manufacturing and stay competitive.

    “To outcompete our adversaries, we need coalitions, not go-it-alone strategies. Why do we fear this if we think our principles are correct? But somehow the current administration thinks that we’ve been hurt more than we’ve been helped in this global equation, and they want us to believe that somehow there is a win-win situation on tariffs that they can deliver on,” Sen. Cantwell said.

    “Tariffs are a distortion of markets. Tariffs mean we disagree. It very rarely means the disagreement will be resolved quickly. It usually means people will retaliate, and the escalation of that retaliation will hurt consumers so much so that eventually someone will blink,” she continued. “The payers in this dispute, though, are never the government leaders. No, it’s the workers who lose their job. It’s the family that pays higher cost. It’s the community that loses their economic activity and tax revenue.”

    In Washington state: Two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and related industries. In 2023, the state imported $19.9 billion of goods from Canada – primarily oil, gas, lumber, and electrical power — making our northern neighbors Washington state’s largest trade partner. Also in 2023, the state imported $1.7 billion in goods from Mexico, including motor vehicles, vehicle parts, and household appliances. More information about how President Trump’s proposed tariffs will impact businesses and consumers in the State of Washington is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which devastated Washington state’s apple exports.  India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after then-President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted.  The impact on Washington apple growers was severe:  apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.

    In May 2023, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to help U.S. potato growers finally get approval to sell fresh potatoes in Japan. In June 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), then-chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, in Washington state for a forum with 30 local agricultural leaders in Wenatchee to discuss the Farm Bill.

    In 2022, Sen. Cantwell spearheaded passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law to crack down on skyrocketing international ocean shipping costs and ease supply chain backlogs that raise prices for consumers and make it harder for U.S. farmers and exporters to get their goods to the global market.

    In August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter to then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting aid funds be distributed to wheat growers. In December 2018, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the passage of the Farm Bill, which included $500 million of assistance for farmers, including those who grow wheat.

    In 2019, Sen. Cantwell helped secure a provision in the $16 billion USDA relief package, ensuring sweet cherry growers could access emergency funding to offset the impacts of tariffs and other market disruptions.

    Video of today’s speech is available HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Mullin, Cramer, Colleagues Reintroduce Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Mullin, Cramer, Colleagues Reintroduce Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

    Washington, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers. 

    U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and 39 of their Senate GOP colleagues reintroduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 

    Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

    The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

    The senators’ legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.  

    In the years since the first introduction of the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.

    The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, the Lignite Energy Council, and National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

    Joining Sens. Mullin and Cramer on this legislation are Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

    Read exclusively about the Fair Access to Banking Act in the Daily Wire.

    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help America’s Working Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will make the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Employer Tax Credit permanent, helping companies of all sizes offer PFML plans to their employees. 

    Senators Fischer and King established the country’s first-ever nationwide PFML policy, which wasincluded in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implemented in 2018. The Senators’ legislationbuilds on the 2017 law to better serve working families and hourly workers. It also provides additional ways for businesses to qualify for the paid leave tax credit, such as paying for PFML insurance products, and requires greater outreach efforts to raise awareness about the credit. 

    U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) will introduce identical companion legislation in the House.

    “America’s working families drive our economy forward and strengthen our communities. They shouldn’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their loved ones. That’s why Senator King and I passed the first-ever nationwide paid family leave law. Now, we need to make our legislation permanent and expand access to ensure that even more businesses can provide paid family leave to the workers who keep them running. I’m determined to get this key legislation included in whatever tax package Congress considers this year,” said Senator Fischer.

    “I have often said that Maine is one big town with long roads and when a member of our community is hurting, we drop everything to take care of our own. However, no one should have to choose between caring for our families or receiving the next paycheck to put food on the table,” said Senator King. “That’s why I’ve been working with my Republican colleague, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, to introduce the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act which makes the PFML tax credit permanent. When families have access to care, they are able to succeed both at home and in their professional careers. Child care is more than a household priority; child care means business!”

    “Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is a lifeline for workers when facing a medical condition or welcoming a newborn into the world. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recognized the importance of PFML by helping American small businesses offer these benefits to their employees through the creation of a targeted tax credit specifically for small businesses. However, along with many other policies, this provision expires at the end of the year without action from Congress,” said Congressman Feenstra. “That’s why I introduced legislation to extend and improve this tax credit for our small businesses so that they can provide their workers with up to 12 weeks of PFML without missing a paycheck. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I believe that, by making this policy permanent, we can deliver certainty for our small businesses, keep our workers healthy and employed, and grow our economy and rural communities.”

    “The 45S tax credit, first implemented under the Trump administration, has been instrumental in helping many employers expand paid family leave benefits for their workers. However, awareness and uptake of this credit have been lower than we’d like. This legislation, which I’m pleased to introduce alongside my colleagues, will improve the credit, make it more flexible, increase employer awareness, and make the tax credit permanent,” said Congresswoman Bice.  

    “Taking care of your health, newborn, or family when they’re most in need shouldn’t come at the cost of paying the bills. Strong families mean strong communities and local economies,” said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. “With the paid family and medical leave tax credit due to expire, our bipartisan legislation will make this successful credit permanent and expand access for Washington-based businesses and newer employees, so more families can feel the benefits.”

    Nebraska Stakeholder Support: 

    “The Nebraska Chamber is committed to making Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business, and this bill brings us one step closer to achieving that. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit represents Nebraska business owners’ desire to strengthen the state’s overall workforce. The NE Chamber and businesses across the state appreciate Senator Fischer’s continued leadership on this issue,” said President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Bryan Sloane. 

    “The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce appreciates Senator Fischer’s leadership in her efforts to empower small businesses to provide paid family and medical leave. Senator Fischer’s continued efforts by way of introducing her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is a continuation of her commitment to employers, employees, families, and communities. We view this crucial policy initiative as something that should be included in any larger pro-growth tax policy package that might be considered,” said Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball.

    “The Greater Omaha Chamber is grateful to Senators Fischer and King for introducing this important legislation. While a broad representation of our membership offers various types of paid leave, incentives will matter to companies and businesses who have greater barriers to offering paid leave, especially our smallest members. This proposed legislation allows us greater opportunities to care holistically for employees the way we strive to, and aligns with the Chamber’s mission,” said Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO Heath Mello. 

    “The Nebraska Grocers and all our affiliates thank Senator Fischer for her commitment to businesses, families, and communities. By embracing incentives, rather than imposing burdensome and impractical mandates, this Act recognizes that business owners want to provide flexibility to their most valuable resource – their dedicated employees. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is genuinely helpful, responsible policymaking which empowers both employers and employees,” said Nebraska Grocery Industry Association Executive Director Ansley Fellers. 

    Full List of Nebraska Endorsements:

    Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Mutual of Omaha, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, Nebraska Hospitality Association, and Nebraska Retail Federation.

    National Stakeholder Support:

    “AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This legislation will provide consistency and certainty to businesses by making tax credit 45S permanent. In addition, the proposed enhancements to the credit will encourage more employers to provide this important benefit to support working family caregivers with low to moderate incomes,” said AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney.

    “Too many people today face the difficult choice between earning a paycheck and caring for themselves or family member. Senators Fischer and King are offering a bipartisan solution that will go a long way toward helping working families facing this dilemma. The enhanced tax credit will enable more employers—especially small employers— to offer their workers a paid family and medical leave benefit. It also will help more people access this benefit by making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. Most important, the legislation gives people peace of mind knowing they’ll be protected from economic loss when taking time off from work to care for themselves or a loved one. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for advancing this legislation that offers working Americans the help they want and need,” said American Council of Life Insurers President & CEO David Chavern.

    “Over the last year, the AICPA has worked closely with staff from both Senator Fischer and Senator King‘s offices on important legislation that would help families and middle income households by allowing more employers to offer the benefit of paid family and medical leave to their employees by making the tax credit permanent. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for their thoughtful and consistent leadership on this bill and offer our strong support,” said American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Vice President of Tax Policy & Advocacy Melanie Lauridsen.

    “Benefits like paid family leave help restaurant operators recruit skilled hospitality professionals. Making the Paid Family, Medical Leave tax credit program pilot permanent would support the growth of the small business operators who are considering or offering PFML. In the current economy, we appreciate Sens. Fisher and King’s efforts to support small business restaurant owners and their employees by continuing this program,” said National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy. 

