NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Demands Answers from DHS Over Taxpayer-Funded Billboard Advancing Progressive Open-Border Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas following a politically charged billboard from the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman that seems to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s progressive border agenda. Lankford serves as the lead Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management.
    This billboard was first shared by Bill Melugin on X.
    “The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently told Congress that it has limited funding and resources for immigration enforcement, and this billboard raises serious concerns around an already-troubled office’s use of taxpayer resources. This matter highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to handcuff the DHS’s interior enforcement mission and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to carry out that mission,” Lankford wrote in the letter.
    “Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, CBP has encountered over 8.7 million migrants at the southern border. This number does not include the hundreds of thousands of got-aways the CBP has seen but has not apprehended… The recent billboards DHS funded for OIDO raise serious concerns about whether the office is operating in an ‘independent’ and ‘neutral’ manner. These billboards can easily be read as undercutting ICE enforcement efforts and creating a mechanism for illegal immigrants in ICE custody to be released through OIDO’s advocacy,” Lankford continued.
    Read the full letter HERE or below.
    Dear Secretary Mayorkas:
    I write today to raise concerns about a recent billboard from the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO). The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently told Congress that it has limited funding and resources for immigration enforcement, and this billboard raises serious concerns around an already-troubled office’s use of taxpayer resources. This matter highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to handcuff the DHS’s interior enforcement mission and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to carry out that mission. To better understand OIDO’s work right now, I ask that DHS brief my staff on OIDO’s budget and work.
    Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, CBP has encountered over 8.7 million migrants at the southern border. This number does not include the hundreds of thousands of got-aways the CBP has seen but has not apprehended. ICE has only removed fewer than 500,000 aliens from the United States under this Administration. Rather than focusing on bolstering this interior enforcement mission, the Biden-Harris Administration has sought to handcuff ICE by implementing enforcement priorities that prevent the arrest of illegal aliens who are unlawfully present in the US, by quietly canceling thousands of cases through the Doyle Memorandum, and by regularly asking Congress every year to cut ICE’s detention beds. These policies further cripple our interior enforcement and tell the world there are no consequences for overstaying a visa or being unlawfully present in the United States.
    The Homeland Security Act requires that the Immigration Detention Ombudsman carry out its work through “independent, neutral, and confidential process[es]’ and centers the Ombudsman’s work on addressing misconduct that may arise in DHS detention facilities. The current Ombudsman has previously spoken out against ICE’s detention of illegal aliens, and the Ombudsman has previously worked for organizations that have raised questions around how many detention beds ICE operates and raised concerns around the “intrusiveness” of ICE detention and the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program.
    The recent billboards DHS funded for OIDO raise serious concerns about whether the office is operating in an ‘independent’ and ‘neutral’ manner. No one wants the constitutional rights of any individual violated. However, these billboards can easily be read as undercutting ICE enforcement efforts and creating a mechanism for illegal immigrants in ICE custody to be released through OIDO’s advocacy. As noted above, OIDO’s mission under the HSA is one of monitoring, not of advocacy and release from detention. Given this, I ask that OIDO brief our staff on its work. In addition, I ask following questions:
    Please provide any personnel-related documents relating to the Ombudsman’s appointment and prior engagement with ICE.
    Has OIDO’s work resulted in the release of any illegal immigrants from ICE custody? If so, please provide reporting justifying each release from ICE custody.
    How many billboards has OIDO funded, and where are they located? How were these billboards funded? Please provide a copy of each billboard that OIDO has posted.
    How did OIDO determine the location of each billboard?
    Did the content for these billboards go through an interagency review and clearance process? If so, please provide a description of each agency which reviewed the billboards and its concurrence/non-concurrence.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving your response by not later than November 15, 2024.
    In God We Trust,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Larson, DeLauro Announce $250,000 To Prevent Pollution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    EAST HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) announced the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has been selected to receive $250,000 in federal grants to provide technical assistance to help Connecticut businesses develop and adopt pollution prevention practices in local communities.
    CT DEEP will partner with the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at University of Massachusetts Lowell to identify safer cleaning and sanitizing products for craft beverage manufacturers in Connecticutto reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, solid and hazardous waste, water pollution and toxic chemicals. CT DEEP will also continue to work with other New England states to offer the BetterBev recognition program, which incentivizes businesses to carry out pollution reduction measures. Facilities in or adjacent to communities with environmental justice concerns will be prioritized.
    “We won’t achieve our climate goals unless everybody is involved in the fight, but small businesses often face greater barriers to making the upfront investments for cleaner practices. By providing direct technical support to Connecticut’s local craft beverage manufacturers, this $250,000 in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help small business owners across our state adopt more sustainable, cost-effective practices that reduce harmful emissions, strengthen our economy, and safeguard the health of our communities for generations to come,” said Murphy.
    “This investment in greener craft breweries and wineries will help them be even more successful as environmental stewards. With greater technical aid, beverage businesses can expand consumer appeal by reducing pollution and protecting natural resources. It’s a boost for our economy and environment,” said Blumenthal.
    “Addressing pollution at the source is key to protecting community health and taking on the threat of climate change,” said Larson. “I have been proud to work with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to deliver federal funding for projects to combat pollution and ensure all communities have access to clean air and water. This funding will support ongoing work at the state and local level to invest in innovative solutions that protect our environment, combat pollution, and help reduce energy bills.”
    “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CT DEEP can bolster its work with businesses across our state to reduce pollution,” said DeLauro. “These funds will help drive economic growth and ensure Connecticut leads the way in combatting pollution. The climate crisis is here, and it is an existential threat. We must do all we can to reduce pollution and protect our planet for generations to come.”
    “Every community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment—and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source. By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably, and protect the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, together we’re creating lasting benefits for local economies and ensuring that environmental progress and economic growth go hand in hand and reach all communities, including those that need it most. That’s Investing in America.”
    EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. In total, EPA has announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. This includes any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
    Between 2011-2022, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kWh in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Congressional Delegation Announce $39 Million In Clean Ports Investments To Reduce Emissions, Improve Public Health In Southern Connecticut

