NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Introduces Stand with Israel Act to Combat Israel’s Persecution at UN

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Risch (R-ID) announced their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act when the Senate and House reconvene in November. This legislation would cut off US funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.
    “Israel deserves to have the world’s full support in their defense against unspeakable terrorism,” said Lankford. “Our greatest ally in the Middle East has faced vicious attacks since their founding in 1948, but the latest all-out assault from the Iranian regime and their terrorist proxies intends to wipe Israel off the map. I will not walk away from Israel as the world tries to justify terrorism.”
    “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,” said Risch. “That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the US must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.”
    Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Scott (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Thune (R-SD), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) also joined in support of this bill. This is companion legislation to bipartisan House bill HR 9394 led by Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY).
    BACKGROUND:
    Reports indicate that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN.
    The PA is able to do this after the UN General Assembly passed a biased resolution which enhanced the PA’s status at the United Nations on May 10, 2024.
    The Stand with Israel Act would cut off US funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. The bill is modeled after the current prohibition of funding to any UN entities that elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority to a member state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome $23 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Denver, Colorado Springs Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed $23 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve airport infrastructure in Denver and Colorado Springs. This funding comes through the Airport Terminals Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
    “I’m grateful the FAA is supporting Colorado’s airports as they improve and modernize to meet our state’s changing needs,” said Bennet. “These dollars will help ensure our airports can continue to fuel our economy and better connect communities across our state.”
    “Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law keeps investing in Colorado and creating good-paying jobs. This time by improving travelers’ experiences at both Denver International Airport and the Colorado Springs Airport,” said Hickenlooper. “Giddy up!” 
    Specifically, this funding includes:
    $15 million for Denver International Airport to increase the efficiency and capacity of its baggage handling system; and
    $8 million for Colorado Springs Airport to improve energy efficiency and accessibility, and modernize gate areas.
    Just this year, Bennet and Hickenlooper have welcomed nearly $140 million from the FAA for Colorado’s airports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Calls for Better Surveillance of the Southern Border

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) along with seven of his colleagues called on the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas to make sure that surveillance cameras along the U.S.-Mexico border are working properly. A recent report from NBC stated that nearly 30 percent of surveillance cameras along the border are broken.   

    “Surveillance technologies allow DHS to enforce the law and protect the homeland effectively and efficiently,” Sorensen and the Members wrote. “As Members of Congress, we have consistently and robustly funded programs for smart border technologies for DHS, and as a result, unauthorized border crossings have dropped significantly to the lowest levels in years. The reports of failing technology have left us concerned about the effectiveness of our border security operations.”  

    Sorensen has been a strong advocate for securing our southern border by proposing legislation to increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at legal points of entry, introducing the bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act to provide CBP with the funding and technology they need to combat the growing fentanyl crisis, and helping launch the Democrats for Border Security Task Force. 

    Read the full letter here and below. 

    Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Acting Commissioner Miller, 

    We write to you expressing concern over reports that 30 percent of surveillance cameras along the border are non-functioning. Surveillance technology systems, particularly those that use autonomous and artificial technologies, play a critical role in keeping our border secure. It is unacceptable that such a high percentage of our border technology is inoperable. 

    Surveillance technologies allow DHS to enforce the law and protect the homeland effectively and efficiently. At a time when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has struggled to meet recruitment and retention targets, the need to maximize valuable manpower resources is critical, and smart surveillance technologies have been a game-changer. As Members of Congress, we have consistently and robustly funded programs for smart border technologies for DHS, and as a result, unauthorized border crossings have dropped significantly to the lowest levels in years. 

    However, these recent reports have outlined that 150 of the 500 Border Patrol surveillance towers along the southwest U.S.-Mexico border are not operational. This number is staggering and unacceptable. We are gravely concerned that this lapse in functioning surveillance technology will compromise border security operations. In order to keep our nation’s border secure, we request the following information: 

    1. What is the average length of time each camera has been inoperable? 
    1. How many miles of the southwest border are affected by these outages 
    1. How much manpower has been diverted to address this issue? 
    1. What is the cost estimate to get all surveillance towers back online? 
    1. What steps are being taken to remediate this issue and prevent future mechanical failures? 

    As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure that appropriated funds are being used effectively and that all necessary measures are being taken by CBP to improve border security operations. The reports of failing technology have left us concerned about the effectiveness of our border security operations. We thank you for your attention to our concerns. 

    Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Vice President’s Residence

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Vice President’s ResidenceU.S. Naval ObservatoryWashington, D.C.
    12:58 P.M. EDT
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, yesterday, we learned that Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, a retired four-star general, confirmed that while Donald Trump was president, he said he wanted generals like Adolf Hitler had.
    Donald Trump said that because he does not want a military that is loyal to the United States Constitution.  He wants a military that is loyal to him.  He wants a military who will be loyal to him personally, one that will obey his orders even when he tells them to break the law or abandon their oath to the Constitution of the United States.
    In just the past week, Donald Trump has repeatedly called his fellow Americans the “enemy from within” and even said that he would use the United States military to go after American citizens.
    And let’s be clear about who he considers to be the enemy from within.  Anyone who refuses to bend a knee or dares to criticize him would qualify, in his mind, as the enemy within, like judges, like journalists, like nonpartisan election officials.
    It is deeply troubling and incredibly dangerous that Donald Trump would invoke Adolf Hitler, the man who is responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Americans. 
    All of this is further evidence for the American people of who Donald Trump really is.  This is a window into who Donald Trump really is from the people who know him best, from the people who worked with him side by side in the Oval Office and in the Situation Room.
     And it is clear from John Kelly’s words that Donald Trump is someone who, I quote, “certainly falls into the general definition of “fascist,” who, in fact, vowed to be a dictator on day one and vowed to use the military as his personal militia to carry out his personal and political vendettas.
    Donald Trump is increasingly unhinged and unstable.  And in a second term, people like John Kelly would not be there to be the guardrails against his propensities and his actions.  Those who once tried to stop him from pursuing his worst impulses would no longer be there and no longer be there to rein him in.
    So, the bottom line is this.  We know what Donald Trump wants.  He wants unchecked power.  The question in 13 days will be: What do the American people want?
         Thank you.
                                 END                1:01 P.M. EDT                              

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada, the United States and Mexico release the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI)

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    An initiative between Canada and partner countries to strengthen our ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats

    October 23, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Canada, the United States and Mexico have a strong and longstanding partnership, and are connected across many areas, including health, business and social relationships. This interconnectedness means that disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other threats to health security, can have impacts across all three countries. Through continued coordination and cooperation, we can support the health and well-being of our populations.

    Today, the Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada, and their respective counterparts in the United States and Mexico, released the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI).

    NAPAHPI fulfills commitments made during the 2021 and 2023 North American Leaders’ Summits to strengthen North America’s regional health security by working together to mitigate and respond to public health threats. It also provides a flexible framework that will help North American partners collaborate to address the challenges of potential future pandemics or other public health threats that require a coordinated response.

    The NAPAHPI complements the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and other international mechanisms which seek to strengthen and protect global health security, and supports a One Health approach that considers the relationships between the health of humans, animals, and the environment.

    Together, Canada, the United States and Mexico will advance NAPAHPI’s goals by working on key areas for collaboration:

    • animal diseases with zoonotic potential;
    • epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnostics;
    • medical countermeasures;
    • public health measures;
    • medical supply chains;
    • health systems;
    • risk communications;
    • border health measures;
    • critical infrastructure;
    • risk assessment and foresight risk analyses;
    • joint exercises and training; and
    • sustainable financing.

    Quotes

    “Canada, the United States and Mexico have a long-standing friendship and history of collaboration. The North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when our three countries work together on a common vision. Through more effective coordination and collaboration, we can identify and implement actions that seek to protect the health and safety of our populations, while minimizing economic and social impacts.”

    — The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health

    “The United States is committed to strengthening health security and preparing for future threats. To be successful we must coordinate closely across governments, as well as with industry and community leaders – which is what this platform makes possible. Our nations cannot be strong unless they are healthy. That’s why we will continue to work together on a sustained, durable strategy that improves health security for all.”

    — Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services

    “This new framework for collaboration between Mexico, Canada and the United States on preparedness for animal and human pandemics is an example of the close cooperation between the three countries. The framework will help us address the challenges of One Health and adopt new technologies and practices in the North American region. Additionally, it will promote a shared vision for surveillance, early identification of risk factors, and the planning and implementation of cooperative and sustainable responses to health emergencies. This trinational effort will translate into more efficient protection strategies for our populations.”