    “NFIB thanks Senator Fischer and Senator King for introducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Incentivizing small business owners to offer paid family and medical leave rather than penalizing them for failing to provide a benefit that they cannot afford is a wise policy for the small business owners,” said National Federation of Independent Businesses Vice President Federal Government Relations Jeff Brabant.

    “BPC Action is proud to endorse the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to make permanent and expand the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave, known as 45S, and applauds Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Angus King (I-ME) for their bipartisan leadership on this bill. As BPC has found, ‘In an ever-changing economy and tight labor market, paid family and medical leave can importantly encourage workers to stay in the labor force, support household finances, and help businesses compete for workers.’ This bill is critical to helping businesses provide paid leave benefits to more hardworking American families. We urge Congress to take up this proposal, originally enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Bipartisan Policy Center President Michele Stockwell. 

    “We the People send Americans into the halls of government with the opportunity to do the Will of the People, to do good. As such, it is perpetually our hope that our elected officials will execute such Will and enact laws that will serve the People, especially in cases where it is feasible in order to ease the burdens that life sometimes thrusts upon us where loved ones, families and businesses are most affected. The PFML Tax Credit Bill provides a judicious antidote for a malaise that has existed for far too long for so many Americans and businesses. More specifically, the PFML Bill effectively eliminates the decision of having to choose between family and a paycheck. In short, it gives individuals, families and employers the relief and peace of mind that they desperately need. On behalf of the American Caregiver Association, I encourage all those who are willing, to support U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Senator Angus King and their continuing efforts to make the PFML Tax Credit Bill permanent,” said American Caregiver Association President Vincent S. Pettis. 

    “At SHRM, we are committed to advancing smart, practical policies that strengthen workplaces, empower HR professionals, and maximize human potential. As employers innovate to provide leave options that support well-being and family care, public policy must keep pace—offering incentives that encourage organizations to expand access to leave while maintaining the flexibility needed to design and sustain these programs. A balanced approach ensures that more workers can benefit from this critical support. At SHRM, we prioritize policy over politics and view this effort as a strong example of bipartisan collaboration and constructive policymaking in Congress,” said Society for Human Resource Management Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens, J.D.

    “On behalf of our nation’s 2.95 million Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners and entrepreneurs, National ACE applauds Senators Fischer and King for their leadership in reintroducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Access to paid family and medical leave is vital for small business owners and their employees, particularly within the AAPI community, where caregiving responsibilities often extend across generations. This bipartisan effort provides much-needed support for entrepreneurs striving to balance business success with the well-being of their workforce. We are proud to support this legislation and look forward to working together to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to thrive,” said National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship President and CEO Chiling Tong.

    “The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is essential to help ensure that more small business owners can offer paid family medical leave to their employees. Policies that include support for business owners and working families through programs like paid family leave help address the economic needs of our small businesses and workforce while at the same time making sure small business owners can compete against their larger counterparts. We thank Senators Fischer and King for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation and applaud the efforts to both expand access to this credit and ensure that the tax credit is permanent,” said National Association of Women Business Owners Board Chair Dr. Janis Shinkawa.

    “We are pleased to see the reintroduction of this legislation by Senators Fischer and King and thank them for their leadership on this critical issue. This legislation will encourage employers around the country to offer paid leave to their employees, increasing the number of Americans with paid leave coverage. Paid leave strengthens families and the economy by enabling workers to keep their jobs when they need to care for themselves or a loved one, while helping businesses retain valued employees,” said Sun Life U.S. President Dan Fishbein, M.D. 

    Full List of National Endorsements:

    AARP, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), American Council of Life Insurers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), National Restaurant Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), American Caregiver Association, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Sun Life U.S.

    Background: 

    The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created a two-year general business tax credit for employers that voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of PFML to employees. Congress has extended the credit through 2025. The credit also includes an income cap for eligible employees to ensure that it remains targeted to those who need it the most. 

    Under current law, an employer must meet the following criteria to claim the credit: offer all qualifying employees at least two weeks of PFML, have a written PFML policy in effect, and pay at least 50 percent of an employee’s normal wages while the employee is on PFML. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only 19 percent of those working for employers with less than 50 employees have access to PFML.

    Senators Fischer and King’s legislation builds on the existing credit by making the following changes:

    Making the Credit Permanent:

    • Provides certainty to businesses taking the leap to offer paid family and medical leave.

    Updating the Treatment of Paid Leave Required by State or Local Mandates:

    • Allows eligible employers to receive the credit for leave provided in states without PFML mandates or for leave offered in excess of any state or local mandate. 
      • Currently, employers providing PFML under state or local government mandates are ineligible for the credit, meaning that some employers with operations in both non-mandate and mandate states are ineligible for the credit.

    Supporting Coverage of PFL Insurance Premiums:

    • Allows employers to claim the credit for premiums paid for PFML insurance products that cover qualifying employees. The structure mirrors the current credit, enabling employers to receive up to a 25 percent credit towards yearly premiums, depending on the percentage of wages the insurance plan replaces.

    Reducing the Minimum Employment Period Requirement:

    • Provides employers the option to offer PFML to employees at six months and better target the credit towards younger workers.

    Requiring Greater Outreach and Awareness:

    • Requires the Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service to conduct targeted outreach, education, and technical assistance to assist in increasing awareness of the credit.

    Click here to read a summary of the bill.
     

    Click here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Votes to Confirm Scott Turner as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    February 5, 2025

    February 5, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Scott Turner as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

    “Scott Turner led the White House initiative on Opportunity Zones which expanded economic opportunity for people across the country. He understands how targeted reforms can make housing more affordable and available for Americans. He’s committed to cutting red tape and delivering the solutions we need to address homelessness and restore the American dream.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: PM call with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada: 5 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations. 

    Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.

    The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.

    As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position. 

    On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. 

    They looked forward to speaking soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 2024 Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery Award Ceremony

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    From left, Premier Tim Houston; 2024 Medal of Bravery recipients Carl Comeau of Church Point, Carl Deveau of Saulnierville and Terrence Leblanc of Saulnierville; and Tom Steele, Chair, Medal of Bravery Advisory Committee, in the Red Chamber at Province House in Halifax, today, October 22. (Communications Nova Scotia)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union, Rail Labor Leaders Demand Safety Reform on Two-Year Anniversary of East Palestine Disaster

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Rail Division representatives joined members of Congress and leaders from fellow U.S. rail unions in calling on Congress to act on rail safety two years after the toxic East Palestine train derailment. 

    “On behalf of all our members, our hearts still go out to the people of East Palestine. They want answers, they want results and so do we,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) National Legislative Director David Arouca. “The so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) era has been nothing short of just cutting head counts to the bone and then harassing those who remain to pick up the slack.”

    TCU/IAM represents various crafts, one of the largest being carmen, who maintain, repair and critically inspect rail cars all across the country. 

    “Whether it’s our carmen being harassed to perform safety inspections on insane timelines or signalmen maintaining our national network of safety detectors, we’ve all been saying the same thing: PSR is going to kill people,” said Arouca. “We need legislation passed now to reduce the risk of another East Palestine. The time to act was yesterday. Rail safety is not, nor should it ever, be a partisan issue.”

    IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh was also present to answer questions for the press. Members of Congress joining rail included House Transportation Committee Vice Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), House Rail Subcommittee Ranking Member Dina Titus (D-Nev.), House Transportation Committee Member Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and House Transportation Committee Member Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.).

    The rail leaders demanded that Class I railroad companies adopt the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), which allows rail workers to report safety concerns without retaliation from employers. 

    While addressing the public with his own press conference in East Palestine, Ohio on the disaster’s anniversary, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who co-sponsored the bipartisan Railway Safety Act as Senator, said that passing legislation “is a very viable and a very reasonable goal.” 

    Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz urging him to “advance the re-introduced Railway Safety Act to ensure President Trump and Vice President Vance have the tools they need to hold the railroads accountable for improving safety. “

    “Rail safety is not a partisan issue or a regional issue, it is a human issue,” said Congresswoman Sykes. “I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on and off the Transportation Committee to put forth a piece of legislation we can be proud of, but we can only truly make it right for the people of East Palestine if we actually pass meaningful rail safety legislation.”

