Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Craig Votes Against Republicans’ Disastrous Budget Bill That Takes Food and Health Care from Minnesotans and Betrays the Middle Class

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig voted against the Republicans’ catastrophic budget bill that will add trillions to the national debt, take food and health care from hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and betray the middle class – in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.

    As ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Craig testified before the House Rules Committee for five hours on Tuesday about the negative impacts of the bill on Minnesotans.

    Following her “no” vote on the House floor, Rep. Craig released the following statement:

    “Today, Republicans showed us once again that they are the party of billionaires and wealthy corporations – not everyday Americans. Instead of working to lower costs and reduce the national debt, which they promised to do, my Republican colleagues passed a budget bill that balloons the deficit and takes food and health care from hundreds of thousands of hard-working Minnesotans – all to line the pockets of the ultra-rich. 

    “Taking basic needs away from Minnesota’s kids, seniors, veterans, single mothers and people with disabilities is not an option. So, while the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress chip away at Minnesotans’ access to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP, I will keep working with state and local officials to ensure that every Minnesotan is able to get the care they need and put food on the table.”

    The Republicans’ budget cuts nearly $200 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), threatening to impact critical food assistance from 42 million Americans, and cuts $930 billion from Medicaid, which could result in over 173,000 Minnesotans losing access to health care. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Republicans’ budget bill will increase the deficit by $3.5 trillion over 10 years – or $4 trillion including interest. Shifting the burden of SNAP costs onto states put Minnesota’s counties in the position to raise property taxes to make up for the millions of dollars of an unfunded mandate from the federal government. 

    The bill passed the House with 218 Republican votes and not a single Democratic vote.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: [VIDEO] Rep. Omar Sounds Alarm on Catastrophic Big Ugly Budget Bill on Minnesotans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    MINNEAPOLIS– Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) hosted a press conference in Minneapolis to sound the alarm on the catastrophic impacts the Big Ugly budget bill will have on Minnesotans. The Congresswoman was joined by local and state leaders to share the widespread impacts this bill will have across our state. 

    The full video can be found here.

    Full transcript below:

    “I wish we were gathered under different circumstances. 

    “But today, we’re here to speak the truth about the GOP budget bill that will devastate the very people we fight for.

     “The bill Republicans passed is one of the most harmful, immoral budgets we’ve seen in modern American history. 

    “It is a direct assault on working families in Minnesota and across this country. 

    “Let me tell you what this bill does. 

    “It slashes Medicaid, kicking 17 million Americans off their healthcare plans, thousands of whom are in this district. 

    “The bill rips 186 billion dollars from SNAP. 

    “That’s food off the tables of seniors, children, and single moms.

    “People who are already struggling to get by. 

    “Here in the 5th district, nearly 90,000 people rely on SNAP.  

    “I’ve spoken to them and many are now asking how do I feed my kids and still pay bills? 

    “This is the United States of America. 

    “No one should ever have to make that choice.

    “And while families are being told to tighten their belts, billionaires are getting a windfall. 

    “Permanent tax cuts for the rich.  

    “Temporary scraps for everyone else.  

    “This is the largest upward transfer of wealth in our lifetime. 

    “It makes the rich richer and leaves working people behind.

     “Republicans love to call themselves the party of the working class but this bill proves otherwise.  

    “It threatens nearly 2 million construction jobs, including 800,000 green jobs, and could erase 148 billion dollars in wages and benefits. 

    “That’s not a working-class agenda.

    “It also cuts 300 billion dollars in education programs. 

    “It drives up student debt and slams the door shut on millions of young people who simply want a chance at a better future.  

    “This district is home to one of the youngest constituencies in the country, including the University of Minnesota. 

    “This bill tells them you’re on your own.

    “And for what? 

    “To hand over 150 billion dollars to immigration enforcement.  

    “45 billion dollars for ICE jails, more than 13 times their current budget.  

    “We’re already seeing reports of new detention centers like “Alligator Alcatraz” being built in Florida.  

    “We are being told, again and again, that we can’t afford universal healthcare, quality education, or universal school meals. 

    “But somehow, we can always afford another detention center or tax cuts for the rich.

    “The American people do not want this budget.  

    “But Republicans rammed it through anyway in the middle of the night because they know it won’t stand up to public scrutiny.

    “And here’s the kicker, they delayed most of the cuts until 2027.  

    “Why? Because they know just how deeply unpopular this bill is.

    “We’ve seen what happens when the powerful put profits over people. 

    “But we’ve also seen what happens when working people, immigrants, students, parents, and neighbors come together and refuse to be ignored. 

    “That’s the spirit of Minnesota’s Fifth District.

    “We do have people power and we’re going to keep fighting for a country that invests in children, that feeds families, and expands opportunity. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Omar’s Statement on Voting NO on Final Big Ugly GOP Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after voting “no” on the final version of the GOP budget bill.

    “This bill is one of the most cruel, immoral pieces of legislation that Congress has ever voted on. Not only did this bill get worse from the last time the House voted on it, it will be remembered as one of the most catastrophic bills passed in modern history.

    “Because my Republican colleagues cowered to special interests and their billionaire donors, 17 million Americans will lose their health coverage. This passage could cause 50,000 Americans to die each year because Republicans shamefully voted to kick millions off Medicaid and failed to extend the premium tax credits in the Affordable Care Act. It will also increase healthcare costs and endanger access to care for all Americans. Rural hospitals will be forced to shut down. Nursing homes and community health centers will be gravely impacted.

    “This bill is the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in history. While working people will be devastated, billionaires will receive massive tax cuts. Not only are the tax cuts permanent for the ultra-wealthy, any benefit to low-income families is only temporary. It will deepen the wealth and income inequality gap.

    “In poll after poll, the American people are clear in their disdain for this bill. From cuts to nutrition assistance to increasing the cost of college to higher utility bills – the American people are clear-eyed in opposing it. Donald Trump and Republicans know this, which is why they rammed this bill through. Every single American will remember who chose to side with billionaires instead of working people.

    “This bill is morally bankrupt and an attack on working people. For those reasons, I voted NO.”

