NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Europe: FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds political consultations with Brazil

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    Bern, 15.10.2024 – Alexandre Fasel, the state secretary of the FDFA, met with the deputy foreign minister of Brazil, Maria Laura da Rocha, in Brasilia. The political consultations centred on bilateral relations, issues relating to economic and security policy, respect for human rights and cooperation to protect the environment.

    Since 2008, Switzerland and Brazil have held annual political consultations to discuss bilateral and multilateral matters of the day. At the 11th edition of these consultations on 15 October 2024, Mr Fasel and Ms Da Rocha highlighted the close relations between their two countries, which are put into effect through nine regular dialogues in areas ranging from business, science, and research to human rights.

    Brazil is Switzerland’s biggest trading partner in Latin America, with a total volume of approximately CHF 4.4 billion in 2023. This corresponds to around a quarter of Switzerland’s total trade with all Latin American countries. Economic issues were thus at the centre of the discussions in Brasilia. In addition to the intensification of bilateral trade and investment, a particular focus was placed on the negotiations between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, and Mercosur, a single market of around 270 million inhabitants comprising the four South American states of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The negotiations between EFTA and Mercosur were largely concluded in 2019 and are now in the final phase. Mr Fasel and Ms Da Rocha expressed their hope that the free trade agreement can be signed soon.

    The political consultations also involved a discussion on various crises and conflicts, including regional security in general and in particular the situation in Venezuela, and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Both interlocutors underscored the importance of contributing to peace and security through dialogue and mediation. In this context, Mr Fasel emphasised that in Switzerland’s view all initiatives for peace in Ukraine that are based on international law and the UN Charter should be considered. He also informed Ms Da Rocha about Switzerland’s work during its term on the UN Security Council, which will come to an end in December 2024.

    Measures to boost cooperation to protect the environment and promote sustainability were also on the agenda of the Brasilia meeting. Switzerland supports several initiatives to protect the Amazon rainforest and in areas such as decarbonisation, sustainable infrastructure and cleantech in Brazil. These projects are coordinated as part of the run-up to the COP 30 climate conference (‘the Road to Belém’), which will take place in Belém in 2025 – the gateway city to the Amazon.

    During his visit to Brazil, Mr Fasel also held talks with representatives from the political and scientific communities in Brasilia and São Paulo. In Brasilia, he also took part in an event to mark 75 years of the Geneva Conventions and Switzerland’s presidency of the UN Security Council in October 2024.

    Brazil is a priority country in the Federal Council’s Americas Strategy 2022–25: since 2023, seven meetings have taken place between members of the Federal Council and their Brazilian counterparts, and two at presidential level.

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spooky on the Space Station

    Source: NASA

    Cultures around the world celebrate Halloween on Oct 31. In many places, in addition to people wearing costumes and eating candy, this day is associated with spooky decorating using fake blood, skeletons, flies, and spiders, some of them glow-in-the-dark.
    Crew members on the International Space Station have been known to indulge in a bit of dressing up and candy consumption to mark the day, and the research they conduct year-round occasionally involves these iconic Halloween themes. No tricks, just treats.

    A current investigation, Megakaryocytes Flying-One or MeF1, investigates how components of real blood known as megakaryocytes and platelets develop and function during spaceflight. Megakaryocytes are large cells found in bone marrow and platelets are pieces of these cells. Both play important roles in blood clotting and immune response. Results could improve understanding of changes in inflammation, immune responses, and clot formation in spaceflight and on the ground.

    Fake spiders and flies are popular Halloween decorations (and fodder for fun pranks). Several investigations on the space station have used real ones.
    Fruit Fly Lab-02 used fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, to examine the cellular and genetic mechanisms that affect heart health during spaceflight. The flies experienced several effects on cardiac function, including changes in muscle fibers, that could be a fundamental response of heart muscles to microgravity.
    MVP Fly-01 looked at how spaceflight affects immune function and resulting changes to the nervous system of the same type of flies, along with the value of artificial gravity as a countermeasure. Researchers found that artificial gravity provided some protection to physical changes to the central nervous system from spaceflight. Spiders, Fruit Flies and Directional Plant Growth (CSI-05) compared the weaving characteristics of golden orb-web spiders on the space station and the ground. Under natural conditions, the spiders build asymmetric webs with the hub near the upper edge, where they wait for prey. In microgravity, most but not all webs were quite symmetric, although webs built when the lights were on were more asymmetric and the spiders waited facing away from the lights. This could mean that in the absence of gravity, the spiders orient to the direction of light.

    Everyone needs healthy bones and skeletons, and not just on Halloween. But spaceflight and aging on Earth can cause loss of bone mass. Space station research has looked at the mechanisms behind this loss as well as countermeasures such as exercise and nutrition.
    Bisphosphonates as a Countermeasure to Bone Loss examined whether a medication that blocks the breakdown of bone, in conjunction with the routine in-flight exercise program, protected crew members from bone mineral density loss during spaceflight. The research found that it did reduce loss, which in turn reduced the occurrence of kidney stones in crew members.
    Assessment of the Effect of Space Flight on Bone (TBone) studied how spaceflight affects bone quality using a high-resolution bone scan technique. Researchers found incomplete recovery of bone strength and density in the tibia (a bone in the lower leg), comparable to a decade or more of terrestrial age-related bone loss. The work also highlighted the relationship between length of a mission and bone loss and suggested that pre-flight markers could identify crew members at greatest risk.
    In a merging of blood and bones, CSA’s Marrow looked at whether microgravity has a negative effect on bone marrow and the blood cells it produces. Decreased production of red blood cells can lead to a condition called space anemia. Findings related to the expression of genes involved in red blood cell formation and those related to bone marrow adipose or fat tissue, which stores energy and plays a role in immune function, could contribute to development of countermeasures. Marrow results also suggested that the destruction of red blood cells (known as hemolysis) is a primary effect of spaceflight and contributes to anemia. Bad news for vampires.

    Fluorescence – a cool effect at a ghoulish party – also is a common tool in scientific research, enabling researchers to see physical and genetic changes. The space station has special microscopes for observing glow-in-the-dark samples.
    For Medaka Osteoclast 2, an investigation from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), researchers genetically modified translucent Medaka fish with fluorescent proteins to help them observe cellular and genetic changes the fish experience during spaceflight. One analysis revealed a decrease in the mineral density of bones in the throat and provided insights into the mechanisms behind these changes.

    Biorock, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), examined how microgravity affects the interaction between rocks and microbes and found little effect on microbial growth. This result suggests that microbial-supported bioproduction and life support systems can perform in reduced gravity such as that on Mars, which would be a perfect place for an epic Halloween celebration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle

    Source: NASA

    6 min read

    In a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year.

    The solar cycle is a natural cycle the Sun goes through as it transitions between low and high magnetic activity. Roughly every 11 years, at the height of the solar cycle, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip — on Earth, that’d be like the North and South poles swapping places every decade — and the Sun transitions from being calm to an active and stormy state.

    NASA and NOAA track sunspots to determine and predict the progress of the solar cycle — and ultimately, solar activity. Sunspots are cooler regions on the Sun caused by a concentration of magnetic field lines. Sunspots are the visible component of active regions, areas of intense and complex magnetic fields on the Sun that are the source of solar eruptions.

    “During solar maximum, the number of sunspots, and therefore, the amount of solar activity, increases,” said Jamie Favors, director, Space Weather Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star — but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system.”

    [embedded content]

    The solar cycle is the natural cycle of the Sun as it transitions between low and high activity. During the most active part of the cycle, known as solar maximum, the Sun can unleash immense explosions of light, energy, and solar radiation — all of which create conditions known as space weather. Space weather can affect satellites and astronauts in space, as well as communications systems — such as radio and GPS — and power grids on Earth.Credits: Beth Anthony/NASA

    Solar activity strongly influences conditions in space known as space weather. This can affect satellites and astronauts in space, as well as communications and navigation systems — such as radio and GPS — and power grids on Earth. When the Sun is most active, space weather events become more frequent. Solar activity has led to increased aurora visibility and impacts on satellites and infrastructure in recent months.

    During May 2024, a barrage of large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched clouds of charged particles and magnetic fields toward Earth, creating the strongest geomagnetic storm at Earth in two decades — and possibly among the strongest displays of auroras on record in the past 500 years.