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) to announce that the Connecticut Port Authority and Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority, have been selected to receive nearly $40 million in total through EPA’s Clean Ports Program to support the deployment of zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.
    “Our ports are the driving force behind Connecticut’s blue economy, but the diesel-powered equipment we use to move goods through them is polluting nearby communities and taking a toll on public health. By replacing aging, polluting equipment with cleaner, zero-emission alternatives, this $39 million in federal funding will help keep ports in New Haven and New London running smoothly while improving quality of life, creating good-paying jobs, and moving us closer to achieving our climate goals,” said Murphy.
    “This milestone investment will make our ports cleaner and healthier – using zero-emission equipment. Stopping air pollution while modernizing and enhancing port facilities is a gigantic win for both our environment and economy. Communities around the ports will have better air and jobs,” said Blumenthal.
    “The redevelopment and modernization of State Pier New London in 2019 dramatically increased its square footage and weight bearing capacity, with an eye to both increased cargo activity, as well as wind turbine assembly.  With this $5 million new federal investment funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the pier can now install zero-emission power equipment so that docked ships can power onboard services. This upgrade will keep New London State Pier competitive with the maritime industry and protect water quality in the Thames River,” said Courtney.
    “I am pleased to announce that Gateway Terminals and the Connecticut Port Authority will receive vital grant funding that will reduce diesel emissions, lower health risks and noise pollution for port workers and near-port communities, and decrease pollution in the Long Island Sound,” said DeLauro. “In New Haven, Gateway Terminal will be using this funding to replace four aging diesel-powered cranes with all-electric machines, deploy 10 all-electric tractors for terminal drayage services, and install solar infrastructure.  These efforts will reduce their reliance on the electric grid and the need for fossil fuel dependency while greatly improving air quality for residents of the City.”
    The grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America’s ports thrive.
    The Connecticut Port Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $5,357,103 to acquire a mobile shore power unit and install supporting shore power infrastructure at the New London State Pier. The project will reduce diesel emissions by providing power to vessels at berth, enabling docked marine vessels to connect to the local electric grid to power onboard services instead of running their diesel engines, thereby decreasing health risks and noise pollution for port workers and the near-port communities. The State Pier was recently upgraded to enable it to serve as a marshalling port for offshore wind facility operations. CPA will engage stakeholders in New London to increase public awareness education, and ongoing communication. A workforce training program developed in coordination with unions and other stakeholders will help prepare the local labor force to fill high-quality jobs created by this project.
    Enstructure New Haven Holdings’ Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority in Connecticut, has been selected to receive an anticipated $34,032,340 for the purchase and deployment of zero-emission cargo handling equipment with supporting charging infrastructure, as well as rooftop solar generation and battery energy storage systems to supplement grid power for the mobile equipment. The project also includes scrapping several pieces of diesel-powered cargo handling equipment to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. Training on the all-electric equipment will be provided to the existing workforce, and the community will be engaged in project implementation and in sourcing workers for new good-paying jobs. Gateway recently joined Green Marine, a voluntary environmental benchmarking and continuous improvement program, which requires participants to annually measure, certify and publish their performance indicators, including emissions reduction and community relations.
    EPA’s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.  Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Connecticut Delegation Announce $77.8 Million In Home Energy Assistance Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn-05) to announce Connecticut will receive $77,834,656 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help reduce heating costs for low-income families in Connecticut ahead of the winter season. This is the first allocation of LIHEAP dollars this season.
    “For too many families in Connecticut, falling temperatures mean having to choose between heating your home or putting food on the table. This $77.8 million in LIHEAP funding will help ease that burden for households feeling the strain of rising energy costs this winter, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep working with our delegation to ensure Connecticut families continue to have the support they need so they don’t have to make those difficult choices,” said Murphy.
    “This home heating aid is desperately needed by families who face a frigid winter without fuel for basic warmth,” said Blumenthal. “With $77.8 million, many families will be assured this basic necessity. Every day, I see and speak to people struggling to make ends meet and worrying about financial hardships and challenges. I’ll fight for more federal support for LIHEAP and other programs that help them with essential needs.”
    “As we approach the winter months, we must ensure all families are able to heat their homes without breaking the bank,” said Larson. “Thanks to the steadfast leadership of Rep. Rosa DeLauro on the Appropriations Committee, I am thrilled to join the entire Connecticut delegation to announce $77.8 million in new funding to help families afford their energy bills. We will continue to work together to ensure Connecticut residents can get the assistance they need this season.” 
    “There’s no question high energy costs are pinching homeowners’ wallets. As we head into the colder months, this $77 million federal investment in heating and energy assistance will bring welcomed relief to Connecticut residents,”  said Courtney. 
    “High costs are spreading families thin,” said DeLauro. “No family should have to choose between keeping their home warm during the colder months, keeping their lights on, or putting food on the table. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I secured $77.8 million for the program to help Connecticut’s families keep warm this season. Every family deserves warmth. I am committed to ensuring no household goes cold this winter.”
    “Too many families have to worry about rising energy costs that make it increasingly difficult to pay their heating bills and keep their children warm in the coming months,” said Himes. “LIHEAP offers a lifeline to struggling Americans to ensure every home offers a reprieve from our cold New England winter. I am proud to help deliver nearly $78 million to Connecticut in federal funding, including over $4 million from President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
    “LIHEAP is a lifeline for many families faced with rising heating costs. I am delighted $77.8 million is coming back to Connecticut to help families stay warm this winter,” said Hayes. “This assistance will help to ease the burden of high heating costs. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource, which lowers utility costs and prevents shut offs across Connecticut.”
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $3.6 billion in LIHEAP funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and more than 125 tribes. This amount includes the regular block grant appropriation and an additional $100.1 million appropriated from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 
    Connecticut was awarded a total of $77,834,656 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:
    $73,556,784 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding
    $4,273,891 in funding appropriated for FY2025 from IIJA and $3,981 in LIHEAP dollars the state returned in FY23

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salazar Urges Speaker Johnson to Prioritize Funding for Physician Training

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined fourteen of her colleagues in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) urging him to prioritize multi-year funding for teaching health centers across America. These centers and the physicians they train are a critical component of Miami and Florida’s healthcare system.

    Last year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378), legislation that included a reauthorization of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program through Fiscal Year 2030. The THCGME program supports the training of future physicians in community settings, providing greater access to primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services. A multi-year reauthorization will provide adequate resources for future physicians, ensuring these programs have the certainty to continue while still helping those with limited financial resources gain access to critical care.

    “As you consider possible legislation for later this session, we urge you to include in any broader legislative package a multi-year reauthorization for the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program,” wrote the legislators. “Teaching health centers are a vital response to the primary care physician shortage, placing doctors in rural and underserved communities where they are needed most.”

     The letter has the support of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the American Association of Teaching Health Centers (AATHC), and the Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC). Rep. Salazar was joined in the letter by Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Marcus Molinaro (R-NY), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), David Valadao (R-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Brandon Williams (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Dan Meuser (R-PA), and Michael Guest (R-MS).

    “We are grateful for Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar’s dedication to the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Her and her colleagues’ advocacy for a long-term extension and increased funding reflects their commitment to resolving the primary care workforce shortage across America. Their support will ensure we can train and retain the next generation of providers to improve the well-being of our nation,” said Joe Dunn, Chief Policy Officer of the National Association of Community Health Centers. 

    “The American Association of Teaching Health Centers is extremely grateful to Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar for her leadership in coordinating such an important expression of Congressional support for the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program and to her 13 colleagues who also signed this letter to the Speaker of the House. The letter demonstrates that in medically underserved and rural communities across the nation, the residency programs our members operate are making a significant and positive impact by training the next generation of providers, whom history has shown will typically remain in such communities and reduce the physician and dentist shortage. This program has enjoyed sustained bipartisan support and in 2023, both the House and Senate took initial steps to extend it and provide a robust funding increase. As Congresswoman Salazar and her 14 colleagues indicate in the letter, it’s time for Congress to finish its work on the THCGME reauthorization and provide much-needed certainty to the organizations operating these programs across the country,” said Cristine Serrano, Executive Director of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers.

    “The Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program not only cultivates skilled healthcare professionals but also reinforces the vital connection between education and community health, ensuring that quality care reaches those who need it most. Representative Salazar’s commitment to increasing funding for the THCGME program demonstrates a powerful dedication to enhancing healthcare access and ensuring that future generations of physicians are trained in community-focused environments. Supporting her efforts is essential for strengthening our healthcare system and meeting the needs of underserved populations,” said Jonathan Chapman, President and CEO of the Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC).

    Congresswoman Salazar has been a leader in Congress in ensuring community health centers and other important health institutions in Miami have access to adequate funding.

    Click here to read the full text of the letter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Rise of Hateful Rhetoric and Violent Crimes in Illinois

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

    Chicago, IL — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

    “Words have meaning and consequences. For more than a year, we have seen a rise in bigotry and hateful rhetoric in the media, from elected officials, and on the campaign trail by politicians. Dehumanization fuels violence and makes us all less safe. 

    From the hate crime against an Orthodox Jewish man in the West Ridge neighborhood to despicable comments about Puerto Rico, antisemitic words from school board appointees, and an Islamophobic post amplified and celebrated by a sitting Illinois legislator, our families are grappling with the painful impacts that hateful statements and actions have on our communities.  

    I have said repeatedly that our collective safety and security are interconnected. It’s why I introduced the Wadee Resolution that calls out Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry and hate. It’s also why I believe those of us in public service must lead by example, affirm our shared humanity and be held accountable. I am committed to building an Illinois where all our neighbors can live and worship as their full, authentic selves and where we appreciate that our multiracial, multi-faith communities only make us stronger.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Dina Titus introduces resolution condemning Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for anti-Semitic and pro-terrorist statements attacking Israel and threatening other U.S. allies.

    Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for anti-Semitic and pro-terrorist statements attacking Israel and threatening other U.S. allies.

