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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Launches General Recommendation 40 on the Equal and Inclusive Representation of Women in Decision-Making Systems

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this morning launched its general recommendation no. 40 on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. 

    In opening remarks, Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, congratulated everyone involved in the general recommendation.  The outdated patriarchal system was at the root of many problems faced today.  The power to suppress and silence, to wage war and wreak havoc, was too often wielded by angry egotistical short-sighted men.  Women remained starkly underrepresented in decision-making systems.  General recommendation 40 put forward immediate, concrete recommendations across the board to make gender parity a reality by 2030.  Gender parity could not be partial; it needed to be 50/50. 

    Presenting the general recommendation, Nicole Ameline, Committee Expert, said general recommendation 40 offered an operational, concrete roadmap accessible to all States and would be accompanied by tools, mechanisms and new solutions.  The Committee was counting on States, especially parliaments, civil society and the United Nations system, to build together this necessary transition, without delay. 

    Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Chair of the Human Rights Committee; Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, United Nations Women; and Martin Chungong, Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union, also gave statements.  Countries and civil society then took to the floor to reiterate their support for general recommendation 40.

    Speaking in the discussion were France, China, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Ireland, Luxembourg, Burkina Faso, Spain, Chile, Italy, Slovenia, Bolivia, Russian Federation, Egypt, Mexico, Norway, Belgium, Benin, Azerbaijan, Cabo Verde, Nepal, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, South Africa, Algeria, Mauritius, Venezuela, Gambia and Colombia.

    Also speaking were: GQUAL Campaign, Women@the table, International Disability Alliance and FUNDACIÓN LEGĀTUM.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-ninth session is being held from 7 October to 25 October.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 5.pm. on Friday, 25 October to close its eighty-ninth session. 

    Introductory Statements

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, said today would go down in history.  Today there would be roadmap to begin securing the principle of parity as a universal principle to manage and lead the world. 

    VOLKER TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, congratulated everyone involved in the general recommendation.  The conflict, deepening inequality, and the destruction of the planet begged the question of how to build a more peaceful tomorrow when today was violent and full of turmoil.  The outdated patriarchal system was at the root of many problems faced today.  The power to suppress and silence, to wage war and wreak havoc, was too often wielded by angry egotistical short-sighted men.  Women remained starkly underrepresented in decision-making systems.  This was a grave paradox and so this important general comment needed to be a milestone. 

    While there had been some progress in gender parity, it came at a very slow pace.  Gender parity was a human right.  The rights of women in all their diversity were non-negotiable.  Gender parity was transformative and unlocked capacities to innovate and be creative.  Women were agents of peace.  Their full participation in society helped to prevent conflict.  It was beyond time for women to take their rightful place at all the important tables.  Gender equality needed to be built into the algorithms which ruled today’s digital lives.  General recommendation 40 put forward immediate, concrete recommendations across the board to make gender parity a reality by 2030.  Gender parity could not be partial; it needed to be 50/50.  Achieving true gender parity meant the deeply entrenched patriarchal structures needed to be dismantled.  This could involve Constitutional amendments, legal reforms, national action plans, and temporary special measures.  Regimes which amounted to gender apartheid needed to be denounced. 

    NICOLE AMELINE, Committee Expert, said general recommendation 40 was designed by the Committee within the framework of its mandate, and was part of the urgency of our time, characterised by disruptive developments that were changing systems, and which needed to lead to a radical revision of decision-making systems.  Only a systemic, comprehensive and inclusive approach based on 50/50 parity as a principle of governance could ensure the respect of this fundamental right and the progress of societies.  At a time when the escalation of conflicts, crises and tensions were severely impacting women’s rights, when the digital transition was reinventing organizational systems, when the climate transition was affecting living conditions, the only response to these challenges was in collective intelligence and parity that associated women at all levels and in an inclusive way in the decision-making system. 

    Only a global movement could ensure the necessary paradigm shift.  General recommendation 40 offered an operational, concrete roadmap accessible to all States and would be accompanied by tools, mechanisms and new solutions. The Committee was counting on States, especially parliaments, civil society and the United Nations system to build together this necessary transition, without delay.  Ms. Ameline thanked all those who had been involved in the launch. 

    TANIA MARÍA ABDO ROCHOLL, Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, underscored the importance of a cross-cutting approach when it came to the general recommendation.  General recommendation 40 was a specific call to action to ensure equal access and power in decision-making.  The recommendation was a gift that the Committee had given to all women in the world. 

    NYARADZAYI GUMBONZVANDA, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, United Nations Women, congratulated the Committee for the recommendation.  United Nations Women had supported the drafting process during the five regional consultation meetings.  General recommendation 40 was a visionary parity roadmap envisaging steps that States needed to take to reach parity at all levels.  This should inspire everyone to push forward and commit to making gender equality a reality. 

    MARTIN CHUNGONG, Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union, said the launch of general recommendation 40 was a milestone which marked the beginning of a new chapter for women’s leadership.  The adoption of the new recommendation came at a time of political polarisation and multiple crises.  Women’s representation in parliaments had steadily improved, reaching 27 per cent, but there was still much work to do.  Violence against women in politics was an abhorrent phenomenon.  As emerging technologies like artificial intelligence reshaped decision-making, it was important that women had a place at the table. 

    Discussion

    In the discussion, speakers among other things said today was a truly historic day and congratulated the Committee for the adoption of the general recommendation.  The recommendation came at a time when the world was facing challenges which called for equal representation of women and men.  Speakers reiterated their support to the recommendation.  Parity and a participatory approach were vital in decision-making.  Many speakers reaffirmed their commitment to equality in all its forms and to parity in parliaments, including increasing funding to women-led organizations. 

    In the face of the many global challenges that the world was confronting today, it was clear that current governance systems needed to be revised to ensure that women’s voices were at the forefront of decision-making processes at every level.  Many speakers emphasised that they fully shared the Committee’s recommendation on the importance of ensuring the equal participation of women and girls in decision-making on emerging issues, such as new digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as on climate action.  Ensuring all women and girls’ full, equal and meaningful participation in decision-making processes was necessary to develop climate policies that were inclusive, fair and sustainable.  Women needed to be equal users of technology and equal architects of the networks which shaped the future.  To achieve and sustain a well-functioning democracy, women’s political participation was a prerequisite.

    While the world had come a long way in the last century, progress remained slow.  At the outset, decision-making spheres were unfortunately influenced by traditional rules built around the patriarchal system, as well as by the almost instinctive precedence of men over women.  The major challenges in terms of equality and inclusion in decision-making faced by many countries remained that of the fight against harmful traditional practices and the neutrality of the legal framework. 

    Despite being powerful agents of change, women were underrepresented in decision-making at all levels, especially those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

    States were urged to take bold, concrete steps to close gender gaps, both nationally and within the United Nations system.  This included advocating for initiatives like appointing the first-ever female Secretary-General of the United Nations, and ensuring gender parity in leadership positions, such as the Presidency of the General Assembly.  These were vital steps to create an inclusive global governance framework that delivered for all.

    One speaker noted that 50/50 parity was counterproductive.  What was done in such countries where women were more than 50 per cent in parliament? If countries were just working with figures, they would not achieve the necessary results.  The general recommendation was the view of experts and did not impose additional obligations on States.

    Another speaker said the adoption of the general recommendation was on the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration.  This provided an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the significant challenges which remained when addressing gender equality.  Special temporary measures were still needed to achieve equality in economic sectors and in decision making.

    Speakers underscored that ensuring equal and inclusive representation of women was not only essential for progress but also a moral imperative and an international obligation.  The systemic exclusion of women from decision-making processes robbed the world of the potential of half its population.  General recommendation 40 provided critical guidance for States to address this imbalance and ensured equal representation in both the public and private sectors.

    Concluding Remarks 

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, thanked everyone who had contributed to the launch of general recommendation 40.  She encouraged everyone to spread the word and assist the Committee and States in its implementation.  Ms. Peláez Narváez thanked Committee Expert Nicole Ameline for her contributions and important legacy. 

    ________

    CEDAW.24.033E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Holds Informal Meeting with States Parties

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this morning held an informal meeting with States parties.

    Committee Experts briefed States parties on the Committee’s work on individual communications; gender-based violence against women; the women, peace and security agenda; and the strengthening and harmonisation of working methods. 

    The Russian Federation, Finland, Chile, China and Spain took the floor to make comments and ask questions. 

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-ninth session is being held from 7 October to 25 October.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, 25 October to launch its general recommendation 40 on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. 

    Statements by Committee Experts

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, said the meeting today aimed to provide Member States with information about the work that the Committee had carried out over the past two years, and work for the future.  Over the past two years, the Committee had held constructive dialogues with around 25 States every year.  There were currently 37 States pending review.  Regrettably, due to the liquidity crisis, one of the pre-sessional meetings of the Committee was cancelled, which meant some delays.  Thirteen States had chosen not to abide by the simplified reporting procedure. 

    The Committee had pursued its work in considering all the communications submitted to the working group on communications.  In 2023, the Committee registered 19 cases, adopting 12 decisions and determining rights violations in six of those cases.  The Committee had approved a confidential inquiry on the right to abortion, which was published this year.  Last year, the Committee paid a confidential visit to a State party regarding the kidnapping of girls by armed groups. 