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Ilhan Omar and Anna Paulina Luna Introduce Syria Sanctions Relief Act to End Broad U.S. Sanctions on Syria

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) unveiled the Syria Sanctions Relief Act, bipartisan legislation that would repeal existing sanctions programs for Syria.

    The bill would also strike related statutory references, effectively ending the Congressionally-mandated sweeping sector-wide sanctions that humanitarian organizations, United Nations experts, and economists say have worsened Syria’s economic collapse and left millions unable to rebuild their lives. Since their enactment, these sanctions have blocked access to food, fuel, and medical supplies, with devastating consequences for the Syrian people. 

    “Syria’s remarkable transition, and the end of the decades-long Assad dictatorship, presents new opportunities for engagement for the betterment of the Syrian people. This is the right time to lift sanctions,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar. “This is also a good time to reflect on a broader truth: sanctions should never be used as a blunt instrument to starve a population or collapse an entire economy. They do little to improve human rights or democratic outcomes and instead devastate civilian populations and fuel instability. If we are serious about supporting peace and regional stability, we must end the failed policy of economic warfare. This bill is about giving the post-Assad Syria a fighting chance.

    “The new Syrian government has demonstrated a commitment to religious freedom, peace with our allies, and a strong alliance with the United States,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. “By codifying the lifting of sanctions, we aim to empower Syria’s leadership to rebuild a stable, inclusive society that benefits its people and strengthens U.S. interests. I look forward to meeting the new president of Syria and his wife, and to fostering a continued, robust relationship with the Syrian government to advance mutual prosperity and security.”

    The Syria Sanctions Relief Act would encourage diplomatic and economic engagement and offer Syrians a path toward rebuilding shattered communities. Recent executive actions, including the sanctions relief and Treasury waivers, only provide temporary relief and are subject to future revocation. Only Congress can enact permanent repeal, which is what this bill seeks to do. 

    Full bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Muslim American Members of Congress Call Out Vile, Anti-Muslim, Racist Attacks on Zohran Mamdani

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), André Carson (IN-07), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12) released the following joint statement:

    “The vile, anti-Muslim, and racist smears from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle attacking Zohran Mamdani cannot be met with silence. 

    “These hateful, Islamophobic, and racist tropes have become so entrenched and normalized in our politics. We know these attacks all too well. At a time of increased violence against elected officials, we cannot allow the attacks on Zohran Mamdani to continue. They directly contribute to the ongoing dehumanization and violence against Muslim Americans. We unequivocally reject the normalization of anti-Muslim hate and fearmongering and call on elected leaders across our country to speak out.”

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Ilhan Omar Pens Op-Ed in Minnesota Star Tribune Sounding the Alarm on Republicans’ Cruel Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    MINNEAPOLIS– Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) authored an op-ed in the Minnesota Star Tribune on how the passage of the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” will be devastating for her constituents in Minnesota’s Fifth District and across the nation. Her op-ed focuses on the historical funding cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and higher education programs. She also discussed how the bill facilitates the largest upward wealth transfer in American history, all while giving ICE a higher budget than almost all of the world’s militaries.

    You can view the op-ed here and below. 

    U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar: Republican ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is best characterized by how it harms

    My House colleagues Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber should be ashamed.

    By Ilhan Omar

    President Donald Trump just signed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” one of the most cruel, immoral pieces of legislation ever passed. Every single Republican member of the Minnesota congressional delegation voted to greenlight this catastrophic bill. Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber should be ashamed. They voted to take away health care for 173,268 Minnesotans in the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in history. It will be remembered as one of the most harmful pieces of legislation ever signed into law.

    Because my Republican colleagues cowered to special interests and their billionaire donors, 17 million Americans, including thousands of Minnesotans, will lose their health coverage. This passage could cause 50,000 Americans to die each year because Republicans shamefully voted to kick millions off Medicaid and failed to extend the premium tax credits in the Affordable Care Act. Even Republicans have acknowledged the harm this will cause, one Senate Republican even wrote a New York Times commentary titled “Don’t Cut Medicaid” before caving to Trump at the expense of his constituents. It will also increase health care costs and endanger access to care for all Americans. Rural hospitals will be forced to shut down. Nursing homes and community health clinics will be severely affected. The damage will have far-reaching, incomprehensible consequences.

    This bill contains $186 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts mean vulnerable families will go hungry. At a time when food insecurity is rising across the country, Republicans chose to gut lifesaving nutrition assistance. In my district, nearly 90,000 people rely on SNAP to put food on the table. These are single parents, seniors and essential workers who depend on this assistance to afford groceries. Recently, I hosted a roundtable discussion with Minnesota’s U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar on the impact of these catastrophic cuts to SNAP. I heard from many of my constituents that they will now have to make the painstaking decision between paying their rent or affording groceries. Others shared they don’t know how they will be able to feed their kids without the lifeline of SNAP. Cutting nutrition assistance for the most at-risk communities is one of the most egregious and unconscionable actions the Republicans included in their betrayal budget.

    This bill is the biggest upward wealth transfer in American history. While working people will be devastated, billionaires will walk away with massive benefits. Low- and middle-income families may see tiny tax cuts and temporary scraps, such as no tax on tips, but they will be quickly wiped out by rising costs from tariffs, benefit cuts, and higher interest rates. Meanwhile, millionaires and billionaires will rake in massive, permanent windfalls. The bill makes the appalling estate tax giveaway permanent, which only applies to a few thousand ultra-wealthy heirs, and expands it to $15 million and $30 million for couples. It also locks in the costly, inefficient passthrough deduction, a loophole that overwhelmingly benefits millionaire business owners while doing little for small businesses. These wasteful provisions have been criticized by experts across the ideological spectrum for being too expensive, poorly targeted and ineffective at promoting economic growth. All together, the bill’s tax changes are projected to cost at least over $3 trillion and will ultimately deepen the already wide wealth and income inequality gap.

    The budget is the largest job-killing legislation ever passed. It threatens nearly 2 million construction jobs, including 800,000 green jobs. It could also erase $148 billion in annual wages and benefits to working people. The Republican Party loves to claim that it is the party of the working class, but its budget clearly debunks that lie.