    [embedded content]

    May 3–May 9, 2024, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory observed 82 notable solar flares. The flares came mainly from two active regions on the Sun called AR 13663 and AR 13664. This video highlights all flares classified at M5 or higher with nine categorized as X-class solar flares.Credit: NASA

    “This announcement doesn’t mean that this is the peak of solar activity we’ll see this solar cycle,” said Elsayed Talaat, director of space weather operations at NOAA. “While the Sun has reached the solar maximum period, the month that solar activity peaks on the Sun will not be identified for months or years.”

    Scientists will not be able to determine the exact peak of this solar maximum period for many months because it’s only identifiable after they’ve tracked a consistent decline in solar activity after that peak. However, scientists have identified that the last two years on the Sun have been part of this active phase of the solar cycle, due to the consistently high number of sunspots during this period. Scientists anticipate that the maximum phase will last another year or so before the Sun enters the declining phase, which leads back to solar minimum. Since 1989, the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel — an international panel of experts sponsored by NASA and NOAA — has worked together to make their prediction for the next solar cycle.

    Solar cycles have been tracked by astronomers since Galileo first observed sunspots in the 1600s. Each solar cycle is different — some cycles peak for larger and shorter amounts of time, and others have smaller peaks that last longer.

    Sunspot number over the previous 24 solar cycles. Scientists use sunspots to track solar cycle progress; the dark spots are associated with solar activity, often as the origins for giant explosions — such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections — which can spew light, energy, and solar material out into space.For these images and more relating to solar maximum, visit https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14683.
    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

    “Solar Cycle 25 sunspot activity has slightly exceeded expectations,” said Lisa Upton, co-chair of the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel and lead scientist at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. “However, despite seeing a few large storms, they aren’t larger than what we might expect during the maximum phase of the cycle.”

    The most powerful flare of the solar cycle so far was an X9.0 on Oct. 3 (X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength).

    NOAA anticipates additional solar and geomagnetic storms during the current solar maximum period, leading to opportunities to spot auroras over the next several months, as well as potential technology impacts. Additionally, though less frequent, scientists often see fairly significant storms during the declining phase of the solar cycle.

    The Solar Cycle 25 forecast, as produced by the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel. Sunspot number is an indicator of solar cycle strength — the higher the sunspot number, the stronger the cycle.For these images and more relating to solar maximum, visit https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14683.
    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

    NASA and NOAA are preparing for the future of space weather research and prediction. In December 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission will make its closest-ever approach to the Sun, beating its own record of closest human-made object to the Sun. This will be the first of three planned approaches for Parker at this distance, helping researchers to understand space weather right at the source.

    NASA is launching several missions over the next year that will help us better understand space weather and its impacts across the solar system.

    Space weather predictions are critical for supporting the spacecraft and astronauts of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Surveying this space environment is a vital part of understanding and mitigating astronaut exposure to space radiation. 

    NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. To see how space weather can affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts.

    By Abbey InterranteNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Media Contact:Sarah Frazier, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.sarah.frazier@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Recognize Latina Equal Pay Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with 23 fellow senators, introduced a resolution to honor Latina Equal Pay Day. The resolution recognizes the disparity in wages paid to Latinas, the significance of equal pay, and its larger impact on women, families, and the economy. 

    “Lost wages mean Latina women have less money to support themselves and their families, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services,” wrote the lawmakers.

    Latina Equal Pay Day, which was observed on October 3, 2024, is a day to reflect on the continued impact of wage gaps on Latina women. In 2023, more than 60 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latinas were paid just 51 cents for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male colleagues. Latina women also continue to lack access to paid leave and experience increased levels of workplace harassment. 

    Bennet cosponsored a Latina Equal Pay Day resolution in 2022. He also cheered the passage of the Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in September.

    Full text of the resolution available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome Funding for Colorado Organizations Supporting Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed over $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for eight Colorado organizations that offer adaptive sports, recreational activities, and equine therapy for veterans and service members living with disabilities. 

    “Our veterans have sacrificed so much to keep our country safe, and we owe them our support after they have served,” said Bennet. “Colorado veterans deserve to live a full and independent life, and this funding will help wounded heroes access athletics and other recreational activities.”

    “Adaptive sports give our wounded veterans a community and outlet for mental health,” said Hickenlooper. “This funding makes it easier for our disabled vets to hit the slopes and enjoy all the outdoor activities that make Colorado special.” 

    The funding comes from the VA’s’ Adaptive Sports Grant Program, which supports more opportunities for disabled veterans to play recreational sports and activities customized to better fit their needs.  The VA has awarded over $119 million in grants through the Adaptive Sports Grant Program during the last nine years.

    A full list of selected organizations is below:


    Location

    Project Name

    Amount Awarded

    Sports

    Westminster

    Adaptive Adventures

    $748,510

    Alpine Skiing, Climbing, Cycling, Dragon Boat, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Snowboarding

    Snowmass Village

    Challenge Aspen

    $230,100

    Alpine Skiing, Archery, Biking, Fly Fishing, Snowboarding

    Crested Butte

    Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, Inc.

    $180,320

    Alpine Skiing, Backpacking, Biking, Canoeing, Climbing, Cycling, Kayaking, Nordic Skiing, Paddleboarding, Rafting, Snowshoeing

    Denver

    National Sports Center for the Disabled

    $145,394

    Air Gun, Alpine Skiing, Archery, Biking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing, Hiking, Nordic Skiing, Rafting, Snowboarding

    Breckenridge

    Breckenridge  Outdoor Education Center

    $105,637

    Air Rifle, Archery, Boccia, Cycling, Golf, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Rowing, Sitting Volleyball, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball

    Colorado Springs

    Archery School of the Rockies Inc.

    $94,416

    Archery

    Vail

    Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc.

     

    $72,515

    Alpine Skiing, Fly Fishing, Horseback Riding, Rafting, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Ziplining

    Fruita

    Harmony Acres Equestrian Center

    $67,201

    Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cartwright Delivers More than $2 Million to Northeastern Pennsylvania Fire Departments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Matt Cartwright (17th District of Pennsylvania)

    Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $2 million in federal funding to support 20 northeastern Pennsylvania firefighters and first responders through its Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) grant programs.

    These grants will allow firefighters throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties to be appropriately staffed and equipped with critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

    “Our fire departments are a first line of defense, keeping our communities safe and secure. These grants will help ensure these first responders have the personnel,  vehicles, training and everyday tools to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods and loved ones,” said Congressman Cartwright. “I am proud to stand with firefighters and  first responders in Congress. On the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue doing everything I can to support our dedicated heroes.”

    Luzerne County – $948,911 total

    The $344,500 in SAFER grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

    Kunkle Fire Company – $344,500 to purchase protective personal equipment and to bolster recruitment and retention programs

    The $604,411 in AFG grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

    City of Wilkes-Barre – $37,353 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Freeland Fire Department – $117,654 to purchase essential firefighting hoses, nozzles and appliances

    Germania Hose Company – $154,286 to purchase 18 self-containing breathing apparatus systems

    Hanover Township Fire Department – $95,238 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

    Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company – $33,829 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 – $66,051 to purchase 18 sets of structural protective personal equipment

    Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department – $28,571 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Wright Township Volunteer Fire Association – $71,429 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

    Lackawanna County – $414,597 total

    The $414,597 in AFG grants awarded to Lackawanna County includes:

    Archbald Community Ambulance – $53,333 to purchase a source capture exhaust system to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupational hazard risks

    Artisan Fire Company, Jermyn – $74,667 to purchase 13 sets of structural protective personal equipment (PPE) and PPE cleaning equipment

    City of Scranton – $68,182 to fund physical health exams and cancer screenings for 75 members of the department

    Scott Township Hose Company – $180,543 to purchase 18 self-containing breathing apparatus and six portable radios to improve on-scene communications

    Taylor Fire and Rescue – $24,762 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Wilson Fire Company No. 1, Peckville – $13,110 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Monroe County – $158,487 total

    The $158,487 in AFG grants awarded Monroe County includes:

    Pocono Mountain Regional EMS – $158,487 to purchase one automatic chest compression device and two defibrillators

    Wayne County – $530,953 total

    The $371,965 in SAFER grants awarded to Wayne County includes:

    Honesdale Hose Company No. 1 – $371,965 to purchase 15 sets of protective personal equipment and bolster training, recruitment and retention programs

    The $158,988 in AFG grants awarded Wayne County includes:

    Browndale Fire Company No. 1 – $22,857 to purchase protective personal equipment gear cleaning equipment

    Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company – $67,286 to purchase essential firefighting hoses, nozzles and appliances

    Shohola Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue- $68,845 to purchase essential firefighting hoses, nozzles and appliances

    The AFG and SAFER programs are administered by FEMA to ensure that local fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations have the personnel, resources and equipment they need to protect communities and emergency personnel from fires and other related hazards.