    It was regretful that the meetings of the working groups had been reduced due to the liquidity crisis.  Today, the Committee would launch a general recommendation which guaranteed parity in participation. During the next session, the Committee would hold a half day debate with States parties to address the upcoming general recommendation.  Ms. Peláez Narváez appealed to Member States for additional funding to carry out the Committee’s work, particularly in the case of general recommendation 41. 

    The Committee co-chaired the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on Discrimination and Violence against Women which coordinated mechanisms relating to violence against women.  A document would be developed and made available to Member States.  Despite setbacks, the Committee continued to carry out its work.  Member States were urged to support the use of a predictable review calendar, with a view to strengthening the treaty body system.  The Committee was requesting resources to implement these proposals. 

    MARION BETHEL, Committee Vice Chair, said the working group on gender-based violence was formed in 2021.  The work of the working group focused on using the Convention framework jurisprudence, based on the Committee’s concluding observations, communications, views and inquiry findings, as a tool to address norms that influenced legislation, policies and programmes around gender-based violence.  The working group held States parties responsible for preventing, investigating and prosecuting cases of gender-based violence.  During dialogues, States were urged to implement the necessary political will to address gender-based violence. 

    The Working Group had also produced a paper which underscored the adequacy of the Convention framework as the mechanism for addressing gender-based violence against women, which highlighted the pressing need for better implementation of the existing framework of the Convention.  Through the general recommendation 40, the Committee stressed that gender-based violence against women was the result of an unequal and discriminatory system, based on the structural domination and exclusion of women.  The Committee urged States parties to adopt a comprehensive approach and implement all rights under the Convention, including institutionalising parity, as the key safeguard against gender-based violence. 

    ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN, Committee Expert, said emerging technologies made cyberspace a place for committing different forms of violence.  Instruments to deal with cyber violence were currently limited, including the Budapest Convention 2004, among others.  Currently, around 80 per cent of United Nations Member States had an international law discussing cybercrime.  However, there was no universally accepted definition for online violence which specifically targeted women and recognised their vulnerability.  Therefore, the Committee’s work focused on legal governance, including the new global convention which failed to address certain components of the Convention.  The Committee was engaging in activities which would address cybercrime and violence.   

    BANDANA RANA, Committee Expert, said the Committee continued to be deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, where the denial to women and girls of education, employment, restrictions on movement, and presence in public spaces constituted grave violations of the Convention.  In January 2022 the Committee requested information from the de facto authorities on measures for the prevention of gender-based violence and the curtailment of rights in all sectors.  In their response, the de facto authorities claimed substantial improvements in the status and rights of women, which starkly contradicted with the increase in the abuses reported on the ground. 

    In discussions with Afghan civil society, organizations urged the Committee to continue engagement using the full potential of the Convention mechanism for advancing accountability.  In this regard, the Committee had initiated discussion and preparation for considering the fourth periodic report of Afghanistan.  The Committee called on all stakeholders to engage in the process for safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan as enshrined in the Convention.

    RANGITA DE SILVA DE ALWIS, Committee Expert, said the Committee was concerned that women’s voices were still missing from key security forums. The women, peace and security agenda had transformed, as had the Committee’s ways of implementing it. Women’s minds were battlegrounds for power and control, especially in the context of an institutionalised ban of women’s education under the Taliban.  The Committee had also raised the alarm on food insecurity in Gaza. The next 25 years would range new challenges, where women were required to lead urgent responses to crisis prevention. 

    HIROKO AKIZUKI, Committee Expert, said in 2022, the Committee made a significant decision to endorse the proposal of the annual meeting of the Chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies to implement a predictable 8-year reporting calendar once operationalised, which would include follow-up reviews in between.  In October 2023, the Committee amended its rules of procedure to introduce a new rule, allowing for the examination of State party reports in the absence of their representatives.  To promote more effective and constructive dialogues, the Committee decided to identify five to 10 priority themes for discussion, which were communicated to the State party two days in advance of the dialogue.  In May 2024, the Committee accepted an invitation from the South Pacific Community to organise a technical cooperation event in Fiji in 2025, during which the Committee planned to engage with three States parties from the region. The concluding observations would be adopted at the subsequent formal session of the Committee in Geneva.  

    Questions and Comments by States Parties

    Russian Federation took note of the work of the Committee to consider individual reports to parties of the Convention.  The problem of violence against women was a topical issue.  The Committee was called on to use clearer wording in this regard.  The item on the agenda of the Security Council on women, peace and security had nothing to do with the Convention.  There was a disproportionate use of time within the Committee’s sessions.  The consideration of individual communications led to delays in considering States parties reports.  Considering reports in the absence of a delegation was counterproductive.

    Finland said the treaty bodies contributed to the scope of human rights law. The Committee’s work on gender-based violence was important, as was the women, peace and security agenda.  Had any measures been taken to establish a more structured follow-up procedure to individual communications? 

    Chile said it was aware of the Convention’s importance and reiterated strong support to the Convention and its principles, including the Optional Protocol.  The Committee had made significant progress in combatting gender-based violence.  Violence against women and girls was one of the most flagrant violations of human rights, rooted in gender stereotypes.  Chile had developed a policy to combat gender-based violence, which took the Committee’s recommendations into account.  Chile was seriously concerned by the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.  The State would work tirelessly to implement the principles of the Convention. 

    China said it would continue to support the Committee’s critical role in strengthening human rights globally.  Nearly 30 years ago, the fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing.  Over the past three decades, the spirit of the Beijing Declaration had been upheld and the social status of women had been significantly enhanced.  At the recent conclusion of the Human Rights Council’s fifty-seventh session, China and other countries sponsored a resolution to mark the Declaration’s thirtieth anniversary, which was unanimously adopted.  Treaty bodies should hold extensive consultation with States parties regarding their working methods.   

    Spain said it supported streamlining and coordinating procedures and was concerned at the impact of the liquidity crisis on the Committee’s work. 

    Responses by the Committee Experts

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Expert, said there was no structured follow-up procedure as such for communications.  There was an inter-committee focused on this issue.  It was hoped this issue would be resolved shortly.  The issue of the financial crisis had greatly impacted the Committee’s work. 

    HIROKO AKIZUKI, Committee Expert, said the participation of State party representatives in person was very important and effective for the dialogue.  Once the eight-year cycle was operational, the country list would be published.  Countries should be ready to come to Geneva to speak with the Committee. 

    BANDANA RANA, Committee Expert, said the Committee’s general recommendation 30 on women in conflict situations and peacebuilding provided a mechanism to assess and recommend stronger measures for addressing the rights of women in conflict and post conflict. 

    RANGITA DE SILVA DE ALWIS, Committee Expert, said the women, peace and security agenda was built on four pillars.  Unfortunately, the pillar on prevention of conflict had not been given the same emphasis as the protection of women during the aftermath of conflict.  The women, peace and security agenda’s main goal was to create a geopolitical situation to address the ways that women’s leadership could strengthen the agenda and general recommendation 30. 

    MARION BETHEL, Vice Chair, said a paper had been published on the Committee’s website which illustrated the adequacy of the Convention in addressing gender-based violence as a form of gender discrimination.  It was important to implement legislation, policies and programmes to prevent gender-based violence, as well as carry out investigations into cases and provide reparations for victims.  The document served as a guidance tool for States parties to incorporate into their legislation. 

    In concluding remarks, ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, thanked everyone for their participation in the dialogue.  The meeting had been important to address concerns raised by Members States. 

    ___________

    CEDAW.24.032E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Building a more accessible and inclusive Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

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    Every Albertan deserves to have safe and reliable access to public buildings and spaces. To build on Alberta’s barrier-free approach to building codes, the province is unveiling an updated Accessibility Design Guide that will help Albertans understand and apply accessibility requirements outlined in the provincial building code.

    “It is crucial that we eliminate barriers to accessibility so all Albertans can access public spaces with ease. The updated Accessibility Design Guide is a step in the right direction and will help to improve safety and quality of life for people with sensory, cognitive, communication and physical disabilities.”

    Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs

    An update of the former Barrier-Free Design Guide, the new publication provides detailed information and context to help the public and construction industry understand and apply the provincial building code’s accessibility requirements. The guide recommends best practices that support more inclusive communities so all Albertans can move safely and efficiently through their communities.

    “Our government is dedicated to reducing barriers for people living with disabilities and making Alberta a more inclusive place to live, work and play. This update to the barrier-free design guide is another example of how we’re helping to make our province more accessible for all Albertans.”  

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    “As work continues to eliminate barriers to accessibility and inclusion for all Albertans, the removal of barriers is of vital importance. As Alberta’s Advocate for Persons with Disabilities I am pleased the updated Accessibility Design Guide will improve accessibility for all Albertans so they can easily access public spaces and fully participate in our province.”

    Greg McMeekin, advocate for persons with disabilities

    The updated guide has some significant changes and additions reflecting the new standards and best practices, capturing seven years of advancements since the 2017 version of the accessibility guide was published. For example, some of the new code requirements are:

    • limited-mobility stalls in public washrooms for people who may need extra room to move or require assistance (e.g. crutches, walkers, canes, arthritis)
    • power doors for all entry and washroom doors
    • safe path of travel from parking areas to the building entrance
    • visual alarms in sleep areas
    • companion seating adjacent to wheelchair seating
    • curb ramps with tactile surface indicators

    The Accessibility Design Guide includes recommendations by the Accessibility Sub-Council of Alberta’s Safety Codes Council that includes groups representing persons with disabilities and building and architecture organizations.