    It will now make it harder for working-class young people to go to college. I represent one of the youngest constituencies in the country, including many who attend the University of Minnesota. The rising cost of college is already a top concern for our district. Not only does this bill cut $300 billion in federal higher-education programs, it raises the cost of student loan repayment and cuts protections for student borrowers. This bill is a direct attack on those seeking a higher education. Every single person deserves access to higher education without any barriers. Now that dream for young people to not be shackled by student loan debt is farther out of reach.

    What are all these cuts paying for? This bill gives $150 billion for immigration enforcement and another $150 billion to the Pentagon to fund a police state. It contains a slush fund for even more Immigration and Customs Enforcement abductions and mass detention. Shamefully, it includes $45 billion just for ICE jails, including family detention. This is more than 13 times ICE’s current annual detention budget. ICE facilities have little to no oversight and have already resulted in nine deaths in less than four months. Their leadership has begun banning members of Congress from conducting oversight in the facilities. And they’re building concentration camps in the Everglades. This budget gives ICE a higher budget than almost all of the world’s militaries. It runs counter to the very ideals of our country.

    In poll after poll, the American people are clear in their opposition to this bill. Donald Trump and Republicans know this, which is why they rammed this bill through in the middle of the night. Every single American will remember who chose to side with billionaires instead of working people.

    We will never forget that Republicans sold out the American people for their billionaire donors.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stauber Votes to Send One Big Beautiful Bill Act to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) voted to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that delivers President Trump and the American people’s full agenda. It will now go to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. 

    Stauber made the following statement after the vote: 

    “In November, the American people elected President Trump and gave him the majorities in both the House and Senate with a clear mandate: to restore safety and unleash prosperity across our nation. Today, the House took a significant step in enacting the American people’s agenda, and I am proud to have helped deliver this historic legislation to the President’s desk. President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill will put America’s families and workers first by delivering the largest tax cuts in our nation’s history, unleashing American energy dominance, permanently securing our borders, modernizing air traffic control, and strengthening our military. I look forward to seeing the One Big, Beautiful Bill deliver a new Golden Age for the American people.”

    Specifically, this legislation will do the following: 

    • Makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, delivering the largest tax cut for middle- and working-class Americans in history.
    • Doubles and makes permanent the Child Tax Credit, supporting over 40 million families.  
    • Implements no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and cuts taxes for Social Security recipients.  
    • Doubles small business expensing, helping local businesses hire more workers and expand their operations.
    • Incentivizes Made-in-America manufacturing by rewarding companies that build new factories in the U.S. and lowering taxes for businesses producing domestically.
    • Supports family farms by raising the death tax exemption, protecting two million family farms from punitive double taxation.
    • Improves national security by delivering funding to complete the border wall, hire new frontline personnel (10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new Customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents), and carry out at least one million annual removals.
    • Unleashes American energy, driving down the cost of living and restoring energy independence.
    • Provides $12.5 billion to overhaul air traffic control.
    • Funds the Golden Dome missile defense system to protect the homeland and modernizes our military.
    • Protects taxpayer dollars by removing waste, fraud, and abuse from federal programs, so they can better serve the American people. Specifically, it will remove 1.4 million illegal aliens from Medicaid and SNAP benefits and establish work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Aggravated Illegal Reentry Charges

    Source: US FBI

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Sarah Maud Jess, 62, a Jamaican national living in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pled guilty to two counts, distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and re-entry of an alien removed after conviction for an aggravated felony.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

    According to her guilty plea, Jess disseminated at least 40 grams of fentanyl in Maryland and elsewhere between at least November 2023 and October 2024. Jess distributed the fentanyl in the form of pressed fentanyl pills – round, light blue pills imprinted with “M30.” As part of the investigation, a DEA undercover (UC) agent purchased fentanyl pills from Jess. Law enforcement also seized fentanyl pills from her vehicle as she was en route to distribute to the UC and recovered additional fentanyl pills and a firearm from Jess’s residence. In total, law enforcement recovered more than 3,000 fentanyl pills, totaling more than 350 grams of fentanyl, from Jess.

    During the investigation, on June 21, 2024, after coordinating with Jess via text message, the UC conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 600 fentanyl pills from Jess in a Greenbelt, Maryland restaurant parking lot for $3,600. Jess provided the UC with a black sock containing a clear plastic baggie with pills totaling more than 65 grams of fentanyl.

    Then on September 4, the UC conducted another purchase of approximately 1,000 pills from Jess for $6,000. Jess again met the UC in the Greenbelt restaurant parking lot and provided the UC with a black sock containing a clear plastic baggie with fentanyl pills comprised of more than 100 grams of fentanyl.

    On September 30, Jess texted the UC asking how many pills he or she wanted to purchase. Jess agreed to sell the UC 700 pills. Then on October 2, Jess and the UC spoke and arranged to meet at a Silver Spring, Maryland mall parking lot. Law enforcement officers surveilled Jess while she drove to the mall. As Jess drove to meet the UC, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop.

    Law enforcement found the pills Jess intended to sell to the UC and took her into custody. Jess provided the officers with a fake driver’s license with a fake name and an address that was not her actual residence. However, law enforcement saw her visit that address during the investigation. While searching the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered a black sock with a clear plastic baggie inside containing approximately 700 blue pills — weighing more than 75 grams of fentanyl — that Jess intended to distribute to the UC.

    Additionally, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jess’s residence. During the search, law enforcement discovered a plastic baggie containing 46 fentanyl pills — weighing more than five grams — and a handgun loaded with nine rounds of ammunition in Jess’s bedroom.

    Throughout this timeframe, Jess was an alien illegally in the United States. Jess was previously convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Based on the conviction for an aggravated felony, Jess was previously removed from the United States after proceedings before an immigration judge. As part of her removal, Jess was advised that she was permanently excluded from re-entering the United States because of her prior conviction.

    Jess voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection or permission. She never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission.

    Jess faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for the fentanyl charge. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for the illegal re-entry charge.

    Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, at 2 p.m.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the DEA, FBI, MCPD, and PGPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Bipartisan Push from Reps. Cleaver & Davids, Congress Passes $625 Million for World Cup Security

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Kansas City, MO) – Following a months-long bipartisan push to secure federal funding to strengthen security services at host cities during the 2026 World Cup, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) announced today that Congress has passed $625 million to support safety and security efforts during the event. 

    “The 2026 World Cup is an opportunity to showcase Kansas City on the world stage, demonstrating our status as a welcoming, beautiful, and first-rate city to hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe. However, with this temporary swell in population, it is imperative that we also increase security services for the safety of visitors and residents alike, which is no small task for an event this large,” said Congressman Cleaver. “After joining with representatives from across the country to push for federal investments that will ensure a safe and orderly event, I’m very happy that we were able to secure $625 million to support security efforts in the 11 host cities, including Kansas City.”

    “Hosting the World Cup is an incredible opportunity for Kansas City — not just to welcome the world, but to show the world who we are. With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, ensuring public safety must be a top priority. I’ve been proud to work with Congressman Cleaver and a bipartisan group of colleagues to advocate for these much-needed resources, and I’ll keep working to make sure Kansas City is ready to shine on the global stage,” said Representative Sharice Davids.

    Kansas City will host six matches, as well as a minimum of eight teams, during the FIFA 2026 World Cup. According to estimates, Kansas City is expected to welcome 650,000 visitors during the month-long event. 

    Over the past year, Representatives Cleaver and Davids, Co-Chair of the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, have worked across party lines to build support for federal investments in World Cup host cities. 

    Last September, the lawmakers called on the Biden administration to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events to oversee preparation for events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. In December, Cleaver and Davids joined a bipartisan coalition to call on Congress to provide $625 million to support security efforts during the 2026 World Cup. In April, led by Rep. Davids, the lawmakers again called on the Trump administration to provide $625 million in federal funding to strengthen security services at World Cup host cities. 

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    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on Vote Against Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted against Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, which betrays working families by making the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history to fund more tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans, while adding trillions to the national debt.

    “Despite Democratic warnings about electing a billionaire with a long history of failed businesses and a reputation for stiffing workers, the American people re-elected Donald Trump under the guise that he would protect programs like Medicaid and fight for hardworking families and forgotten communities. With the passage of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, those lofty promises will go unfulfilled and American families will experience the largest transfer of wealth from the working-class to the exorbitantly wealthy in American history—a travesty that could take decades to undo.

    “According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, nonpartisaneconomists, and even a handful of courageous Republicans willing to speak the truth, the Big Ugly Bill makes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the history of these vital programs. It will rip healthcare away from 17 million Americans, including 265,000 in Missouri, take food assistance away from five million families, and eliminate access to school meals for 18 million children. 

    “For those who do not lose access to these programs, it will send energy prices and healthcare costs soaring, as it makes massive cuts to critical investments in clean energy and the Affordable Care Act. For our kids and grandkids, it will saddle them with at least another three trillion dollars in additional debt. And it enacts all of these painful and pitiful policies to provide more tax breaks to the wealthiest families in our communities, ensuring the widening chasm in income inequality accelerates to a dangerous degree.

    “At a time when American families are struggling with the cost of living, it is morally reprehensible and supremely sinful to take from the poor to give more handouts to the richest among us—but that is precisely what President Trump and Republicans have chosen to do. As Democrats in Congress continue the fight to rollback these deeply regressive policies so that we can invest in communities and lower costs for hardworking families in the years to come, this betrayal will not be forgotten by the American people.”

    According to independent estimates, Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill will:

    • Kick 17 million Americans off their health insurance and make premiums, deductibles, and copays soar for millions more: The bill cuts more than $1 trillion from healthcare, including the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and could cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare. According to one analysis, more than 50,000 people will die annually because of these cuts.
    • Cut staff and close hospitals and nursing homes in communities nationwide: As many as 300 hospitals, especially those in rural areas, will have to cut services and staff – if not close completely. One in four nursing homes are estimated to close.
    • Make largest cut to nutritional assistance in history: The bill cuts SNAP by 20 percent, while forcing states to cover more of SNAP’s cost – which could lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. Red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put roughly 18 million kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch.
    • Increase energy costs: With devastating cuts to clean energy, families will pay an average of $400 more per year in energy costs nationwide. Seniors and low-income people will also have an even harder time getting assistance to pay their energy bills.
    • Kill more than a million jobs: Data show that massive cuts to clean energy will cost more than 840,000 jobs in just the next five years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next ten years.
    • Weaken our public schools and make higher education more expensive: The bill creates a permanent, unlimited tax credit for private school vouchers that undermine our public schools, while attacking protections for student borrowers and cutting Pell grants for working class students.
    • Add more than $3.3 trillion to the national debt: This does not include an additional estimated $700 billion in interest payments expected over the next ten years. The bill will cause our debt to rise to as much as 128% of our GDP by 2034, threatening to bankrupt our country and mortgaging our children’s futures.
    • Overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 1% of Americans: The bill gives almost a trillion dollars in tax cuts to the top 1% of households, transferring money from the poorest Americans to the wealthiest. People making over $1 million will have an average tax cut of at least $80,000 a year while the bottom 20% of families will see their taxes rise.

    According to the House Committee on the Budget, the Big Ugly Bill will have the following impact on Missouri’s 5th Congressional District:

    • Rip healthcare away from Missouri families and raise healthcare costs: An estimated 265,298 Missourians will lose health insurance, and Missourians covered under the Affordable Care Act will see an average increase of $710 in premiums. Four rural hospitals across the state will be at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts.
    • Raise food costs: At least 58,000 Missourians are at risk of lose some or all food assistance.
    • Kill manufacturing jobs and raise energy costs: 37,000 manufacturing and energy jobs in Missouri will be eliminated. Missourians will see an $800 average yearly increase in energy bills due to cuts to clean energy.
    • Increase the cost of higher education: 66,960 students in Missouri could have their Pell grants cut or eliminated entirely.

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    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver Announces $3.5 Million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Grant Awarded to Kansas City

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the City of Kansas City has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up brownfield sites within the city. The federal funding, which Cleaver helped secure through his support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will invest in Kansas City’s Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans and subgrants to remediate and redevelop projects at brownfield sites throughout Kansas City.