    More information on the AFG and SAFER programs is available at FEMA.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures $8M from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation to Address Redlining in Black Communities in Birmingham, Alabama

    Source: US State of California

    Combating Redlining Initiative Surpasses $150M in Relief for Redlined Communities at its Third Anniversary

    The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced today that Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (Fairway) has agreed to pay $8 million and a $1.9 million civil money penalty to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black neighborhoods in and around Birmingham, Alabama.

    Redlining is an illegal practice by which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race, color, or national origin of residents in those communities.

    With this settlement, the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative surpassed $150 million in relief for communities of color nationwide that have experienced lending discrimination. This settlement marks the Justice Department’s 15th redlining settlement in three years. Under the Combating Redlining Initiative, the Department has secured a historic amount of relief that is expected to generate over $1 billion in investment in communities of color in places such as Houston; Memphis; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; and Birmingham.

    “This settlement, and the over $150 million in relief the Justice Department has secured for communities across the country through our Combating Redlining Initiative, will help to ensure that future generations of Americans inherit a legacy of home ownership that they too often have been denied,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case is a reminder that redlining is not a relic of the past, and the Justice Department will continue to work urgently to combat lending discrimination wherever it arises and to secure relief for the communities harmed by it.”

    The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway illegally redlined Black neighborhoods in Birmingham, including through its marketing and sales actions, and discouraged residents of those neighborhoods from applying for mortgage loans. The settlement announced today requires Fairway to provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program to offer affordable home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans in Birmingham’s majority-Black neighborhoods, invest an additional $1 million in programs to support that loan subsidy fund, and pay a $1.9 million civil penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

    This case is the third redlining enforcement action brought jointly by the Justice Department and the CFPB under the initiative, highlighting the strong partnership between the agencies to root out and address lending discrimination.

    “Birmingham lies at the heart of our nation’s civil rights struggle but is also a community that bears the legacy of discriminatory redlining and other exclusionary policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement will provide Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods with the access to credit they have long been denied and increase opportunities for homeownership and generational wealth. This settlement makes clear our intent to uproot modern-day redlining in every corner of the country, including in the deep South. With more than $150 million in total relief secured in three short years, our Combating Redlining Initiative is generating real economic opportunity for communities of color while sending a strong message to mortgage lenders, no matter their business model, that discriminatory lending will not be tolerated in America.”

    “The settlement reached with Fairway Mortgage is a win for communities of color here in Birmingham that have historically been denied access to vital economic resources,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama. “Our office is committed to ensuring that these communities have equal access to housing and credit resources.”

    “The CFPB and Justice Department are holding Fairway accountable for redlining Black neighborhoods,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Fairway’s unlawful redlining discouraged families from seeking loans for homes in Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods.”

    Fairway is a non-depository mortgage company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2022, Fairway was the nation’s fifth-largest lender by origination volume and ninth-largest by application volume. Fairway operates in the Birmingham area under the trade name MortgageBanc.

    The complaint describes how Fairway redlined majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area (Birmingham MSA). During the period covered by the complaint, the Birmingham MSA included six counties in north central Alabama with a combined population of about 1.1 million. While Fairway claimed to serve the entire metropolitan area, it concentrated all its retail loan offices in majority-white areas, directed less than 3% of its direct mail advertising to consumers in majority-Black areas, and for years discouraged homeownership in majority-Black areas by generating loan applications at a rate far below its peer institutions.

    The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway violated the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Consumer Financial Protection Act. Specifically, the government alleges problematic conduct by Fairway including:

    • Failing to address known signs of discrimination: Fairway’s own data showed that, since at least 2017, it was failing to serve majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham area, but before October 2022, it took no meaningful actions to address redlining risk. Between 2018 and 2022, only 3.7% of Fairway’s applications were for properties in majority-Black areas, compared to 12.2% for Fairway’s peer lenders. In other words, Fairway’s peer lenders generated applications for properties in majority-Black areas at over three times the rate of Fairway. This disparity was even higher in neighborhoods with 80% or more Black residents, where Fairway made loans at less than one-eighth of the rate of its peer lenders. Despite these figures, Fairway failed to adopt any written plan for marketing or growth to address the concern.
    • Redlining Black neighborhoods: From 2015 through 2022, Fairway operated three retail loan offices and three loan production desks within real estate offices in the Birmingham MSA, all of which were in majority-white areas. Fairway also relied on referrals from real estate professionals and its loan officers’ personal contacts to generate applications, and the vast majority of Fairway’s referral sources and referred consumers were located in majority-white areas. Fairway predominantly directed its marketing to majority-white areas and failed to train or incentivize its existing loan officers to better serve majority-Black areas. By taking these actions, Fairway discriminated against, and unlawfully discouraged mortgage loan applications for properties in, majority-Black neighborhoods.

    The proposed consent order, which awaits approval by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, would require Fairway to:

    • Provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program: The order would require Fairway to offer home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans on a more affordable basis than otherwise available in majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham MSA. The program may provide lower interest rates, down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, or payment of initial mortgage insurance premiums.
    • Invest at least $1 million in redlined neighborhoods: Fairway would be required to open or acquire a new loan production office or full-service retail office in a majority-Black neighborhood in the Birmingham MSA. The company must also spend at least $500,000 on advertising and outreach, at least $250,000 on consumer financial education, and at least $250,000 on partnerships with one or more community-based or governmental organizations to serve the affected neighborhoods.
    • Pay a $1.9 million penalty: The proposed order imposes a $1.9 million civil penalty against Fairway, which would be paid into the CFPB’s Civil Penalty Fund, also referred to as the victims’ relief fund.

    Information about the Justice Department’s fair lending enforcement work can be found at www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online.

    Consumers can submit complaints about financial products and services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

    Employees who believe their company has violated federal consumer financial protection laws are encouraged to send information about what they know to whistleblower@cfpb.gov. To learn more about reporting potential industry misconduct, visit the CFPB’s website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kelly Announces More than $17M Investment for Energy Grid Resiliency – Governor of the State of Kansas

    Source: US State of Kansas

    TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 11 Kansas communities have secured more than $17 million for energy grid resilience. This investment combines nearly $12 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s 40101(d) Grid Resilience Grant Program and more than $5.8 million in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund.

    “By leveraging federal funds to supplement our state and local investments, we are strengthening opportunities for economic growth across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The 40101(d) Grid Resiliency program ensures our communities have the resources to build, operate, or maintain critical infrastructure.”

    “The survival and economic development of our rural communities are dependent on a solid infrastructure,” said Representative Troy Waymaster, chair of the Build Kansas Fund Advisory Committee. “The awards made through the Build Kansas Fund Advisory Committee, and ultimately approved by the U.S. Department of Energy, ensure that these communities will continue to thrive. I am glad these eleven Kansas projects were selected for this program.”

    The 11 Kansas projects receiving grid resiliency funding are:

    • City of Garden City – Underground Conductor and Transformer Replacement
      • Build Kansas Funding – $302,590
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $626,048
      • Total Project – $928,638
    • City of Pratt – Substation Hardening
      • Build Kansas Funding – $1,034,551
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $2,140,449
      • Total Project – $3,175,000
    • Victory Electric – South Dodge City Grid Resiliency
      • Build Kansas Funding – $715,395
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,480,129
      • Total Project – $2,195,524
    • Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative – Resiliency Enhancements to Strategically Transfer Optimized Reliable Energy
      • Build Kansas Funding – $200,403
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $414,627
      • Total Project – $615,030
    • Ark Valley Electric Cooperative – System Resiliency Project
      • Build Kansas Funding – $235,421
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $487,079
      • Total Project – $722,500
    • Holton Electric – Transformer and Feeder Circuit Improvements
      • Build Kansas Funding – $796,360
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,647,640
      • Total Project – $2,444,000
    • City of Blue Mound – Substation, Electric Line & Pole Replacement
      • Build Kansas Funding – $175,603
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $270,071
      • Total Project – $445,674
    • City of Anthony– Circuit Reconstruction
      • Build Kansas Funding – $131,161
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $271,369
      • Total Project – $402,530
    • Pioneer Electric Cooperative – Grid Resiliency, Vulnerability, and Innovation Initiative
      • Build Kansas Funding – $1,575,449
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $3,259,551
      • Total Project – $4,835,000
    • City of Horton – Substation Upgrade
      • Build Kansas Funding – $529,494
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,095,506
      • Total Project – $1,625,000
    • City of Attica – Rebuild High-Voltage Feeder Line
      • Build Kansas Funding – $143,371
      • Federal Funding Awarded – $296,629
      • Total Project – $440,000

    “The importance of grid resiliency cannot be overstated,” said Rick Pemberton, energy division director for the Kansas Corporation Commission. “Safe and reliable power infrastructure is vital to our rural economy.”