    — David Kershenobich, Minister of Health

    Quick facts

    • NAPAHPI replaces the 2007 North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza, and the 2012 North American Plan for Animal and Pandemic Influenza.

    • NAPAHPI builds on the history of this tripartite collaboration, as well as on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health events over the past decade.

    • For nearly two decades, the three partner countries have met regularly to discuss, prepare for and respond to public health threats such as H1N1, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Zika, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks.

    • NAPAHPI is led by a Senior Coordinating Body as a key decision-making forum and a Health Security Working Group as its technical arm, with members from the human health, animal health/agriculture, security and foreign affairs sectors.

    • The principal agencies in the governance structure are:

      • Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada.
      • United States: Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State.

    • Mexico: Secretariat of Health/Secretaría de Salud, Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development/Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection/Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana, and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs/Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

    Media Relations
    Public Health Agency of Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    Public Inquiries:
    613-957-2991
    1-866-225-0709

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOD Kicks Off Groundbreaking Applied Research Project in Hypersonic Infrared Targeting Sensing

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the Hypersonic Infrared Target Sensing (HITS) joint-service proposal as the winner of the fiscal year 2025 Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities (ARAP) Program award competition. The HITS team includes the Naval Research Laboratory, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Missile Defense Agency, led by the Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL).

    This three-year, $45-million project will involve the collaboration of more than 50 federal scientists and engineers across the military service labs.

    “Investments into our military labs and facilities are imperative for the DoD to invest in technological solutions that attract and retain the future workforce,” said Dr. Aprille Ericsson, the assistant secretary of defense for science and technology and S&T Executive Committee chair, during a check-presentation ceremony at the Pentagon with the HITS team. “The project will also support up to 50 new graduate and postdoctoral researchers on-site or through the labs and their academic partners, growing the DoD’s depth in multiple emerging research areas.”

    The HITS research program will address the challenges of developing infrared seekers for hypersonic weapons. This includes locating targets throughout hypersonic flight, advancing gimbal-free target discrimination in extreme hypersonic turbulence, developing high-temperature infrared materials, and addressing thermal distortion through the seeker window.

    With additional participation from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the DEVCOM ARL-led team will build in-house capabilities while partnering with academia, university-affiliated research centers, and industry to execute the multidisciplinary effort, leveraging early laboratory demonstrations from basic research investments.

    “Our approach encompasses innovative multi-physics modeling, meta-optical design, advanced fabrication techniques, and infrared optical characterization, with the ultimate goal of improving the precision of these weapons at longer ranges in more agile, lower cost platforms,” said Dr. Henry Everitt, senior technologist for optical sciences at DEVCOM ARL and the HITS team lead.

    To participate in the annual ARAP award competition, DoD laboratories and centers must submit applied research (BA-2) funding proposals addressing specific technology or capability gaps while enhancing collaboration across the military services and DoD agencies. A proposal must demonstrate a clear pathway from research to product fielding. “The S&T Executive Committee received nine high-quality white paper submissions for this year’s competition and narrowed it down to three finalists,” said Ericsson.

    Each finalist team briefed its full proposal to the executive committee, a defense multi-service, multi-agency group coordinated by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, under which Ericsson’s office operates.

    “Every team demonstrated tremendous initiative, professionalism, and vision in developing its proposal, proving once again that the dedication and excellence of our defense scientists and engineers are the key ingredients for the ARAP program’s success, as it solves challenging problems for the joint collaborative fight,” said Ericsson.

    The call for ARAP white papers for fiscal year 2026 is now open with submissions due on Friday, November 13, 2024. For questions or assistance accessing the DoDTechipedia OUSD(R&E) ARAP Webpage, please contact the R21 Team at osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.communities-of-interest@mail.mil.

    About USD(R&E)

    The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering OUSD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the U.S. military’s technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Meeting With His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with His Holiness Pope Francis today at the Vatican. The two leaders discussed shared concerns over global security challenges and the importance of promoting peace and stability in conflict-affected regions. Secretary Austin expressed his deep appreciation for the Vatican’s humanitarian efforts, particularly in addressing the plight of civilians impacted by ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.

    Secretary Austin and Pope Francis reflected on the need for continued collaboration to alleviate the suffering of those affected by war, persecution, and displacement, while emphasizing the importance of dialogue and reconciliation in resolving global conflicts. Secretary Austin also commended the Pope’s moral leadership and tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable, including his work in promoting peace, supporting refugees, and addressing the effects of climate change on the world’s poorest communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce $10 Million to Improve Marlette Lake Dam’s Infrastructure and Resiliency

    US Senate News:

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

    CARSON CITY, NV – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced the State of Nevada will receive a $10 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enhance the safety and functionality of the Marlette Lake Dam, reducing the risk of a dam breach during an earthquake.
    “When we invest in Nevada’s infrastructure, we are investing in the safety of our local communities and helping create good-paying jobs,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce that $10 million in federal funding is coming to Northern Nevada to upgrade the Marlette Lake Dam and help make it more resilient against future earthquakes. I’ll continue fighting to ensure Nevada gets its fair share of resources to keep our communities safe.”
    “I am proud to see these federal funds come into our state to make essential improvements to the Marlette Lake Dam and better resist an earthquake,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These funds will help protect our water supply in Storey County and Carson City while keeping Nevadans safe and healthy. I’ll keep working with Senator Rosen to continue modernizing Nevada’s infrastructure and ensuring Nevadans have the resources they need to recover from natural disasters.”
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create good-paying jobs and upgrade Nevada’s infrastructure. They are committed to ensuring Nevadans have access to resources in the face of natural disasters. Both Senators successfully pushed President Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for numerous counties in Nevada in the wake of unprecedented winter storms. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto also joined their  colleagues in asking the White House for federal funds to help Nevada fight wildfires and extreme drought.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Veterans Affairs Implements Rosen’s Bipartisan Law to Strengthen Cybersecurity of Veterans’ Personal Information

    US Senate News:

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

    Senator Rosen’s Bipartisan Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act Required the Department to Obtain An Independent Cybersecurity Assessment And Submit A Plan To Congress To Address Cyber Vulnerabilities
    LAS VEGAS, NV – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented her bipartisan law to strengthen the cybersecurity of veterans’ personal information and data. Her Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act, signed into law in 2022, directed the Secretary to obtain an independent cybersecurity assessment of VA information systems, and submit to Congress the findings and a remediation plan to address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Following the recent completion of that assessment, the VA has submitted a detailed plan to Congress on how it will address vulnerabilities.
    “Our veterans rely on the VA to access medical care, benefits, and other critical services, and we must ensure their most personal information is protected from bad actors,” said Senator Rosen. “I worked across party lines to pass bipartisan legislation to protect Nevada veterans’ information, and I’m glad to see that the VA is implementing it by submitting a report to Congress outlining cybersecurity vulnerabilities and their plan to address them. I’ll continue working with the VA to make sure they address these vulnerabilities identified.”
    Senator Rosen has been leading bipartisan efforts to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. Last month, she helped pass bipartisan legislation to allocate billions of dollars for PACT Act benefits. Earlier this year, she helped introduce bipartisan legislation to officially authorize the construction of a new VA hospital in Reno, which followed Senator Rosen’s successful push with Senator Cortez Masto to include the hospital in the President’s 2024 Budget Request. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently maintain a helpline for veterans to obtain information and assistance with VA services, which is included in this year’s Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act. Senator Rosen secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veteran’s access to telehealth in the last bipartisan government funding package.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Welcomes Republic of Cyprus as 46th Artemis Accords Signatory

    Source: NASA

    NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free welcomed the Republic of Cyprus as the latest nation to commit to the responsible use of space for humanity on Wednesday, marking 46 signatories to date.
    “We applaud Cyprus’ commitment to the Artemis Accords, which will enhance the country’s engagement with NASA and the international community,” said Free, who participated virtually. “By joining 45 other country signatories in this effort, Cyprus will help play a role in implementing the accords and exploration that is open, responsible, transparent, and peaceful for the benefit of all.”
    Nicodemos Damianou, Cyprus’ deputy minister of research, innovation, and digital policy, signed the Artemis Accords during a ceremony in Nicosia, Cyprus. James O’Brian, assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs for the U.S. Department of State, also attended the event.
    “Today marks a significant milestone for Cyprus as we officially sign the Artemis Accords,” said Damianou. “As we embark on this exciting journey, we reaffirm our commitment to a safe and responsible space exploration, as well as our strong belief in the importance of international cooperation in ensuring space is utilized to the benefit of all humanity. Cyprus, an European Union member state, is capitalizing on its geostrategic location between three continents, and aspires to play an integral role in the international space community.”
    The signing with Cyprus comes on the heels of an Artemis Accords meeting in Milan earlier this month with dozens of signatory countries, including the United States.
    In 2020, NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and seven other initial signatory nations, established the Artemis Accords, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data. 
    The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming days and weeks ahead.
    Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords
    -end-
    Kathryn Hambleton / Elizabeth ShawHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600kathryn.a.hambleton@nasa.gov / elizabeth.a.shaw@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Ames Stars of the Month: October 2024

    Source: NASA

    The NASA Ames Science Directorate recognizes the outstanding contributions of (pictured left to right) America Reyes Wang, Sepideh Khajehei, Julie Nottage, and Ryan Felton. Their commitment to the NASA mission represents the talent, camaraderie, and vision needed to explore this world and beyond.