    “I think we have a real opportunity here,” said Congresswoman Titus. “I think we can get it done, just reintroduce those bills, bring it together in a package, and move it forward. I’m committed to it, other members of Congress and the great representatives from unions are, so I’m leading this with optimism.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Development We Need

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Companies like Aeroman are key to preventing migration and building a middle class. Security and stability make this possible, and bravo to President Bukele and his leadership for providing that. An impressive place to visit! — Secretary of State Marco Rubio

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC8gSAwHD1w

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Baldwin Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support More Wisconsin Dairy Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) to help more American dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses, including creating new products, expanding their markets, and modernizing their production facilities. To date, the Baldwin-backed program has supported over 250 dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest, including 109 in Wisconsin.

    “My Dairy Business Innovation Initiative has helped Wisconsin dairy farmers, producers, and cheesemakers grow their operations, tap into new markets, and innovate new products,” said Senator Baldwin. “From expanding facilities and growing their operations to improving packaging and lowering their shipping costs, this program has helped Wisconsin businesses grow their bottom lines and create jobs in our rural communities. I’m fighting to expand this vital program so more farmers, cheesemakers, and dairy processors have the tools to innovate and drive our rural economy forward.”

    “The dairy industry is an essential part of the American economy. It is crucial that we provide the resources that dairies in Tennessee need to expand and create new products,” said Senator Blackburn. “With many small Tennessee dairies struggling to remain open, this bill will allow these businesses to diversify and expand their market competitiveness.”

    After Senator Baldwin successfully created the DBII program in the 2018 Farm Bill, multiple dairy business and innovation centers were established to serve producers across the country. These centers, in partnership with dairy farmers and processors, are spurring innovation in dairy businesses, fostering the development of new dairy products and modernizing existing dairy plants. As a result, the program has gone on to add value to the milk produced by American farmers and expand their market access.

    Each regional initiative is tasked with providing technical assistance and grants to farmers and processors, including:

    • Supporting new and expanding dairy businesses—Centers provide assistance with business plan development, accounting, market evaluation, and strategic planning.
    • Promoting innovation in dairy products—Dairy businesses receive assistance with product innovation, marketing and branding, packaging, distribution, supply chain innovation, food safety training and consultation, and dairy product production training.
    • Assisting with dairy plant modernization and process improvement—Dairy businesses receive assistance with processing facility improvement, including assistance with plant upgrades, food safety modernization, energy and water efficiency, byproduct reprocessing and use maximization, and waste treatment.

    The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 builds on the support for regional dairy research and innovation centers across the country by raising the program’s annual authorization from $20 million to $36 million.

    The legislation is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, National Milk Producers Federation, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

    “Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives have spurred both farm and processor business growth over the past five years, strengthening rural economies and creating career opportunities, but our work is far from done. Increased program funding is critical now as the dairy industry faces new market volatility, labor challenges, and inflation,” said Rebekah Sweeney, senior director of programs and policy for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, serving nearly 900 dairy industry companies and cooperatives nationwide.  “We’re deeply grateful for Sen. Baldwin’s championship of Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and for the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers working hard to see this program continue.”

    “We thank Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued bipartisan leadership in strengthening the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program. Dairy has a storied history of pioneering effective new products and practices as dairy farmers and their cooperatives work to supply the U.S. and the world with nutritious, sustainably produced food. This program helps support researchers and their industry partners working to drive this innovation forward,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. 

    “Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Marsha Blackburn should be commended for a bill that enhances the assets and investments in the U.S. the dairy industry,” said Adam Warthesen, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at Organic Valley. “Dairy is an economic engine in rural communities – we at Organic Valley know dairy processors who are doing more with support from this initiative and American farmers who are better positioned to bring milk to market because of it.”

    “Wisconsin dairy farmers are a mainstay of our state’s rural economy and its essential we continue to support innovation in an effort to keep it relevant,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson. “The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 will increase the funding available to dairy farmers and processors to maintain Wisconsin’s place as a national and global leader. Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciate Sen. Baldwin’s commitment to providing the necessary funding needed to help Wisconsin’s dairy industry develop new products and access emerging markets with the introduction of the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025.”

    “The Midwest Dairy Coalition applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued leadership in providing dairy farmers and dairy businesses with the resources to innovate and diversify their operations for a more economically sustainable future,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition. 

    “IDFA applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for introducing the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025.  The bill promotes innovation in the dairy processing sector and will help industry members work together to address common challenges and create new market opportunities for healthy and nutritious dairy products,” said International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER REVEALS: AFTER TRUMP’S FUNDING FREEZE FIASCO, HEAD START PROGRAMS ACROSS UPSTATE NY & U.S. STILL MISSING MILLIONS IN VITAL FUNDING TO KEEP CHILDCARE RUNNING — EVEN LEADING TO CLOSURES,…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Last Week Amid Trump’s Illegal Funding Freeze The Head Start Online Payment System Shut Down Across The Country, Despite The Admin Saying It Was Exempt From The Freeze And Has Provided No Explanation Why This Occurred

    Now A Week Later, Head Start Providers In NY And Across America Have Been Missing Payments They Rely On From Feds, Forcing Some Upstate Childcare Providers To Even Layoff Staff And Temporarily Shut Down Services Impacting Hundreds Of Families; Schumer Says This Cannot Continue And Is Demanding Immediate Action And Oversight

    Schumer: We Can’t Let NY’s Head Start Providers Be Left In Limbo, We Need This System Fixed & Answers NOW

    After Head Start providers in New York and across America were locked out of federal funding amid Trump’s federal funding freeze, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today revealed that a week later Head Start providers are now missing payments, facing delays and enduring severe technical issues with no end or clarity in sight. Schumer said after the payment management shutdown, despite the White House saying Head Start programs should be exempt, there have been continued reports of childcare programs in NY and across the country missing payments from the feds creating a growing problem, and even leading to some Head Start programs in NY temporarily closing or laying off staff, impacting hundreds of families in need of childcare.

    Schumer is now demanding HHS immediately address this problem, fix the payment system, and provide answers to give Head Start programs the assurances and funding they need to continue their essential childcare in rural and underserved communities. 

    “Trump’s illegal funding freeze created chaos for childcare programs across the country, and we still have no answer on why the payment system shut down. Now a week later Head Start programs still are missing federal payments, forcing some to shutter or even lay off staff, impacting hundreds of families here in Upstate NY. Enough is enough. Head Start providers cannot pay their teachers, staff or provide childcare without the assurances of payment,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m calling on HHS to take immediate action to ensure Head Start providers receive the funds and clarity they deserve. Right now Head Start providers and parents are worried sick this funding will continue to be delayed and they can be left high and dry when it comes to childcare. We can’t leave our children and families in limbo due to a chaotic and incompetent policy decision by this new administration. We need answers and this problem fixed now. Our parents, teachers, and children who rely on Head Start deserve nothing less.”

    Schumer explained after the Head Start programs across the country – including in Michigan, Connecticut, and Wisconsin – are still unable to access funding leading to major issues, and New York is now seeing these impacts as well. Head Start programs across Upstate NY and NYC have reported trouble getting paid, putting their cash flow at further risk and jeopardizing their ability to make payroll consistently for staff. For example, the Cattaraugus & Wyoming Counties Project Head Start, which serves 200+ children and employs 80+ staff across both counties, has said they are still unable to access funds. Without federal funding, the program has been unable to reopen and was forced to temporarily lay off all staff until this problem can be addressed.

    “As of Tuesday, January 28, 2025, all Head Start employees were sent home and program was closed due to the Executive Order to pause all federal grants and loans. Though this EO was rescinded, the pause has caused a back log of draw downs through the federal payment system. As of Tuesday, February 4, 2025, we still do not have answers. It seems the Department of HHS and the federal payment system are unable to agree where the problem is originating. We have almost 200 families without services and 84 employees without a job. To say it’s frustrating is an understatement,” said Cattaraugus & Wyoming Counties Project Head Start Board of Directors Chairperson, Andrea Aldinger. “I thank Senator Schumer for recognizing the importance of Head Start programs in local communities and for taking action to support affected families, children, and employees.” 