    “Rural Kansas communities do not always have the funding needed to meet the match requirements of large federal grants,” said Matthew Volz, P.E., executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub. “Having the Build Kansas Fund available can make all the difference in whether or not they can apply for these lucrative federal funding opportunities.”

    In addition to these awards, in recent months, the Build Kansas Fund has been used to leverage federal grant awards in the cities of Ozawkie, Manhattan, Russell, Concordia, Dodge City, Topeka, Nortonville, Ellsworth, Edgerton, Hutchinson, Independence; Coffey and Morton County; Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District; and the Salina Airport Authority. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects is just over $28.5 million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $44 million.

    The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to identify best practices for maximizing BIL funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under BIL. In 2023, the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly approved $200 million for the Build Kansas Fund to provide state-matching dollars to Kansas entities and projects to meet federal-local match requirements.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jon Irvine Appointed IAM Healthcare Coordinator

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Jon Irvine as IAM Healthcare Coordinator, effective Oct. 1, 2024. This appointment will build on the IAM’s commitment to empowering technical and professional workers in the healthcare industry.

    Irvine’s first exposure to the importance of a strong union voice for healthcare workers came from his mother, who spent her career as a Registered Nurse and proud AFSCME member. Jon would follow in his mother’s footsteps during the 2008 Great Recession and attended the Institute of Technology’s Licensed Practical Nursing program. Irvine eventually returned to work in the forestry field leading to his tenure with the IAM.

    Irvine began his IAM service in 2010 with Local W130 at the Port of Olympia in Washington state, where he served in many roles from Chief Shop Steward to Local President. He would go on to hone his skills as a professional trade unionist as a full-time team member with the Oregon AFL-CIO, providing collective bargaining, organizing and legislative support to affiliated unions.

    Eventually, Irvine returned to the IAM as a Business Representative with District W24, where he led the district’s organizing and legislative efforts. Irvine proved to be crucial part of District W24’s organizing success winning several campaigns for working people in the healthcare, automotive and manufacturing industry. 

    Irvine has spent the last two years of his career as an Education Representative at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center developing and teaching high level labor education to empower IAM members. As an Education Rep, Irvine played a pivotal role in supporting the educational needs of the IAM’s Healthcare, Railroad, Organizing and Woodworker Departments.

    “I’m grateful and humbled by the International President’s faith in my ability to help this team grow the IAM’s footprint in this industry and look forward to working with the IAM Healthcare team to reach this end,” said Irvine. “Healthcare workers play a vital role in our society. Diagnosing, treating and comforting people who are sick or injured is a noble endeavor. These workers deserve a collective voice, and I believe IAM Healthcare is the union to make sure these essential workers issues are heard loud and clear.”

    “Jon’s education and experience in healthcare work, organizing, collective bargaining and legislative action makes for a welcome addition to the IAM Healthcare team,” said International President Bryant. “Jon is joining IAM Healthcare at a critical moment for our union’s growing advocacy for both healthcare professionals and patients.” 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 7375, Expression of Interest Sensibility Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 7375 would modify the terms under which the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) collects a nonrefundable fee for submitting an expression of interest (EOI), which is an informal nomination to request certain federal land be included in a competitive oil and gas lease sale. 

    Under current law, EOIs are not automatically placed for sale when received nor does an EOI guarantee those lands will be offered at auction. The parcels must first be reviewed for availability and environmental concerns prior to being placed for sale. Public Law 117-169 established a $5 per acre fee to cover BLM’s cost of processing EOIs, which the agency collects at the time of submission. Those fees are recorded in the federal budget as offsetting receipts, that is, as reductions in direct spending.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 594, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 594 would direct the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a contiguous recreational route, to the maximum extent possible, by November 10, 2028. The departments would be required to prepare a trail acquisition and development plan and report periodically to the Congress on their progress.

    According to the departments, activities are underway to complete the trail, including optimal location review, land acquisition planning, and trail construction. On that basis, and the costs of similar tasks, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would require the equivalent of one additional employee’s time, at an average annual cost of $120,000, for a total cost of $1 million over the 2025-2029 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM District 142 Holds First Guide Dogs of America Tender Loving Canines Charity Golf Tournament

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Air Transport Territory members of District 142 recently gathered in Chandler, Ariz., to hold its first-ever charity golf outing for the IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC).

    More than 100 attendees had a fun day playing Golf, Corn Hole, and Frisbee games at the Ocotillo Golf Club. IAM District 142 President John Coveny, who leads approximately  30,000 members, was happy with the participation of the attendees.

    “The support has been tremendous,” said Coveny. “We had over 30 major companies and union local sponsors for the event, which made it a very special day.”

    Watch the video here. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pefiabgeo5gvryrob063i/10-4-DL-142-GDA-PHX.mp4?rlkey=bri5i1eyewm4dqt0em4vdqc2k&st=1wts2rct&dl=0
     
    IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen spent the day meeting and enjoying solidarity with the many members. 

    “What a wonderful event,” said Johnsen. “The planning shows, and the members had a good time raising money for the IAM’s charity of choice.” 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Charges Several People and Companies in a $280 Million Ponzi Scheme

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced it filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against:

    • Traders Domain FX LTD. d/b/a The Traders Domain, a St. Vincent and the Grenadines company with principal operations in Canada, and its two co-founders, Fredirick Teddy Joseph Safranko, a/k/a Ted Safranko, of Ontario or British Columbia, Canada, and David William Negus-Romvari of Ontario, Canada and Mexico
    • Ares Global Ltd. d/b/a Trubluefx, a Saint Lucia company
    • Algo Capital LLC, a Florida company
    • Algo FX Capital Advisor LLC n/k/a Quant5 Advisor LLC., a Delaware company with principal operations in Medley, Florida, and four of their officers and agents including Robert Collazo Jr. of Miami Lakes, Florida, Juan Jose Herman a/k/a/ JJ Herman of Miami, John Fortini of North Miami, Florida, and Stephen Likos of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
    • Michael Shannon Sims of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
    • Holton Buggs Jr., of Houston
    • Centurion Capital Group Inc., a Florida company, and three of its officers and agents including Alejandro Santiestaban a/k/a Alex Santi, Gabriel Beltran, both of Hialeah, Florida, and Archie Rice of Fulshear, Texas 

    The complaint alleges that, among other things, the defendants individually, and at times working in conjunction, made material fraudulent representations to their customers and misappropriated customer funds. In sum, more than 2,000 customers deposited no less than $283 million in connection with the alleged fraud.

    The CFTC seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, restitution, trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.

    On Oct. 3, Federal District Court Judge Roy K. Altman entered a statutory restraining order against the defendants, freezing their assets, and giving the CFTC immediate access to their books and records. The court scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for Oct. 29.

    Case Background

    The complaint alleges from at least November 2019 through the present, TD, Safranko, and Negus-Romvari orchestrated a multi-layered scheme to solicit funds for trading leveraged or margined retail commodity transactions, specifically gold-to-U.S. dollar pairs (XAU/USD), as well as assorted other commodities, through pooled and individual accounts. 

    The complaint states TD, Safranko, and Negus-Romvari made fraudulent and material oral and written misrepresentations and omissions, and misappropriated customer funds. The complaint alleges TD and Safranko falsified trading records and TD’s successor, Trubluefx, further misappropriated customer funds by failing to refund the money despite repeated attempts by thousands of customers to access and/or liquidate their accounts.

    According to the complaint, TD, Safranko, and Negus-Romvari also used other individuals and entities (sponsors) on TD’s behalf, with each sponsor acting like a spoke extending from the TD hub. 

    The sponsors Algo Capital and Algo FX Capital Advisor n/k/a Quant5, and their agents Collazo, Herman, Fortini, and Likos; Sims; Buggs; and Centurion, and its agents Santi, Beltran, and Rice, also fraudulently solicited customers and misappropriated funds. The sponsors actively downplayed red flags and continued to solicit customers, helping to create the false impression customers were participating in legitimate trading even as the scheme was on the brink of collapse.