    Quick facts

    • A new edition of the Alberta building code came into force on May 1, 2024.
    • Alberta’s safety codes establish a minimum standard for the safe design, construction and accessibility of buildings across the province.
    • The Accessibility Design Guide includes details that support exceeding minimum code requirements.

    Related information

    • Alberta’s safety codes
    • Accessibility Design Guide


    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CRTC sets rates that will allow for greater choice of Internet services

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today’s decision sets interim wholesale rates that competitors will pay large telephone companies to access their modern fibre networks. The decision will increase choice of affordable Internet services at the higher speeds Canadians expect.

    October 25, 2024—Ottawa–Gatineau—Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Today’s decision sets interim wholesale rates that competitors will pay large telephone companies to access their modern fibre networks. The decision will increase choice of affordable Internet services at the higher speeds Canadians expect.

    This is the latest step in implementing the CRTC’s policy to increase Internet competition in Canada. In November 2023, following an expedited process, the CRTC provided competitors with access to fibre networks in Ontario and Quebec, where competition had declined most significantly. In that decision, the CRTC set interim rates that have been successfully used by competitors to offer new options in those provinces.

    In August 2024, following a comprehensive review and a week-long public hearing, the CRTC broadened the access to the large telephone companies’ fibre networks across Canada. In that decision, the CRTC required that access be given by February 13, 2025, and committed to issuing interim rates this year.

    Today’s decision sets those rates. Established using the CRTC’s long-standing approach, these rates are based on a thorough analysis of detailed costing information filed by the large telephone companies. The rates reflect the actual costs of building fibre networks and will allow companies to continue investing in high-quality networks. The rates are consistent with the ones already being used by competitors in Ontario and Quebec.

    Quotes

    “Today’s decision will provide Canadians with new options for Internet, television, home phone, and smart home services. We are already seeing competitors using fibre access to bring new offers in Ontario and Quebec, and we look forward to this broader access benefiting even more Canadians.”

    –  Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC  

    Quick facts

    • The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record.
    • Over the coming months, Canada’s large telephone companies will need to provide additional information for the CRTC to finalize the rates.

    Associated links

    General Inquiries
    Telephone: 819-997-0313
    Toll free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
    TTY: 819-994-0423

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Continues Support for Georgians One Month After Hurricane Helene

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Continues Support for Georgians One Month After Hurricane Helene

    FEMA Continues Support for Georgians One Month After Hurricane Helene

    ATLANTA – To date, FEMA has approved more than $171 million in federal disaster assistance to more than 155,000 Georgia households to help them recover from Hurricane Helene. These funds are helping people pay for a temporary place to stay, home repairs and to replace their personal belongings, among other emergency needs.Nine Disaster Recovery Centers are open across the state, providing residents with one-on-one service to apply for assistance when they need it most. More than 12,700 people have visited these centers to date, and more are expected to open in the coming days and weeks, including mobile locations to meet people where they are. In addition, more than 230 FEMA staff are visiting communities and going door-to door to help individuals and families apply for assistance. “Thirty days ago, we had roughly 1.1 million people without power, our cell towers were down, roads were flooded out and more than 500 people were in shelters trying to stay safe from the storm,” said Federal Coordinating Officer for Hurricane Helene efforts in Georgia Kevin A. Wallace, Sr. “Today, power has been restored, only one shelter remains open, and people are taking steps to rebuild their lives. There is still plenty of work ahead, and FEMA will be here every step of the way.”Working closely with the state of Georgia, FEMA efforts on the ground are supporting local community recoveries and prioritizing people’s most critical needs.“The response to Hurricane Helene demonstrates the strength of our federal and local partnerships. FEMA has come alongside the state in efforts to help our communities regain some normalcy after the storm’s devastating impact,” said the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Chris Stallings. “We encourage all citizens in declared counties who have been affected by Helene to apply for assistance. This support can make all the difference in helping people rebuild their lives.”FEMA assistance can help jumpstart recovery FEMA staff in Disaster Recovery Centers and in communities across 30 counties are helping Georgians recover. From coordinating services in a variety of languages, to explaining the application process and connecting families with voluntary agencies and state resources for additional support, FEMA is committed to making sure individuals and families have what they need as they begin their road to recovery.Georgians with storm-related damage to their home or personal property are encouraged to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way is online at disasterassistance.gov. People can also call FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, download the FEMA app or visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply. Whole of community recovery To ensure Georgia’s recovery is led by the people who know the area best, FEMA is currently hiring locals to assist with recovery efforts. A variety of full-time temporary and permanent positions are available in fields including emergency management, logistics management, information technology and more. People who are interested in joining FEMA and being part the recovery can apply online at usajobs.gov or email questions to fema-careers@fema.dhs.gov. FEMA is working closely with the state as well as its federal and nonfederal partners to ensure Georgia’s recovery is effective and benefits communities. Non-profit partners have been providing critical services to Georgians since the storm made landfall – organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, First Baptist Church, Georgia Baptists and Operation BBQ Relief provided more than 568,000 meals and snacks and more than 16,800 relief items like comfort kits and other supplies. More than two dozen Team Rubicon volunteers, known as “GreyShirts” conducted hurricane relief operations in the state including chainsaw work, heavy equipment operations, tarping roofs, and removing debris. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess and clear debris and is establishing a Debris Removal Task Force to synchronize efforts across all available resources. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering relief assistance to Georgia farmers who are still recovering from the storm, with estimated payments of more than $207 million so far. FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture collaborated to create a guide to help affected Georgia businesses access multiple federal recovery resources. The guide — tailored to Georgia — is available on FEMA’s website at Help for Businesses in Georgia Impacted by Hurricane Helene. In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is helping people without medical insurance to replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment that may have been damaged or lost due to the storm. Georgians can call the Emergency Prescription Assistance hotline at 1-855-793-7470 to learn more or visit aspr.hhs.gov.  Roughly 825 federal and FEMA staff remain on the ground and committed to Georgia’s recovery. For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/georgia/helene. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    larissa.hale
    Fri, 10/25/2024 – 20:09

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Game on”: Governor Newsom and Governor Hochul announce bet ahead of long-standing Dodgers-Yankees World Series rivalry

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 25, 2024

    The bet: When the Dodgers win, Governor Hochul will display Dodgers memorabilia in her office for one day; if the Yankees should win, Governor Newsom will display Yankees memorabilia in his office for one day.

    SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Newsom accepted a friendly wager with New York Governor Kathy Hochul ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.

    “Game on, Governor Hochul! While I respect the Yankees’ storied history, California knows how to win championships. As a proud San Franciscan, you won’t hear me say this often, but this year: Go Dodgers!”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “Here’s my wager to you Governor Newsom: If it turns out that I win — and I will — I’ll be requiring that you display in your office some Yankees memorabilia. If the opposite occurs, we’ll talk about that then, but I’d have to do the same for you. Let’s play ball!”

    Governor Kathy Hochul

    The Dodgers–Yankees rivalry is one of baseball’s most storied rivalries, dating back to the 1940s when the Dodgers were based in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx. The teams have met 11 times in the World Series — the most of any match up.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Oct 25, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom urged CARB to more quickly study the implementation of increased ethanol blending in gasoline, which could help to lower prices by up to $0.20 per gallon and save Californians as much as $2.7 billion every year — with little…

    Oct 25, 2024

    News What you need to know: Over the course of just the last week, California has invested more than $5 billion in local and state infrastructure projects – improving the daily lives of millions of Californians. SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced more…

    Oct 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Sarah Soto-Taylor, of Sacramento, has been appointed Undersecretary of the Government Operations Agency, where she has been Deputy Secretary for Business Transformation and Strategic…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom urges accelerated action on new gas blend to lower prices

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 25, 2024

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom urged CARB to more quickly study the implementation of increased ethanol blending in gasoline, which could help to lower prices by up to $0.20 per gallon and save Californians as much as $2.7 billion every year — with little to no impact on the environment. 

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a directive to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to expedite measures that could lead to lower gas prices without compromising environmental protections.

    Building on legislation passed in 2023 and 2024 to prevent price spikes and increase transparency in the oil industry, the Governor’s order directs CARB to accelerate studying how California could increase ethanol blending in gasoline (E15), which studies have shown could reduce prices while maintaining environmental protections.

    “There’s massive potential for this to be a win-win for Californians: lowering gas prices by up to twenty cents per gallon while keeping our air clean. It builds on our efforts to keep gas prices low by holding Big Oil accountable and helping prevent price spikes at the pump.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    How it works

    According to a study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley and the United States Naval Academy, this could lower gas prices by up to $0.20 per gallon and save Californians as much as $2.7 billion annually, but also would require strategic considerations regarding market structure and infrastructure modifications.

    E15 fuel, which contains 15% ethanol, has been widely adopted in other states and could significantly reduce prices without adding environmental harm. As of 2023, E15 was sold at more than 3,000 stations in 31 states.

    Another study from the University of California, Riverside found that increasing ethanol blending in gasoline would not affect NOx emissions and would reduce particulate emissions.

    Keeping gas prices low & holding Big Oil accountable

    Last week, Governor Newsom signed legislation that allows the state to require oil refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel to avoid supply shortages that create higher gasoline prices for consumers and higher profits for the industry. It also authorizes the California Energy Commission to require refiners to plan for resupply during refiner maintenance outages. It will help prevent price spikes that cost Californians upwards of $2 billion last year.