    “From investments in new roads and bridges to funding that enables the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites like the Hardesty Federal Complex, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to fuel a remarkable economic comeback in Kansas City,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we’ve come a long way since the dark days of the global pandemic, thanks in part to investments like this, there is still so much work that can be done to boost economic development in underserved communities across the metro area – and this funding will help support those efforts. I’m proud to have helped secure this $3.5 million for Kansas City, and I’ll continue fighting every day to bring more investments that support Missouri workers and small businesses back to the Fifth Congressional District.”

    Specifically, this funding will assist in re-capitalizing Kansas City’s Revolving Loan Fund from which the City can make loans and subgrants to clean up brownfield sites, ensuring more projects can be funded.

    Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

    Since passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Kansas City has received more than $18.5 million in brownfields grants, supporting over a dozen remediation projects across the city. In 2022, Rep. Cleaver announced $5.5 million in federal brownfields grants awarded to Kansas City, supporting the cleanup of the Hardesty Federal Complex Buildings. Last September, Congressman Cleaver joined EPA Region 7 to announce $4.5 million in federal brownfields grants for Kansas City’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. This May, Congressman Cleaver announced a $4 million brownfields grant to clean up 47 vacant parcels known as the Washington Wheatley Vacant Lots Site, as well as the former Benson Manufacturing Company Site.

      

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Votes Against GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill. Again.

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott Votes Against GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill. Again.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and a member of the House Committee on the Budget, issued the following statement after voting against the Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill: 

    “Once again, Republicans rushed to jam their Big, Ugly Bill through Congress. Their bill will have serious consequences for America’s working families. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that 17 million people will lose their health insurance, including over 322,000 Virginians. It will make college less affordable.  Three million people will lose access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And up to 16 million students could lose access to free school meals. The Republican bill does all of this to fund tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires and corporations. And it makes annual deficits and the national debt worse than they would be if we did nothing. 

    “For years, we have heard Congressional Republicans preach about fiscal responsibility and complain about deficits and the national debt. Yet they just voted for a bill that will add an estimated 3.4 trillion dollars to our deficitand that does not even include the cost of interest. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, because every Republican administration since President Nixon has left for their Democratic successors a worse budget deficit than the one they inherited. And every Democratic administration since President Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than the one they inherited. All without exception.

    “This bill is a collection of policies that will harm America’s working families, bestow tax breaks on the wealthy, and significantly increase the national debt. Every single Democrat in Congress voted against it, while almost every Republican in Congress voted for it while having the audacity to try to call the legislation ‘beautiful.’” 

    For more information about cuts to education and nutrition programs, click here and here.

    For more information about how the bill betrays the middle class, click here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Votes Against GOP’S FY26 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott Votes Against GOP’S FY26 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill for FY 2026.

    “While there are some provisions I support in the FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill, ultimately, this legislation fails to prioritize care for our veterans or adequately fund military construction. The bill will enact the Project 2025 goal of privatizing medical care for veterans by transferring billions of dollars away from the VA to private hospitals and clinics. This will force more veterans into an overburdened private health care system, leading to worse outcomes and longer wait times. This legislation also contains a provision that restricts access to reproductive health care for veterans.

    “The bill worsens quality-of-life for our servicemembers and their families by underfunding critical military construction projects by $904 million below what is needed, and it leaves out critical funding for installation resilience and climate-related damage mitigation. The Hampton Roads region’s bases and military installations are already seriously at-risk of extreme weather events and flooding due to climate change. 

    “I am hopeful that as the bill moves to the Senate, the final enacted version of this legislation will ensure our veterans and their families receive the quality health care they earned. We must also make the necessary capital investments to improve quality-of-life for our servicemembers and mitigate the impact of climate-change on our military installations.”

    CLICK HERE for a fact sheet on the legislation. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Statement on Braidwood Management SCOTUS Decision

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott Statement on Braidwood Management SCOTUS Decision

    As originally released by the Committee on Education & Workforce, Democrats

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court’s ruling inKennedy v.Braidwood Management, in which plaintiffs sought to weaken a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires private health plans to cover preventive care services at no cost.

    “Access to preventive care saves lives. By detecting health problems early on, preventive care helps us address serious diseases—such as colon cancer and high cholesterol—before they become complicated and more expensive to treat.  For more than a decade, over four million people in my home of Virginia have been able to count on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to access these services without having to pay anything out of pocket.

    “I am pleased that the Supreme Court recognized what we all know: that the structure of the ACA’s preventive services requirement is fundamentally sound. We cannot go back to a time when far too many Americans were forced to choose between financial stability and the care they needed to avert life-threatening diseases. 

    “While this decision is a victory for working people’s health, we cannot let our guard down.  Right now, Congressional Republicans are attempting to make the largest cut to Medicaid in history in their ‘Big Ugly Bill.’  Under this legislation, 19 people will lose their health insurance for every millionaire who gets a tax break.  Additionally, over four million Americans will lose access to their health coverage if Congressional Republicans do not extend the subsidies included in the Inflation Reduction Act. I am working with Congressional Democrats to stop these harmful and unfair cuts to working families’ health coverage.

    “Moreover, after today’s ruling, it will also be more important than ever to hold the Trump Administration accountable for faithfully implementing this requirement to save lives, reduce racial and ethnic health inequities, and reduce the nation’s health care costs.”

    In September 2022, Committee Democrats released a report examining how the preventive services requirement under the ACA has helped provide access to preventive care for the millions of people with health coverage under the ACA, as well as the vast majority of people with coverage through their job.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Resignation of UVA’s President

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Resignation of UVA’s President

    As originally released by the Committee on Education & Workforce, Democrats

    WASHINGTON, D.C. Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after James E. Ryan, the President of the University of Virginia resigned. 

    “The University of Virginia (UVa) has consistently been recognized as one of the nation’s premier public universities because of its commitment to academic excellence.  However, today’s decision of UVa President James E. Ryan to resign because of the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) threat to withhold federal funds is an attack on due process, the independence and integrity of ‘academic freedom’ in higher education, and the UVa’s effort to address its own history.