    Space Biosciences Star: America Reyes Wang
    America Reyes Wang serves as the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program (BSP) Lead in the Space Biosciences Research Branch, where she guides a team of support scientists and a logistics coordinator in planning and performing detailed, collaborative dissections to maximize the scientific return from biological investigations. Under her leadership, the BSP team has contributed over 5,000 samples to the NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC), approximately half of which were collected in the last 10 months.

    Earth Science Star: Sepideh Khajehei
    Sepideh Khajehei is a NASA Earth eXchange (NEX) Data and Research Scientist in the Biospheric Science Branch, for the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. She is recognized for her dedicated support of the NASA Administrator’s Earth Information Center, and recently for her outstanding support for an urgent request to revise climate indices just days before the October 7, 2024, opening of NASA’s Hometown Climate Dashboard at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

    Space Science & Astrobiology Star: Julie Nottage
    Julie Nottage continuously goes above and beyond in her role as the Space and Earth Sciences Facilities Service Manager.  She keeps a multi-use interdisciplinary science building running across all aspects of operations and is the go-to person for any problem.  Her can-do approach and wealth of knowledge ensures the facility’s high-quality operation that enables scientists and engineers to focus on their research and instrument work.  Her quality work and extensive coordination of the Voluntary Protection Program allowed these month-long inspections to run smoothly with an improved safety outcome.

    Space Science & Astrobiology Star: Ryan Felton
    Ryan Felton, a NASA Postdoctoral Management Fellow with the Exobiology Branch, is recognized for his successful coordination of an engaging community-wide seminar series focused on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). This seminar series featured four speakers so far over six months on a variety of exciting topics to advance AI/ML knowledge and use in the branch’s research.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable — 3rd Cochairs Progress Report

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    October 23, 2024

    Washington, DC: The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) met today and reviewed progress on the work to improve debt restructuring processes and timelines, and to help address debt vulnerabilities. Participants also discussed priority areas for the work going forward. At the end of the meeting, the International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and Finance Minister of Brazil Fernando Haddad, co-chairs of the GSDR, issued the attached GSDR 3rd Cochairs Report as well as the compilation of technical issues discussed by the GSDR so far.

    The GSDR brings together debtor countries and official and private creditors with the objective to build common understanding among key stakeholders on debt sustainability and debt restructuring challenges, and ways to address them.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Randa Elnagar

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman De La Cruz Announces $2 Million in Funds for Community Projects for UTRGV and the City of Edinburg

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz announced Wednesday (October 23rd) nearly $2 million in funding for community projects in South Texas. University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley will receive $500,000 in funds dedicated to its Manufacturing Incubator Dry Room Project, which will encourage innovation and investment into the RGV.  The City of Edinburg will receive nearly $1.4 million for Lift Station No. 19 Force Main Realignment and Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project, ensuring reliable, safe water by relieving existing sanitary sewer lines experiencing overflows.

    “These funds will play a vital role in driving progress and adding industry to the RGV. It is my duty to work for the people of South Texas, and these funds are going back directly into their communities,” said De La Cruz. “I will continue to work tirelessly within Congress and with local leaders to foster a community of growth, investment, and opportunity to allow every community member to thrive.”

    “This funding is a testament to UTRGV’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge research that directly impacts the Rio Grande Valley. With the Dry Room project, we are poised to drive innovation in manufacturing, benefiting industries like electronics and medical devices while creating new opportunities for our students and community,” said UTRGV President Dr. Bailey. 

    “We are celebrating the Lift Station No. 19 Force Main Realignment and Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project, a vital milestone for Edinburg. This $1.394 million investment will enhance our city’s wastewater infrastructure, especially in the rapidly growing northern area. The improvements will benefit vibrant neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and community spaces like the Boys and Girls Club,” said Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. 

    Read more about secured appropriation funds for TX-15 here.
    La Congresista Monica De La Cruz anunció el miércoles (23 de octubre) casi $2 millones en fondos para proyectos comunitarios en el sur de Texas. La Universidad de Texas – Valle del Río Grande (UTRGV) recibirá $500,000 para su Proyecto de Sala Seca para Incubadora de Manufactura, el cual fomentará la innovación y la inversión en el Valle del Río Grande. La Ciudad de Edinburg recibirá casi $1.4 millones para el Proyecto de Reubicación de la Línea Principal y Mejoras al Alcantarillado Sanitario de la Estación de Bombeo No. 19, garantizando agua segura y confiable al aliviar las líneas sanitarias existentes que han presentado desbordamientos.

    “Estos fondos serán clave para impulsar el progreso y desarrollar industrias en el Valle. Es un honor servir a la gente del sur de Texas, y estos recursos volverán directamente a sus comunidades. Seguiré trabajando sin descanso en el Congreso y junto a los líderes locales para construir una comunidad de crecimiento, inversión y oportunidades que permitan a cada persona prosperar”, dijo De La Cruz.

    “Estos fondos son un testimonio del compromiso de UTRGV con la investigación de vanguardia que impacta directamente al Valle del Río Grande. Con el proyecto de la Sala Seca, estamos listos para impulsar la innovación en la manufactura, beneficiando a industrias como la de dispositivos electrónicos y médicos, mientras creamos nuevas oportunidades para nuestros estudiantes y la comunidad”, dijo el presidente de UTRGV, Dr. Bailey.

    “Estamos celebrando el Proyecto de Reubicación de la Línea Principal y Mejoras al Alcantarillado Sanitario de la Estación de Bombeo No. 19, un hito vital para Edinburg. Esta inversión de $1.394 millones mejorará la infraestructura de aguas residuales de nuestra ciudad, especialmente en la zona norte de rápido crecimiento. Las mejoras beneficiarán a vecindarios, negocios, escuelas y espacios comunitarios vibrantes, como el Boys and Girls Club”, dijo el alcalde de Edinburg, Ramiro Garza Jr.

    Lea más sobre los fondos asignados para el Distrito TX-15 aquí.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Speaks at Global Secure Shipping Facility Grand Opening in Old Town

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Old Town, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the grand opening of Global Secure Shipping’s (GSS) second manufacturing facility in Old Town.  With the opening of today’s facility, GSS now has 32,500ft in total manufacturing space to produce its state-of-the-art secure cargo containers using patented technology first developed at the University of Maine (UMaine).
    Today’s event also celebrated the company’s selection for a $4.1 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract to produce and test the next generation of secure cargo containers. 
    Joining Senator Collins at the grand opening were U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, GSS CEO Robert Lindyberg, Ph.D., and Executive Director of GSS and UMaine engineering professor Dr. Habib Dagher.
    “This is a great day for our State, for our nation, and for the security of cargo shipping around the world,” said Senator Collins during her remarks.  “The project we celebrate today is about seaport security.  But it also is about transitioning from research and development to manufacturing to create new industries, with new opportunities and good jobs.  GSS is in the vanguard of that transition.”
    “Most of all, this is about the innovative spirit of Maine and our maritime heritage, with our University, GSS, and a skilled local workforce joining together to achieve something truly remarkable.  Congratulations on this great accomplishment,” Senator Collins concluded.
    GSS was founded in 2018 to commercialize the hybrid composite secure shipping container technology developed at UMaine. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and now Vice Chair, Senator Collins helped secure funding for UMaine to research this technology, as well as funding for DHS that led to GSS’s $4.1 million contract.
    Senator Collins attended the groundbreaking for this facility in September 2023. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Fischer, Risch Announce Plans to Introduce Bill to End U.S. Funding for United Nations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    October 23, 2024
    OMAHA, NE – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of SFRC, to announce their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act when the Senate reconvenes in November. This legislation would cut off U.S. funding to the United Nations (UN) and stop support to agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, and restrict the participation of the State of Israel.
    “The United States will not stand by and allow the rampant antisemitism at the United Nations to go unchallenged,” said Senator Ricketts. “Downgrading Israel’s membership at the UN should be seen as an attack on an American ally. Should the UN embrace this diplomatic terrorism, the United States will respond accordingly and must end its support for the UN system.”
    “Diminishing Israel’s status within the UN would be a slap in the face to democracies across the globe. It is shameful for an organization supposedly promoting international peace and security to punish a democracy fighting for survival,” said Senator Fischer. “The U.S. should not support any organization that attempts to restrict the participation of the State of Israel.”
    “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,” said Senator Risch. “That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.”
    Text of the legislation can be found here.
    BACKGROUND
    Recent reports indicate that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN. The PA can do this after the UN General Assembly passed a resolution which enhanced the PA’s status at the United Nations on May 10, 2024. The Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, and restrict the participation of the State of Israel.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro Names Future Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine USS Atlanta (SSN 813)

    Source: United States Navy

    ATLANTA (Oct 23, 2024) – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the future Virginia-class Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine SSN 813 will be named USS Atlanta. Del Toro made the announcement during a ship naming ceremony at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, in Atlanta, on Oct. 23.