    In the fall of 2022, customers began to experience extreme withdrawal delays and/or were unable to withdraw their funds. According to the complaint, TD, Safranko, and Negus-Romvari, and the sponsor defendants provided numerous, conflicting excuses for the delays — falsely assuring customers their funds were safe, and withdrawals would be processed. All while the sponsor defendants continued to solicit funds from new and existing customers to be traded in the TD Pool, allowing the defendants to continue their fraudulent scheme for more than six months and bilk customers out of millions of additional dollars.

    The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the National Futures Association, Ontario Securities Commission, the Financial Services Authority Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority), and Vanuatu Financial Services Commission. 

    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this matter are Alison B. Wilson, Sean Hennessy, Sarah Wastler, Kelly Folks, Maura Viehmeyer, Michelle Bougas, Erica Bodin, Stephanie Cooper, and Rick Glaser. Jeremy Christianson and Christopher Beatty from the CFTC’s Office of Data and Technology also assisted.

    CFTC’s Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory

    The CFTC has issued several customer protection Fraud Advisories and Articles, including the Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory, which provides information about a type of fraud involving individuals and firms, often unregistered, offering investments in commodity pools. The CFTC also urges the public to verify a company’s registration at NFA BASIC before investing funds. If an entity is unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that entity.

    Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, should be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the CFTC Whistleblower Office. Whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected, paid from the CFTC Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Praise Chile’s Laws on Violence against Women, Ask about Measures to Prevent Trafficking of Children and Sexual Abuse of Girls

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today considered the eighth periodic report of Chile, with Committee Experts praising the State’s laws on violence against women and femicide, and raising questions about measures to prevent trafficking of children and sexual abuse of girls.

    One Committee Expert said Chile had impressive laws on violence against women and femicide.  What was the reparation regime for femicide?

    A Committee Expert said trafficking remained a problem in Chile.  There were around 20,000 illegal adoptions; the stealing of children was reportedly a lucrative business for criminal groups.  What measures were in place to support women and children who were at risk of trafficking?

    Another Expert said the Committee was concerned by the high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse of teenage girls.  What was being done to prevent early pregnancies, sexual abuse of girls, and delays in processing of abortion requests?

    Introducing the report, Antonia Orellana Guarello, Minister of Women and Gender Equity of Chile and head of the delegation, said an emblematic advance in the fight against violence in Chile was the enactment this June of the comprehensive law against gender violence. In the last two years, law reform had established a comprehensive protection and reparation regime for victims of femicide. National violence against women programmes had been redesigned to offer care to a wider range of victims.

    Ms. Orellana Guarello said the Government had developed the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons 2023-2026, focusing on prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of crimes, intersectoral coordination, and international cooperation.  This plan had made it possible to double the State’s capacity to care for adult victims.

    The delegation added that the State had a new procedure for assessing international adoptions and was supporting investigations into kidnapping of children. One individual who had been kidnapped had been identified and reunited with their family.  The State party was working to establish a genetic database to help reunite families and victims.

    Chile had seen a downward trend in teenage pregnancies since 2016, the delegation noted, influenced by the free distribution of contraception.  The State party was developing legislation that decriminalised abortion.  Around 70 per cent of girls under 14 who requested abortions did so on the grounds of rape.  An early referrals programme had been developed to speed up their access to abortions.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Orellana Guarello said Chile was committed to implementing the rights of women in all their diversity.  The State party would work to collect disaggregated data on women, achieve gender parity at all levels, increase access to abortion, promote the rights of older women and reform the pension system, and improve the situation of women deprived of liberty.

    Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Chair, in concluding remarks, said that the dialogue had helped the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in the State party.  It would develop recommendations based on the dialogue to strengthen the implementation of the Convention for the benefit of all women and girls in Chile.

    The delegation of Chile consisted of representatives from the Supreme Court; Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; National Migration Service; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Women and Gender Equity; Ministry of the Interior and Public Security; Public Prosecutor’s Office; Gendarmerie; Public Criminal Defender’s Office; Cabinet of the Minister of Social Development and Family; and the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Chile at the end of its eighty-ninth session on 25 October.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 October to consider the tenth periodic report of Canada (CEDAW/C/CAN/10).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Chile (CEDAW/C/CHL/8).

    Presentation of Report

    ANTONIA ORELLANA GUARELLO, Minister of Women and Gender Equity of Chile and head of the delegation, said that since the last dialogue, Chile had experienced social protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of “anti-rights” groups.  Despite these challenges, the State had made progress in institutional, legal and administrative mechanisms to ensure the rights of women.  The National Equality Plan, updated in 2023, was the roadmap for equality policies in Chile. Minority groups had participated in the construction and monitoring of the plan.  In 2023 and 2024, six billion pesos were allocated to projects that directly benefited the diversity of women in different State institutions.

    An emblematic advance in the fight against violence was the enactment this June of the comprehensive law against gender violence, which established measures to punish and eradicate gender-based violence.  It created a judicial supervision mechanism, recognised children and adolescents as victims, and established an integrated data system on cases of gender violence. In the last two years, law reform had improved procedural guarantees and protected the rights of victims of sexual crimes; advanced the prevention, investigation and punishment of workplace sexual harassment; and established a comprehensive protection and reparation regime for victims of femicide, including a pension for sons and daughters, which until August 2024 has benefited 126 children and adolescents. National violence against women programmes had been redesigned to offer care to a wider range of victims.  The budget allocated to the prevention of violence against women had been increased by 22 per cent between 2021 and 2024.

    In 2022, a law prohibiting child marriage was enacted.  Thanks to this law, in the last two years there were no marriages with spouses under 18 years of age.  The Government had also developed the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons 2023-2026, focusing on prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of crimes, intersectoral coordination, and international cooperation. This plan had made it possible to double the State’s capacity to care for adult victims.  As of May 2024, humanitarian visas were issued to 21 women victims.  Progress had also been made with respect to the payment of child support through the creation of the National Registry of Alimony Debtors and the effective payment law. This had allowed the payment of more than 333 million United States dollars for alimony, benefiting more than 50,000 families as of May 2024.

    Chile was processing the bill that modified the Labour Code to promote equal pay between men and women, seeking to address the persistent gender wage gap, which stood at 23.3 per cent.  The Buenos Aires Commitment recognised the right to care and be cared for.  The Government had introduced a bill to establish a national policy on care to guarantee access to care in conditions of dignity.  Resources for care systems would be increased by 40 per cent by 2025, with the goal of serving 75,000 people with severe dependency.

    The More Women Scientists Programme had provided posts to women in science, technology, engineering and maths programmes at the university level.  The number of women selected for such programmes had since increased by 16.8 per cent.  The Government had implemented an inspection manual for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy law, which gave tools to local authorities for the supervision of health facilities.  It had also reduced the prices of oral, vaginal and long-acting contraception.

    The percentage of women participating in politics had increased in recent decades.  Chile was ranked sixth worldwide in high-level representation of women, with 58.3 per cent of members of the Cabinet of Ministers being women.  The Government was also promoting projects such as gender quotas in the elections of regional governors and councillors.  In the last two years, spaces had been created for women to participate in the evaluation and transformation of public policy, such as the Citizen Dialogues for the Care System, which had 12,614 participants, of which 80.4 per cent were women.  Dialogues were also held for rural women and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community, on sexual and reproductive rights and pension reform.

    In the last two years, 119 indigenous language and culture educators were recruited.  The Good Living Plan promoted the participation of Mapuche and rural women in political and social decisions through territorial dialogues.  The Government had also doubled the quota for hiring people with disabilities in companies and public institutions with 100 or more workers.  The National Policy on Migration and Foreigners provided comprehensive care for foreign women victims of domestic and gender-based violence.  Since 2023, the gender identity accompaniment programme had been implemented, serving more than 2,500 transgender and gender non-conforming children and adolescents.  This year, the Protocol for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was approved, reaffirming the commitment of the State to protect women human rights defenders.  The Protocol on the Treatment of Pregnant Women in Detention sought to guarantee respect for and exercise of these women’s rights.  From 2022 to May of this year, a total of 321 pregnant women had benefited from this law.

    The Committee’s recommendations would allow the State to make progress in complying with its international commitments and to guarantee respect for human rights.

    LORETO CARVAJAL, Senator of the Republic, said she was a member of a group of parliamentarians that promoted the creation of the Commission on Women and Gender Equity, a space to debate policies against discrimination and violence against women. The law on labour conciliation enshrined the right to remote work for all workers who had children under 14 years of age in their care.  Another law prohibited sexual and workplace violence and harassment at work.  The National Congress had also established its first breastfeeding room, and the Senate had installed 24 kits with menstrual hygiene products in its bathrooms.  The Work-Life Balance Protocol supported women with family and care responsibilities. 