    Following gasoline price spikes in 2022, Governor Newsom called for a special session and worked in partnership with the Legislature to sign into law a package of reforms holding Big Oil accountable. 

    California’s new watchdog found that higher gasoline prices were caused by a suspicious market transaction, refinery maintenance without properly preparing for it, and more. 

    In January of this year, the watchdog sent Governor Newsom and the legislature a letter outlining specific proposals to reform California’s gasoline spot market, which included a minimum inventory requirement to prevent price spikes due to lack of stable supply.

    The state’s gasoline price watchdog also found that, in 2023, gasoline prices spiked largely due to refineries going offline without adequately planning to backfill supplies, which caused refining margins to spike as spot and retail prices jumped — indicating that refinery margins made up the largest proportion of the price spikes between July and September 2023.

    Recent news

    Oct 25, 2024

    News What you need to know: Over the course of just the last week, California has invested more than $5 billion in local and state infrastructure projects – improving the daily lives of millions of Californians. SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced more…

    Oct 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Sarah Soto-Taylor, of Sacramento, has been appointed Undersecretary of the Government Operations Agency, where she has been Deputy Secretary for Business Transformation and Strategic…

    Oct 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: State and federal partners today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost cooperation on multi-benefit water projects in the Sacramento River Basin.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted a new agreement between…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory Reminder: I-95 Weekend Lane Closures for Elmwood Avenue Bridge Replacement in Providence Resume November 1

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department Transportation (RIDOT) is reminding motorists that on the weekends of November 1-4 and November 8-11, it will conduct its fifth rapid bridge installation since this summer with the replacement of the I-95 northbound bridge over Elmwood Avenue in Providence. The bridge will be completely replaced over these two weekends.

    The closures start each weekend at 8 p.m. on Fridays with all lanes open by 5 a.m. Monday morning. Additionally, the high-speed lane on I-95 North will be closed during the first weekend of closures.

    The Elmwood Avenue Bridge is the first bridge to be repaired or replaced as part of the new I-95 15 Bridges project, which will remove 15 bridges from the state’s backlog of poor and fair-to-poor condition bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick. RIDOT this summer received the state’s largest-ever federal grant of $251 million to help fund this project.

    During each weekend, RIDOT will close two lanes on I-95 North just after the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange. RIDOT strongly suggests that travelers use alternate routes such as Route 10 and I-295 on both weekends and plan additional time for travel.

    In preparation for this work, RIDOT will install a lane split on I-95 North at the bridge with two lanes on either side of the work zone. The split will be in place through November 1 and for the week of November 4-8, with two lanes on either side of the work zone Drivers should not stop or suddenly change lanes at the split. This unsafe behavior will cause traffic delays and could lead to a crash. All lanes go through.

    For each weekend on I-95 North, the lane closures will allow RIDOT to demolish and replace different parts of this structurally deficient bridge. The closures start each weekend at 8 p.m. on Fridays with all lanes open by 5 a.m. Monday morning. Additionally, the on-ramps from Route 10 North and South to I-95 North will be closed on select nights and during the second weekend of demolition.

    Starting Wednesday morning, October 30 and for the week of November 4-8, there will be a lane split on I-95 North at the bridge with two lanes on either side of the work zone. Drivers should not stop or suddenly change lanes at the split. This unsafe behavior will cause traffic delays and could lead to a crash. All lanes go through.

    The bridge replacement work also requires the full closure of Elmwood Avenue at the I-95 overpass. During the closure, drivers can follow a signed detour using Reservoir Avenue (Route 2) and getting on Route 10 to reach Elmwood Avenue. Local traffic north of the bridge can also use Roger Williams Avenue to reach the detour route. There will be no changes for traffic on Elmwood Avenue northbound or I-95 North to Exit 33B trying to reach Roger Williams Park. Anyone heading to the park on I-95 South or Elmwood Avenue southbound will follow the detour route.

    The schedule for the bridge replacement and traffic impacts is as follows:

    October 29-30: On these nights, the on-ramps from Route 10 North or South to I-95 North will be temporary closed, reopening by the morning commute the following day. Motorists can use the ramp to I-95 South and reverse direction at the Jefferson Boulevard exit.

    October 30: By the morning rush hour, there will be a lane split on I-95 North just after the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange with two lanes on either side of the split. All lanes go through. It also will be in effect on November 4-8.

    November 1-4: The two left lanes on I-95 North and the left lane on I-95 South will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night, November 1. Also, Elmwood Avenue will be closed at the bridge. All lanes reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, November 4.

    November 4-8: There will be a lane split on I-95 North beginning just after the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange with two lanes on either side of the split. All lanes go through.

    November 8-11: The two right lanes on I-95 North will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night, November 8. Also, Elmwood Avenue will be closed at the bridge. All lanes reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, November 11. Also during this weekend, the on-ramps from Route 10 North or South to I-95 North will be temporary closed. Motorists can use the ramp to I-95 South and reverse direction at the Jefferson Boulevard exit.

    This rapid approach to bridge replacement saves motorists more than two years of lane closures, shifts and splits. In September, RIDOT replaced the I-95 southbound bridge over Elmwood Avenue over two consecutive weekends.

    The I-95 15 Bridges project takes a holistic approach to addressing these bridges to ensure the safe movement of over 185,000 vehicles, including about 9,000 trucks and heavy freight vehicles. Nine of the 15 bridges are structurally deficient. Three are rated among the top five most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Rhode Island. A total of 11 bridges will be repaired and four will be eliminated. RIDOT also will rebuild Route 10 from Elmwood Avenue to Park Avenue � transforming it into a boulevard with a shared use path to provide better connectivity for all users.

    RIDOT will coordinate with its neighboring states to inform motorists of anticipated construction delays in the Providence area during these weekends

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

    The replacement of the Elmwood Avenue Bridge is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California’s “infrastructure decade” continues: $5 billion invested this week alone

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 25, 2024

    What you need to know: Over the course of just the last week, California has invested more than $5 billion in local and state infrastructure projects – improving the daily lives of millions of Californians.

    SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced more than $1.3 billion in infrastructure investments being made throughout the state to improve rail and transit projects, bridges and highways, and walking and biking pathways. This builds on nearly $4 billion in federal and state funding that was just announced by the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

    Together, the more than $5 billion in investments in just the last week are part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster infrastructure agenda. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.

    From making people’s commutes easier and safer to strengthening our state’s critical infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather, we’re investing in projects that better the lives of millions of Californians. Thanks to the historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, ‘infrastructure decade’ in California is a reality.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Why this matters

    Today’s funding announcement is part of a multiyear, multibillion dollar investment to modernize and expand the state’s public transit and rail network and prioritizes safety, equity, climate action and economic prosperity in the transportation decisions California makes. 

    “Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California is furthering its commitment to fund transit projects that boost the state’s zero-emissions goals,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “This critical investment is yet another major step towards growing a more sustainable and equitable transit system for those who work, live and play in California.”

    More than $1.3 billion from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)

    This funding will support 27 new public transportation projects intended to improve rail and transit throughout the state. These projects will give Californians real alternatives to driving and help to keep California on track to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals. Over $4.8 billion has been invested since 2023 in transit and passenger rail projects from competitive TIRCP grants.

    Learn more about the projects here.

    Nearly $4 billion from the California Transportation Commission 

    Last week, the CTC allocated more than $3.8 billion for projects that will improve coastal rail lines, freight corridors, bridges, highway interchanges and system enhancements aimed to increase accessibility for multi-modal users. 

    The projects approved include improvements for locations along the coastal LOSSAN (Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo) rail corridor, four hydrogen fueling stations in San Bernardino, a freeway connector in Bakersfield, a bikeway in Redding and a pedestrian overcrossing in Berkeley. Learn more about the projects here.

    Find projects that are building California’s climate-friendly future at Build.ca.gov.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Oct 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Sarah Soto-Taylor, of Sacramento, has been appointed Undersecretary of the Government Operations Agency, where she has been Deputy Secretary for Business Transformation and Strategic…

    Oct 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: State and federal partners today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost cooperation on multi-benefit water projects in the Sacramento River Basin.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted a new agreement between…

    Oct 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: California Highway Patrol officers conducted blitz operations this weekend, targeting sideshows that led to 22 arrests and the seizure of 36 vehicles. These actions are part of the state’s ongoing enforcement surge in the region, in…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Charlton Aria Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $75,000,000 Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Wilmington, DE, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: CHARU), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) today announced that it closed its initial public offering of 7,500,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The gross proceeds from the offering were $75 million before deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The units began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol “CHARU” on October 24, 2024.

    Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A ordinary Share”) and one right (“Right”). Each Right entitles the holder to receive one-eighth of one Class A Ordinary Share at the closing of the initial business combination of the Company. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “CHAR” and “CHARR”, respectively.

    Clear Street acted as the sole book-running manager in the offering.

    Robinson & Cole LLP served as legal counsel to the Company. Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel to Clear Street.

    The offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Clear Street, Attn: Syndicate Department, 150 Greenwich Street, 45th floor, New York, NY 10007, or by email at ecm@clearstreet.io.

    A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 24, 2024.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation

    Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability for the purpose of effecting into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement and related preliminary prospectus filed in connection with the initial public offering with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

    Contact Information:
    Charlton Aria Acquisition Corp.