    The future USS Atlanta honors the city of Atlanta, and the crews of the five previous Navy vessels named Atlanta.

    The naming selection of the future USS Atlanta (SSN 813) continues the trend of naming Virginia-class submarines after cities. Secretary Del Toro previously named USS Long Island (SSN 809), USS San Francisco (SSN 810), USS Miami (SSN 811), and USS Baltimore (SSN 812).

    “The city of Atlanta shares a storied and historic relationship with our Navy. Since the founding of our great nation, Atlantans from all walks of life have answered the call to service, including President Jimmy Carter, who helped advance our nuclear submarine program alongside Admiral Rickover, “the Father of the Nuclear Navy,” said Del Toro. “It has been 25 years since the Navy has had a ship named after the proud legacy of the city of Atlanta. Today, it is my honor and privilege to name the next Virginia-class submarine, SSN 813, USS Atlanta.”

    Congresswoman Nikema Williams, from Georgia’s 5th Congressional District joined Secretary Del Toro for the ceremony honoring Atlanta.

    “The naming of this ship is a testament to Atlanta’s history as the cradle of the civil rights movement,” said Williams. “As this vessel sails across the globe, it will carry with it the legacy of civil and human rights leaders like Congressman John Lewis and President Jimmy Carter, embodying Atlanta’s unbreakable spirit and the fight for justice that continues today.”

    Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also served as a guest in the official party and highlighted the honor and meaning behind the naming of the Navy’s newest submarine.  

     “Thank you, Secretary Del Toro for allowing Atlanta to take its place among the great American cities with namesake vessels,” said Dickens. “We envision the future USS Atlanta sailing and submerging as a testament to some of the same values that this city holds…protecting this nation with courage and strength.

    Secretary Del Toro also named the ship sponsor at the ceremony, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

     “The ship’s sponsor fills a vital role throughout the life of a warship, serving as the bond between the ship, her crew, and the nation they serve,” said Del Toro. “I am honored that Mayor Bottoms accepted the invitation to serve as ship sponsor. As a leader and champion for the people of Atlanta, she represents the best of our nation, and I thank her for her lifelong commitment to our Navy, to our service men and women, and to the United States of America.”

    The city of Atlanta has strong ties to American history. Founded in 1836, the city (originally named Terminus) was incorporated as Atlanta in 1847. Following its destruction in the Civil War, Atlanta rapidly rebuilt, became the state capital in 1868, and is now an important center of industry, finance, and transportation. The greater Atlanta region was home to Naval Air Station Atlanta (1943-2009) and hosted squadrons from Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20, and Marine Aircraft Group 42.

    The first Atlanta, a screw gunboat (1858-1859) was renamed Sumpter after commissioning. The second, a protected cruiser (1886-1912) primarily served in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico and as a barracks ship. The third Atlanta (CL-51), a light cruiser (1941-1942), screened Task Force 16 carriers Enterprise and Hornet during the Battle of Midway, supported the Guadalcanal campaign in July and August, and defended Enterprise at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942. From 12-13 November 1942, Atlanta took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, during which she helped sink the Japanese destroy Akatsuki, and later received the Presidential Unit Citation and the embarked Flag Officer, Rear Admiral Norman Scott, was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. Suffering extensive torpedo damage, she was scuttled. The fourth Atlanta (CL-104), a light cruiser (1944-1970) served off Japan with the Fast Carrier Task Force where she conducted shore bombardment missions. The fifth Atlanta (SSN-712), a nuclear fast attack submarine (1982-1999), homeported in Norfolk, VA, completed multiple deployments and fleet readiness exercises during the Cold War before being decommissioned.

    Attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Special Operation Forces (SOF); carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions; support battle group operations; and engage in mine warfare.

    More information on attack submarines can be found here. 

    Read Secretary Del Toro’s full remarks here.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: HMCS Regina conducts Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina successfully completed Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 2024 (JoLTEX 24) at the United States Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of Southern California…

    October 23, 2024 – Ottawa – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina successfully completed Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 2024 (JoLTEX 24) at the United States Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of Southern California.

    JoLTEX developed and tested targeting processes, including firing a surface-to-surface missile against a simulated surface-to-surface combatant, using a Harpoon Block II missile. The exercise supported the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ships’ ability to employ sea-based weapons against targets on or near land.

    Conducting realistic training like JoLTEX 24 enhances the RCN’s ability to contribute to future operations and exercises with partners and allies. Exercises of this kind allow RCN ships and sailors to develop and refine their skills under realistic conditions, increasing their overall mission effectiveness, and affirming that the RCN remains a vital partner in maintaining peace and security.

    “The successful launch of a Harpoon Block II missile at a littoral (or near-shore) target reinforces a critical capability for Canada’s Pacific Fleet and the Royal Canadian Navy. Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 2024 provided our sailors with a valuable training opportunity to exercise the targeting process through to the firing of a live missile in support of land forces. The capacity to do this in a complex environment is an essential aspect of joint and multinational operations. This demonstrates our Navy’s commitment to maintaining a flexible and combat-capable maritime force.”

    Commodore Dave Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific

    “His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina’s precise delivery of surface-to-surface kinetic effects during Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 2024 demonstrates the crew’s commitment to combat readiness and their professional excellence. As evolving maritime threats shift between open ocean and littoral environments, realistic training scenarios are essential to prepare our sailors for future high-intensity naval and joint operations. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of Regina’s outstanding team and what they’ve accomplished during this exercise.”

    Commander Jeremy Samson, Commanding Officer HMCS Regina

    Media Relations
    Department of National Defence
    Phone: 613-904-3333
    Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alternating lane closures on Timiskaming Quebec dam bridge

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Public Services and Procurement Canada wishes to advise motorists that there will be alternating lane closures on the Timiskaming Quebec dam bridge, as well as short-term full bridge closures.

    Témiscaming, Quebec, October 23, 2024 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists that there will be alternating lane closures on the Timiskaming Quebec dam bridge, as well as short-term full bridge closures, for inspection work during the following period:

    • Monday, October 28, to Friday, November 1, from 7 am to 7 pm

    During this period, only 1 lane will be open to traffic in alternating directions. Short-term full bridge closures (up to 15 minutes at a time) will also be required. Road signage will be in place, and flag persons will direct traffic. Motorists can expect delays, but the sidewalk will remain open.

    The schedule may change depending on weather conditions.

    PSPC encourages users to exercise caution when travelling on the bridge and thanks them for their patience.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for the Rio Grande City Public Safety Building

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

    RIO GRANDE CITY, TX – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Rio Grande City Public Safety Building. 

    “I was pleased to secure $2.5 million in federal funding to support the new RGC Public Safety Building. This building will provide critical help to our local law enforcement officials and boost public safety for the community,” said Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Moving forward, I will continue to support our local law enforcement. I want to thank the city commissioners, Rio Grande City Mayor Gilberto Falcon, City Manager Gilberto Milan, RGC Fire Chief Manuel Muniz, and RGC Police Chief Noe Castillo for their leadership and work on this project.” 

    Congressman Cuellar celebrated the ribbon cutting for the RGC Public Safety Building, which he supported through $2,509,264 in federal funding for the building’s equipment and operations. He discussed the project, including its new features, and its significance for public safety in Rio Grande City.  