    “The New York State Head Start Association (NYSHSA) Board of Directors is concerned that the recent pause in funding had significant consequences for the thousands of children and families attending Head Start preschools and Early Head Start in NY,” said NYSHSA President Carolyn Wiggins. “We have heard from Head Start programs from across the state, from Western New York, to the Southern Tier and New York City, have experienced funding delays that rendered them unable to make payroll and, in some cases, temporarily close. We thank Senator Schumer for fighting to get answers and address this problem so we can continue our essential work to help children and families across NY.”

    Schumer is now leading Senate Democrats in demanding immediate action from the Trump administration and said HHS must fix this problem now and promptly disburse delayed funds to Head Start programs. The senators said programs and families deserve an explanation for why the funding freeze has continued and what the feds plan to do to ensure it never happens again. The lawmakers said families across America depend on this federal funding for childcare and their peace of mind.

    Schumer said Head Start programs cannot afford to continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and that the feds must deliver the funding needed to resume operations and Head Start programs in New York and across the country need immediate answers about why this happening.

    “Despite reports of an end to a federal funding freeze, settlement house Head Start providers have still reported challenges and delays with payment since last week. Disrupting payments on contracted programs is devastating for child care providers who want to carry out their mission of caring for children and helping working parents get through their day to day. An interruption in cash flow, even for a few weeks, can have devastating consequences and puts providers in serious financial jeopardy to continue their operations. The Office of Head Start and the Department of Health and Human Services must prioritize the immediate payment of these vital child care services. Jeopardizing child care is no way to help working families,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses.

    A copy of Schumer’s letter he is leading with Senator Kaine and 27 of their colleagues in the Senate to Acting U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dorothy Fink and Acting Director of the Office of Head Start Captain Tala Hooban can be found below:

    Dear Acting Secretary Dr. Fink and Acting Director Captain Hooban:

    We are writing today to raise ongoing, urgent concerns experienced by Head Start programs in our states and across the country. These concerns include (1) a lack of clarity on the status of renewals and notice of awards in the February 1st grant cycle, (2) delays in processing reimbursements through the Payment Management System (PMS), and (3) a lack of clear communication with grantees throughout this confusing time.

    We request your immediate action and assurance on the following:

    1. All requests for disbursements of funds submitted through PMS to be promptly processed to allow all Head Start programs to draw down federal funds;
    2. Programs on the February 1st grant cycle will be notified of their renewal or notice of award before the deadline to ensure no lapse in funding or program operations; and
    3. Transparent and consistent communication with Head Start programs to address the ongoing challenges.

    Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has provided critical early childhood education and comprehensive services to nearly 40 million low-income young children and their families in communities across the nation. Today, Head Start programs are supported by 250,000 staff to serve nearly 800,000 children across the nation. Head Start’s comprehensive services ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, immunizations, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to recognize this longstanding federal program’s important work by providing increased appropriations.

    Since the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, the Head Start community has faced immense uncertainty and disruptions by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo (M-2513), directing federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” While the Trump Administration later clarified that Head Start would not be the target of the funding freeze, many Head Start programs across the country were unable to access the PMS to draw down federal funds. PMS was reinstated, but programs across the country have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner.

    Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards. This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the childcare options.

    Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds.

    Once these issues are resolved, we request you provide responses to the following questions:

    1. What factors contributed to delayed disbursements to Head Start programs through the Payment Management System? What steps will be taken to ensure such delays will not occur in the future?
    2. How many Head Start programs were impacted by this delay and what were the immediate consequences on operations and services for children and families?
    3. What factors led to the lack of communication about grant renewals and awards for the February 1st cycle? What steps will be taken to ensure timely notices in the future?

    We thank you for your quick attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada: 5 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations. 

    Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.

    The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.

    As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position. 

    On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. 

    They looked forward to speaking soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Labrador Defends Union Gospel Mission’s Authority to Hire Based on Religious Beliefs

    Source: US State of Idaho

    [BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in defending a religious organization’s broad authority to make employment decisions based on religious beliefs to accomplish the organization’s mission and goals.  The coalition filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.
    In the case of Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Ferguson, the coalition of attorneys general argues that Union Gospel Mission, a nonprofit religious organization, should be allowed broad decision-making authority over who they employ to ensure all employees share their religious beliefs and will not undermine the organization’s religious mission. However, the Washington Supreme Court and former State of Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson wrongly interpreted that the Washington Law Against Discrimination’s (WLAD) religious exemption should only give the Mission authority to hire and fire employees with a direct role in sharing or teaching the organization’s religious beliefs.
    “The government should have no role in dictating the affairs, management, or mission of any religious organization,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The Union Gospel Mission should be free to hire who they believe best represents their values, from the CEO to the janitor, without government demanding otherwise and saying that one classification of employee does not sufficiently embody the spirit of the organization.”
    The church autonomy doctrine, which enables religious organizations to govern themselves and make employment decisions without interference from the state, protects the Mission’s hiring decisions. Courts have decided that not only does the church autonomy doctrine apply to churches and religious schools, but also organizations whose “purpose and character are primarily religious,” which includes organizations like the Mission.
    “The Mission’s hiring policy is a quintessential matter of church government. Allowing Washington’s antidiscrimination law to regulate those decisions ‘would impermissibly inject … [the] government into [decisions on] religious doctrine and governance,’” the attorneys general wrote.
    Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also joined the brief led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: Owner of Santa Cruz Residential Care Home Arrested for Elder Abuse

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, February 5, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    SANTA CRUZ – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the arrest and charges against the owner of Rose Garden Residential Care Home and her employee for felony elder abuse that caused the death of a dependent adult in their care. Both defendants have been taken into custody and will face prosecution by the California Department of Justice Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, for a single count of felony elder abuse each.
     
    “Elders deserve care, respect, and protection,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Those who are responsible for the care of elderly and dependent adults carry a profound duty to ensure their safety and well-being. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to standing against any form of elder abuse or neglect, and we will take immediate action to hold accountable those who exploit or harm these vulnerable individuals.”
     
    The victim, an 88-year-old dementia patient, was discovered deceased after departing from Rose Garden. The investigation revealed that the staff member responsible for his care fell asleep and was unaware of his absence. Dressed only in a t-shirt and diaper, the victim wandered .4 miles away from Rose Garden and died due to cold exposure. 
     
    It is important to note that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    DMFEA works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in the state, and those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program.
     
    The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of California. FY 2025 is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
     
    A copy of the complaint can be found here.
     

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indy Man Sentenced to 3 Years Probation for Manufacturing and Mailing 30,000 Fake IDs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— James Watt, 26, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 3 years of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful production of document or authentication feature and money laundering.

    According to court documents, between March 13, 2019, and February 16, 2023, James Watt worked for a public website that allowed customers to purchase fake driver’s licenses, paid for mostly by Bitcoin. The website’s tag line boasted “Your #1 Trusted Source for Fake IDs.”

    Over the course of four years, Watt manufactured more than 30,000 fraudulent driver’s licenses and other forms of false identification. Customers would upload photos of themselves and an address to which to send the new I.D. Watt then mailed the false identifications via U.S. Postal Service collection boxes throughout Indianapolis, usually late at night to avoid detection.

    In exchange for this work, Watt was paid more than 14 Bitcoin. As of January 16, 2025, 14 bitcoin was worth more than $1.3 million.

    Although many of the fake IDs were purchased by underage college students, many IDs were purchased by adults far older than 21, implying their use for another nefarious purpose. Identification is needed to board a plane, buy cough medicine, rent a car, open a bank account, apply for government assistance, pick-up a prescription, visit a casino, and purchase a firearm. Through Watt’s help, his customers were able to get fake identifications for all these purposes.

    “Watt nearly became a millionaire simply through the manufacturing and mailing of thousands of fake IDs, essentially running a one-man BMV,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “While Watt was not the operator of the website, he had a far more critical role, utilizing equipment and skill to manufacture quality fake identifications and brazenly violate the law thousands of times over. I commend the IRS-CI and USPIS for their thorough investigative work leading to today’s outcome.”

    “I am proud of our inspectors who work so diligently to protect the mail from being utilized to further illicit activities,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia George. “Thanks to our collaborative investigative efforts with IRS-CI, we were able to identify and take down part of a large-scale operation, while also seizing the proceeds of it from our area of responsibility. I would like to thank the inspectors, agents, and AUSA Eakman for their hard work on this case.”