    Mr. Robert W. Garner
    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
    221 W 9th St #848
    Wilmington, DE 19801
    Email: ceo@charltonaria.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barragán Secured $36.5 Million for Zero-Emission Rail In California

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

    October 25, 2024

    Contact: Kevin McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)

    Kevin.McGuire@mail.house.gov

    Washington D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) announced the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been awarded a $36.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace 10 diesel locomotives with nine zero-emission, battery-electric locomotives and one hydrogen fuel cell locomotive. Congresswoman Barragán urged Federal Rail Administrator Amit Bose to fund this project through the Department’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program earlier this year in a letter to the administrator.

    “We all know rail has a critical role in moving goods through our ports and limit the number of drayage trucks on our highways.  However, it is also a major source of the air and noise pollution that causes significant harm to frontline communities like Wilmington and Long Beach,” said Rep. Barragán. “I applaud CARB, as well as PHL and the other industry partners for their leadership as early investors in this zero-emission locomotive technology.  They have responded to the calls of frontline residents and Members of Congress to reduce their pollution and expedite the transition of a rail zero-emission future. The health of our communities is worth every dollar of this investment.”

    Five of the new locomotives will be operated by Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) and used in and near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.  This will build on PHL’s successful pilot demonstration of a battery-electric switcher locomotive in the San Pedro Bay Ports Complex.

    This federal investment will significantly benefit the health and quality of lie of frontline communities that have been disproportionately harmed by railroad pollution for decades.  In total, the project is estimated to eliminate 28.5 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxide and 590 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

    # # #

    Congressmember Nanette Barragán represents California’s 44th District.  She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and works on environmental justice and healthcare issues.  She is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Samantha Power Meets with UK Minister of State for Development Anneliese Dodds

    Source: USAID

    The below is attributable to Spokesperson Benjamin Suarato:‎

    Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Anneliese Dodds, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Development and Minister of State for Women and Equalities. They discussed dire humanitarian needs in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, and the important role the long-standing partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom can play in addressing these crises and a range of development challenges. 

    Administrator Power and Minister Dodds underscored the shared commitment of the United States and the United Kingdom to work together and find new areas of partnership, including on multilateral development bank reform and efforts to address lead poisoning.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman Meets with with Ukraine Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko

    Source: USAID

    The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:‎

    Today, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman met with Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko to reaffirm USAID’s commitment to helping Ukraine meet its urgent financing needs, including through the G7 loans announced this week. 

    Deputy Administrator Coleman and Minister Marchenko discussed the importance of continued reforms to improve Ukraine’s business climate, which are crucial for investment and long-term economic recovery. They also underscored their shared commitment to Ukraine’s transparency, customs reform, macroeconomic stability, and recovery efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint Statement by FBI and CISA on PRC Activity Targeting Telecommunications

    News In Brief – Source: US Computer Emergency Readiness Team

    WASHINGTON: The U.S. Government is investigating the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China. 

     After the FBI identified specific malicious activity targeting the sector, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) immediately notified affected companies, rendered technical assistance, and rapidly shared information to assist other potential victims. The investigation is ongoing, and we encourage any organization that believes it might be a victim to engage its local FBI field office or CISA. 

     Agencies across the U.S. Government are collaborating to aggressively mitigate this threat and are coordinating with our industry partners to strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Update: Do Not Use BioZorb Marker Implantable Radiographic Marker Devices: FDA Safety Communication

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    Español 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) Tagalog

    Date Issued: October 25, 2024

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers, health care providers and health care facilities not to use BioZorb Markers and BioZorb LP Markers (hereafter referred to simply as BioZorb Markers) by Hologic Inc.

    On October 25, 2024, Hologic announced a voluntary recall for removal of all lots of unused BioZorb Markers. The recall is due to reports of serious adverse events occurring in patients who had the devices implanted in breast tissue.

    The FDA is issuing this communication to help ensure you are aware of the manufacturer’s most recent recall notice and the recommended actions.

    Recommendations for Patients with a BioZorb Marker and their Caregivers

    • If you experience any adverse events with your BioZorb Marker, please contact your health care provider.
    • There is no need to have the device removed from your body (explanted) unless advised by your health care provider.
    • If your provider is planning radiation therapy treatments, discuss the possible risks with your provider. The FDA has not cleared or approved the use of BioZorb Marker as a marker for radiation treatment.
    • Report any problems or complications with your BioZorb Marker to the FDA.

    Recommendations for Health Care Providers and Facilities

    • Do not implant BioZorb Markers.
    • Quarantine and return all lots of unused BioZorb Markers to Hologic.
    • Review and discuss the Recommendations for Patients above with your patients who have a BioZorb Marker.
    • Be aware of reports of serious adverse events following the placement of BioZorb Marker devices in breast tissue.
    • Continue to monitor patients who have an implanted BioZorb Marker for signs of any adverse events.
    • Be aware the FDA has not cleared or approved the use of BioZorb Markers to fill space in the tissue or to improve cosmetic outcomes after procedures, or as a marker for radiation treatment.
    • Report any problems or complications your patients experience following the placement of BioZorb Marker devices to the FDA.

    Device Description

    BioZorb Markers are implantable devices used in soft tissue sites, including breast tissue. BioZorb Markers have two parts: a plastic component that is intended to be dissolved completely in the patient’s body in one year or longer, and a titanium metal component that is permanent.

    The BioZorb Marker is indicated for radiographic marking of sites in soft tissue. In addition, the BioZorb Marker is indicated in situations where the soft tissue site needs to be marked for future medical procedures.

    The BioZorb Marker is not indicated to improve cosmetic outcomes after procedures, fill space in the tissue, or to be a marker for radiation treatment.

    Risks Associated with BioZorb Marker in Breast Tissue

    Reported complications and adverse events with BioZorb Marker that include serious injuries are:

    • Pain
    • Infection
    • Rash
    • Device migration (moving out of position)
    • Device erosion (breaking through the skin)
    • Seroma (fluid buildup)
    • Discomfort
    • Other complications from feeling the device in the breast

    In some instances, additional medical treatment, including having the device removed from the body (explantation), was needed.

    FDA Actions

    The FDA will continue to work with Hologic to monitor reports of problems with BioZorb Markers, including issues that may develop over time.

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

    Unique Device Identifier

    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.

    You can find the UDI provided by Hologic, Inc. for BioZorb Marker and BioZorb LP Marker devices by checking the table below.

    Version or Model Device Brand Name Device Description Device Identifier (DI) Number
    F0405 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 4cm x 5cm 15420045514065
    F0404 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 4cm x 4cm 15420045514058
    F0304 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 3cm x 4cm 15420045514010
    F0303 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 3cm x 3cm 15420045514003
    F0203 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 2cm x 3cm 15420045513990
    F0202 BioZorb Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 2cm x 2cm 15420045513983
    F0331 BioZorb LP Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 3cm 15420045514041
    F0231 BioZorb LP Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 2cm 15420045514034
    F0221 BioZorb LP Bioadsorbable Marker BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 2cm 15420045514027

    Reporting Problems with Your Device

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

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

    Questions?

    If you have questions,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assistive Arm Correction: Kinova Issues Correction for Jaco Assistive Robotic Arm due to Fire Hazard and Burn Risk

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    This recall involves correcting devices and does not involve removing them from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it without correction.  

    Affected Product

    • Product Names: Jaco Assistive Robotic Arm 
    • Models: 
      • PJ 0000 0001
      • PJ 0000 0012
      • PJ 0090 0001
      • PJ 0090 0006
      • KR MJ2 0001 
    • Lot/Serial Numbers: All lots   

    What to Do

    • Inspect the Jaco Arm for missing parts or scratches, chips, cracks, nicks, or other visible damage to the outer coating of the arm. 
    • Unplug the Jaco arm from the power source if the wheelchair is in contact with a damaged part of the Jaco arm at any time during use. 
    • Contact Kinova Customer Service as soon as possible to have the wheelchair and arm installation assessed for this issue and for assistance with protective pad installation.

    On August 19, 2024, Kinova sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Correction recommending the following actions: 

    For users

    • Contact Kinova Customer Service as soon as possible to arrange for an assessment by phone at 514-277-3777 ext. 2 or by email at support@kinova.ca.
    • Unplug the Jaco arm immediately if the wheelchair is in contact with a damaged part of the Jaco arm in any position at any time.
    • Read the updated user guide found on Kinova’s website.
      • Kinova will send a printed copy of this updated user guide to every user in September 2024.
    • Return the acknowledgement and receipt form attached to the letter and return by email to support@kinova.ca or by mail to: Kinova Customer Service, 4333 de la Grande Allee Boul., Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada J7H 1M7.

    For distributors

    • Share the Urgent Medical Device Correction notice with all Jaco arm users. 
    • Confirm to Kinova that the User Correction Notice was sent to all users.
    • Keep a detailed list of users, when they were contacted, and when they responded. 
      • Make three attempts using two different communication methods to contact users.
    • Provide user contact details (name, phone, email, address) to Kinova. This information will be used only to complete the field corrective action. 
    • Complete a video or in-person assessment for each user who responded to the notice to identify and mitigate the risk that electrical current could flow through the outer coating of the Jaco arm. Kinova will provide remote support for conducting these assessments and review the user and installation guides during each user’s assessment which will include: 
      • Assessing the robotic arm’s installation.
      • Reviewing the robotic arm for damage.
      • Assessing wheelchair integrity based on updated installation requirements.
    • Implement mitigations (i.e. protective pads) to minimize contact between the Jaco arm and other metallic parts and ensure that updated warnings and requirements are acknowledged.