    The new public safety building will enhance the capabilities of both the Police and Fire department by updating their equipment, including sprinkler systems, video surveillance systems, lockers and benches, an elevator, doors, furniture, a 550kW diesel generator, new radio systems, for the fire department, fire extinguishers, electric heaters, an armory kit, a storage rack, and 13 new vehicles. 

    Rep. Cuellar secured funds for this project through community project funding in 2023, with a cost share of $551,448 provided by the city. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Harris and Trump differ widely on gun rights, death penalty and other civil liberties questions

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Donovan A. Watts, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Auburn University

    The Bill of Rights secures key liberties for U.S. citizens against the government’s power. U.S. Congress via Wikimedia Commons

    As the election nears, voters are considering the two leading presidential candidates’ records on a wide range of issues, including civil liberties – a broad term used to describe the constitutionally protected freedoms that protect citizens from excessive government power. These key freedoms are contained in the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. For example, the protection for free speech under the First Amendment and the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment define people’s abilities to criticize the government and own weapons for private use.

    In turn, as a scholar of American politics, I have seen that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have very different records on these crucial American rights.

    First Amendment freedoms of speech and press

    As California’s attorney general, Harris indirectly found herself in a battle with the First Amendment. For many years, state law required nonprofit organizations registered in California to report names and addresses of donors of amounts over US$5,000 in a single year. In 2010, the year before Harris became attorney general, her predecessor began actually enforcing that law, which Harris continued when she took office in 2011. In 2014, several conservative groups sued Harris, saying her office’s enforcement of the law was violating their First Amendment right to give money anonymously.

    Part of Harris’ job was to oversee the defense of the law in court, arguing that soliciting donor names did not bar donor disclosure requirements like California’s. The case lasted beyond her term as California’s top law enforcement officer: The U.S. Supreme Court declared parts of the law unconstitutional in 2021, after Harris had become vice president.

    While he was president, Trump’s First Amendment record was more about the media than free speech. He repeatedly declared the press “the enemy of the people.” He has suggested that media outlets who provide coverage he dislikes lose their broadcasting licenses and has pressed to change laws about libel in ways that would make it easier for public figures to file suit against unfavorable coverage.

    As California’s attorney general, Kamala Harris worked to reduce gun violence in the state.
    Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

    Second Amendment right to bear arms

    Dating back to her tenure as a district attorney in San Francisco and as California’s attorney general, Harris has been an advocate for stricter gun control laws. However, she is not seeking to take away Americans’ guns – and recently revealed that she herself is a gun owner.

    When serving as district attorney in San Francisco, Harris worked with the city’s mayor at the time, Gavin Newsom, to develop some of the strictest local gun regulations in the country. In December 2004, Proposition H was placed on the ballot and passed by majority vote in November 2005. Proposition H banned possessing a handgun within San Francisco, with a few exceptions, and banned purchasing, possession, distribution and manufacturing of all firearms in the city. However, the proposition was overruled by the San Francisco Superior Court, which said gun ownership should be regulated at the state level.

    And in 2008, as the U.S. Supreme Court was preparing to hear a key gun control case, Harris led 18 elected prosecutors who urged the justices that a broad right to gun ownership could endanger local and state firearm laws. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual the right to possess firearms.

    However, the Supreme Court’s ruling did not stop Harris in her continued fight for gun regulation. She pushed for additional funding to confiscate guns from thousands of people whom California law said were banned from having them. Later as a U.S. senator from 2017 to 2021, Harris continued to advocate for gun regulation by sponsoring bills that would have enacted universal background checks and ban assault rifles.

    During Harris’ term as vice president, she oversaw the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which seeks to focus government attention on a wide range of policies to reduce gun violence, including restrictions on firearms, increased mental health services and new powers for prosecutors to use against people who use firearms when committing a crime.

    In 2019, while he was president, Donald Trump spoke to a National Rifle Association meeting and expressed support for the organization.
    AP Photo/Michael Conroy

    Trump’s record on firearms, meanwhile, has been mixed. As president, he signed legislation in 2017 that softened background check requirements for gun buyers with particular mental illness diagnoses. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, he objected to the fact that many local orders to close businesses to protect public health included shutting gun shops.

    Yet in 2018, he also moved to ban bump stocks – a device attached to a semiautomatic firearm that enables it to fire more rapidly. His ban was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2024.

    Trump also supported and signed the Fix NICS Act, a bipartisan law that strengthened reporting to the federal gun background checks system by requiring federal agencies to submit semiannual certification reports to the attorney general on their compliance with recordkeeping and transmission requirements.

    Eighth Amendment protections against ‘cruel and unusual punishments’

    The Eighth Amendment’s protection against “cruel and unusual punishments” has often been used by the Supreme Court to evaluate uses of the death penalty.

    Harris has consistently pledged to refuse to seek the death penalty in criminal cases, noting a multitude of systemic flaws that result in its disproportional application based on defendants’ race and income. She also noted the cost to taxpayers of keeping prisoners on death row. Harris’ position was tested just months into her service as district attorney when a police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2004. Harris declined to seek the death penalty for the shooter, who was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

    While attorney general of California, however, she defended in court the state’s power to impose the death penalty. But when, in March 2024, the state’s governor – Newsom – declared a halt to executions, sparing all 737 people on California’s death row, Harris praised the action.

    Trump’s record on capital punishment dates back long before his political career. In 1989, he took out full-page newspaper ads calling for the return of the death penalty in New York. He specifically wanted it to be applied to the Central Park Five, five young Black and Hispanic men who were wrongly accused of raping and beating a woman. They pleaded not guilty but served years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence and the actual criminal’s confession.

    During his term as president, Trump resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, executing 13 people in the last six months of his presidency, the last of which was just four days before his term ended.

    All in all, as voters decide who to vote for in the upcoming election, analyzing both candidates’ record on civil liberties is a good step in making an informed decision.

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

    – ref. Harris and Trump differ widely on gun rights, death penalty and other civil liberties questions – https://theconversation.com/harris-and-trump-differ-widely-on-gun-rights-death-penalty-and-other-civil-liberties-questions-240762

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Begins Searching Prairie Green Landfill

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 23, 2024

    Manitoba Government Begins Searching Prairie Green Landfill

    The Manitoba government has begun the third stage of the Prairie Green Landfill search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

    “Our government is making significant progress in our compassionate search of the Prairie Green Landfill,” said Kinew. “This is about doing the right thing and sending a message to all Manitobans that you matter and deserve dignity. When someone goes missing, we go looking.”

    The search facility pad is nearing completion and excavators have begun moving materials above the targeted zone at the landfill, while the engineering assessment of the targeted zone has also been completed. Meanwhile, recruitment for workers has been ongoing, with the job postings for technicians closing earlier in October.

    The pilot test program was completed in June 2024, which aimed to refine the search methodology, characterize deposited waste material and further understand potential challenges.

    The province has implemented a five-stage approach to conducting the search. Stage four will involve the excavation and search of the targeted zone where the remains of the two women are believed to be located. Stage four is on track to begin in late fall 2024, noted the premier.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Helping More Vulnerable Manitobans Stay Housed

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 16, 2024

    Manitoba Government Helping More Vulnerable Manitobans Stay Housed

    – – –
    New Community-Based Support Services Will Improve Housing Stability for Manitobans with Complex Mental Health Needs: Smith

    The Manitoba government will be helping more Manitobans through a new initiative to ensure individuals with serious, long-term mental health disorders can access comprehensive wraparound supports that help keep them housed, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, minister responsible for mental health, announced today.  

    “Meeting the needs of people living with severe, complex mental health disorders requires a range of programs and services,” said Smith. “This investment will build effective and sustainable services along that continuum of care by providing supports right in the community. We will help vulnerable Manitobans stay out of hospitals and emergency rooms by providing safety and stability in their homes.” 

    The new $4.3-million initiative will establish a co-ordination hub and expand community-based care, adding 22 new mental health workers to Manitoba’s mental health service system, the minister noted.  The investment will enable Shared Health to establish two new interdisciplinary teams that use the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model to treat and support up to 300 individuals with severe mental illnesses in community settings.   

    “These new teams fill a major gap in the suite of community-based services in Winnipeg, supporting Manitobans who often have several co-occurring and complex mental health and addiction needs,” said Arlene MacLennan, director of health services for adult outpatient mental health and addictions, Shared Health. “There is strong evidence from other jurisdictions that this flexible, co-ordinated and streamlined approach reduces costly visits to hospitals and emergency departments, and helps individuals manage their mental health and substance use problems so they can increase stability and make improvements in their lives.”  