    Chile also faced several challenges.  The revision of the civil partnership regime was still pending, as was a bill to strengthen the anti-discrimination law.  It was essential that resources were appropriately allocated to initiatives that addressed gender-based violence and promoted women’s economic empowerment.  There also needed to be increased cooperation between the legislative branch, the executive and civil society.  The delegation would faithfully reflect on both the State’s progress and the challenges remaining regarding the implementation of the Convention.

    ANDREA MUÑOZ SÁNCHEZ, Minister of the Supreme Court of Chile, said Chile’s understanding of the need to increase women’s access to justice had improved over the reporting period, and legal instruments and rulings reflected this.  The Supreme Court of Justice had a technical secretariat on gender equality and a gender equality policy.  There had been rulings regarding cases of violence against women that dealt with abandonment and recognition of non-typical cases of violence, including the use of legitimate use of self-defence by women.  There had also been rulings on the rights of women deprived of liberty and rulings recognising non-binary gender, and alternatives to detention had been issued for pregnant women.  The judiciary had also implemented many measures to eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace.

    Statement by the National Human Rights Institute

    CONSUELO CONTRERAS LARGO, National Director, National Human Rights Institute of Chile, said Chile’s statistics on violence against women were not disaggregated based on ethnicity, location, age, disability, sexual orientation and migrant status; this needed to be done.  It was worrying that amendments to the conjugal partnership law and the anti-discrimination law had not progressed.  The gap in representation between men and women continued to be wide, especially in mayoral offices and in the Senate, where women made up only 17 per cent and 24 per cent of representatives, respectively.  There was no gender quota in municipal elections, and for parliamentary elections, the quota would be in force only until 2029. 

    Difficulties in reporting violence and accessing care for minority women were concerning. There was a low number of personnel responsible for investigating trafficking in persons in the investigative police.  It was also worrying that only 15 universities offered training in gender violence, women’s rights, and gender perspective, and there was no discussion in Congress about comprehensive sex education in the school curriculum. 

    Gaps in wages and employability of men and women remained, while unemployment rates continued to be higher in women than in men.  The Institute was also concerned about barriers that hindered the provision of access to voluntary termination of pregnancy, including training and conscientious objection, and about the situation of pregnant women and women with children in prisons and the lack of progress on the bill prohibiting pretrial detention for such women.  The Institute was concerned about the lack of cultural relevance of policies for the prevention of violence against indigenous women.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    MARION BETHEL, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Chile, said that the Committee welcomed the efforts by the State party to disseminate the Convention and the ratification of the Optional Protocol in 2020.  Capacity-building efforts had reached over 46,000 public servants.  Had the State party established a permanent accountability mechanism regarding the Convention?  Was the Convention promoted in rural areas and had it been translated into indigenous languages? 

    The recent reform of the Constitution was a unique opportunity to advance gender equality and incorporate comprehensive protections for women’s rights.  However, this process had faced challenges.  What steps had been taken to anchor women’s rights in the Constitution? The Committee was concerned about discrimination targeting indigenous women and women of African descent.  What steps had been taken to amend the law on discrimination in line with the Convention?  How many cases had been tried under the law and what reparation had been provided to minority women?  What steps had been taken to address the law’s inadequacies?

    The availability of legal assistance for minority women remained insufficient.  How was the State party addressing this?  What training was being provided on gender equality and support for women for members of the judiciary?  Did training provided for the police and prison service improve access to justice for indigenous women, and how was gender mainstreaming being incorporated in the judiciary?

    Ms. Bethel welcomed that the Convention had been invoked in court rulings.  The State party needed to collect disaggregated data to inform public policy on gender.  What had been the impact of the work of the Intersectoral Working Group on the Rights of Indigenous Women?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Chile was committed to addressing gaps in monitoring the implementation of the Convention. The State party was making use of the “SEMORE” system, which collected data on the implementation of human rights treaties.  A mechanism had opened that allowed civil society to monitor the implementation of the Convention and a gender budgeting system would soon be implemented.

    More than 33,000 public servants had received training on gender equality.  The State was collaborating with the local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen training on the Convention for public officials.  Between 2022 and 2024, around 7,500 members of the judiciary took courses on gender issues and more than 900 members of the investigative police had also received such training.  From this year, all criminal and family judges were required to undergo mandatory training on violence against women, and prosecutors also underwent training on the Convention.

    The judiciary provided defence for all individuals.  There were specialised defenders for indigenous women and intercultural communicators who supported these women.  A bill to reform the Anti-Discrimination Act addressed shortcomings in the legislation and the need to compensate victims; this bill had been rejected, but work was underway to reform it so that it could be passed.

    The Government was working to establish institutions, roadmaps and training programmes to promote the rights of indigenous women.  The judiciary had a handbook of good practices related to gender, and a repository of judgements related to gender had been published.  More than 11,000 judgements had referenced the Convention, including 8,000 judgements by family courts.

    The Sub-Commission on Gender Statistics had established a standard on statistics on gender identity.  Upcoming surveys on gender-based violence would cover rural areas.  The new national census would include questions on gender identity, ethnicity and other characteristics.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on the creation of the Ministry for Women and Gender Equity. What percentage of the national budget had been devoted to gender institutions in the last three years? How did the State party ensure compliance by public officials with the Convention?  What was the mandate of the National Service for Women and Gender Equity? How was the Women’s Ministry empowered to influence other ministries, institutions and the media?

    The fourth national action plan on equality between men and women was commendable.  What budget had been attached to the plan and what achievements had it made?  Were issues concerning disadvantaged women integrated into national priorities? What measures were in place to monitor the implementation of the plan?

    MARION BETHEL, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Chile, commended the State party for its use of temporary special measures in promoting the representation of women in political bodies.  There was an absence of temporary special measures to promote the rights of disadvantaged women in other areas, however.  What groups of women had been targeted by temporary special measures and what steps had been taken to guarantee women’s rights in the economic recovery plan?  How were temporary special measures being used to address gender stereotypes and promote women’s access to employment?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the National Service for Women and Gender Equity promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment in various areas.  The budget for the Service had been increased in recent years, and its programme to combat violence had been strengthened.  Its activities reached more than 150,000 women, preventing violence and promoting women’s political participation.

    Almost 46,000 members of the police service had received training on human rights and gender, including over 500 directors of the police force.  The share of women applying for posts within the police had increased to 40 per cent. 

    The Women’s Ministry had participated in drafting the post-pandemic economic recovery plan in 2022, incorporating gender perspectives into the plan.  The rate of female integration in the workforce had increased by two per cent since the implementation of the plan.  Subsidies were provided to employed women to access childcare, and structures providing care for the elderly had been strengthened to alleviate women’s care burden.  The childcare system had been reformed to increase access for marginalised women.

    The labour inclusion law had helped to double the number of women with disabilities who had access to the labour market.  There was currently a record number of women in construction in Chile.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    MARION BETHEL, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Chile, said there was a lack of temporary special measures for indigenous women, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, and other disadvantaged women.  Was the State party working to create these?

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, asked how the State party ensured access to justice for vulnerable women.  Could indigenous women use their own languages in court?  What measures were in place to protect girls in the justice system?  How did the State ensure access to its national surveys for indigenous women, girls and women with disabilities? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Government was drafting a law on access to justice for gender-based crimes.  The judiciary had training programmes on gender and sexual diversity and there had been an inclusion protocol developed for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.

    The Government was working to ensure access to social programmes for marginalised groups of the population. Community care centres had been set up in rural areas to support the care burden for indigenous peoples. Information on sexual and reproductive rights was being provided to indigenous women in different indigenous languages and in Braille.  The national census was made available in the main three indigenous languages.  A law had been passed to recognise Chilean people of African descent, and the Ministry of Women had a body working to promote the rights of women of African descent.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert welcomed that Chile’s domestic legislation needed to be interpreted in line with the international human rights treaties ratified by Chile, and commended the State party’s efforts to address historical wrongs against women.  How was the State party advancing space exploration led by women and addressing the threats posed to women by autonomous weapons systems?  How would the State party incorporate women peacebuilders within its national action plan on women, peace and security?

    Technology-assisted violence disproportionately affected women.  How was the State party addressing algorithmic biases against women in artificial intelligence models?  The State had impressive laws on violence against women and femicide.  What was the reparation regime for femicide?  How did the State party monitor the implementation of the law on workplace harassment and prevent reprisals against women who reported it?  The State party needed to immediately promulgate the law on consent for sexual relations.  Was the monitoring mechanism for discrimination against HIV-positive people still in place?  Did the media law prohibit gender stereotyping? 