    Reason for Correction

    Kinova is correcting the Jaco assistive robotic arm due to an increased fire hazard if the outer coating of the arm has any damage and makes contact with an electrically powered wheelchair that has electrical leakage from modifications, damage, or malfunction.

    The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including burns, other thermal injuries, and death.

    There have been no reported injuries and no reports of death.

    Device Use

    The Jaco assistive robotic arm is intended for use by people who have lost most or all functionality of their arms. The arm replaces the function of one arm on a single side of the body by allowing the user to reach, move, and manipulate objects. It is designed to be installed on a motorized wheelchair and is controlled through the wheelchair’s drive control. 

    Contact Information

    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Kinova Customer Service at 514-277-3777 ext. 2 or by email at support@kinova.ca. 

    Additional FDA Resources

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)

    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.

    How do I report a problem?

    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hologic, Inc. Recalls BioZorb Marker Due to Complications with Implanted Devices

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    Please be aware, the recall initiated in March 2024 is a correction, not a product removal.

    The FDA has identified the recall initiated in March 2024 as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.

    The recall initiated in October 2024 is a removal of all lots of unused BioZorb Markers.

    Recalled Product

    • Product Names: BioZorb Marker
    • Product Codes: NEU
    • Model Numbers:
      • F0405 BioZorb Marker 4cm x 5cm
      • F0404 BioZorb Marker 4cm x 4cm
      • F0331 BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 3cm
      • F0231 BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 2cm
      • F0221 BioZorb Marker 1cm x 3cm x 2cm
      • F0304 BioZorb Marker 3cm x 4cm
      • F0303 BioZorb Marker 3cm x 3cm
      • F0203 BioZorb Marker 2cm x 3cm
      • F0202 BioZorb Marker 2cm x 2cm
    • Distribution Dates: April 29, 2019 to April 1, 2024
    • Devices Recalled in the U.S.: 53,492
    • Date Initiated by Firm: March 13, 2024

    Device Use

    The BioZorb Marker made by Hologic (previously Focal Therapeutics), is an implantable radiographic marker used to mark soft tissue (such as breast tissue) for future medical procedures, such as radiation. Device has two components: a permanent component which is made of titanium metal and a resorbable component which is made of a plastic material that resorbes over time. It’s provided sterile, meant for one-time use.

    Reason for Recall

    Hologic, Inc. is recalling Biozorb Marker due to complications and adverse events reported with implanted devices. Complaints included reports of pain, infection, rash, device migration, device erosion, seroma, discomfort, or other complications from feeling the device in the breast, and the need for additional medical treatment to remove the device.

    There have been 71 reported injuries and no reports of death.

    Who May be Affected

    • People who were implanted with the BioZorb marker device.
    • People who receive radiation guided by the BioZorb marker which may have migrated.
    • People who receive systemic cancer treatments as treatments may be delayed due to complications with BioZorb Marker.
    • Radiologist, surgeons, oncologists and other health care providers who use BioZorb Marker for treatment of their patients.

    What to Do

    On March 13, 2024, Hologic, Inc. sent all affected customers an Important Medical Device Safety Notification.

    The letter requested patients to:

    • Contact their health care provider if they experience any adverse events following the placement of a BioZorb Marker.
    • Discuss the benefits and possible risks of implantable breast tissue markers for breast cancer procedures with their health care provider.
    • Report any problems or complications experienced following the placement of BioZorb Marker devices to Hologic at breasthealth.support@hologic.com and to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
    • Discuss the benefits and possible risks of implantable breast tissue markers for breast cancer procedures with their health care provider.

    The letter requested health care providers to:

    • Be aware of reports of serious adverse events following the placement of the BioZorb Marker devices in breast tissue.
    • Discuss the benefits and possible risks of BioZorb Marker devices with each patient.
    • Inform all patients on which device will be used if a marking device will be used during breast conservation surgery.
    • Continue to monitor patients who have an implanted BioZorb Marker for signs of any adverse events.
    • Report any problems or complications experienced by patients following placement of the BioZorb Marker devices to Hologic

    Contact Information

    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Hologic, Inc. at breasthealth.support@hologic.com.

    Additional Resources:

    How do I report a problem?

    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program using an online form, regular mail, or FAX.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Governor Katie Hobbs Follows Through on Promise to Secure Arizona’s Water Future

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Hobbs Takes Action to Shut Down Bad Actor Developers, Protect Groundwater

    Phoenix, AZ – In case you missed it, Governor Katie Hobbs took major action this week to secure Arizona’s water future. On Monday, the Arizona Department of Real Estate issued cease-and-desist orders to a developer attempting to skirt water supply laws to make a profit off illegally pumping Arizona groundwater. Then on Wednesday, ADWR took the first steps towards the creation of a Willcox basin AMA. 

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    Ed Curry, Willcox basin farmer: “This announcement of a potential AMA is a new beginning for the Willcox Basin, and we must continue to work together to move forward to protect our groundwater supplies. I am thankful for the courage of Governor Hobbs and her administration to tackle these issues head on.”

    Mike Laws, Mayor of Willcox: “Our community is facing difficult decisions as Arizona moves forward with an Active Management Area for the Willcox Basin. While there are a range of views on the AMA, the urgency of addressing our water challenges cannot be overstated. Governor Hobbs has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting Arizona’s water resources, and with no legislative solutions in place, the Governor and Arizona Department of Water Resources have acted with the tools available to them.”

    Steve Kisiel, Willcox Basin homeowner: “Today’s announcement by ADWR to initiate the AMA designation process gives me hope that we will finally have a secure water future here in the Willcox Basin.”

    Mark Jove, WIllcox Basin winegrower: “We support and welcome this step taken towards protecting our water supplies. As a small business vineyard in the Willcox groundwater basin we’ve experienced firsthand the alarming declines in our local water levels due to decades of unchecked, unlimited groundwater pumping. An AMA designation would finally put us on a path to stabilizing this precious and shared resource to safeguard local growers and business owners.”

    Cochise Groundwater Stewards: “For years, we’ve pleaded for groundwater management that protects our property, our families, and our economy. Legislators from both parties have introduced workable bills throughout the last five years – none received a hearing. With the Legislature apparently abandoning us in rural Arizona, it’s time for ADWR to designate a new AMA here. Finally, we are being heard.” 

    MORE BELOW:

    Arizona Republic: AZ regulators issue cease-and-desist for developer they say is building ‘wildcat’ subdivisions

    • State officials allege two limited liability corporations owned by Andrei Polukhtin, 2PHDS and Morning Vista Homes, are building so-called “wildcat” subdivisions via unregulated lot splits in Rio Verde Foothills. That neighborhood made national news last year when it lost its primary water supply.

    • Some areas of the state heavily reliant on groundwater, including most of Maricopa County, are designated as active management areas. There, property owners generally must show real estate regulators proof of legal rights to a 100-year supply of water before selling parcels for larger developments.

    • The action signals growing interest in upholding water and development requirements by state regulators. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs directed the Arizona Department of Real Estate last year to take increased action to prevent wildcat developments from popping up around the state.

    KJZZ: Hobbs administration to Rio Verde Foothills developer: Cease and desist amid water concerns

    • Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration says it has sent a cease and desist letter to a developer trying to get around water regulations in the unincorporated community of Rio Verde Foothills.

    • Hundreds of homes in Rio Verde Foothills were cut off from their water supply in 2023 due to drought restrictions in neighboring Scottsdale. The state Legislature had to step in to negotiate a temporary fix for the community.

    • Hobbs said she still wants the legislature to take action to close the wildcat subdivision loophole.

    Arizona Daily Star: Arizona takes major step toward regulating groundwater pumping in Willcox area

    • The Arizona Department of Water Resources said Wednesday it’s taking the first steps to usher in groundwater pumping regulation in the Willcox Basin, whose aquifer has dramatically declined due to unregulated pumping by farmers.

    • A group calling itself Cochise Water Stewards said Wednesday that “enough is enough” after a decade-long wait for solutions to Willcox’s collapsing aquifer.

    • Vance Williams, a resident of the Sunizona area southeast of Willcox, said, “I am grateful that ADWR has finally decided to take the first step toward establishing an AMA to protect the groundwater in the Willcox basin. I just wish it had happened sooner as my well in Sunizona went dry in 2020 and I have heard from many other neighbors across the basin whose wells have gone dry.”

    • “The AMA will stop any new large agricultural operations from moving into our area while also putting a halt to expansion of existing irrigation,” Williams said. “I am hopeful that the AMA will also reduce current pumping levels, a necessary step needed to save our aquifer. Thank you to Governor Hobbs and her staff for working to protect the groundwater in the Willcox Basin.”

    Arizona Agenda: Hobbs makes her move

    • Yesterday morning, group chats and inboxes were buzzing in Southeast Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Water Resources have begun the process of designating the Willcox Basin as an “Active Management Area,” which will limit groundwater pumping in the area.

    • And it would be a historical milestone as the first state-initiated “subsequent AMA” in Arizona, highlighting Hobbs’ role as the first governor to push the ADWR to take rural groundwater management seriously.

    • Besides being a strong political move by Hobbs, an AMA designation will “stop the bleeding” in the Willcox Basin while the Legislature continues its policy battles.