    ACT is an evidence-based service delivery model that provides comprehensive, community-based mental health and addiction services, crisis intervention, medication management, community integration, peer support and housing support services. Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams also use the ACT approach but can adapt the support provided, based on the individual’s needs and without some of the constraints of individual services, such as the length of time a service may be offered.   

    Shared Health will also pilot a new FACT/ACT Hub to support comprehensive assessments of individuals in the community and in hospital. The investment is a significant first step in building housing with support services while improving access to mental health-care wraparound supports, the minister noted.  

    The hub will also work to standardize ACT services across the province and provide provincial oversight, added Smith. 

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Chatham County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Chatham County

    Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Chatham County

    ATLANTA — FEMA opened an additional Disaster Recovery Center in Chatham County to provide one-on-one help for Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene. The center is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Chatham CountySavannah Technical CollegeStudent Enrichment Center Building5717 White Bluff RoadSavannah, GA 31405Additional centers are open in Appling, Coffee, Liberty, Lowndes, McDuffie, Richmond, Toombs and Washington counties: Appling CountyAppling County Agricultural Center2761 Blackshear Highway, Baxley, GA 31513Coffee CountyThe Atrium 114 N. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533Liberty CountyMiller Park/HQ Fire Station 6944 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway, GA 31320Lowndes CountyCity of Valdosta4434 North Forrest Street Extension, Valdosta, GA 31605McDuffie CountyThompson Depot111 Railroad Street, Thomson, GA 30824Richmond CountyHub for Community Innovation631 Chafee Avenue Augusta, GA 30904Toombs CountyGeorgia Department of Human Services 162 Oxley Drive, Lyons, GA 30436 Washington CountySandersville School Building Authority514 North Harris Street, Sandersville, GA 31082To find center locations in Georgia, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia Page, FEMA’s DRC Locator or text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler counties can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the State of Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.Disaster Assistance Teams are also on the ground in affected counties going door-to-door to help survivors register for assistance.For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    larissa.hale
    Wed, 10/23/2024 – 18:49

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Artemis II Astronauts Put Orion’s Side Hatch to the Test

    Source: NASA

    Artemis II NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen along with back-up crew members Andre Douglas and Jenni Gibbons, recently traveled to Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, where they practiced opening and closing an Orion crew module side hatch model to help demonstrate its reliability and durability during their 10-day mission around the Moon.
    During normal mission operations, the crew will not operate the hatches – the ground systems team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will assist the crew into Orion at the launch pad, then close the hatch behind them prior to liftoff. After splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, recovery teams will open the side hatch and help crew to exit.
    Training on the hatch helps ensure the crew can safely enter and exit the spacecraft in the event of an emergency. The side hatch is normally opened using a manual gearbox system, but in an emergency, the hatch has release mechanisms containing small  pyrotechnic devices that release the latch pins on the hatch instantaneously, allowing it to open quickly.
    Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Justice congratulates North Central West Virginia Airport for near completion of $54 million terminal expansion

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    This major enhancement project at North Central West Virginia Airport would not have been possible without the Governor’s support.

    In August 2019, Gov. Justice visited the airport to announce that he had requested $10 million from the West Virginia Infrastructure Jobs Development Council and an additional $10 million in the form of a loan from the West Virginia Economic Development Administration to jump-start the project. Both loans were approved. 

    In addition to the funding secured by the Governor, additional funds for the project were provided by Harrison County, Marion County, the City of Bridgeport, and the Benedum Airport Authority.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Proposes $3.9 Billion in State Funding to Spur Hurricane Helene Relief and Recovery

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Proposes $3.9 Billion in State Funding to Spur Hurricane Helene Relief and Recovery

    Governor Cooper Proposes $3.9 Billion in State Funding to Spur Hurricane Helene Relief and Recovery
    mseets

    Less than a month after Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper today shared a state budget recommendation to help rebuild stronger to withstand future storms. Governor Cooper recommends an initial $3.9 billion package to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm.

    “Helene is the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina,“ said Governor Cooper. “This storm left a trail of destruction in our beautiful mountains that we will not soon forget, but I know the people of Western North Carolina are determined to build back better than ever. These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows we are very much on the front end of this recovery effort.”

    Initial damage estimates are $53 billion, roughly three times Hurricane Florence estimates in 2018 and the largest in state history. A strong recovery will require significant investments by private insurers as well as the federal, state and local governments. Large scale disasters fueled by climate change in recent years have shown the challenges and enormous costs of recovery as well as the need to ensure structures are hardened are they are rebuilt to withstand future storms. Successful recoveries require significant early investments to ensure communities have the tools to fully rebuild.

    Economy

    The economic devastation from Hurricane Helene is unparalleled. Thousands of businesses in the region suffered damages leaving business owners and workers suffering. The Governor’s funding package includes $650 million to address economic losses and physical damage for non-agricultural businesses and non-profit organizations. This would include a revival of the pandemic-era Business Recovery Grant Program, which helped North Carolina’s economy recover faster than the national average. Governor Cooper has already increased unemployment insurance benefits through an executive order with a bipartisan and unanimous vote of the Council of State.

    Housing

    The Governor’s budget recommendation includes $650 million to address physical damage to residential structures and cost of housing assistance. These investments would jumpstart permanent housing construction in advance of potential federal funds, which can take months or years to be approved.

    Utilities and Natural Resources

    Critical and high-risk infrastructure was damaged across the region, including water and sewer systems in multiple communities and power generation facilities. Much of this infrastructure is in geographically isolated locations and challenging to reach, slowing restoration of services to communities. The Governor’s funding package includes $578 million to address the physical damage and cleanup of energy, water, waste clean-up, telecommunications, dams and other infrastructure.

    Transportation

    Hurricane Helene severely impacted approximately 5,000 miles of state-maintained roads across the affected area in Western North Carolina, including several major national interstates and critical transportation corridors. The proposed funding package includes $55 million to address physical damage and state revenue implications of the transportation infrastructure damage.

    Agriculture

    The funding package includes $422 million to address physical damage and business disruption for agricultural enterprises. This storm caused significant damage to hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land and hundreds of structures.

    Recovering From Additional Recent Disasters

    As North Carolina is still recovering from other recent natural disasters, Governor Cooper’s proposed budget includes $420 million for needs related to PTC-8, Tropical Storm Debby, and funds to complete homeowner assistance for Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.

    The full Budget Recommendation can be found here.

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    Oct 23, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Investment in Marine Infrastructure to Support Recovery Through the Florida Disaster Fund

    Source: US State of Florida

    Governor DeSantis also announced discounts on fishing licenses and progress on Florida’s efforts to take over management of Red Snapper in the Atlantic.

    STEINHATCHEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $1,000,000 in funding from the Florida Disaster Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida to support the rebuilding of fishing and aquaculture infrastructure damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funding will go toward the rebuilding of boat slips and docks, the repair of fish houses, impacted aquaculture businesses, and other important infrastructure repairs for Florida’s fishing economy across the Big Bend region.

    “The Big Bend’s fishing industry took a direct hit from hurricanes Debby and Helene, and so did the hardworking Floridians who make their living on the water,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s investments will help to rebuild critical waterside infrastructure and help get Floridians in the fishing and aquaculture industries back to full operations.”

    To unlock additional resources from the federal government, Governor DeSantis’ administration also initiated the process of submitting a federal fisheries disaster declaration to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This declaration request would provide access to federal funding, subject to appropriation, for offshore, nearshore, and inshore fisheries to rebuild. Governor DeSantis requested a similar federal fisheries disaster declaration following Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia.

    Governor DeSantis has also directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite any permits or approvals for businesses impacted on uplands or on the water to ensure the rebuilding of damaged structures is not delayed by bureaucracy.

    “Governor DeSantis has a proven track record of helping communities recover quickly and rebuild fully after storms,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young. “We are grateful for his leadership and support in assisting the fishing industry as it recovers from hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.”

    Additionally, the Governor announced several discounts on fishing and hunting licenses, including lifetime licenses, to get anglers back on the water and provide a boon to the industry that serves them. This includes:

    • Half-off short-term licenses for Floridians from October 25, 2024, to January 3, 2025, for the annual and five-year multisport licenses for fishing and hunting; and
    • A 50% discount on lifetime sportsman licenses for children up to 17 years of age.
      • Age 4 or younger – $200 (normally $400)
      • Ages 5 to 12 – $350 (normally $700)
      • Ages 13 to 17 – $500 (normally $1,000)

    Additionally, FWC is offering annual salt water and freshwater combo licenses for just $5.