    Trafficking remained a problem in Chile. There were around 20,000 illegal adoptions; the stealing of children was reportedly a lucrative business for criminal groups.  Children in child protection centres were at risk of trafficking.  What reparations had been provided for victims of illegal adoptions?  What measures were in place to support women and children who were at risk of trafficking?

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, congratulated the State party on implementing the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding reparation for the forced sterilisation of a woman.  Was forced sterilisation of women with disabilities common?  When would the State party criminalise this practice? How was the State party ensuring protection for girls who were wards of the State from institutional violence?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said women were included in Chile’s armed forces.  The Commission of Peace and Understanding between the State and the Mapuche people, which included Mapuche women, was striving to achieve peace and an end to conflict with the Mapuche.  Chile had had a feminist foreign policy since 2022, and a gender lens was incorporated into foreign aid activities.  Chile was focusing on including women in international peace negotiations, such as negotiations with Colombia.  The State party had included a gender dimension in the regulation of autonomous weapons and in disarmament efforts.

    There were differing opinions on the effectiveness of establishing a law on consent for sexual relations; negotiation on this act was ongoing.  Laws had been implemented that increased penalties for obstetric violence and the non-consensual dissemination of pornographic material.  The new comprehensive law on violence against women addressed obstetric violence.  Courts were providing compensation for moral harm caused by obstetric violence and failed sterilisation procedures requested by women.

    Chile was promoting the inclusion of women in science, technology, engineering and maths careers and there had been an increase in women taking up these careers.  The State party had passed a law that promoted the inclusion of women in the mining sector.

    The State had a new procedure for assessing international adoptions and was supporting investigations into the kidnapping of children.  One individual who had been kidnapped had been identified and reunited with their family. The State party was working to establish a genetic database to help reunite families and victims.

    Chile had not received complaints related to the forced sterilisation of persons with disabilities.  It had recently adopted a law that required free, prior and informed consent for sterilisation procedures.  The State party had created a special body monitoring girls, boys and adolescents who were wards of the State.  Protection measures were implemented as a last resort.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert commended the State party’s commitment to female diplomacy and representation in all decision-making arena.  Would the State party implement quotas for 50 per cent representation of women at all levels of government?  The Expert welcomed the definition of “political violence” against women in the State’s legislation.  Was there a system for implementing this legislation?  What measures were in place to promote gender parity in the private sector? Was there a system to assess the environmental and gender impacts of foreign policies?

    Another Committee Expert welcomed efforts to address statelessness, including the implementation of the Statelessness Convention and the granting of Chilean nationality to all people born on Chilean territory.  Many children were born on migratory routes in Chile, increasing their risk of statelessness.  How was the State party working to register the births of migrant children?  Could it provide statistics in this regard?  How was the State party promoting access to refugee status determination procedures?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Chile’s feminist foreign policy included measures promoting the representation of women in the foreign service.  Around 24 per cent of Chile’s ambassadors were female, up from around 12 per cent in 2022.  The State was approaching gender parity in its diplomatic corps.  All Chile’s trade agreements had specific chapters on women. Chile had won a prize from the World Trade Organization for promoting gender equality through trade.

    There had been a rise in female participation in the Congress.  Quotas had been established for electoral lists.  Women were currently heading 13 different ministries, including ministries typically led by men.  Quotas were also being implemented in the regional elections that were currently underway.  A tool had been developed to support women wishing to run for election.  The Government had recognised political violence as a form of discrimination.  The Electoral Service was developing clear standards on this form of violence.

    Currently, all children born on migratory routes had access to Chilean nationality.  The State project on statelessness had allowed for the provision of nationality to around 100 children.  The law on immigration respected the best interests of the child. A draft law had been developed to provide nationality to children who did not have identity documents.  The State party worked to prevent refoulement of migrants.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert commended the educational reforms implemented by the State party.  What strategy did the State party have to prevent the dissemination of gender stereotypes in education?  What redress systems were in place for victims of discrimination within education? What monitoring was in place to ensure that the language policy empowered and did not stigmatise indigenous children?  What temporary special measures were in place to promote access to education for minority girls? 

    Had the State party developed disability-friendly learning environments and promoted inclusive education?  What was the rate of return for girls who left the education system early?  How did the State party’s science, technology, engineering and maths education programme address structural barriers to women accessing careers in this field?  The reproductive health education programme started in the second education cycle and was not compulsory.  Would the State party make the programme compulsory, continuing and age appropriate?

    Another Committee Expert commended the State party’s gender parity initiative, the law to reduce the maximum weekly working hours, and the law to implement International Labour Organization Convention 190.  The gender pay gap persisted in the State party.  What measures would the State party take to address the gap, particularly in higher paying positions?  The labour participation rate for women was 48.1 per cent in 2021.  What measures were in place to increase the rate and eliminate horizontal and vertical discrimination against women in the workplace? How was the State party promoting women’s participation in the digital economy, and the employment of marginalised women?  How were self-employed women and domestic workers supported to access State benefits? What efforts had been made to promote the equal sharing of household responsibilities between men and women? Could data on this be provided?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Chile had developed a draft bill on schooling that addressed discrimination within the educational community.  The bill was currently being assessed by Congress.  National days on non-sexist education had been held; over 450,000 children and parents had participated.  The admission system for higher education had been amended to support women’s access.  Textbooks had been updated to remove gender stereotypes.  The Government was also working to discourage violence in educational settings.  There were seven possible programmes for sex education, and schools could choose which programme they provided.  The State party planned to develop a bill that would improve the quality of sex education.  Educational institutions were being provided with guidance to implement inclusive education for children with disabilities.

    Between 2022 and 2024, women’s wages had increased by six per cent, and employment rates for women had returned to pre-pandemic levels.  The gender wage gap had decreased from 25 per cent in 2022 to 23 per cent in 2023. Most trade unions had greater participation of women than men.  Regulations had been implemented that allowed for shorter working hours for workers with children.  The number of days that parents could have off when their children were sick had been increased from 15 to 30.  Chile’s legislation established the joint responsibility of parents in caring for their children.  A programme had been developed to provide care for children in rural areas during holiday periods to allow their mothers to continue working.  This programme was now being expanded.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert said learners with auditory disabilities had complained that digital education portals were not accessible for them.  Had the State addressed this issue?  Each of the seven possible sexual health education programmes needed to be compliant with the Convention.  How many educational institutions had been fined for discrimination against girls?

    Another Committee Expert commended the State party’s initiative to decriminalise abortion on all grounds. The Committee was concerned by the high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse of teenage girls.  What was being done to prevent early pregnancies, sexual abuse of girls, and delays in processing of abortion requests?  Around 42 per cent of obstetric practitioners were conscientious objectors to abortion.  In rural areas, there were no alternatives if local doctors were conscientious objectors.  How was the State party addressing this?  Many women had experienced obstetric violence.  What support was the State party providing to ensure access to reparation for such violence?

    One Committee Expert commended the State’s pension and labour law reform.  Women’s unpaid working hours exceeded those of men by a large margin. Almost half of households were headed by women, many of which were impoverished.  There was a pay gap regarding pension payments for retirees. How was the State party preventing the widening of the gender wage gap and working to reduce the representation of women in the informal sector?  How would the State party correct the gender inequalities in the pension system and compensate women for unpaid care work?  Over 40 per cent of companies did not have women on their boards; how was this being addressed?

    What measures were in place to promote women and girls’ access to cultural and sporting activities, and to address discrimination against women in sports?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Chile had seen a downward trend in teenage pregnancies since 2016, influenced by the free distribution of contraception.  To prevent the underground use of misoprostol, the State party was developing legislation that decriminalised abortion.  Under 10 per cent of health providers had conscientious objectors to abortions.  The State party supported the referral of persons seeking abortions to alternative abortion providers in cases of conscientious objection.  Conscientious objectors were required to provide abortions if there was a risk to the life of the mother.  Chile had amended legislation to require healthcare institutions to provide patients with information on their abortion rights in various languages.  Around 70 per cent of girls under 14 who requested abortions did so on the grounds of rape.  An early referrals programme had been developed to speed up their access to abortions.  Most family court cases concerning abortions for minors who had been raped were decided within two days.

    Coverage of the pension system had reached 80 per cent, increasing greatly in recent years.  The State party was implementing reforms to close the gender pension gap.  It had drafted a law towards this aim that was currently in its second reading.  A national survey was being carried out that assessed the distribution of domestic work responsibilities.  It would inform future support policies.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert asked if the State party had considered mechanisms to prevent backstreet abortions.  What support did the State provide to girls who underwent abortions?