    • And now that Hobbs has proven willing to put AMAs in place, legislative stalemate tactics will no longer be an option for her policy opponents. They’ll have to come up with statutory amendments or AMA alternatives that actually pass through the Legislature and survive Hobbs’ veto pen.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Felony Conviction of Sirron Croskey for Armed Robbery, Reckless Evading, and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, October 25, 2024

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

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the felony conviction of Sirron Croskey for armed robbery, reckless evading, and possession of a loaded firearm in public. Croskey carried out multiple robberies across Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and Napa counties, targeting victims in casino parking lots while brandishing a loaded, unregistered firearm to facilitate the crimes. After committing his final robbery in Napa County, Croskey attempted to evade law enforcement by engaging in a high-speed chase with deputies from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. He ultimately left behind the vehicle and the firearm that had been utilized in all the robberies and fled on foot. 

    “Californians deserve to live their lives free from the shadow of violence,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I am immensely proud of my team for their unwavering commitment to justice and for ensuring that those who violate the law are held responsible. When we work together, we get results that create a safer and more secure California for everyone.”

    Croskey pled guilty to one felony count of Reckless Evading, one felony count of Carrying a Loaded Unregistered Firearm in Public, two felony counts of Second-Degree Robbery, and admitted two enhancements for Personal Use of a Firearm. He was sentenced on October 23, 2024 in Contra Costa Superior Court to 9 years, 8 months in State Prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,855 to seven different victims.

    The investigation was conducted by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the American Canyon Police Department, the Livermore Police Department, the San Jose Police Department and the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control. The DOJ’s Special Prosecution Section handled the prosecution of this case. 

    DOJ’s Special Prosecution Section investigates and prosecutes complex criminal cases occurring in California, including fraud, public corruption, “underground economy” crimes, human and labor trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, and organized retail theft. 

    A copy of the criminal complaint can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Credicorp Ltd.: Credicorp’s Earnings Release and Conference Call 3Q24

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Lima, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lima, PERU, October 25th, 2024 – Credicorp Ltd. announces to its shareholders and the market that its 3Q24 Earnings Release Report will be released on Thursday, November 7th, 2024, after market close.

    Credicorp’s Webcast / Conference Call to discuss such results; will be held on Friday, November 8th, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. Lima, Peru time).

    The call will be hosted by:
    Gianfranco Ferrari – Chief Executive Officer, – Alejandro Perez Reyes – Chief Financial Officer, Francesca Raffo – Chief Innovation Officer, Cesar Rios – Chief Risk Officer, Diego Cavero – Head of Universal Banking, Cesar Rivera – Head of Insurance and Pensions, Carlos Sotelo – Mibanco CFO and Investor Relations Team.

    We encourage participants to pre-register for the listen-only webcast presentation using the following link:
    https://dpregister.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=10193845&linkSecurityString=fdcb54848f

    Callers who pre-register will be given a conference passcode and unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

    Those unable to pre-register may dial in by calling:
    Participant dial-in (toll-free): 1 844 435 0321
    Participant international dial-in: 1 412 317 5615
    Participant Web Phone: Click Here
    Conference ID: Credicorp Conference Call

    The webcast will be archived for one year on our investor relations website at:
    https://credicorp.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations/upcoming-events

    Credicorp reminds you that we filed our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2023 (2023 Form 20-F) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24th, 2024. The 2023 Form 20-F includes audited consolidated financial statements of Credicorp and its subsidiaries as of December 31st, 2021,2022 and 2023 under IFRS. Our 2023 Form 20-F can be downloaded from Credicorp’s website: https://credicorp.gcs-web.com/annual-materials. Holders of Credicorp’s securities and any other interested parties may request a hard copy of our 2023 Form 20-F, free of charge, by filling out the form located on the link “mail request” on Credicorp’s website.

    About Credicorp

    Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia and Bolivia. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Credito del Peru – BCP and Banco de Credito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Management & Advisory, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and Atlantic Security Bank.

    For further information please contact the IR team:

    investorrelations@credicorpperu.com

    Investor Relations
    Credicorp Ltd.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ernst Exposes Kamala Harris’ Empty Promises to Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, National Review broke down a new report commissioned by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, exposing Kamala Harris’ empty promises and radical agenda that has hurt American small businesses.
    In the report, Senator Ernst conducts a deep dive of the troubling trend of small businesses getting squeezed out of the federal marketplace, despite Kamala Harris’ claims otherwise.
    In August, Senator Ernst hosted an entrepreneur expo to bring hundreds of Iowa small business owners together to hear from speakers, join breakout sessions with federal agencies, and get small businesses back in the federal contracting game.
    Kamala Harris Hasn’t Delivered on Her Promises to Small Businesses, GOP Senate Report Claims
    By: Haley Strack
    Kamala Harris’s campaign promises to small businesses are more fiction than reality, according to a new report by the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
    Commissioned by ranking member Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), the report compares Harris’s campaign aspirations for small businesses with the work she’s done in the past three and a half years as vice president.
    Although Harris’s website says that she will “increase the share of federal contract dollars going to small businesses,” since Harris has been vice president, the number of small businesses contracting with the federal government has steadily decreased. In 2020, the number was 94,044; in 2021, it was 88,790; in 2022, it was 85,014; and in 2023, it was at its lowest, 84,053. The federal government has seen about a 50 percent decrease in its small-business vendors since 2008.
    “Despite declining engagement, the reported government dollars allocated to remaining small businesses is increasing,” the report says. “Since FY 2015, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has reported yearly increases in government-wide small business spending. These awards totaled $90.7 billion in FY 2015, $100 billion in FY 2016, $105.7 billion in FY 2017, $120.8 billion in FY 2018, $132.9 billion in FY 2019, $145.7 billion in FY 2020, $154.2 billion in FY 2021, $162.9 billion in FY 2022, and $178.6 billion to small businesses in FY 2023. This trend seems to indicate a willingness within the USG to award contracts to small businesses. In reality, it signals an unhealthy consolidation within the federal supplier base and an entrenchment of established contractors capturing a growing market share of overall small business dollars, to the detriment of new and emerging firms seeking to capture the same market share.’
    Harris plans to increase the deduction on start-up expenses, and has promised to secure 25 million new small business applications if she becomes president. But Harris’s expanse of government programs for small businesses isn’t enough to offset the harm inflation has imposed upon those businesses, the report suggests.
    “Kamala Harris claims to be a friend to mom-and-pop shops, but she has delivered nothing but price hikes and miles of red tape,” Ernst said. “She loves to talk about creating an opportunity economy, but the only opportunities are for those aligned with the Green New Deal agenda, including Chinese manufacturers. Unlike Kamala Harris, I have worked to enact real solutions to make life easier for job creators and expand opportunities for the heartland to contract with the federal government and reverse the troubling trend of small businesses getting squeezed out of the marketplace.”
    The Biden-Harris Small Business Administration announced in September that it would accept applications for Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) licenses and Community Advantage (CA) SBLC licenses, programs the administration said would prioritize “reducing climate change.”
    “The levers of government should never be used to pick winners and losers based on political priorities. Instead of wasting tax dollars on another Green New Deal program, the SBA needs to prioritize lowering costs for the millions of small businesses struggling from the Biden-Harris 20 percent inflation price hike,” Ernst said in a statement.
    Meanwhile, Ernst has proposed the Accountability and Clarity in Contracts to Engage Small Business Suppliers, which she says will make federal contracting opportunities accessible for small businesses, and “ensure the participation of a broad spectrum of small businesses across all industries.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Announces Grant Funding for Two West Virginia Railway Projects

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on both the Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committees, announced a two grant awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program for West Virginia railway updates.
    These grants, which were made possible through provisions included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that Senator Capito helped negotiate and craft, will provide funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of railroads, as well as bridge repairs and renovations.
    “Maintaining and ensuring safe railways is an important part of our state’s infrastructure, which is why I worked to increase this critical infrastructure grant program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” Senator Capito said. “These grants will provide critical funding to projects that aim to modernize our railways and bridges, ensuring we are prepared for the future. West Virginia continues to see the benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with more economic growth and opportunities, and these grants are just another example.”
    Individual award details listed below:
    $22,796,000 IIJA CRISI grant funding to Winchester & Western Railroad Acquisition, LLC (Martinsburg, W.Va.) for final design and construction activities to rehabilitate segments of the Winchester & Western Railroad mainline in West Virginia and Maryland to eliminate all remaining legacy rail and old tie structure. The project will enhance safety, efficiency, and resiliency as the project will return the line to a state of good repair.
    $6,912,000 IIJA CRISI grant funding to Cathcart Rail, LLC for a project that will complete final design and construction activities to repair two bridges on the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (BIP) in West Virginia and Ohio. Specifically, the project addresses structural deficiencies in the historic B&O Sixth Street Railroad Bridge that spans Parkersburg, W.Va. and Belpre, Ohio, including cross tie replacement, stringer/floor beam repair, bracing and timber replacement, and replacing stones under bearings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Van Orden Sounds Alarm on Half of Wisconsin Federal Prison Inmate Population Being Illegal Aliens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin 3rd)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) participated in a House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Milwaukee on the effects of the current southwest border crisis on Wisconsin residents and communities. 