    “This resolution sends a strong message to President Erdoğan that the United States will not tolerate his continued statements threatening Israel and supporting the terrorist group Hamas in its war on Israel,” Congresswoman Titus said. “His statements are spreading anti-Semitism around the globe and are undermining NATO’s mission to avoid further conflict in the Middle East, including potential attacks on important U.S. allies like Greece. The Erdoğan regime should know it has an obligation to defend democracy, not terrorism.”

    Congresswoman Titus, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Subcommittee on Europe, was joined in her resolution condemning the Erdoğan regime by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), both of whom are Co-Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance.

    Congressman Schneider said, “The destabilizing actions and statements coming from President Erdoğan’s regime threaten not only our ally Israel but also the unity and security of NATO itself. This resolution condemns these harmful actions and underscores the importance of accountability within the international community. We urge Turkey to respect its commitments to democracy, peace, and alliance integrity, as we collectively work to counter terrorism and foster stability worldwide.”

    Congressman Bilirakis said, “The United States stands firm in its commitment to defend Greece against Turkish aggression and push back against Erdogan’s repeated anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist rhetoric.  His actions have been a destabilizing force in the region, and it is time for the United States to start demanding that this so-called ally start acting like one.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Administrator Guzman Celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON ─ Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for more than 34 million small businesses nationwide, announced that the SBA will celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) Nov. 11–15.

    “Each year during National Veterans Small Business Week, the SBA highlights the unique entrepreneurial spirit of veterans, service members, National Guard members, Reservists and military spouses,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “America is the proud home of millions of veterans, service members, and military families. They are our neighbors and friends – and, in many cases, the owners and employees of local small businesses we love and support. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA is going further than ever to enhance and expand our support for veterans, particularly in rural and underserved areas – and it is a profound honor to serve those who have served our country, this week and every week.”

    During NVSBW, the public is invited to attend virtual and in-person events across the country  on critical topics, such as military-to-civilian transition assistance, entrepreneurial training, government contracting, disaster assistance, and access to capital resources. View the event calendar for a list of local, regional, and national events.

    In addition to local events hosted across the U.S., the SBA will host two national webinars for NVSBW. The Are You Lender Ready? For the Military Community webinar will be held on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. ET. This two-hour virtual workshop will help veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs learn how to write a strong business loan application and hear tips directly from lenders. Register for the webinar.

    A second webinar, Certification Advantage for the Military Community, will be held on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET. During this one-hour virtual workshop, business owners will discover how federal contracting certifications can boost their business growth and gain valuable insights to help them compete for government contracts. Register for the webinar.

    Additionally, as part of this year’s NVSBW celebration, five dedicated instructors who teach Boots to Business at various military installations and in local communities nationwide are being honored as Boots to Business Instructors of the Year. The honorees are:

    • Todd Bennett, 2024 Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, OCONUS instructor, located in South Korea.
    • Manzel McGhee, 2024 SBDC Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, Abilene, Texas Small Business Development Center.
    • Mitchell Fitzpatrick, 2024 VBOC Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, St. Louis VetBiz Veterans Business Outreach Center.
    • David Terrell, 2024 SCORE Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, Southern Arizona SCORE.
    • Eric Phillips, 2024 SBA Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, SBA Colorado District Office.

    The Boots to Business Instructors of the Year recognition ceremony will be held virtually on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. ET. Join the ceremony online or dial 206-413-7980 and enter conference ID 644 263 054#.

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    About SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development

    The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through SBA’s extensive resource partner network, which includes Small Business Development Centers, the SCORE mentoring program, Women’s Business Centers, and 31 VBOCs located throughout the nation. VBOCs are the leading partner in hosting the Boots to Business (B2B), Boots to Business Reboot, and Military Spouse Pathway to Business programs, which are courses on entrepreneurship offered on military installations, in local communities, and virtually. Since B2B’s inception in 2013, these programs have collectively trained and graduated more than 217,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA equips entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. The SBA delivers services through its extensive network of SBA field offices and via partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 3679, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 3679 would reauthorize the appropriation of $45 million each year from 2025 through 2029 for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support the mental health and wellness of healthcare professionals and provide grants for those purposes. In 2024, HRSA allocated $25 million for those activities. Based on historical spending patterns for those activities and assuming the appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would cost $181 million over the 2025-2029 period.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 3765, Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 3765 would reauthorize the appropriation of $24.3 million each year from 2025 through 2029 for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide grants to support the expansion and improvement of emergency medical services for children who need treatment for trauma or critical care. In 2024, HRSA allocated $24 million for those activities. Based on historical spending patterns for those activities and assuming the appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $94 million over the 2025-2029 period and $26 million after 2029.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 9197, Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 9197 would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and disseminate resources for small businesses relating to artificial intelligence (AI). NIST would be required to review and update these resources every two years and to report to Congress within four years of enactment. The bill also would direct NIST to continue supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers in adopting new technologies, such as AI.

    Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO expects that NIST would need two people, at an annual per-person cost of about $235,000 in 2025, to produce and distribute the required materials. On that basis and accounting for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 9197 would cost $2 million over the 2025-2029 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 6213, National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Categories24/7 OSI, MIL-OSI, United States Government, US Congressional, US Congressional Budget Office

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    2025

    2025-2029

    2025-2034

    Direct Spending (Outlays)

    0

    0

    0

    Revenues

    0

    0

    0

    Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit

    0

    0

    0

    Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)

    57

    1,326

    not estimated

    Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?

    No

    Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?

    No

    Mandate Effects

    Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?

    No

    Contains intergovernmental mandate?

    No

    Contains private-sector mandate?

    No
    The bill would
    Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.J. Res. 120, a joint resolution providing for Congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Financial Stability Oversight Council related to “Guidance on Nonbank Financial Company Determinations”

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.J. Res. 120 would disapprove a final rule published by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) in November 2023.By invoking a legislative process established in the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would repeal the rule and prohibit the agency from issuing the same or any similar rule in the future.

    The rule modified the FSOC’s process for determining which nonbank financial companies are systemically important financial institutions and thus subject to enhanced oversight by the Federal Reserve. It removed certain prerequisites for the designation of systemic importance required under previous guidance issued in 2019. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s New Edition of Graphic Novel Features Europa Clipper

    Source: NASA

    A new edition of Issue #4 of Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe has been released to include the NASA Europa Clipper mission.
    NASA Astrobiology/Aaron Gronstal

    To celebrate the successful launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, the agency’s Astrobiology program has released a new edition of Issue #4 – Missions to the Outer Solar System – of its graphic history series Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe.

    Issue #4 tells the story of the outer solar system, from beyond the asteroid belt to the outer reaches of the Sun’s magnetic influence. Gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are not habitable, but many of their moons raise questions about life’s potential far, far away from the warmth of the Sun.

    One such body is Jupiter’s moon Europa, which contains an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. The Europa Clipper mission is designed to help scientists understand whether this ocean holds key ingredients that could support habitable environments for life as we know it. The spacecraft launched on Oct. 14 and will arrive at Jupiter in 2030.

    Additional content in the fourth edition of Issue #4 also includes ESA’s (European Space Agency) Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission, which will arrive in the Jovian system in 2031 and collect data on many of Jupiter’s moons, including Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, and Io, that is complementary to Europa Clipper’s investigation.

    Read more about how astrobiologists study the potential for life on worlds like Europa and the exciting data that Europa Clipper will gather by visiting NASA’s Astrobiology website and downloading the new edition.

    Digital wallpaper for phones, desktops, or meeting backgrounds that feature the new Europa Clipper artwork from Issue #4 are also available.