    The U.S. Postal Investigation Service and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Morgantown Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years After Traveling to Mexico to Purchase Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott David Bixler, 43, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months imprisonment for failing to update his sex offender registration.  Bixler will serve a lifetime of supervision following his prison sentence.

    Bixler is a convicted sex offender and is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORNA) for life.  As part of his registration obligations, he is required to report any international travel. In July of 2023, Bixler fled to Mexico shortly before he was scheduled to appear in state court for sentencing related to criminal convictions for failure to register as a sex offender under West Virginia law.

    When Bixler and his spouse were arrested in Mexico, they possessed two pellet guns, methamphetamine, a cell phone jammer, and a large amount of cash.  The investigation also revealed that the Bixlers were attempting to purchase a young girl while in Mexico.  Fortunately, Mexican authorities thwarted the plan and arrested the couple.

    “The sentence handed down by the Court ensures that the Defendant will be confined in prison for the maximum time allowed by law,” said Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard.  “I shudder to think what might have happened but for the dedication of AUSA Perri, the federal and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mexican authorities.  Our community and children are safer because of their efforts and the sentence imposed.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.  The FBI, the U.S. Marshals Services, and the West Virginia State Police investigated this case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney’s Office Underscores Enforcement of Executive Order on Immigration

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, through United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, issues the following statement to underscore support for the January 20, 2025, Executive Order, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”

    Department of Justice agencies in Puerto Rico, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons, underscore their support and partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all its components in Puerto Rico to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.

    The Justice Department and DHS will also continue to collaborate and work closely with our counterparts within the Government of Puerto Rico, to include the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and other governmental agencies, as well as municipal police departments to protect our communities from harm.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s implementation of the Executive Order will focus on the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens, as well as supporting the prosecution and/or expedited removal from the United States of aliens without legal status. The apprehension and prosecution or removal of aliens includes special interest aliens deemed by the DHS to be from a country that poses a national security or counterintelligence threat.

    “Those aliens who are involved in criminal activity, who are fugitives from justice, who have prior criminal convictions and/or come from nations that pose a threat to our national security, remain a priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We are also fully committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, and all its components, to make Puerto Rico and the United States safer.”

    “The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Through this initiative, continued collaboration and intelligence-driven operations, we are supporting efforts to protect our communities, while adhering to our mission of upholding the Constitution.”

    “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who are illegally present in the United States, ensuring they are swiftly removed to their home countries,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Juan. “The executive order aims to protect the United States from individuals who pose a threat to public safety by committing crimes.”

    “The Drug Enforcement Administration remains resolute in its mission to protect the communities of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. These criminal networks not only threaten public safety through the distribution of dangerous narcotics but also exploit immigration vulnerabilities to further their illicit enterprises. Through intelligence-driven investigations, collaborative enforcement operations, and strategic partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts, the DEA will aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens. Our enforcement efforts will focus on identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting individuals and organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens involved in drug-related offenses. The DEA Caribbean Division will continue to conduct high-impact operations aimed at preventing narcotics and criminal elements from infiltrating our shores. These enforcement efforts are crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The message is clear: those who attempt to use our territory as a gateway for illicit activities will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement,” stated Michael A. Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Caribbean Division.

    “We stand in unison with our Federal and Puerto Rico partners in this all-hands-on deck to stem the tide of illegal immigration,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division.

    The United States Marshals Service, whose mission includes apprehending federal and state fugitives, will lead an initiative – Operation Homeland – to focus resources and coordinate enforcement operations with DOJ and DHS components on the apprehension of alien fugitives charged with federal and local crimes.

    “Historically, the United States Marshals have played a crucial role in serving our nation by apprehending and removing dangerous fugitives from our communities. In this instance, we have teamed up with our federal law enforcement partners to focus on apprehending non-U.S. citizens who have active criminal warrants. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will lead to safer communities. We encourage all citizens to continue cooperating with our investigations to help locate these fugitives and bring them to justice,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal District of Puerto Rico.

    As recently announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on January 30, 2025, the below-listed individuals entered into Puerto Rican waters without inspection and were detained by the CBP. Earlier that day, Coast Guard had previously boarded the sailing vessel Mistress, but the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage to St. Martin.  Instead of going to St. Martin, the S/V Mistress entered U.S. waters without inspection and anchored off La Parguera, where they were arrested and processed for expedited removal by DHS officials, including the United States Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, the following eight individuals were encountered on a private boat off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico:

    Name                                    Country of Citizenship

    Erlanbek Narkoziev              Kyrgyzstan

    Jafar Valamatov                    Russia

    Kanal Assylbekov                 Kazakhstan

    Nikita Torshin                       Kazakhstan

    Sanjarjon Sidikov                  Uzbekistan

    Shackhat Uurustamov           Kyrgyzstan

    Odiljon Azimov                     Kyrgyzstan

    Shukrat Akhemodov              Russia

    “Every day CBP Officers are responsible with determining the admissibility of aliens arriving at our ports of entry.  Foreign travelers requesting entry undergo an inspection and determination of admissibility to the United States, and if they are not admissible, they are returned to their point of embarkation,” indicated Roberto Vaquero, Director of the San Juan Office of Field Operations. “Our officers will be vigilant in determining admissibility and will also inspect authorized presence from passengers in domestic flights as they try to reach the Continental US.”

    “The Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol remains steadfast in protecting our Caribbean borders and deter irregular migration attempts.  U.S. immigration law makes it a crime to enter or attempt to enter without requesting admission at a port of entry designated for that purpose by immigration officials,” stated Reggie Johnson, Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “Migrants should know that they will face full legal consequences of unlawful entry.”

    “Air and Marine Operations agents and assets will support the whole of government effort to enforce immigration laws and protect our borders from emerging threats,” said Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. “AMO safeguards our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond.”

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Turkey’s earthquake reconstruction efforts must balance speed with fairness

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Fatma Ozdogan, PhD Candidate & Researcher, Université de Montréal

    Earthquake survivors in Hatay Province, Turkey, on Sept. 6, 2024. (Fatma Özdoğan)

    Two years after the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Turkey that killed about 60,000 people and caused the collapse of 57,000 buildings, the country’s recovery remains slow, fragmented, and heavily politicized.

    Despite large-scale reconstruction efforts, branded the “Reconstruction of the Century,” there is no clear strategy or timeline, and affected communities are still excluded from decision-making.

    Given the scale of destruction, reconstruction efforts will likely take years. Large-scale government housing projects on city outskirts are being prioritized due to their speed and the ease of land acquisition. However, these developments often come at the cost of uprooting established communities, pushing people into peripheral areas with limited access to services like transport and education and fewer economic opportunities.

    Temporary accommodations like container cities continue to deteriorate. Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and unreliable access to clean water, electricity, health care and education are widespread. Women face heightened safety risks, and schools are overwhelmed, forcing many families to relocate unwillingly or leaving children with no option but to hitchhike to school.

    ‘Disaster of the century’ narrative

    From the outset, Turkey’s political leadership framed the 2023 earthquakes as the “disaster of the century,” using their scale to deflect scrutiny from governance failures. Weak enforcement of earthquake regulations and systemic negligence played a key role in the destruction, yet officials have avoided accountability.

    This narrative was reinforced by contractors facing trial, who claimed the devastation was caused by an extraordinary natural event rather than poor construction practices or regulatory failures. By portraying the disaster as unavoidable, they have sought to shift responsibility away from those who contributed to the destruction.

    The rapid removal of debris further weakened efforts to establish accountability. Clearing ruins so quickly erased critical evidence that could have explained why some buildings collapsed while others remained standing. Many structures were never properly assessed, and legal cases against those responsible have struggled to move forward due to missing documentation.

    Survivors seeking justice remain trapped in lengthy legal battles with little hope for accountability. Among them are initiatives like Families in Pursuit of Justice and the Association for the Survival of the Champion Angels, led by relatives of victims, continue to demand accountability from contractors and officials.

    It is important to note that earthquake-induced ground motions in a few localities did exceed the parameters defined in the building codes, but this should only have resulted in damage, not total building collapses.

    Land expropriation and legal battles

    Turkey’s construction industry, closely tied to political power, has benefited from disaster recovery, reinforcing existing economic and political hierarchies. Large-scale reconstruction projects serve as an economic engine, giving firms with close government ties an advantage while sidelining local communities.