    During the hearing, Congressman Van Orden questioned the witness panel on the Federal Correctional Institution Oxford holding 650 illegal aliens who committed felonies in the facility, which is over half of the facility’s housing capacity of 1,200. In a meeting with Oxford’s administrators a week prior to the hearing, Rep. Van Orden was informed that the cost to house a single inmate at Oxford is $42,000 per year, leading the facility to spend over $27 million per year on housing the illegal aliens alone in their custody. Federal law requires that illegal aliens who are convicted of felonies while residing in the U.S. must complete their sentence in the U.S. prison system before being deported.

    To watch Rep. Van Orden’s line of questioning during the hearing, click here or below.

    (watch)

    Rep. Van Orden addressing the Oxford Federal Prison illegal alien population with Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson: 

    Rep. Van Orden:

    “The criminal illegal alien that Congressman Tiffany referred to earlier made his way across the border with Venezuelan gang tattoos. Those are not a, “Live to Ride, Ride to Live” tattoo. That’s either: You’re a member of that gang and you have that tattoo, or they will cut it off you while you’re living, so that should have been taken for what it is at the border. This person never should have been allowed in the country, made his way to Minneapolis, arrested for crimes after the Dane County Sheriff had warrants out for strangulation and some other violent crimes, and didn’t bother following up with it because both those places are Sanctuary Cities. 

    “Then he came to a place a half mile away from where four of my grandchildren live and brutally raped a mother and assaulted a daughter over a period of days. This could have been stopped at any point, and solely because the Biden Administration is pushing an incredibly horrible political agenda, this is going to keep happening over and over and over again.

    “Senator Johnson, I found this out last week, and I want to know if you’re tracking. We went to the federal prison in Oxford in my district, and half of the prisoners are illegal aliens. Are you tracking the volume of what’s taking place? This is the second and third order effect of opening up these borders, but when half of an institution is occupied by illegal aliens, that’s something that I’m hoping we’re going to be looking at here under a Trump presidency. Are you tracking this, Sir?”

    Sen. Johnson:

    “I’m not, but it’s not surprising. It’s not just going to be federal prisons; it’s going to be local prisons and they’re going to be bearing the brunt of the cost of this. I think the House Committee said that the cost of dealing with this crisis is about $150 billion per year across all governmental units. That’s a massive cost imposed on us by the Biden-Harris administration, and that gang member never should have been let into this country. The vast majority of people are as sympathetic as I am with people who want to come here for opportunity but don’t qualify for asylum. There is a very tough standard. You have to be persecuted by your government or threatened with persecution. This open border is a setback in establishing a functioning legal immigration that is controlled and brings people in to improve our economy. I’m for a robust legal immigration system, and we need one. We certainly need one here in Wisconsin – certainly in your district with all the farmers. We need workers, we need laborers, and immigrant laborers do a great job. They come here, they work their tail off, but it has to be a legal system. You cannot establish that until you secure the border. So, Biden has set back establishing that legal system…” 

    Rep. Van Orden:

    “At one point, they had 17 to 20 some thousand rotating through Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy, which I represent. We went back and looked at every single Afghan that came here that was eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa, meaning they worked with the United States government during the war. Guess how many of those were qualified for SIV – zero…

    “The last thing we’re looking at is about 250,000 missing children the Biden administration has lost. The Biden administration, under the Harris Border Czar, is solely responsible for losing almost a quarter of a million children in the United States that are most likely being trafficked, knowing full well that they were releasing them into the hands of members of transnational criminal organizations and human sex traffickers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Blumenthal Call on Dept. of Justice to Investigate Elon Musk’s Cash Sweepstakes to Swing-State Voters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of Justice to investigate whether Elon Musk, through his political action committee America PAC, has violated federal campaign finance law by providing cash rewards to individuals in seven swing states if they sign a petition that requires them to be registered to vote.  
    Section 10307(c) of Title 52 of the U.S. Code states it is illegal if an individual “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting.” Earlier this week, CNN reported the Department had warned Musk and his super PAC that his actions may be in violation of the law. 
    “Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when ‘cash’ or ‘lottery chances’ are ‘intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot,’” the lawmakers write.  
    “There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never ‘degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters’…” the lawmakers conclude.“…Permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal.” 
    Read the letter below and download it here: 
    Dear Attorney General Garland,
    As you know, Elon Musk has been providing cash rewards to voters in seven states if they sign a petition related to his political action committee—America PAC. Individuals must be a registered voter, or register to vote, to qualify for his financial giveaways, which include payments of $47, $100, and a $1 million daily lottery. Campaign finance law states it is illegal if anyone “pays or offers to pay…either for registration to vote or for voting.” 
    Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when “cash” or “lottery chances” are “intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot.” 
    There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never “degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters.” According to public reports, the Department warned America PAC this week that the petition lottery may be in violation of federal law. If so, permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal. 
    Sincerely, 
    Senator Peter Welch 
    Senator Richard Blumenthal 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Adopts Rule Amendments and New Rule to Improve Risk Management and Resilience of Covered Clearing Agencies

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted rule amendments and a new rule to improve the resilience and recovery and wind-down planning of covered clearing agencies. The rule amendments establish new requirements regarding a covered clearing agency’s collection of intraday margin as well as a covered clearing agency’s reliance on substantive inputs to its risk-based margin model. The new rule prescribes requirements for the contents of a covered clearing agency’s recovery and wind-down plan.

    “Recovery and wind-down planning enhances the resiliency and continuity of our market plumbing,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “I’m pleased that today’s amendments will benefit investors, issuers, and the markets alike.”

    Specifically, regarding intraday margin collection, the rule amendments require that a covered clearing agency that provides central counterparty services has policies and procedures to establish a risk-based margin system that monitors intraday exposures on an ongoing basis, includes the authority and operational capacity to make intraday margin calls as frequently as circumstances warrant (including when risk thresholds specified by the covered clearing agency are breached or when the products cleared or markets served display elevated volatility), and documents when the covered clearing agency determines not to make an intraday call pursuant to its written policies and procedures.

    The rule amendments regarding substantive inputs require that a covered clearing agency that provides central counterparty services has policies and procedures to establish a risk-based margin system that uses reliable sources of substantive inputs, uses procedures to address circumstances in which substantive inputs are not readily available or reliable (to ensure that the covered clearing agency can continue to meet its credit exposures to its participants), and that such procedures must include either the use of price data or substantive inputs from an alternate source or a risk-based margin system that does not rely on substantive inputs that are unavailable or unreliable.  

    Existing rules require a covered clearing agency to have a recovery and wind-down plan, and the new rule requires such an entity to specify nine elements for its plan. The new rule’s required elements address: planning (e.g., the identification and use of scenarios, triggers, tools, staffing, and service providers); timing and implementation of the plans; and testing and board approval of the plans.

    The Commission is adopting two compliance dates: (1) 150 days after publication in the Federal Register for a covered clearing agency to file any required proposed rule changes or advance notices with the Commission; and (2) 390 days after publication in the Federal Register for such proposed rule changes and advance notices to be effective.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 8666, a bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 8666 would authorize federal district courts in the Central Division of Utah to hold proceedings in the cities of Moab and Monticello. Under current law, those proceedings are held in the cities of Salt Lake, Provo, and St. George. 

    Using information from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts about current operating costs for the courts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 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. 7177, a bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to consolidate certain divisions in the Northern District of Alabama

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 7177 would codify the on-going consolidation of operations of federal district courts in the Northern District of Alabama by reducing the number of divisions within that district from seven to five. As a result of the changes, CBO expects that court proceedings would no longer be held in the cities of Decatur, Gadsden, and Jasper, and would instead be held in other cities within the district. 

    According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, court operations in Gadsden and Jasper have been transferred to other cities, and operations in Decatur will transfer in 2025. On that basis, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would have no budgetary effects. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 9720, AI Incident Reporting and Security Enhancement Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 9720 would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish common definitions and identify characteristics of security vulnerabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) that would make the National Vulnerability Database inappropriate for managing those vulnerabilities. The bill also would require NIST to support the development of standards and guidance for technical vulnerability management processes related to AI and to update the database and associated vulnerability management processes. Finally, H.R. 9720 would require NIST to work with interested parties to develop and then report to the Congress on a process to voluntarily collect, report, and track substantial AI security incidents.

    Based on the cost of similar requirements, CBO expects that NIST will need three employees, at an average annual cost of $250,000 per person in 2025, to carry out the requirements of H.R. 9720. Accounting for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $3 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. 8689, Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 8689 would require Amtrak to include information on the base pay and bonus compensation of its executive officers in its annual report to the Congress and post the report on its website. Because Amtrak is considered a nonfederal entity, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would have no effect on the federal budget. 

    The legislation would impose a private-sector mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) on Amtrak by marginally expanding an existing reporting requirement. CBO estimates that the cost to Amtrak would fall well below the threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($200 million in 2024, adjusted annually for inflation). 

    H.R. 8689 would not impose intergovernmental mandates as defined in UMRA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Franklin County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in New Location

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Franklin County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in New Location

    Franklin County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in New Location

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– The Mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Franklin County is open at the Eastpoint County Building Department to provide one-on-one help to Floridians affected by Hurricane Helene. Survivors of Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Debby can also be served by the center.Franklin CountyEastpoint County Building Department248 US Hwy. 98Eastpoint, FL 32328Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Oct. 27, 2024.When this center moves to a new location, details will be provided to the public.Survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for assistance. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. If you choose to apply by phone, please understand wait times may be longer because of increased volume for multiple recent disasters. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    kirsten.chambers
    Fri, 10/25/2024 – 20:25

    MIL OSI USA News –