    This wallpaper image featuring NASA’s Europa Clipper mission uses artwork from Issue #4 of the astrobiology graphic history series, Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe. The image of Jupiter in the background is adapted from imagery taken by NASA’s Juno Mission (Exotic Marble, 2019, NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Prateek Sarpal/©CCNCSA)
    NASA Astrobiology/Aaron Gronstal

    For more information on NASA’s Astrobiology program, visit:

    https://science.nasa.gov/astrobiology

    -end-

    Karen Fox / Molly Wasser

    Headquarters, Washington

    202-358-1600

    karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Awards Contract for Refuse and Recycling Services

    Source: NASA

    NASA has awarded the Custodial and Refuse/Recycle Services contract to Ahtna Integrated Services LLC  of Anchorage, Alaska, to provide trash, waste, and recycling services at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.
    This is a hybrid contract that includes a firm-fixed-price and an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity portion. The period of performance begins Friday, Nov. 1, with a 60-day phase-in period, followed by a one-year base period, and options to extend performance through November 2029. This contract has a maximum potential value of approximately $24 million.
    Under this contract, the company will perform basic, regularly scheduled custodial and refuse and recycling services at NASA Ames. The company will focus on health and safety, environmental compliance, sanitary cleaning, and customer service.
    For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Hillary SmithAmes Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.                                         650-313-1701Hillary.smith@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Provides Bereavement Leave for State Employees

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Provides Bereavement Leave for State Employees

    Governor Cooper Provides Bereavement Leave for State Employees
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued an Executive Order providing bereavement leave for state employees who lose a family member or coworker.

    “Balancing work with family responsibilities can be challenging, and we want state employees to have time to grieve when they lose a loved one,” Governor Cooper said. “We continue to mourn those who lost their lives to Hurricane Helene, and this leave will be available to help state employees who lost family or coworkers to the storm.”

    Employees will be eligible for up to 40 hours of paid leave following the loss of an immediate family member, including a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent. Step, half, and in-law family members are included as well as any dependent living in the employee’s home.

    The bereavement leave covers the loss of a loved one for any reason and is retroactive to September 27, 2024 due to Hurricane Helene. Any eligible employee who suffered a loss after September 27, whether due to the storm or other causes, will have access to the leave. Eligible employees have up to six months after the death to take bereavement leave.

    Employees who lost a colleague will be eligible for up to eight hours of bereavement leave to attend a funeral or memorial service for their coworker.

    Executive Order No. 325 will automatically apply to Cabinet Agencies. All other state agencies and state universities are encouraged to adopt the policy. The Office of State Human Resources has developed a policy to implement the new bereavement leave.

    “Our people are our greatest resource and we’re pleased to add bereavement leave to the benefits we are able to offer state employees,” said Barbara Gibson, Director of the Office of State Human Resources.

    Governor Cooper’s administration has previously extended paid parental leave and personal observance leave to state employees. Additional types of leave are also available to state employees impacted by Hurricane Helene, including for those whose workplaces or homes were damaged by the storm. All state employees also have access to additional community service leave to volunteer with storm recovery efforts.

    Last week, Governor Cooper announced his budget recommendation to help Western North Carolina rebuild stronger. Governor Cooper recommends an initial $3.9 billion package to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm. Initial damage estimates are $53 billion, roughly three times Hurricane Florence estimates in 2018 and the largest in state history.

    Read the Executive Order here.

    ###

    Nov 1, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces significant updates in multistate litigation against generic drug manufacturers over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competitionRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    If you bought certain generic prescription drugs in the United States between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2016, you could be eligible for money

     

    Attorney General Wilson announces cooperation agreements and settlements with Heritage and Apotex totaling $49.1 Million

     

    First two settlements and cooperation agreements with corporate defendants as states prepare for trial in ongoing generic drug price-fixing litigation

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a coalition of 50 states and territories announcing two significant cooperation agreements and settlements with Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex totaling $49.1 million to resolve allegations that both companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs. As part of their settlement agreements, both companies have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations led by Connecticut against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws. A motion for preliminary approval of the $10 million settlement with Heritage was filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford. A settlement with Apotex for $39.1 million is contingent upon obtaining signatures from all necessary states and territories and will be finalized and filed in the U.S. District Court in the near future.

    The settlements come as the states prepare for the first trial to be held in Hartford, Connecticut.

    If you purchased a generic prescription drug from either Heritage or Apotex between 2010 and 2016, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email [email protected] or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com.

    “I am proud to join my fellow state attorneys general in resolving this matter related to generic drug price fixing,” Attorney General Wilson said. “This settlement resolves a portion of the litigation, and the litigation continues as we seek to hold other defendants accountable and protect consumers.”  

    Connecticut’s Assistant Attorney General Joseph Nielsen is the lead attorney for a coalition of nearly all states and territories filing three antitrust complaints, starting first in 2016. The first Complaint included Heritage and 17 other corporate Defendants, two individual Defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating. The second Complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The Complaint names 16 individual senior executive Defendants. The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. Six additional pharmaceutical executives have entered into settlement agreements with the States and have been cooperating to support the States’ claims in all three cases.  

    The cases all stem from a series of investigations built on evidence from several cooperating witnesses at the core of the different conspiracies, a massive document database of over 20 million documents, and a phone records database containing millions of call detail records and contact information for over 600 sales and pricing individuals in the generics industry. Each complaint addresses a different set of drugs and defendants and lays out an interconnected web of industry executives where these competitors met with each other during industry dinners, “girls’ nights out”, lunches, cocktail parties, and golf outings and communicated via frequent telephone calls, emails and text messages that sowed the seeds for their illegal agreements. Throughout the complaints, defendants use terms like “fair share,” “playing nice in the sandbox,” and “responsible competitor” to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices, and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion. Among the records obtained by the States is a two-volume notebook containing the contemporaneous notes of one of the States’ cooperators that memorialized his discussions during phone calls with competitors and internal company meetings over a period of several years.

    Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in today’s announcement.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces jury verdict of guilty in Kershaw Co. drug trafficking case; defendant sentenced to 25 years in prisonRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that a Lexington County man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking cocaine in Kershaw County. On October 31, 2024, Walter Goad was found guilty of trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine in Kershaw County.

    In August of 2016, agents started investigating a suspected cocaine distributor in Kershaw County. During their investigation into this individual, they became aware that his supplier was Walter Goad. On or about September 22, 2016, Goad was observed by law enforcement arriving at the residence of the suspected cocaine dealer on Ward Road in Lugoff. Goad remained there for a few minutes and then left. Agents followed Goad and visually identified him. At the same time, the suspected cocaine dealer called a law enforcement confidential informant and told him that he “just got his hands on” the cocaine he was waiting for. Within minutes, agents executed a search warrant on the Ward Road residence and recovered approximately ten ounces of cocaine. The suspected cocaine dealer implicated Goad as his supplier and told agents that Goad had just delivered the cocaine. The cocaine was still in its brick form when agents recovered it, and the packaging it had been delivered in was on the floor next to the cocaine.

    Agents utilized the suspected cocaine dealer to conduct a monitored and recorded phone call with Goad. In the phone call, Goad asked where his money was and referred to the cocaine he had delivered. Immediately after hanging up, Goad called back and asked if he needed to send people over to Kershaw County to put guns in people’s faces to make them pay their drug debts.

    On October 3, 2016, DEA agents along with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Goad’s home in Lexington County. During the search, a K9 Officer alerted to the odor of narcotics on a large black bin in the garage. Inside the bin, agents found industrial-sized packaging materials that matched the packaging of the cocaine, along with a very large digital scale. Agents also recovered a suspected drug ledger.

    After a four-day trial, a Kershaw County jury found Goad guilty of trafficking between 200 and 400 grams of cocaine. The Honorable Judge Jocelyn Newman sentenced Goad to 25 years in prison and imposed a $100,000 fine. Goad was given credit for the two days he spent in jail immediately following his arrest. Goad will be required to serve at least eighty-five percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

    Following Goad’s conviction, Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said, “We are always thankful to see drug traffickers get prosecuted and sentenced to prison. These crimes often get forgotten because drug trafficking can be seen as a victimless crime. It is not.”

    Assistant Attorneys General Christina Gatte and Jennifer McKellar of the State Grand Jury Section prosecuted the case for the State. The case was investigated by Michael Sellers, formerly of the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Special Agent Adam Hardin of the DEA, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Simpsonville man gets 25 years for sex charges against minorsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Andrew Scott Walker pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree, and one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 3rd Degree in Greenville County on October 31, 2024, before Judge Perry Gravely.