    Fishing and Florida are inseparable. Florida leads the nation in the number of saltwater fishing anglers, generating a $9.2 billion impact on the State of Florida’s economy. Additionally, the annual dockside value of commercial fisheries was estimated at $244 million. Today’s announcement will help Florida residents regenerate lost income and rebuild their businesses and infrastructure.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Majority of Eligible New Yorkers Registered as Organ Donors

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that for the first time, more than 50 percent of the eligible New York population has registered to become organ and tissue donors through New York’s Organ Donor Registry.

    “This is a very important milestone for New York and the thousands of New Yorkers who are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant,” Governor Hochul said. “It is the result of dogged efforts by advocates and my colleagues at the Departments of Motor Vehicles and Health to raise awareness about the never-ending need for organ and tissue donors. Making that decision to provide the gift of life to someone else is a great example of the giving spirit of New Yorkers.”

    This milestone is particularly significant for New York, which has historically had one of the lowest organ donor registry enrollment rates in the country, leaving thousands of New Yorkers waiting for a life-changing transplant, with about 400 New Yorkers losing their lives each year due to a shortage of donors. While much more work remains to ensure a life-changing transplant for every New Yorker in need, reaching the 50 percent mark is a major achievement considering the State was at just 22 percent a decade ago.

    Today, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder and leadership from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) joined Donate Life New York State, impacted families and elected officials in the Bronx, to celebrate this milestone and to continue to raise awareness in the community, which has one of the lowest rates of enrollments on the Registry.

    DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “I have been working and waiting for this moment since I started this job in early 2019. More than 80 percent of New Yorkers who enroll in the Organ Donor Registry sign up through the DMV, so we have made a concerted effort to educate our staff and our customers about the importance of organ donation. New York has lagged behind so many other states for too long, and through this partnership with DOH and Donate Life, we have been successful in turning that around and giving people waiting for organ transplants a fighting chance at a healthy future.”

    State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “What could be more beautiful and loving than saving a life? I am so proud that more than 50 percent of our New York population has registered to become organ and tissue donors through New York’s Organ Donor Registry. Just one donor can save the lives of up to eight people while tissue donors can make a meaningful difference in the lives of up to 75 people. I thank everyone who has enrolled. These acts of selflessness make me even more proud to be a New Yorker.”

    Executive Director of Donate Life New York State Aisha Tator said, “When I joined Donate Life New York State more than a decade ago, achieving the mark of a majority of New Yorkers registered as organ and tissue donors was an ambitious goal, but thanks to our efforts alongside our partners — including years of work with DMV and DOH — today we are proud to celebrate this major milestone. The growth of the Donate Life Registry helped save the lives of about 3,000 New Yorkers last year. These are parents, children and community members who now lead happier and healthier lives. With 8,000 New Yorkers still waiting for a life-changing organ, our work is far from finished, and Donate Life New York State will continue building a culture of donation to improve the lives of the thousands of New Yorkers in need.”

    This progress, which has nearly tripled the number of lives saved annually through organ transplantation, would not have been possible without the relentless joint effort of DMV, DOH, elected officials across the political spectrum and Donate Life NYS — the nonprofit tasked by the State to lead donor registration enrollment campaigns and education efforts.

    Nearly 8,000 New Yorkers are currently on the waitlist for a life-changing organ. Today, this diverse group of State leaders, elected officials, advocates and impacted families encouraged their fellow New Yorkers to join the Registry and help further Donate Life’s mission of ensuring a life-changing transplant for every New Yorker in need. A single donor can save up to eight lives and heal 75 more through organ and tissue donation.

    New Yorkers can register to become organ donors on the Donate Life New York State website.

    Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I want to commend the hard work of Donate Life New York State, the DMV and the Department of Health to celebrate this remarkable milestone in organ donor registration. For the first time, more than half of eligible New Yorkers have stepped forward to register as organ donors, a significant achievement that will save countless lives. There is still much more to be done, but today we celebrate the power of education, partnership and the generosity of New Yorkers. Together, we can continue this progress and ensure that every person in need of a transplant has the opportunity for a second chance at life.”

    State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “Achieving over 50 percent enrollment in the Organ Donor Registry is a moment to celebrate the tireless efforts of Donate Life New York State, the Department of Health (DOH), the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), advocates, health care professionals and families who understand the importance of organ donation. As Chair of the Senate Health Committee, I have proudly passed legislation aimed at increasing outreach and enrollment so more New Yorkers can become organ donors. Since New York has one of the lowest organ donor rates in the nation and many people waiting for transplants, we must continue to implement measures to address organ donation and ensure that those in need receive the life-saving transplants they deserve.”

    State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda said, “As someone deeply committed to improving health outcomes for the Bronx and beyond, I am proud to join Donate Life New York State, the DMV and the Department of Health in celebrating this milestone. Organ donation has the power to save lives, and crossing the 50 percent mark in statewide donor registry enrollment is a major step forward for New York. This is especially important for communities like the Bronx, where the need for transplants is disproportionately high. I look forward to continuing our work to raise awareness, dispel myths and encourage even more New Yorkers to become organ donors. Together, we can ensure that every New Yorker in need has access to the life-saving gift of a transplant.”

    Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, “Reaching the milestone of 50 percent organ donor registration in New York State represents hope for thousands of New Yorkers awaiting life-saving transplants. While we celebrate this progress, we must redouble our efforts to further increase enrollment and ensure that every New Yorker in need has the opportunity for a second chance at life. Every new registration has the potential to transform lives, and I thank Donate Life New York State, the DMV and the DOH for their tireless efforts in growing the donor registry.”

    Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia said, “As a mother who spent 16 years watching my eldest son endure the challenges of kidney failure, I know firsthand the incredible, life-changing power of organ donation. I will never forget the joy and gratitude we felt when we received the call that a donor match had been found, giving my son a new chance at life. Today, I am proud to join Donate Life NYS, the DMV and the Department of Health in celebrating this important milestone. Reaching a 50 percent registration rate is a tremendous achievement, but there’s still more we can do. Too many families, especially in communities like the Bronx, are still waiting for that same life-saving call. I encourage every New Yorker to register as an organ donor and be part of this movement of hope and generosity.”

    About New York State Department of Motor Vehicles

    The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is, for many people, their first interaction with state government. It is a multi-faceted agency, serving more than 15 million New Yorkers through driver licensing and non-driver identification, vehicle titling and registration, driver safety and education, regulating businesses that sell, repair and inspect vehicles and administering New York state motor vehicle laws.

    DMV and its more than 3,000 employees statewide have prioritized the safety of New Yorkers through traffic safety initiatives, combating and preventing identity fraud and protecting consumers. The agency is hard at work every day to “Shatter Perceptions” of what people think DMV is by continually adapting and adopting innovative strategies to better provide services to its customers where they are and in ways that are more efficient and convenient for them.

    About New York State Department of Health

    The New York State Department of Health has been overseeing the health, safety and well-being of New Yorkers since 1901 – from vaccinations to utilizing new developments in science as critical tools in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In the face of today’s new public health challenges and evolving health care system, health equity is foundational to everything the State Department of Health does to help all people achieve optimal physical, mental and social well-being.

    About Donate Life New York State

    Donate Life New York State is the statewide non-profit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State. Our goal is to ensure a life changing transplant for every New Yorker in need. Since 2002, we’ve served as the voice for New York’s organ, eye and tissue donation community, bringing together recovery organizations, health professionals, community organizations and people whose lives have been touched by our mission. Donate Life NYS operates the New York State Donate Life Registry under contract with the State of New York, and advances organ, eye and tissue donation through public and professional education, Registry enrollment campaigns, legislative advocacy, social and behavioral research, strategic partnerships and collaborative forums with the greater donation and transplantation community.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Secretary Del Toro As-Written Remarks at Future Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine USS Atlanta (SSN 813) Naming Ceremony

    Source: United States Navy

    Introduction/Thank You

    Good morning, everyone!

    It is an honor to be with you this morning in Atlanta.

    Dr. Evans, thank you for that kind introduction and for the important work you are doing here at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

    Mayor Dickens, thank you for welcoming us to Atlanta and for your service to the people of this great city.

    Congresswoman Williams, thank you for your presence today, and for your partnership and support of our men and women in uniform.

    Mr. Carter, thank you for sharing your family’s stories and carrying on their legacy of service.

    Mr. McLaurin, thank you for the work you do, preserving and sharing the rich history of the White House.

    I also want to extend a warm welcome to our state and local leadership, including Senator Orrock, Representative Jones, Representative Evans, Representative Miller, Council President Shipman, and Council Member Amos. Thank you for being here with us today.