    “Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the DOJ is not authorized to impose sanctions until it has concluded that the university violated the law, and it would not redress the abuse.  The DOJ’s demand that Ryan step down was both premature and a perversion of the civil rights resolution practice. 

    “During Trump’s first administration, UVa was the scene of white supremacists’ Unite the Right march where white supremacists’ chanted ‘you will not replace us, Jews will not replace us.’ Then-President Trump’s response to the violence and the death of Heather Heyer was that there were ‘very fine people on both sides.’

    “As a result, President Ryan was brought to UVa in 2018 to improve the university’s racial climate, learning environment, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts.  Under President Ryan’s tenure, UVa has been recognized for its commitment to free speech, financial aid among public universities for the fourth year in a row, and this year, 10,000 first-generation students applied to UVa. All indications are that President Ryan was very popular among the academicians and students alike.

    “As a country, we are all worse off because of the Trump Administration’s crusade against diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, while there has been no crusade against racial discrimination.  Ryan’s resignation, therefore, signals to the higher education community that diversity as a positive value is now diminished and that segregation is to be celebrated.  This situation is made worse because of the willingness of universities and businesses to quickly capitulate.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Trump v. Casa Limiting National Injunctions

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Trump v. Casa Limiting National Injunctions

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Casa, Inc. limiting the ability of federal judges to issue national injunctions:

    “The Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority has again delivered a decision that further erodes the ability of an equal branch of the federal government to check the abuse of power of President Trump and his administration. While the Court did not address the merits of the President’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, contrary to the plain language of the 14th amendment of the Constitution, this decision effectively ends the ability of federal judges to stop illegal executive actions through national injunctions. 

    “In practice, this decision to limit the nationwide injunction regarding the birthright status of a person creates an absurd situation where a person who resides in one state can be a citizen, but if he moves to another state, can become a non-citizen, just by virtue of the federal judicial orders in effect at the time. And could a non-citizen gain citizenship by moving to the right state? It would be ridiculous to have the determination of citizenship based on the state you live in or move into.

    “I believe the Supreme Court will ultimately find the President’s executive order unconstitutional. However, without the ability of lower courts to issue a national injunction to stay this executive order as the case continues to move through the judicial process, this decision will lead to significant and irreparable harm for the individuals impacted in the 28 states that have not challenged the executive order creating a significant administrative and legal nightmare.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul Votes to Pass The One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    Bill contains McCaul’s provision to reimburse border states for costs incurred under the Biden administration

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security — voted to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill to deliver on President Trump’s agenda.  

    “The American people elected a Republican House, Senate, and White House because they were tired of a raging border crisis, a weak national security, and a broken economy,” said McCaul. “The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers on their mandate by funding President Trump’s border security efforts, bolstering the Department of Defense at a crucial time in history, and making permanent the largest tax cut in history. I’m proud to have joined my Republican colleagues in voting to restore our great nation and put this historic bill on the president’s desk just in time for Independence Day.” 

    The One Big Beautiful Bill also includes a McCaul-authored provision, which now sits at $13.5 billion, to reimburse border states — primarily Texas — for costs incurred to secure the border under the Biden administration. McCaul championed the provision and advocated for its passage for months, working hand-in-hand with House GOP leadership, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

    “When the Biden administration abdicated its federal responsibility to secure the border, Texas stepped up,” said McCaul. “Our state bore the brunt of this unnecessary crisis for four years — fighting tirelessly on the front lines to defend all 50 states. That’s why I worked so hard to reimburse our border states for the costs they incurred over the past four years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to have secured this provision to finally pay Texas back!”

    The provision, which was initially added to House Republicans’ reconciliation package through a manager’s amendment and later edited in the Senate, sets aside $13.5 billion in grants for states to secure the border, apprehend illegal aliens, and counter drug and human trafficking that occurred on or after January 21, 2021.

    Most of these funds are expected to reimburse Texas, as no state did more to secure the border over the past four years. Operation Lone Star spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs associated with border security and $4.75 billion on border wall barriers.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul, Meeks Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling For the Return of Abducted Ukrainian Children

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Russia’s abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and calling for their return before a peace agreement is finalized.  

    “Since the beginning of Putin’s war of aggression, Russia has abducted at least 19,500 Ukrainian children from their homeland — with some estimates putting the true number as high as 200,000,” said Chair Emeritus McCaul. “These children have been stripped of their national identity, adopted into Russian families, or indoctrinated as soldiers for the Kremlin. As a father, I can’t imagine the pain their families have experienced. Russia’s mass-scale child abduction is nothing short of evil; the United States must demonstrate moral leadership by demanding every child be returned to his or her family in Ukraine before true peace can be achieved.”

    “Putin is a war criminal and, under his watch, the Russian military has cruelly abducted and illegally deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homeland. These atrocities are not isolated incidents; they are the direct result of Putin’s war of choice. The United States has a responsibility to condemn these unconscionable acts by Russia and to demand the immediate return of each and every one of the children Russia has taken,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

    Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the resolution in the Senate.

    Background:

    Ukrainian authorities have received at least 19,546 confirmed reports of unlawful deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. The abductions aim to erase the children’s Ukrainian names, language, and identity. As of April 16, Ukraine and its partners have only managed to return 1,274 abducted children.

    The State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report found Russia recruits or uses child soldiers, has a state-sponsored policy or pattern of human trafficking and is among the worst hubs for human trafficking in the world.

    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Chair Emeritus McCaul on CBS’ “Face The Nation”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees — joined Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face The Nation” to discuss the latest on Iran, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and President Trump’s efforts to secure our border.

    Click to watch

    Excerpts from the interview:

    On his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill: 

    “What I’m voting for is a border security measure, $80 billion, [including] $12 billion to reimburse states like mine. I’m voting for $150 billion that will go to our Department of Defense — at a time when what we saw with Iran [this] is desperately needed. The world is on fire: Eastern Europe and Indo-Pacific. Then the tax cuts. I mean, if we don’t extend these tax cuts, it’ll be the largest tax increase in American history. For those three reasons, I’m a yes.”