    The awarding of large-scale projects without competitive bidding has fuelled concerns that reconstruction is prioritizing political and economic interests over the needs of local communities.

    One of the key mechanisms enabling top-down reconstruction is the designation of reserve areas, a legal tool allowing the state to expropriate land for redevelopment under the justification of disaster recovery and urban renewal. This process has often led to forced displacement, particularly in areas with high land value or where redevelopment aligns with broader political and economic interests.

    This is evident in Akevler, a neighbourhood in central Antakya, where residents received sudden expropriation orders, even for structurally sound or repaired homes. Many launched legal challenges, marking their buildings with signs reading “Do not demolish; in court” to resist state-led destruction.

    In November 2024, there was a significant legal victory for residents when a court issued a stay within the reserve area in Akevler. The court cited “irreparable harm” and ruled that demolitions and evictions could not proceed without due legal process. This decision also extended to vacant parcels, reinforcing concerns about arbitrary land seizures.

    Beyond urban areas, rapid recovery decisions have also disregarded environmental concerns. In Defne, Hatay, earthquake survivor Çiğdem Mutlu Arslan has been fighting to protect her family’s ancestral olive grove. In July 2024, a contractor — citing post-disaster road construction — cut down 32 of 40 trees, some more than 150 years old, without an expropriation decision.

    Determined to resist further encroachment, Arslan set up camp on her land, documenting the destruction and raising awareness of how recovery policies are exacerbating environmental degradation. Her struggle reflects broader post-disaster consequences, where recovery efforts threaten communities, heritage and the environment.

    ‘Building Back Better’

    While these struggles highlight the shortcomings of post-disaster recovery, there are potentially better and fairer ways to approach reconstruction. Building Back Better (BBB) has become a central principle globally accepted, shaping expectations for reconstruction.

    Introduced by the United Nations after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, BBB promotes rebuilding stronger, more resilient and more equitable communities rather than simply restoring pre-disaster conditions. BBB prioritizes disaster-resistant infrastructure, social equity and sustainability to reduce future risks.

    Yet, BBB faces significant challenges. The tension between rapid reconstruction and long-term resilience often leads to trade-offs, where speed takes priority over equity and sustainability. Vulnerable communities, particularly low-income groups with insecure land tenure rights, frequently receive inadequate attention, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.

    For BBB to be effective, recovery strategies must be inclusive and adapted to local contexts. However, many disaster-prone regions lack the social safety nets and institutional capacity to implement BBB successfully. Additionally, the framework’s broad and ambiguous goals often result in inconsistent applications, where vulnerabilities are reinforced rather than addressed.

    A more effective path forward

    Drawing from these examples and considering the global discourse around post-disaster recovery, a more effective approach must prioritize social justice, transparency and long-term resilience. Several key measures should be considered:

    A people-centred recovery: Reconstruction must prioritize affected communities rather than external economic or political interests. Ensuring access to stable housing, education and health care while addressing existing inequalities is crucial. Organized civil society groups can assist with articulating needs and developing community-driven plans. Decentralized access to financing for communities coupled with technical support can help with realizing these plans.

    Transparency and accountability: Decision-making must be open to public scrutiny, and legal rulings must be enforced.

    Challenging dominant narratives: Moving beyond narratives that frame disasters as inevitable is critical. Acknowledging governance failures and addressing systemic issues will be key to preventing future tragedies.

    Balancing speed with resilience: While urgent needs must be met, reconstruction should incorporate more sustainable planning to prevent future displacement and social impacts.

    Reforming the construction industry: Ensuring the effective enforcement of regulations and addressing systemic gaps in oversight are essential to reducing vulnerability to future disasters.

    Without these measures, Turkey risks repeating past mistakes, deepening inequalities and failing to provide stability for disaster-affected communities.

    Cassidy Johnson receives funding from UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, “Learning from Earthquakes: Building Resilient Communities Through Earthquake Reconnaissance, Response and Recovery,” grant EP/P025951/1.

    Fatma Ozdogan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Turkey’s earthquake reconstruction efforts must balance speed with fairness – https://theconversation.com/turkeys-earthquake-reconstruction-efforts-must-balance-speed-with-fairness-248730

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz Statement On Trump’s Comments On Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump said the United States will “take over the Gaza Strip.”

    “A two-state solution, which Democratic and Republican administrations have supported for decades, must continue to be U.S. policy. Palestinians, including those in Gaza, deserve a chance at a better future, one where they can live with dignity and security. Israelis and Palestinians each deserve distinct, inalienable, and mutually-recognized states that coexist side-by-side in peace.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New B.C. council will advocate for forestry workers

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province has formed a new council to advance British Columbia’s interests in the long-standing softwood lumber dispute with the United States.

    The council brings together leaders from the forestry sector and labour, alongside experts on U.S. relations and officials from the B.C. government.

    The B.C. Softwood Lumber Advisory Council convened its first meeting on Jan. 30, 2025, and will meet regularly. It advises the Minister of Forests on the dispute, including the sixth administrative review, providing recommendations on steps B.C. can take to eliminate the 14.4% softwood lumber duties. The council will also help the Province advocate to the federal government as these duties continue to take their toll on B.C.’s forestry sector.

    “The U.S. has imposed unjustified softwood lumber duties on Canada for years, and we anticipate that they will likely double before the end of this year,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Bringing this team together, I am ready to throw the full weight of B.C. in the ring to fight these duties. We are going to defend the hard-working forestry workers of B.C. from these unfair duties.”

    Parmar will chair the council with a focus on diplomatic and trade strategy and measures to fight for B.C.’s interests in the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. Council members are:

    • Harry Bains, former minister of labour, Government of B.C.
    • Dan Battistella, former president, Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association
    • Linda Coady, former president and CEO, BC Council of Forest Industries
    • Geoff Dawe, national president, Public and Private Workers of Canada
    • Rick Doman, chairman, Boreal Carbon Corporation and former forestry executive
    • Scott Lunny, western director, United Steelworkers
    • Gavin McGarrigle, western regional director, Unifor
    • Ric Slaco, former vice-president and chief forester, Interfor
    • Dallas Smith, president and CEO, Na̲nwak̲olas Council

    “The U.S. forest industry alleges that Canadian softwood lumber is subsidized and companies sell in the U.S. at below-market prices,” Parmar said. “This is wrong; these allegations couldn’t be farther from the truth. We’ve been very clear that we’re happy to come to the table, but that can’t happen if  the U.S. industry isn’t willing to negotiate.”

    Although this dispute with the U.S. goes back decades, this most recent iteration of the dispute follows the expiry of the Softwood Lumber Agreement in 2015. At the request of the U.S. lumber industry, the U.S. imposed duties on Canadian softwood lumber, starting in 2017. The B.C. government has worked with the Government of Canada to pursue claims through all available avenues, including under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, the World Trade Organization and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

    Past dispute settlement panels have consistently ruled in Canada’s favour in the ongoing softwood lumber dispute, determining that B.C.’s forest policies are compliant with international agreements.

    Quick Facts:

    • B.C. softwood lumber accounts for nearly 10% of lumber used to build American homes.
    • Canada is the U.S.’s largest source of forest product imports, making up 44% in 2023.
    • U.S. consumers will pay for these tariffs and duties, leading to higher prices for the goods and materials people need to build homes, or repair and remodel them.
    • In 2023, B.C. exported more than $3.3 billion worth of softwood lumber to the U.S.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the history of softwood lumber dispute and the actions B.C. has taken, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/competitive-forest-industry/softwood-lumber-trade-with-the-u-s

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Lawyers Appointed to the King’s Counsel

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Thirteen accomplished Nova Scotian lawyers are being recognized with the distinguished King’s counsel designation.

    Attorney General and Justice Minister Becky Druhan announced the appointments today, February 5.

    “I offer my sincere congratulations to this deserving group of outstanding lawyers,” said Minister Druhan. “This honour recognizes their significant and commendable contributions to our province’s justice system and their profession.”