     

    In January 2021, the Simpsonville Police Department responded to a residence after receiving a report from a concerned citizen that she discovered nude images of children on the phone of a man she knew. The Simpsonville Police Department seized the cell phone and searched the device, in which more pictures and videos were discovered of Walker sexually assaulting one of the children, and his voice was identified. The children were also identified.

     

    Judge Gravely sentenced Walker to 10 years in prison on the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree charge, which is to run consecutive to the Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 3rd Degree charge, for which he received 15 years, for a total sentence of 25 years. He must register as a sex offender upon his release, consented to a forfeiture order, and a permanent restraining order was signed for the victims.

     

    Assistant Attorney General Kristen Johnson prosecuted the case.

     

    Attorney General Wilson thanks Investigator Jim Donnely from the Simpsonville Police Department, the Simpsonville Police Department, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office who assisted in the investigation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Urge Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office to Address Concerns with the Compensation Process, Help New Mexicans Get the Relief & Compensation Needed to Recover

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) sent a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and the FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office to address concerns from New Mexicans about the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office.  
    Created by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act in 2022 – legislation championed and passed by N.M. Congressional Democrats – the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is responsible for processing New Mexicans’ claims that arose from the wildfire. Since the devastating wildfire, the N.M. Delegation has secured a total of $3.95 billion in federal funding for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire recovery. 
    “The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in New Mexico. The fire and subsequent flooding displaced thousands of our constituents for months, wiped away generations of history, and uprooted families from their communities. And yet, over two years later, many New Mexicans continue to wait for the relief and compensation they are owed by the federal government,” the lawmakers wrote to Jay Mitchell, FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office, and Michael Plostock, FEMA Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office.  
    “After a significant delay in getting the Claims Office fully staffed and operational, and after further delays in dispersing funds, improvements to the Claims Office’s processes and best practices are still sorely needed. While we are encouraged by recent changes within the Claims Office, we have continued to hear concerns from our constituents about their experience with the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office,” the lawmakers continued.  
    “The Claims Office must process claims faster, communicate with claimants on a regular and consistent basis, and pay fair compensation. We also ask that processes and formulas reflect unique aspects of New Mexico such as adobe, historic structures, and subsistence living where large cache of food are kept in freezers,” the lawmakers further continued. 
    To address these concerns and ensure that victims of the fire have all the information and tools they need to get compensation from the Claims Office, the lawmakers requested that Directors Mitchell and Plostock answer the following questions: 
    1. How is the Claims Office working to more consistently communicate with claimants through proactive communication and responding to claimant inquiries in a timely manner? 
    2. How is the Claims Office working to speed up the review of total loss claims in a way that ensures these claimants receive full compensation for culturally and structurally unique buildings, such as adobe? 
    3. How many claimants have total home losses? Of those, how many have been compensated to date (broken down between partial and full compensation)? And of those who lost homes, how many of those are living in a new home or are in the building process? 
    4. What steps is the Claims Office taking to ensure that claimants who do not possess traditional mortgage documentation or property deeds receive compensation quickly? 
    5. What are the policies and processes in place to ensure that claimants can retain their assigned navigator if they so choose? 
    6. When using standard rate calculators and tools from the insurance industry, how is the Claims Office working to make changes and updates to maximize the amount of compensation claimants are awarded? 
    7. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the amount of tax documentation required from claimants, rather than add to it, particularly in total loss, complex, and small business claims?  
    8. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in food loss payments? If changes to Claims Office compensation policy are needed, is the Claims Office committed to updating policy such that claimants are not paid less than they would have previously received, and is the Claims Office committed to updating previously closed claims with the adjusted increased compensation?  
    9. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in hourly labor rate reimbursement for repairs? 
    10. How is the Claims Office working to help claimants understand the review decisions by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)? Does the Claims Office include the SME reports with annotated decisions in Letter of Determination?  
    11. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the number of separate assessments claimants are required to have on the same property? 
    12. When will the erosion estimate process be finalized? 
    13. How is the Claims Office working to ensure that business loss claimants can receive updates and work on their claims from any office location? 
    The text of the letter is here. 
    In September, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández secured an extension to the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office to December 20, 2024. 
    Last year, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation that would extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Legislation to create enhanced independent review body for the RCMP and the CBSA receives Royal Assent

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    On October 31, 2024, Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission, was granted Royal Assent. The activities of Canada’s law enforcement agencies will now be subject to greater accountability and transparency.

    November 1, 2024
    Ottawa, Ontario

    On October 31, 2024, Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission, was granted Royal Assent. The activities of Canada’s law enforcement agencies will now be subject to greater accountability and transparency.

    The passage of this bill represents a major milestone in the realm of civilian law enforcement review in Canada. It will create the first-ever independent complaints and review body for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in addition to enhancing the existing review mechanism for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

    The establishment of the new Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC) will increase public trust in our law enforcement institutions by providing an avenue for the public to submit complaints, should they have concerns about the conduct of an RCMP or CBSA officer, or the level of service they provided. Further, the PCRC will have the ability to conduct systemic reviews of the activities of the RCMP and the CBSA.

    The PCRC Act will be the first federal statute to require the collection, analysis and reporting of demographic and race-based data on complainants, an important step that will contribute to identifying systemic issues within our law enforcement and develop better-informed solutions to combat them.

    The new legislation will also enact mechanisms for additional accountability and transparency, such as a more robust reporting framework around review processes and mandatory timelines for RCMP and CBSA responses to PCRC reports, reviews and recommendations.

    Bill C-20 is the result of extensive consultations and engagement with various stakeholders, including experts, academics, civil rights organizations, and vulnerable communities. It reflects the many voices that have raised concerns around systemic issues within our law enforcement institutions and have called for increased transparency and accountability.

    Public confidence in the RCMP and CBSA is crucial to the health of our democracy. This independent body will ensure Canadians values, rights and freedoms are being upheld.

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman Reminds Constituents of Voting Options

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, Rep. Jack Bergman reminded First District constituents of absentee return and early in-person voting options, as mail delays have caused issues for clerks and voters.

    “Voting is a fundamental right we have as Americans. As we near Election Day, concerned constituents and clerks have reached out to our office citing weeks-long postal delays of absentee ballots being delivered or returned. It’s imperative that every legal vote is counted in Michigan, so I encourage all who may still have an absentee ballot in-hand to deliver that directly to your clerk and be sure your vote is counted. Additionally, if you have not received a requested ballot, early in-person voting is still open until Sunday,” Rep. Bergman stated.

    Bergman blasted Postmaster General Dejoy, “With just three days until the most important election of our lifetime, the U.S. Postal Service has once again failed our rural and remote communities. Hundreds of absentee ballots across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula remain undelivered, effectively disenfranchising these voters and leaving them few options to make their voices heard and votes count. For months, my colleagues and I have sounded the alarm on Postmaster General DeJoy’s ill-conceived facility consolidation plan and its severe impacts on rural America. Yet, these warnings were ignored. Congress must hold the Postal Service accountable for this failure at once.”

    If you have received your absentee ballot but have not turned it in, here are some helpful options provided by the State of Michigan:

    Return and submit an absentee ballot on Election Day

    Voters can bring their completed absentee ballot to their precinct to insert directly into a tabulator.

    The election inspector must verify that a voter is in the correct location and that the ballot has been issued to the correct voter.

    Once this information is confirmed, voters will receive a secrecy sleeve and can insert their completed absentee ballot into the tabulator, just like at a polling place on Election Day.

    Return and submit an absentee ballot at an early voting site

    Voters can bring their completed absentee ballot to their early voting site to insert directly into a tabulator.

    The election inspector must verify that a voter is in the correct location and that the ballot has been issued to the correct voter.

    Once this information is confirmed, voters will receive a secrecy sleeve and can insert their completed absentee ballot into the tabulator, just like at a polling place on Election Day.

    Return and submit an absentee ballot at a local clerk’s office

    Voters can return their completed and signed absentee ballot in person to their local clerk’s office.

    Eligible voters who are not currently registered to vote in Michigan, or who have not updated their registration with a current address in Michigan, have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to visit their local clerk’s office to register to vote or update their registration address and request an absentee ballot to complete and submit on site.