    On the significance of President Trump’s limited strike in Iran:

    “The world in the Middle East is safer today than it was seven days ago, a week ago. That is highlighted by the fact that the proxies didn’t light up — Russia didn’t come to their aid, [and] China basically ran back for cover. Iran is on its own and psychologically is very damaged. The deterrence is real. The damage was real. This was a masterful military operation, the likes of which I haven’t seen since my father’s war, World War II.”

    On President Trump’s border security efforts:

    “… [F]ifteen to 20 million people came in under the Biden administration, and [the Trump administration is] trying to get some sanity involved in the United States. I think deterrence is the key here. And Margaret, it is working. You know, the apprehension rate at the border — and Texas is the biggest one — has gone down to almost zero. I mean, the border is just about secure. Catch-and-release is over, and the threats are going away.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom statement on the court temporarily blocking the Trump Administration’s unlawful immigration tactics in the Los Angeles area

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 11, 2025

    Sacramento, CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today on the court’s decision in Vasquez Perdomo, et al. v. Noem to temporarily stop federal immigration agents from unlawful suspicionless stops in California: 

    Justice prevailed today — the court’s decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people’s rights and racial profiling. 

    Stephen Miller’s immigration agenda is one of chaos, cruelty and fear. Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice. That should stop now. 

    California stands with the law, and the foundation upon which our founding fathers built this country. I call on the Trump administration to do the same.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anand concludes visit to Japan and Malaysia to strengthen Indo-Pacific partnerships  

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded her successful visit to Japan and Malaysia to deepen Canada’s strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

    In Tokyo, Japan, Minister Anand met with Iwaya Takeshi, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and to sign the Canada-Japan Security of Information Agreement. This was an important milestone in the strategic partnership between Canada and Japan as the agreement will deepen defence and security collaboration between the two countries.

    Minister Anand also met with Hayashi Yoshimasa, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, to discuss security and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

    At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference Plus Canada, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Minister Anand highlighted Canada’s commitment to collaborate with ASEAN to address global security threats and enhancing economic security and supply-chain resilience. Canada’s sustained engagement with ASEAN reinforces Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) in promoting security, economic opportunity and strong international partnerships.

    While the ASEAN- Canada Strategic Partnership is thriving, it is unfolding in the context of increasing global instability. At the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Minister Anand emphasized Canada’s support for international law and ASEAN’s central role in upholding a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. She noted that Canada views the ARF as a vital platform for constructive dialogue on pressing global and regional challenges, including the crisis in Myanmar, tensions in the East and South China seas, military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and growing insecurity in the Middle East.

    While in Kuala Lumpur, Minister Anand met with Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign, and several of her counterparts from:

    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Switzerland
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam

    Minister Anand used these meetings to advance bilateral and multilateral economic opportunities, as well as shared priorities, in the region.

    After the conference, Minister Anand spoke with ASEAN and Canadian trade negotiators, as well as business representatives, to build on the work of the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, the Minister of International Trade, to conclude an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA). This agreement would bolster trade and investment opportunities in the region for Canadian businesses.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Champions Conservative Values in NDAA, Supports Alabama’s Troops and Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released the following statement after the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was reported out of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). During the committee’s markup process, Sen. Tuberville fought to get key conservative wins included in the bill, which will strengthen our military, protect taxpayers, and make sure Alabama continues leading the way in defense.

     “Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, I’ve been fighting to get woke politics out of the military. Under Joe Biden, the Pentagon became ground zero for Democrats’ craziest ideas. Thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are working to purge the Pentagon of woke policies and restore focus on lethality and readiness. I’m proud to have secured key conservative wins in this year’s NDAA, which will support the great work the Trump administration is already doing. My amendments eliminate DEI at the Pentagon, make sure men can’t compete in women’s sports at service academies, prohibit military resources from being used to censor conservative outlets, and ban sex change procedures from taking place in taxpayer-funded military facilities.

    I am also proud of the wins I was able to secure for the great state of Alabama. In addition to providing a 3.8% pay raise for our troops, this year’s NDAA will make housing more affordable and safer for our military families. The bill supports Alabama’s defense industrial base by directing the DOD to fully support the development of all quantum computing technologies. It also makes key investments in surface ship sustainment and readiness that will boost Alabama shipbuilding. Importantly, the NDAA provides funding for the Golden Dome, which Alabama will play a critical role in building and supporting. As the state’s senior senator, I’ve been fighting every day to get Alabama’s military installations and defense contractors the resources and support they deserve. This year’s NDAA will ensure Alabama continues punching well above our weight.”

    BACKGROUND:

    As Alabama’s representative on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Tuberville is proud to have secured the below wins in this year’s NDAA:

    Conservative Wins:

    • Eliminates the existence of DEI-related requirements within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
    • Prohibits males from taking roster positions that belong to females at U.S. service academies.
    • Strengthens language to prohibit DOD recruiting funds from being used to censor and disadvantage conservative media sources.
    • Restricts any DOD money from being spent on sex change surgeries and prohibits these surgeries from taking place at military treatment facilities.

    Alabama Wins:

    • Secures 3.8% pay raise for troops.
    • Improves quality-of-life and makes housing safer for our servicemembers by encouraging all military commissaries to carry at-home mold test kits.
    • Supports Alabama’s defense industrial base by directing the DOD to fully develop the use of all quantum computing technologies. 
    • Encourages DOD to continue to leverage the benefits of the military-civilian partnership that helps further medical research initiatives for the DOD.
    • Directs DOD to accelerate the conversion and testing of successful air-launched weapon systems for ground employment.
    • Improves servicemembers’ quality of life by improving the accuracy and transparency of housing allowance calculations.
    • Supports procurement of MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to modernize aging rotary wing aircraft fleet.
    • Improves advanced weapons systems by requiring the employment of advanced technologies and material improvements.
    • Continues investment in reactive target simulation and facility security enhancement to better meet evolving threats.
    • Makes important investments in surface ship sustainment and readiness, as well as shipyard optimization.

    Read more about FY2026 NDAA here.