    The appointees are:

    • Nadine Smillie, Nova Scotia Department of Justice
    • Gregory Hardy, C3 Legal
    • Shawn O’Hara, Nova Scotia Department of Justice
    • Colleen Keyes, Stewart McKelvey
    • Jennifer Glennie, Nova Scotia Department of Justice
    • Kim McOnie, Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service
    • Shelley Wood, Stewart McKelvey
    • Derek Land, Blackburn English
    • Michael Dull, Valent Law
    • Scott Campbell, Stewart McKelvey
    • Naiomi Metallic, Burchell Wickwire Bryson/Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law
    • Robert Kennedy, Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service
    • Heidi Walsh-Sampson, National Research Council.

    The King’s counsel designation is awarded annually to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and outstanding contributions to the legal community.

    A formal ceremony to honour the appointees will be held this spring.

    Quick Facts:

    • an independent advisory committee makes King’s counsel recommendations to the attorney general and minister of justice
    • criteria include a minimum of 15 years as a member of the Nova Scotia bar, demonstrated professional integrity and good character

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Ervin Zacarias Antonio Agustin

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Ervin Zacarias Antonio Agustin, who died on May 19, 2024 following a motor vehicle collision involving a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer in Queens County. Following a thorough investigation, which included review of the vehicle’s dashboard camera, an interview with the involved officer, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer committed a crime, and therefore criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.

    In the early morning hours of May 19, 2024, an NYPD officer was traveling in a marked police vehicle with his turret lights and siren activated, traveling to the scene of a motor vehicle collision investigation in Queens. The officer was traveling southbound on the Van Wyck Expressway, a multi-lane highway that runs north-south with three lanes in each direction, separated by a concrete divider, and no pedestrian traffic. The speed limit of the expressway was 50 MPH, and 40 MPH in construction zones. As the officer approached the vicinity of Archer Avenue, he was traveling at a speed of 63 MPH. Mr. Agustin attempted to run across the expressway and was struck by the officer’s vehicle. The collision occurred near a construction site, with construction equipment parked behind the concrete barriers lining both sides of the southbound lanes.

    Under OSI’s analysis of New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, Penal Law, and case law from New York’s highest court, a police officer who causes a death while properly responding to an emergency in a police vehicle cannot be charged with a crime unless the officer acts recklessly or intentionally. The criminal charge that requires recklessness is Manslaughter in the Second Degree, in which a person is guilty when they recklessly cause the death of another person. “Recklessly” means that the person consciously disregards a “substantial and unjustifiable” risk of death and that their actions are a “gross deviation” from a reasonable standard of conduct.

    In this case, while the officer caused Mr. Agustin’s death, the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s conduct was a gross deviation from the standard that would have been observed by a reasonable officer in the same circumstances, or that the officer consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death. The officer was speeding because he was responding to an emergency. In addition, the officer had no reason to expect that a person would attempt to cross the expressway on foot, as the Van Wyck Expressway is closed to pedestrians. There was no evidence that the officer was impaired by drugs or alcohol, and no evidence that he was otherwise distracted at the time of the collision. Therefore, OSI concluded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Cold Storage Company Will Create 123 Jobs In Robeson County

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Cold Storage Company Will Create 123 Jobs In Robeson County

    Governor Stein Announces Cold Storage Company Will Create 123 Jobs In Robeson County
    bwood

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that Cold-Link Logistics, a cold storage management firm, will create 123 new jobs in Robeson County. The company will invest $85.5 million to build a cold storage warehouse in Lumberton.

    “North Carolina is consistently ranked as a top state to do business thanks to our skilled workforce, robust transportation infrastructure, and friendly business climate,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We are proud to welcome Cold-Link Logistics to our state and to partner with them to bring more jobs to Robeson County.” 

    A subsidiary of family-owned Mandich Group, Cold-Link Logistics is a full-service third-party logistics cold storage company. Headquartered in Florida, the company’s cold storage locations provide customized product handling, storage, order picking and load preparation, blast freezing, and other value-added logistics services. Cold-Link Lumberton will be a modern 233,000-square-foot temperature-controlled building that will serve the local and regional poultry business, as well as a broad variety of other food companies, manufacturers, and distributors. The company is building on 55 acres in the new Southeast Crossroads Industrial Park.

    “We are excited to expand our footprint into the great State of North Carolina,” said Michael Mandich, Managing Partner of Cold-Link Logistics. “We have listened to our customers and their need for additional cold storage warehousing in the Southeast regions surrounding Lumberton. There’s a strong interest among the protein and other food manufacturers in this area to work with a family owned and operated company like Cold-Link that can offer first-class, value-added services. The Robeson County Community has welcomed us with open arms. After looking into many areas to expand our business we knew this was the right place to locate our 10th facility.”

    “North Carolina’s supply chain for food and agriculture has always been an economic driver for our state,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Our agricultural legacy and commitment to innovation will help companies like Cold-Link establish its operations and increase its footprint in the southeastern United States.”

    New positions for the company include managers, supervisors, warehouse staff, and shipping and receiving personnel. Wages for the positions will vary, but altogether, the average annual salary will be $50,128, which exceeds the Robeson County average of $42,964. These new jobs could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $6.1 million.

    A performance-based grant of $375,000 from the One North Carolina Fund has been awarded to MG88 Lumberton Cold Storage, LLC, which does business under the name Cold-Link Logistics Lumberton, LLC, to support the project locating to Robeson County. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching participation from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

    “This is fantastic news for region and the entire state,” said Senator Danny Earl Britt, Jr. “Being situated along the I-95 corridor, Lumberton is a great location for warehouse and distribution companies looking to invest in growing markets with a solid pipeline of talent.”

    “Cold-Link’s decision to build in the Southeast Crossroads Industrial Park is yet another symbol of the strong collaboration to grow our state’s economy,” said Representative Jarrod Lowery. “We are grateful for all the state, regional, and local partners that helped prepare the site and Robeson County for economic development wins such as this.”

    In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Golden LEAF Foundation, Electricities, Robeson County, Robeson County Committee of 100, North Carolina’s Southeast, and the City of Lumberton. 

    Feb 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Collins’ message to Veterans and VA employees

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

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    It is my life’s honor to serve America’s Veterans as secretary of Veterans Affairs, and I thank President Donald J. Trump as well as the U.S. Senate for their confidence in me.

    America is the greatest nation on Earth precisely because of the Veterans willing to step forward and defend our freedom. I’ve witnessed this firsthand throughout my two decades in the military, as I’ve served with some of the finest men and women our nation has to offer.

    In addition to being a Navy Veteran, I am an Air Force Reserve colonel and chaplain. During my time in the military, I’ve learned that leadership is about listening, serving, motivating and setting a good example for those around you. That is the approach I will bring to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    When President Trump offered me this job, he gave me simple instructions: take great care of America’s Veterans. Here is how we’re going to accomplish the task the president has set out for us:

    • We’re going to deliver timely access to care and benefits for every eligible Veteran, family member, caregiver and survivor.
    • We’re going to put Veterans at the center of everything VA does, focusing relentlessly on customer service and convenience.
    • We’re going to challenge the status quo in order to find new and better ways of helping VA beneficiaries.
    • We’re going to celebrate the vast majority of VA employees who do a great job every day and hold employees accountable when they fall short of the mission.
    • We’re going to provide Veterans with the health care choices they have earned while maintaining and improving VA’s direct health care capabilities.
    • And we’re going to do a better job reaching Veterans at risk of homelessness or suicide – especially those who have had no contact with VA.

    My commitment to my fellow servicemembers and Veterans will serve as my compass for the way ahead, and I am honored to be working with the men and women of VA to accomplish our noble and vital mission.

    Together, we will strengthen VA so it works better for America’s heroes. Let’s get to work.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Canadian General Investments: Investment Update – Unaudited

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Canada, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian General Investments, Limited (CGI) (TSX:CGI) (LSE: CGI) reports on an unaudited basis that its net asset value per share (NAV) at January 31, 2025 was $70.79 resulting in year-to-date and 12-month NAV returns, with dividends reinvested, of 2.1% and 26.3%, respectively. These compare with the 3.5% and 25.2% returns of the benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index on a total return basis for the same periods.

    The Company employs a leveraging strategy, by way of bank borrowing, with the intent to enhance returns to common shareholders. As at January 31, 2025, the leverage represented 13.5% of CGI’s net assets, down from 13.8% at the end of 2024 and 14.7% at January 31, 2024.

    The closing price for CGI’s common shares at January 31, 2025 was $39.75, resulting in year-to-date and 12-month share price returns, with dividends reinvested, of -1.8% and 14.0%, respectively.