    So long as an eligible resident is in line at their clerk’s office by 8 p.m., they may register to vote or update their registration and cast an absentee ballot.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Arrington Leads Colleagues in Defending Second Amendment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19)

    Washington, D.C. – House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) led 20 of his Texas Republican colleagues in filing an amicus brief  in opposition to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) new rule targeting the private transactions of firearms.

    “The Biden-Harris administration has made a habit of infringing on the Constitutional rights of the American People, this time taking direct aim at the 2nd Amendment,” said Chairman Arrington. “Instead of keeping the ATF within the limits of its jurisdiction to enforce the law, this administration is criminalizing firearms sales/trades between law-abiding citizens. I’m proud to have led 20 of my fellow Texas Republicans in filing an amicus brief to rein-in the ATF and safeguard our 2nd Amendment rights.”

    “Agencies must operate within the limits set by the Constitution and by statute,” said Eric Heigis, attorney at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for the American Future. “By regulating firearm transactions everywhere—even private, intrastate exchanges—ATF’s final rule goes beyond the Gun Control Act’s scope. It also likely violates the Constitution’s limited, enumerated powers. We are proud to represent the amici in this case and look forward to the court vacating this flawed rule.”

    Background:

    • Texas v. ATF challenges the ATF’s Final Rule titled Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms, which misinterpreted the definition of “firearms dealer” under federal law.
    • Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, individuals “engaged in the business” of selling firearms are required to obtain a federal firearms license and conduct background checks on buyers. 
    • But the ATF issued a rule that wrongfully expanded the definition of those “engaged in the business,” requiring individual firearms transferors to prove they are not engaged in the business of selling firearms. 
      • Texas, joined by other states, and the Gun Owners of America, filed a lawsuit arguing that this rule oversteps ATF’s statutory authority, infringing on the rights of private gun owners and impeding lawful gun sales.
    • Chairman Arrington’s amicus brief supports Texas’ assertion that the rule unlawfully extends federal regulatory power over private sales.
    • Arrington was joined by Reps. Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Brian Babin (TX-36), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Keith Self (TX-03), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Randy Weber (TX-14), Chip Roy (TX-21), Roger Williams (TX-25), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Michael Cloud (TX-27), August Pfluger (TX-11), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Michael Burgess (TX-26), and Wesley Hunt (TX-38).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Announces Official Opening of New CBP Office in Laredo

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    Rep. Cuellar Announces Official Opening of New CBP Office in Laredo

    Laredo, TX | Fernanda Nunez Cazares, District Press Assistant (619-209-1834), November 1, 2024

    LAREDO, TX – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) announced the official opening of the new Laredo Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Field Office at the World Trade Bridge (WTB) port of entry, in Laredo, Texas. Rep. Cuellar secured funding for this office through his support of CBP’s port of entry operations including robust staffing for the Office of Field Operations in the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. 

    CTPAT is CBP’s flagship program public aimed at strengthening international supply chain security while at the same time facilitating legitimate low-risk cargo. Activities for the Laredo CTPAT office will include the review of CTPAT program applications, assessment of eligibility requirements, certification and validation of new members, and the continued maintenance of accounts and revalidation of CTPAT members in accordance with the SAFE Port Act of 2006. The area of responsibility (AOR) for the Laredo CTPAT office during its formation will include but is not limited to, the Laredo, Texas commuting area, and the cross-border cities within the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.  

    “I am pleased to announce the official opening of this critical office,” said Dr. Henry Cuellar, Senior Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. “Laredo is home to the nation’s number one port of entry, and we need every resource available to ensure it is not only secure but also able to process trade efficiently. That is why I fought hard to secure robust funding for CBP’s port of entry operations. I look forward to working with CBP to ensure this project is successful and that we continue to have the resources needed to keep our communities safe. I would like to thank JD Gonzalez, President of NCBFAA, as well as the Laredo trade community for their leadership and help in getting this done.” 

    ### 

    LAREDO, TX – Hoy, el congresista Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), anunció la apertura oficial de la nueva Oficina de Campo de la Alianza Comercial Aduanera contra el Terrorismo (CTPAT) en el puerto de entrada World Trade Bridge (WTB), en Laredo, Texas. El Rep. Cuellar aseguró la financiación de esta oficina a través de su apoyo a las operaciones de puerto de entrada de CBP, incluyendo una fuerte dotación de personal para la Oficina de Operaciones de Campo en el proyecto de ley de Asignaciones de Seguridad Nacional para el Año Fiscal 2024. 

    CTPAT es el programa insignia de CBP público destinado a reforzar la seguridad de la cadena de suministros internacionales y, al mismo tiempo, facilitar la carga legítima de bajo riesgo. Las actividades de la oficina CTPAT de Laredo incluirán la revisión de las solicitudes del programa CTPAT, la evaluación de los requisitos de elegibilidad, la certificación y validación de los nuevos miembros, y el mantenimiento continuo de las cuentas y la revalidación de los miembros CTPAT de conformidad con la Ley de Puertos Seguros de 2006. El área de responsabilidad (AOR) para la oficina CTPAT de Laredo durante su formación incluirá, pero no se limitará a, el área de Laredo, Texas, y las ciudades transfronterizas dentro del estado de Tamaulipas, México. 

    “Me alegra anunciar la apertura oficial de esta oficina fundamental,” declaró el Dr. Henry Cuellar, miembro principal del Subcomité de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes para la Seguridad Nacional. “Laredo es el puerto de entrada número uno de la nación, y necesitamos todos los recursos disponibles para garantizar que no sólo es seguro, sino también capaz de procesar el comercio de manera eficiente. Es por eso que luché duro para asegurar una financiación sólida para las operaciones del puerto de entrada de CBP. Espero con interés trabajar con CBP para asegurar que este proyecto tenga éxito y que sigamos teniendo los recursos necesarios para mantener nuestras comunidades seguras. Me gustaría dar las gracias a JD González, Presidente de NCBFAA, así como a la comunidad comercial de Laredo por su liderazgo y ayuda para conseguir esto.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff Monday in Honor of Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, November 4, 2024, in honor of Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg, who died in the line of duty. A funeral service in First Assistant Chief Blomberg’s honor is scheduled to be held on Monday at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Newtown.

    “First Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg dedicated his career to fire prevention and the safety of our communities, and his line of duty death is an awful tragedy,” Governor Lamont said. “My prayers and condolences are with his family and friends, his fellow firefighters who serve with Botsford Fire Rescue, the entire Newtown community, and all first responders who selflessly serve the public.”

    “Our state mourns the loss of a dedicated leader and beloved community hero who never failed to do whatever he could to help,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg devoted more than 50 years of his life to protecting and serving the community he loved so much. My heart breaks that his life was taken as he made his way to the annual Newtown Board of Fire Commissioners meeting. This is yet another tragic reminder that we must do more to take care of each other and to ensure that we all make it home safely. We must all strive to be safer drivers – go slower and be much more cautious. My thoughts are with Assistant Chief Blomberg’s loved ones and the Newtown firefighting community during this incredibly difficult time.”

    In accordance with the governor’s directive, flags will be at half-staff on the Connecticut State Capitol building and all other state-operated buildings, grounds, and facilities statewide. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, and any other private entities and government subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for this same duration of time. Since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Governor Murphy on the Passing of Former Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    “Tammy and I were saddened to hear of the passing of former Assembly Speaker Garabed ‘Chuck’ Haytaian. 

    “Through his storied career of service to New Jersey, including time as Speaker of the General Assembly, a U.S. Senate candidate, and Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, Chuck grew from the Bronx-born child of Armenian Genocide survivors to a household name across the Garden State. 

    “Our heartfelt prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MTA Seeking Proposals to Redevelop Parking Lot

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued a Request for Proposals to transform a surface parking lot adjacent to the Beacon Metro-North Station into a residential development with about 300-units of mixed-income housing and replacement parking for commuters, the latest milestone in the Governor’s ongoing efforts to repurpose State-owned sites for new housing. The project aims to address the City of Beacon’s efforts to foster greater connectivity between the waterfront, the Beacon Station and its Main Street. Metro-North’s Hudson line connects Beacon to midtown Manhattan in just 78 minutes. The RFP is available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website. Proposals are due by Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.