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Court Order Blocking Federal Agents from Violating Angelenos’ Civil Rights During Immigration Raids

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, July 11, 2025

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

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today celebrated a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granting a temporary restraining order blocking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from engaging in unconstitutional and unlawful stops of Los Angeles residents during immigration sweeps. 

    “The Trump Administration is using federal immigration agents as a tool to instill fear and division in Los Angeles communities. In doing so, it is damaging community trust with law enforcement, disrupting Angelenos’ daily lives, and impeding public safety,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The troubling use of masks, unmarked vehicles, and plainclothes to cover up immigration agents’ identities – and their own refusal to identify themselves when asked – has made it difficult to distinguish these agents from criminals. Their sweeping stops of Angelenos, based not on any evidence of wrongdoing but instead on racial profiling, is flagrantly unconstitutional. Los Angeles cannot be expected to live like this, with many residents afraid to leave their homes and their civil rights under fire. Today, a court agreed, ordering immigration agents to end their unconstitutional stops in the Los Angeles area. As California Attorney General, I will continue to fight to hold this President and his administration accountable to the law and to protect and defend California communities and their civil rights.”

    Attorney General Bonta led a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in Vasquez Perdomo et al. v Noem et al. last week. Attorney General Bonta has also sued the Trump Administration over the President’s illegal order to federalize the California National Guard and redirect hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles. 

    A copy of the court’s decision is available here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Builds Upon Trump Recruitment Success in Annual Defense Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: July 11, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, secured meaningful provisions in in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to build upon the historic military recruiting success happening under President Trump.
    “For me, choosing to serve our country opened the door for the American Dream, allowed me to afford college, and paved the way for a life of service,” said Ernst. “After years of slumping numbers under Biden, we have seen a resurgence under President Trump, but we cannot allow this to be a temporary victory. While patriotism plays an undeniable role in recruiting, boosting outreach efforts to young people and sharing the benefits of service will ensure that the momentum we have seen under President Trump continues, so our armed forces remain the most lethal fighting force the world has ever seen.”
    The provisions secured in the NDAA come directly from Ernst’s SERVE Act to:
    Increase military recruiter access in high schools, so students can know the benefits of service;
    Expand opportunities for students to get involved in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC);
    Designate JROTC as a part of the military; and
    Create a “National Week of Military Recruitment” to further promote the benefits of service.
    Background: 
    After missing key recruiting goals under President Biden, there has been a dramatic turnaround under President Trump. The Army hit its recruiting goal four months early, the Navy hit its goal three months early, and the Air Force and Space Force also exceeded annual recruiting goals three months early.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Johnson Subpoenas FBI for Records on the July 13, 2024 Trump Assassination Attempt

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, issued a subpoena to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel for records relating to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt of President Donald Trump in Butler, PA. 

    “One year following the assassination attempt of President Trump, the American people still do not have answers to all of their questions about the breakdown of security at the Butler campaign rally and detailed information about the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks. I had expected the FBI to be more forthcoming with the public and provide my office with the records we have been seeking for months. I am issuing the subpoena to help prompt transparency and I look forward to Director Patel’s full cooperation,” Sen. Johnson stated. 

     The subpoena requires the FBI to provide, in part:  

    • Security camera footage obtained that may identify Crooks’ movements in advance of the shooting;
    • Forensic reports on the assassination attempt, including ballistics, trajectory, explosive, and drone analysis records; and
    • Records about Crooks including documents relating to his social media and email accounts, search history, call logs, and other communications.

    Following the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt, Sen. Johnson immediately began investigating the security failures surrounding the Butler campaign rally. On July 14, 2024, Sen. Johnson wrote to the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security requesting records about Crooks and the security of the event. On July 21, 2024 and July 23, 2024, he released preliminary findings and provided the public updated timelines on July 30, 2024 and on Aug. 29, 2024 regarding law enforcement’s awareness of Crooks.

    On Sept. 25, 2024, Sens. Johnson, Rand Paul, Gary Peters, and Richard Blumenthal released an interim report detailing the security failures at the Butler campaign rally and outstanding requests connected to the assassination attempt.

    The deadline for Sen. Johnson’s subpoena is Aug. 1, 2025. The full text of the subpoena can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement for the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:

    “Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. In 2016, a Permanent Court of Arbitration released its decision on the South China Sea case between China and the Philippines.

    “Canada reiterates that this July 12, 2016, decision is legally binding on the parties and provides a foundation for the peaceful resolution of competing maritime claims in the region, consistent with international law.

    “China’s coercive and dangerous actions against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels — including the use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers, ramming, forcible towing, and the unlawful boarding of vessels — endanger the safety of seafarers and seriously degrade regional peace and security. Canada continues to call on China to abide by the tribunal’s decision and cease all actions that escalate tensions and threaten maritime safety.

    “As outlined in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is working with ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, to ensure full respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the South China Sea. 

    “Canada also welcomes ongoing efforts by ASEAN member states to develop an effective and substantive code of conduct for the South China Sea. An agreement on a common way forward is essential to set conditions for effective, responsible, collaborative management of maritime resources, maintenance of maritime safety, and preservation of marine biodiversity.”

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement for the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:

    “Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. In 2016, a Permanent Court of Arbitration released its decision on the South China Sea case between China and the Philippines.

    “Canada reiterates that this July 12, 2016, decision is legally binding on the parties and provides a foundation for the peaceful resolution of competing maritime claims in the region, consistent with international law.

    “China’s coercive and dangerous actions against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels — including the use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers, ramming, forcible towing, and the unlawful boarding of vessels — endanger the safety of seafarers and seriously degrade regional peace and security. Canada continues to call on China to abide by the tribunal’s decision and cease all actions that escalate tensions and threaten maritime safety.

    “As outlined in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is working with ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, to ensure full respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the South China Sea. 

    “Canada also welcomes ongoing efforts by ASEAN member states to develop an effective and substantive code of conduct for the South China Sea. An agreement on a common way forward is essential to set conditions for effective, responsible, collaborative management of maritime resources, maintenance of maritime safety, and preservation of marine biodiversity.”

    MIL OSI Canada News