    The sector weightings of CGI’s investment portfolio at market as of January 31, 2025 were as follows:

         
    Information Technology 23.7 %
    Industrials 22.7 %
    Financials 13.9 %
    Energy 11.7 %
    Materials 11.4 %
    Consumer Discretionary 9.9 %
    Real Estate 4.2 %
    Cash & Cash Equivalents 1.9 %
    Communication Services 0.6 %
         

    The top ten investments which comprised 37.0% of the investment portfolio at market as of January 31, 2025 were as follows:

         
    The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 4.0 %
    TFI International Inc. 4.0 %
    Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited 4.0 %
    NVIDIA Corporation 3.9 %
    Celestica Inc. 3.7 %
    Apple Inc. 3.5 %
    Shopify Inc. 3.5 %
    WSP Global Inc. 3.5 %
    Mastercard Incorporated 3.5 %
    Franco-Nevada Corporation 3.4 %
         

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
    Jonathan A. Morgan
    President & CEO
    Phone: (416) 366-2931
    Fax: (416) 366-2729
    e-mail: cgifund@mmainvestments.com
    website: www.canadiangeneralinvestments.ca

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Fall 2025 Jasper municipal election update: Minister McIver

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Alerts Patients to Regularly Check Diabetes-Related Smartphone Device Alert Settings, Especially Following Phone Hardware or Software Changes

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Date Issued: February 5, 2025

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting patients who use diabetes devices and their caregivers of reports where users of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, automated insulin dosing systems, and other diabetes devices did not receive or did not hear alerts from their smartphones. A missed alert for a diabetes-related safety issue may lead to serious harm, including severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), diabetic ketoacidosis (when the body does not have enough insulin to use blood sugar for energy), and death.

    Apps for diabetes devices allow users to configure alert settings, such as which alerts to receive, how often and how the alerts are delivered (audible, vibration, or text only). If a user’s smartphone is not configured correctly, critical safety alerts that the user expects to receive may be missed. They might not be delivered, or the volume might be too low to notice audible alerts. 

    The FDA has identified the following hardware and software configurations, changes, and updates that may lead to critical alerts not being received as expected, including:

    • Software configuration issues, such as app notification permissions, using “do not disturb” or “focus mode,” or the app entering “deep sleep” after a period of not being used.
    • Connecting new hardware, such as wireless earphones or car audio, that can change default volume of alerts or prevent delivery of alerts.
    • Operating system (OS) updates that are not supported by the medical device app.

    Recommendations for Patients and Caregivers

    • Carefully follow the instructions provided by diabetes device manufacturers when installing, setting up, or updating mobile medical apps on your smartphone.
    • Turn off automatic OS updates and do not update your phone’s OS until you check your diabetes device manufacturer’s website to verify that the medical apps you use are compatible with the new OS version. Turn off automatic OS updates by navigating to your system settings, usually accessible through a gear icon, and find the “software update” option; within this section, look for a toggle switch labeled “automatic updates” or similar, and disable it.
    • After updating your OS or adding a new accessory such as wireless headphones, confirm alert settings and then carefully monitor your medical device app to make sure you can receive and hear alerts as expected. 
    • At least once a month, check that your smartphone alerts are configured as expected. Ensure your volume, vibration, notifications, and other relevant settings still work.
    • If you are not receiving alerts as expected from your mobile medical app, or you cannot hear them, call the technical support number for your medical device for assistance.
    • Report any problems with your diabetes device to the FDA.

    Recommendations for Health Care Providers

    Inform patients and their caregivers that people who rely on smartphone-compatible diabetes devices that connect to their smartphones should:

    • Periodically check smartphone settings to ensure that they can receive critical alerts.
    • Confirm that diabetes devices still provide alerts as expected through their smartphones after making any hardware or software updates or connecting external hardware.

    Device Description

    Many diabetes-related devices use mobile medical apps as part of the medical device system. These mobile medical apps run on smartphones and manage or provide information from diabetes-related devices. 

    Many types of diabetes devices can use a mobile medical app installed on a smartphone to deliver safety alerts, including CGMs, insulin pumps, automated insulin dosing systems, and others. The settings within the mobile medical app, as well as the settings in the smartphone itself, must be configured correctly for alerts to be delivered as users expect. Users may be able to choose how some alerts are delivered, such as by push notifications, vibration alerts, or audible alerts. 

    Medical device manufacturers provide instructions on how to configure these apps and smartphones so users can receive the alerts they want according to their preferred delivery method. For example, medical device manufacturers may instruct users to disable smartphone features like “Focus mode,” which includes such options as “Do Not Disturb” and “Sleep Focus.” They may also suggest disabling “Low Power Mode,” “Adaptive Battery,” “Standby mode,” “Assistive Access,” or others to ensure that the mobile medical app can deliver alerts. Users may also be instructed to grant certain permissions to mobile medical apps such as Bluetooth, location, notifications, background usage, or others. 

    During normal use of a smartphone, many things can happen that could change how alerts are delivered. For example: 

    • Updates to smartphone operating systems may introduce new features or change existing settings in the diabetes mobile medical app. 
    • OS updates for cybersecurity issues may change existing alert settings.
    • When new audio devices are connected to a smartphone — such as wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers, or car audio — the volume settings for notifications including critical alerts may change. 
    • Users may enable smartphone features such as battery saver, focus mode, or others and later forget to disable these features.

    FDA Actions

    The FDA is working with diabetes-related medical device manufacturers to ensure that smartphone alert configurations of their devices are carefully evaluated before use by patients. 

    The FDA is also working with manufacturers to ensure that settings in smartphones and mobile medical apps that may impact safety alerts are continuously tested, and any updates to recommended configurations are communicated quickly and clearly to users.

    The FDA will keep the public informed if significant new information becomes available.

    Reporting Problems with Your Device

    If you think you had a problem with your diabetes-related device, the FDA encourages you to report the problem through the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.

    Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to the FDA’s user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.

    Questions?

    If you have questions, contact CDRH’s Division of Industry and Consumer Education (DICE).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met officers tackle drug supply in Kingston

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Local and specialist Met officers were involved in raids at six properties early on Wednesday, 5 February as part of an investigation into drug dealing on the Cambridge Road Estate and more widely across Merton.

    Six arrests were made as part of the Met’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy, which is designed to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by serious and organised crime, focusing on what matters most to locals.

    Superintendent Josh Laughton, the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Kingston, said: “Today’s operation followed months of planning by local officers, who have been listening to people on the Cambridge Road Estate to understand their concerns.

    “We know drug dealing is often linked to other offences such as violent crime and anti-social behaviour. By taking targeted action, we aim to reduce offending across the board.

    “The service we provide to Londoners is at the heart of everything we do. Across the Met, we remain focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to communities to reduce offending and improve neighbourhoods.”

    One of the raids was carried out at a fast-food restaurant in Surbiton Crescent. The other six addresses were residential properties. Officers seized drugs, including heroin and cocaine.

    The three men, one woman and two teenage boys, who were arrested during the operation, remain in custody.

    Clear, Hold, Build involves the Met working with partner agencies and communities to make areas safer, and is proven to drive down crime.

    It focuses on taking out the criminal gangs that make the lives of some Londoners a misery by fuelling violent and organised crime.

    Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, including community safety, Councillor Sabah Hamed said: “Kingston is one of London’s safest boroughs, and this work reflects our continued commitment to working with the police and our partners to make it even safer for everyone.

    “We are committed to working with the local communities most impacted by crime to address their concerns, improve confidence in reporting issues and safeguard those who are vulnerable.”

    Targeted neighbourhood policing delivered through Clear, Hold, Build has already been proven to have a positive impact on communities across London.

    The framework comprises of three parts: Clear, which sees police pursue gang members; Hold, where police maintain a grip on the area to prevent other criminal groups from taking control; and Build, which works to help the community become less susceptible to the draw of organised crime groups.

    In Northumberland Park and Edmonton, an intensification resulted in 424 arrests and recent data shows violent crime in the area has fallen to its lowest level in three years.

    Improved neighbourhood policing was one of the reasons the Met was removed from special measures in January. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services also praised improvements to call handling, child exploitation, and public protection.

    MIL Security OSI –