    “Good quality housing for all New Yorkers is one of my top priorities as Governor, and I’m committed to doing all I can to make that a reality for everyone in this great state,” Governor Hochul said. “Along with the achievements made in my FY25 Enacted Budget, the MTA’s recent Request for Proposals to transform a surface parking lot adjacent to Beacon Metro-North Station not only increases housing stock, but also uplifts the local economy by attracting businesses and creates a healthier community.”

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The MTA has long been a leader in the movement for Transit-Oriented Development that creates dynamic, walkable communities. This project will not only enliven Beacon, it responds to Governor Hochul’s commitment to address the housing crisis.”

    MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “New Yorkers deserve more housing near great transit options. This opportunity gets us a step closer to hundreds of new units in one of our state’s iconic towns, right near great Metro-North service.”

    MTA C&D Transit-Oriented Development Senior Vice President Robert Paley said, “MTA’s TOD team pursues development opportunities where MTA utilizes its assets to support thoughtful, contextual development that generates revenue for MTA’s Capital Program. All while increasing Metro-North ridership and advancing regional planning objectives. This RFP works towards that mission.”

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Creating homes near the Beacon Metro-North station will give hundreds of households a place to live while also enhancing the family-friendly community. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is prioritizing transit-oriented developments that address the housing crisis, boost the local economy and improve access to low-emission transportation.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This transit-oriented development project at Beacon Station exemplifies smart growth that connects housing with transportation infrastructure. By leveraging State resources through Governor Hochul’s RUSH initiative, we’re creating new housing opportunities while strengthening the economic ties between the Hudson Valley and New York City, demonstrating how strategic development can enhance both local communities and regional connectivity.”

    The RFP will facilitate the construction of as-of-right waterfront housing units in a community celebrated for its vibrancy and natural beauty, within walking distance to all the dining, entertainment and amenities that Beacon’s Main Street has to offer. It is one more example of MTA’s ongoing commitment to transit-oriented development. Working with the State, the City of Beacon, and the development community, the MTA is creatively leveraging an existing asset to generate new housing units, increase ridership and support the City’s economic development and land use goals.

    Governor Hochul and the MTA last summer opened Metro-North’s first TOD project, Avalon Harrison, at the Harrison Metro-North station. The development promotes downtown revitalization and improves the environment and healthy lifestyles by providing residents access to shops, amenities and rail stations within walking distance.

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and zoning relief to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on State-owned property, including supporting the project at Beacon, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing development statewide and new protections for renters. These measures follow the historic funding the Governor secured in the FY23 Enacted Budget for a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to build and preserve 100,000 units of affordable housing across the State. The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing Certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. To date, more than 200 communities have been certified, including the City of Beacon.

    For specific questions related to the RFP, please contact Nicholas Roberts at [email protected].

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Honoring Fallen Retired Senior Investigator John L. Carey

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Nov. 2 in honor of Senior Investigator John L. Carey — a retired New York State Police member who passed away from illness linked to his assignment at the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

    “Senior Investigator Carey was a dedicated member of the New York State Police, and his passing is a reflection of the relentless bravery and unimaginable sacrifice that defines both a public servant and a hero,” Governor Hochul said. “The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have claimed the life of another New Yorker, a New Yorker who will always be remembered for protecting his community and for his fearlessness in service.”

    Senior Investigator Carey joined the State Police in 1982 and served for 32 years until his retirement on July 30, 2014. In September 2001, he was sent on a two-week assignment to Ground Zero to identify victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, where he was then exposed to the toxic chemicals and fumes at the scene.

    Senior Investigator Carey is survived by his wife, Christine; their four children, Andrew, Ashley, Adam and Jennifer; and his granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Orca Energy Group Inc. Announces an Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — November 1, 2024: Orca Energy Group Inc. (“Orca” or the “Company“) and includes its subsidiaries and affiliates, including PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited (“PAET“) and Pan African Energy Corporation (Mauritius) (“PAEM“) (TSX-V: ORC.A, ORC.B) announces an operational update.

    Unless otherwise stated, all amounts referred to herein are expressed in United States dollars (“$”).

    Songas Update

    On October 30, 2024, PAET was advised by Songas Limited (“Songas”) that the Interim Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) will expire on October 31, 2024. At midnight on October 31, 2024, Songas shutdown the Songas Power Plan and it is unknown how long this will be in force. In the event that a new PPA is not entered into, there is a risk the Songas Power plant will shutdown indefinitely. This would adversely impact demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas field. At this time, it is unknown if a new PPA will be entered into.

    Production guidance for the annual average Additional Gas (as defined below) sales is now forecast to be 65 – 68 MMcfd (100% conventional natural gas). This range incorporates the exclusion of all volumes previously forecast to be supplied to Songas for November and December, and certain volumes lifted but disputed by a major industrial customer as a consequence of the position taken by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (“TPDC“) and Government of Tanzania in relation to the cessation of Protected Gas (as detailed and defined below). The Songo Songo gas field continues to operate as normal.

    Following cessation of Protected Gas on July 31, 2024, despite the absence of a contract to do so, Songas continued to lift volumes of gas in August and September, at an average rate of 17.8 MMcfd. On September 23, 2024, the Company was notified by Songas that it acknowledges it had lifted this volume, but due to TPDC’s refusal to approve a Gas Sales Agreement for this Additional Gas, they would elect to pay only 19.5% of such volumes. This accords with the payment arrangements for Complex Additional Gas under the contracted payment terms for Protected Gas which ended on July 31, 2024. Payment was made on this basis by Songas on October 10, 2024, in the amount equivalent to USD $410,000, representing 19.5% of the total invoiced amount of USD $2.1 million.

    Only Additional Gas attracted a Processing and Transportation (“P&T“) tariff up to July 31, 2024, (when Protected Gas was active), while Protected Gas did not. In contradiction of their position regarding payment above, Songas has invoiced PAET for the P&T tariff consistent with all gas volumes shipped to Songas during August as being AG. This amount has been fully accounted for and paid by PAET in accordance with the terms of the current agreements.

    Operations

    During Q3-2024, the Company successfully completed a production and saturation logging program in three wells. Initial results indicate that the wells and field are performing in line with expectations, with final interpretation of results continuing in order to update longer term reservoir management plans.

    The workover program on SS-7 has completed a complex mobilization to Songo Songo Island, and the operational well intervention phase has commenced. Operations, including further logging, are expected to last for approximately three weeks. The objective of the work is to restore the mechanical integrity of the well to shutoff water production in order to restart production from the southern compartment of the gas field. On conclusion of the intervention, SS-7 is forecast to return to production in November 2024. The total expected project cost has increased to $22.0 million from $16.6 million primarily as a result of vendor logistical delays and more recently weather delays during both the mobilization from the Mombasa to Songo Songo Island and positioning the barges and jackup platform on the offshore SS-7 well.

    Commercial

    In August 2024, the Company issued a notice of dispute (“Notice of Dispute”), in respect of an investment treaty claim against the Government of Tanzania for breach of the Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment between the Government of the Republic of Mauritius and the Government of Tanzania, and a contractual dispute against the Government of Tanzania and TPDC, for breaches of the: (i) PSA, and (ii) GA (as defined herein). Initial meetings with both the Advisory and Coordinating Committees were held during the week of October 14, 2024, without any resolution on the key issues in dispute. The matters have now been referred to relevant entity’s chief executive officers in accordance with the dispute resolution process. These meetings have been proposed for November or December. Further updates on this matter will be made as appropriate.  

    PAET has continued to supply gas to Tanzania Portland Cement PLC (“TPCPLC”) during August 2024 and September 2024. As a consequence of the position taken by TPDC, PAET was unable to invoice TPCPLC for volumes anticipated to have been supplied under the Supplementary Gas Agreement (“SGA“). The SGA had been agreed to by TPCPLC and was due to commence on August 1, 2024, but TPDC refused to approve the agreement. Therefore, PAET has invoiced all volumes lifted as Additional Gas under the Gas Sales Agreement which was established in 2008. It is not known if TPCPLC will pay all or any element of these invoices. As of the date of hereof, the August invoice for $2.64 million was outstanding, with the September invoice of $2.75 million being due on November 5, 2024. The Company will provide further updates in due course on this matter.