    Superintendent Stuckey, thank you for your work at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.

    President Cabrera, thank you for your leadership of the students of Georgia Tech and your partnership with the Department of the Navy in moving our Navy and Marine Corps’ technological innovations forward.

    Captain Hollenbach, I thank you for all you’ve done as the Virginia-class program manager, ensuring our Navy’s warfighting excellence for years to come.

    To all of our service members, distinguished guests and visitors here with us today—welcome and thank you for joining us.

    World Today

    The world is undeniably complex, and while military power helps advance our national security interests abroad, President Jimmy Carter recognized that diplomacy should always play a leading role in achieving lasting peace.

    Our world today looks to the United States as a beacon of hope and freedom around the world.

    We face challenges in every corner of the world—from the Indo-Pacific, to Europe, and in the Red Sea.

    In Europe, we are approaching the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    For the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.

    The People’s Republic of China continues to exert its excessive maritime claims through their navy, coast guard, and maritime militia.

    In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we have been working tirelessly alongside our NATO allies and Middle Eastern partners to protect innocent civilian mariners and commercial shipping form Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

    Following the October 7th attacks in Israel one year ago this month, our Navy and Marine Corps were swiftly deployed to the region, forming an integrated force capable of responding to any threat.

    And earlier this month, two of our highly capable destroyers, the USS Cole (DDG 67)—a warship which carries a legacy of standing tall to acts of terrorism—and the USS Bulkeley (DDG 84)—which will always have a special place in my naval carer as her first Commanding Officer—aided our Israeli allies in shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles. 

    I am incredibly proud of the professionalism, dedication, and resilience shown by our Cole and Bulkeley Sailors.

    These brave young men and women illustrate the consistent excellence and effectiveness expected of our United States Navy.

    And we mourn the loss of two trailblazing, combat-decorated naval aviators from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group who passed away during a training event last week: Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lieutenant Serena “Dug” Wileman.

    Our thoughts are with their families and friends as they cope with the loss of their loved ones—a loss which serves as a poignant reminder that what we ask of our Sailors and Marines is anything but routine, and in many cases dangerous.

    We honor their service and sacrifice by reaffirming our commitment to the ideals that inspire us to serve.

    City of Atlanta

    The city of Atlanta shares a storied and historic relationship with the United States Navy.

    Since the very founding of our Nation, Atlantans from all walks of life have answered the call to service.

    The Marine Corps’ first aviator, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Cunningham, was born in Atlanta in 1882 and pioneered early aviation at a time when there were great risks and little appreciation for the danger involved in flying.

    Launched in 1943, Naval Air Station Atlanta trained Navy and Marine Corps squadrons from Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 and Marine Aircraft Group 42.

    While Naval Air Station Atlanta no longer serves the Navy, the airfield continues to serve as the General Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center.

    Atlanta is, of course, home to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and the Carter Center, named after the former Naval Officer, Senator, Governor, and President, Jimmy Carter.

    As a Naval Officer, Lieutenant Carter helped advance our nuclear submarine program alongside Admiral Hymen Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.”

    While in office, President Carter advocated for a more robust Navy—growing our submarine, aviation, and surface forces.

    He also fiercely advocated for the recruitment of Hispanic Americans into the Navy and nominated the first Hispanic American to serve as Secretary of the Navy—Edward Hidalgo.

    As Secretary of the Navy, I had the opportunity to rename a building at the Naval Academy after President Carter last year.

    Carter Hall will be a place of learning for Midshipmen at the Naval Academy for generations to come.

    And the city of Atlanta has had five previous Navy ships named after her legacy.

    The first USS Atlanta served the Union Navy throughout the Civil War after being captured from the Confederate Navy.

    The second USS Atlanta served in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico as a barracks ship.

    The third USS Atlanta (CL 51) served as the lead ship of the Atlanta-class of light cruisers and was laid down at the start of the Second World War.

    Weeks after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and brought the United States into war, USS Atlanta commissioned at New York Navy Yard and later served as part of Admiral Halsey’s Fleet.

    Light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL 104) served in World War II with Fast Carrier Task Force where she conducted shore bombardment missions.

    The fifth USS Atlanta (SSN 712) commissioned in 1982, completing multiple deployments and fleet readiness exercises during the Cold War before being decommissioned in 1999.

    Ship Naming and Sponsor Announcement

    For 25 years, the Navy has been without a ship named after the proud legacy of the city of Atlanta.

    And so, it is my honor and privilege to name the next Virginia-class submarine, SSN 813, USS Atlanta.

    Our Navy’s submarine force is a lethal combination of one of the most powerful platforms available today manned by our Nation’s best and brightest—people like President Carter.

    The Virginia-class Fast Attack Submarines bring tremendous firepower to our Fleet and provide our commanders a valuable asset which strengthens our national security.

    And wherever she sails, she will represent not only the legacy of the proud ships who bore the name USS Atlanta before her, but also the thousands of Atlantans who have honorably and faithfully served the United States in uniform, as civil servants, and as activists to better our great Nation.

    And I am also proud to announce that the ship sponsor of the future USS Atlanta is former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

    The ship’s sponsor fills a vital role throughout the life of a warship, serving as the bond between the ship, her crew, and the nation they serve.

    I am honored that Mayor Bottoms accepted the invitation to serve as ship sponsor. As a leader and champion for the people of Atlanta, she represents the best of our Nation, and I thank her for her lifelong commitment to our Navy, to our service men and women, and to the United States of America.

    Closing

    Our maritime services are indeed the most powerful and capable force this world has ever seen.

    Before I close my remarks today, I wanted to draw your attention to the portrait on the stage.

    It is Mr. Evan Karanovich’s grandfather’s portrait of USS Atlanta (CL 51), the lead ship of the Atlanta-class of eight light cruisers.

    On November 13th, 1942, the third USS Atlanta sank while escorting ships during the war.

    The portrait hung in his grandfather’s office for years until Mr. Karanovich received it as a commissioning gift.

    And he always wondered why, of all the pictures, he received this one.

    His grandfather said that despite the ship being lost in battle—like Atlanta, our Navy, and our Nation—we are resilient.

    Atlanta’s motto is “Resurgens,” which means “to rise again.”

    What better mantra for us to embrace as we move forward?

    Mr. Karanovich, thank you for sharing this beautiful portrait and story with all of us to enjoy.

    I thank all of you here for your support of our maritime services—you ensure that America remains the greatest nation in the world.

    And now, it is my great pleasure to introduce a leader who was born in this great state.

    She currently serves Georgia’s 5th Congressional District and is a member of several caucuses including the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Voting Rights Caucus, LBGTQ+ Equality Caucus, and the HBCU Caucus.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Congresswoman Nikema Williams.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Womack Hosts NIH Director Bertagnolli in Arkansas’ Third District

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3)

    Rogers, AR—October 23, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., in the River Valley on Monday and in Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday. Congressman Womack, Director Bertagnolli, and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) visited medical organizations, gained a comprehensive understanding of the region’s medical needs, and saw the partnership between the NIH and local healthcare in action.

    Congressman Womack said, “It’s important to bring Washington to Arkansas to ensure Third District Arkansans’ needs are met and their voices are heard. I want leaders in our nation, such as Director Bertagnolli, to see the exciting medical research and advancements happening in the Third District while fully understanding the area’s healthcare needs. I’m grateful Director Bertagnolli took the opportunity to see firsthand the remarkable work of our local health providers, researchers, and partners. Senator Boozman and I look forward to a continued partnership with Director Bertagnolli to improve health outcomes for Arkansans.”

    Director Bertagnolli said, “The entire community – academic institutions, public health departments, health care providers, businesses, and state and federal government – all play a critical role in making health better for everyone. It is so inspiring to see how Arkansas is working to address the needs of their communities on all fronts, and partnering to eliminate the extra health challenges this region is experiencing. I am so grateful to Congressman Womack and Senator Boozman for hosting me. I have learned so much and am eager to bring more health research to Arkansas. The talent and dedication I have witnessed here makes me sure that we will make tremendous progress.”

    Senator Boozman said, “The collaboration in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley as growing hubs for local and regional medical care as well as nationally recognized innovative research is a tremendous asset. NIH plays a critical role in funding this vital work through the grants and partnerships it supports that generate advanced treatments, cures and overall better outcomes in our communities. Congressman Womack and I were pleased to show Director Bertagnolli the impact of these investments and provide our medical professionals an opportunity to share their feedback directly with the leader of America’s premier health research organization.”

    MIL OSI USA News –