    Financial

    • The Company exited September 30, 2024, with cash and cash equivalents of $101.7 million (June 30, 2024: $97.2 million) and no change to long-term debt of $25.1 million (June 30, 2024: $25.1 million). Cash held in hard currencies (USD, Euro, GBP, CDN) was $93.2 million at September 30, 2024 (June 30, 2024: $86.1 million).
    • Following the extension to the Portfolio Gas Supply Agreement (“PGSA”) with the Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (“TANESCO”) between PAET, TPDC and TANESCO, TANESCO has taken delivery of approximately   26.7 MMcfd in September 2024. As of September 30, 2024, the receivable from TANESCO was $8.1 million, and the TANESCO long-term receivable was $22.0 million.

    Orca Energy Group Inc.

    Orca Energy Group Inc. is an international public company engaged in natural gas development and supply in Tanzania through its subsidiary, PAET. Orca trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbols ORC.B and ORC.A.

    The principal asset of Orca is its indirect interest in the PSA with TPDC and the Government of Tanzania in the United Republic of Tanzania. This PSA covers the production and marketing of certain conventional natural gas from the Songo Songo license offshore Tanzania. The PSA defines the gas produced from the Field as “Protected Gas” and “Additional Gas”. The Protected Gas is owned by TPDC and prior to July 31, 2024 was sold under the Gas Agreement (“GA”) between the Government of Tanzania, TPDC, Songas and PEAT, to Songas and TPCPLC. Protected Gas production ceased on July 31, 2024, and accordingly all gas is to be sold as Additional Gas. PAET continues to act in the best interests of its Tanzanian stakeholders and make natural gas available to Songas for power, so that the country can continue to benefit from a reliable power supply. The Company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Tanzanian economy, following 20 years of continued investment in the country. However, as detailed in recent announcements, and as set out in the GA, the supply of Protected Gas ceased on July 31, 2024, with all gas now being produced from the Songo Songo gas field, being designated as Additional Gas. PAET’s position is that it is entitled to compensation at commercial rates for any such gas supplied as Additional Gas and for which it has not received payment as a result of the position taken by TPDC. This is subject to ongoing dispute with TPDC, with TPDC asserting that Protected Gas continued after July 31, 2024.

    Songas is the owner of the infrastructure that enables the gas to be processed and delivered to Dar es Salaam, which includes a gas processing plant on Songo Songo Island.

    For further information please contact:

    Jay Lyons
    ir@orcaenergygroup.com

    Lisa Mitchell
    ir@orcaenergygroup.com

    For media enquiries:

    Celicourt (PR)
    Jimmy Lea
    Mark Antelme
    Orca@celicourt.uk
    +44 (0)20 7770 6424

    Forward-Looking Information

    This press release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, which address activities, events or developments that Orca expects or anticipates to occur in the future, are forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking statements often contain terms such as may, will, should, anticipate, expect, continue, estimate, believe, project, forecast, plan, intend, target, outlook, focus, could and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

    More particularly, this press release contains, without limitation, forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the Company’s expectation that PAET will receive payment in respect of Protected Gas supplied after July 31, 2024; expectations that SS-7 will return to production in November 2024; expectations around entering into a new PPA; expectations in respect of the Songas Power plant; expectations that an indefinite shutdown of the Songas Power plant will adversely impact demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas filed; expectation that forecasted Additional Gas will decrease; expectations in respect to the results of the production and saturation logging program; expectations that the PPA will be replaced; the concern that if the Protected Gas is not resolved, the Company will be required to reduce costs and ensure capital expenditure projects on the Songo Songo gas field are in line with contracts and economic returns; expectations that the SGA will be entered into and the terms abided by; the expectations regarding future revenues of the Company; expectations as to the resolution of the Notice of Dispute; the Company’s plans to provide updates on the Notice of Dispute and TPCPLC invoice; and expectations that Songas will pay the balance of the invoice in respect to Additional Gas. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, future actions, future payments, levels of activity, access to resources, results of negotiation, results from arbitration, amount of damages or costs incurred by the Company relating to negotiations and/or arbitration, since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, operational, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.

    These forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control, and many factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by the Company, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving the Notice of Dispute; uncertainties involving the SGA; uncertainties involving the completion of the SS-7 workplan; various uncertainties involved in the extension of the Songo Songo license; risk that timing is not as anticipated with respect to SS-7, including timing of return to production; risk that meetings related to the Notice of Dispute are not held on the anticipated timing; risk the PPA will not be replaced; risk of decreased demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas field; risk that Orca does not receive payment of TPCPLC invoices; risk Orca has to make the P&T tariff payments to Songas; risk the Songas Power plant will shutdown indefinitely; risk that Songas receivables increases; negative effect on the Company’s rights under the PSA and other agreements relating to its business in Tanzania; changes in laws and regulations; impact of local content regulations and variances in the interpretation and enforcement of such regulations; uncertainty regarding results through negotiations and/or exercise of legally available remedies; failure to successfully negotiate agreements; risks of non-payment by recipients of natural gas supplied by the Company; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies, and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Tanzania; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption, and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; and potential damage to the Company’s reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Company’s dealings with the Government of Tanzania, TPDC and TANESCO, whether true or not. Therefore, the Company’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    Such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including, but not limited to: the Company’s relationship with TPDC and the Government of Tanzania; the current status of negotiations in respect of the SGA, GA and PSA; the current status of actions involved in the Notice of Dispute; accurate assessment by the Company of the merits of its rights and obligations in relation to TPDC and the Government of Tanzania and other stakeholders in the Songo Songo gas field; receipt of required regulatory approvals; the Company’s ability to maintain strong commercial relationships with the Government of Tanzania and other state and parastatal organizations and other stakeholders in the Songo Songo gas field; the current and future administration in Tanzania continues to honor the terms of the PSA and the Company’s other principal agreements; the Company’s relationship with TPCPLC; anticipated operations and timing with respect to SS-7; Orca’s operations continue as anticipated, including in respect of production results; and other matters.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Visits Public Housing Development to Discuss Weatherization, Highlights Weatherization Installer Apprenticeship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visited a multi-unit public housing development undergoing weatherization installations to improve energy efficiency and lower monthly costs. During a tour of the complex, Shaheen discussed the benefits of weatherization with residents, as well as participants in the Tri-County Community Action Program’s Registered Apprenticeship for weatherization installers, which is the first of its kind in New Hampshire. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion for weatherization assistance nationwide, including more than $18 million for New Hampshire. You can find photos from the event here.
    “Weatherizing homes is one of the best things we can do to reduce monthly energy costs, all while making progress toward our climate goals and keeping Granite Staters safe from extreme temperatures,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to have secured funding for New Hampshire’s weatherization efforts through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is supporting this new apprenticeship program to expand the weatherization workforce. I’ll keep working in Congress to find ways to upgrade our infrastructure while saving money for Granite State households.”
    Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding helps homes become more energy efficient through measures like installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems and updating electrical appliances. For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as improved health and job creation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. If you think you may be eligible for WAP funding, apply through your local Community Action Agency at CAPNH.org and check out Senator Shaheen’s recently updated Federal Energy Guide for more ways Granite Staters can save money on their utility bills.
    As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long-championed the  Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. Last year, Shaheen helped introduce the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Weatherization Assistance Program and increase the number of homes the program is able to serve. Shaheen also introduced the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act, legislation to ensure that annual funding for weatherization and the State Energy Program is released to states as quickly as possible.
    In response to a shortage of weatherization installers in New Hampshire, Tri-County Community Action Program (TCCAP) launched an apprenticeship program to train new workers in the field. TCCAP’s program is supported by Training and Technical Assistance funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the first program of its kind in New Hampshire.

    MIL OSI USA News –