    Another Committee Expert asked if girls aged 16 and over could access abortions in cases of rape.

    One Committee Expert asked about measures to support women entrepreneurs’ access to loans and credit.

    A Committee Expert asked about steps that had been taken to develop an action plan on rural women and girls that addressed their access to services and land.  Chile was the only country in Latin America that did not recognise indigenous peoples in its Constitution.  Would the State party establish a ministry of indigenous affairs, as the Committee had previously recommended? What measures were in place to guarantee the right to tenure and ownership of land for indigenous women? Women of African descent were not visible in the State party due to a lack of data. Not all women of African descent were recognised by the State party in its legislation; how would this be addressed?

    Another Committee Expert commended reforms that raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exception.  De facto early unions were still being carried out in Chile.  What measures were in place to identify such unions and to support their dissolution, particularly in rural areas?  How was the State party promoting access to adoption for same-sex couples?  What was the status of efforts to amend the marital regime and to educate the population in this regard?  How effectively were temporary protective measures implemented to protect women and children in cases of family violence?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Chile planned to collect more data on people of African descent through its 2025 census. The Ministry of Women and Equity had implemented measures to support access to land tenure for indigenous peoples. There had yet to be progress on the draft law establishing a ministry of indigenous affairs; the Government would devote further efforts toward this aim.

    A national roundtable had been set up to support rural and indigenous women.  The roundtable had developed a programme to support access to water for these women.  There was also a programme supporting the development of rural and indigenous women as leaders.

    Amendments to the adoption law had been discussed for over 10 years.  The Government was working to establish a law that allowed for the adoption of children by same-sex couples.  Custody of children was not granted to violent parents.  Recent legislative reform defined children who experienced domestic violence as victims.  The State party was working to reform the marital property regime to increase women’s access to property in cases of divorce.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert said extractive industry activities had affected access to water in rural areas.  Would the State party strengthen environmental regulations to ensure that agribusiness activities did not negatively affect rural and indigenous women?  What steps had been taken to hold persons responsible for human rights violations occurring in the context of the 2019 protests?

    Another Committee Expert noted that a case had been brought before the Supreme Court in 2021 by two women regarding the shutting down of a power plant in Huasco.  What measures were in place to protect women in Huasco from pollution from power plants?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said a plan was being developed to gradually close power plants in Huasco and to provide reparations to persons who had been affected by pollution from these plants.  A draft bill had been put forward to address the loss of rural ecosystems caused by the activities of extractive industries.  A climate change adaption plan was also in place.

    Around 50 complaints had been brought against civil servants related to their actions in response to the 2019 protests, some of which had led to prosecutions.  Five of these cases involved female victims. 

    Concluding Remarks

    ANTONIA ORELLANA GUARELLO, Minister of Women and Gender Equity of Chile and head of the delegation, said the dialogue had been constructive.  The Committee’s inputs had been and would continue to be vital for the State party.  Chile was committed to implementing the rights of women in all their diversity. The State party had made progress but acknowledged that gaps remained.  The Committee’s recommendations would help the State party to move forward.  Chile would work to collect disaggregated data on women, achieve gender parity at all levels, increase access to abortion, promote the rights of older women and reform the pension system, and improve the situation of women deprived of liberty.

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, said that the dialogue had helped the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in Chile.  It would develop recommendations based on the dialogue to strengthen the implementation of the Convention for the benefit of all women and girls in Chile.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW24.028E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Artwork featuring materials from nature on display at the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill through Jan. 22

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Providence, RI� The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced today that works by three Charlestown-based artists Robin Spears Jr., Narragansett Indian Tribe citizen, his cousin, River Spears, Narragansett member, and Mikala Jackson, Kutzudika’a Paiute, Paiute Shoshone member, are currently on display in the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill. The exhibition, Indigenous Innovations, features traditional artwork utilizing natural materials from the eastern woodland and coastal landscape.

    The Opening Reception — and an opportunity to meet the artists � will be on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., in the Atrium Gallery, first floor of the state’s Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence. The reception is free and open to the public.

    Official Bios (provided by the artists)

    Robin Spears Jr. is a hunter, fisherman and gatherer. He uses these gifts of the earth to create. He grew up in a family of stone masons and has spent more than 35 years doing the art of stonework. Lieutenant Spears is an Environmental Police Officer for the Narragansett Tribe, caring for the land and its resources. He especially enjoys working with antler, cedar, turtle shells, bone, stone, wampum and other natural materials to create dance sticks, fans, pipes, rattles and other pieces of art. He is inspired by nature, his family, and his Narragansett culture.

    River Sokenun Spears, Robin’s cousin, a Narragansett Tribal citizen, is a self-taught wampum jewelry artist and flint knapper. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, he gathers resources from the land to create traditional Indigenous weapons, projectile points, and jewelry that honor his heritage. Influenced by his Uncle Craig Spears Sr. and skilled craftsman Alan Hazard, River sculpts wampum into intricate pieces that tell stories of his people and culture. His passion for preserving tradition extends to flint snapping, where the crafts arrow points from flint, chert, obsidian, glass, dacite, and quartz. Currently, he is an apprentice under Spears Jr. through RISCA’s Folk Art Fellowship Program.

    Mikala Jackson is an indigenous 28-year-old self-taught artist. A descendent of Kutzudika’a Paiute from Mono Lake, California, as well as Paiute Shoshone from Fort McDermitt, Nevada. Her most significant inspirations come from her family and culture. Being an indigenous woman during this present time has encouraged her to explore her own identity and aims to encourage others to do the same. In 2022, she was invited to participate in the side-by-side art exhibit of Warwick center for the arts and was awarded third place. Today she continues working on her craft and often attends art markets where she sells her artwork and more.

    All the artists reside in Charlestown.

    Exhibit Details

    What: Indigenous Innovations showcases the artwork of Robin Spears Jr. and two emerging artists. When: On display until Jan. 22; open to the public, weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Where: First floor of the state’s Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence. Opening Reception and Meet the Artist: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Atrium Gallery, One Capitol Hill, Providence. Free and open to the public.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha Remind Rhode Islanders of Voting Rights Ahead of Early Voting Period

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    PROVIDENCE, RI � Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and Attorney General Peter F. Neronha are today reminding Rhode Islanders of their rights as voters ahead of the start of early voting for the November 5, 2024 general election. Together, the RI Department of State and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office have created a resource guide entitled Know Your Rights: Rhode Island Elections, which outlines voters’ rights and provides related resources.

    “As Secretary of State, I’m committed to making sure every eligible Rhode Islander has the information they need to successfully cast their ballot, whether by mail, early in-person, or on Election Day,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. “I’m proud to continue our partnership with Attorney General Neronha, and hope Rhode Islanders will take a few moments to review this guide and ensure they understand their rights as voters.”

    “Voting is our most fundamental right as American citizens; the right on which all other rights depend,” said Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. “When we vote we choose our representation, we choose what we want for the future of our cities and towns, our state, and our country. These choices alone can be difficult, and that’s why protecting the ability of our citizens to vote safely without intimidation or interference is so important. I thank Secretary of State Amore for partnering with my Office on this initiative, and we stand ready to preserve and protect voting rights now and in future elections.

    The Know Your Rights guide, which is also available in Spanish, outlines nine main voting rights in Rhode Island: 1. You have the right to vote without any pressure or intimidation. 2. You have the right to vote by mail for any reason. 3. You have the right to fix your mail ballot or mail ballot application if it is rejected. 4. You have the right to vote in-person before Election Day. 5. You have the right to bring one of many different photo IDs to identify yourself at your voting location. 6. You have the right to request a provisional ballot if you are a registered voter and your name is not on the voter list at your designated polling place, or if you don’t have your acceptable photo ID. 7. You have the right to vote regardless of your gender identity. 8. You have the right to vote as soon as you are released from prison and you may also vote while you have been charged with a crime or are awaiting trial, sentencing, or incarceration. 9. You have the right to bring someone with you to vote. Voters looking to learn more about elections in Rhode Island can contact the RI Department of State by emailing elections@sos.ri.gov, calling 401-222-2340, or going online to vote.ri.gov. The 2-1-1 voter information hotline is also now available to Rhode Island voters.

    If someone interferes with your right to vote through threats, intimidation, or coercion, you can report it immediately using the Attorney General’s online complaint form or by calling the Voter Information Hotline by dialing 2-1-1, then pressing 5.

    The deadline to request a mail ballot is 4 p.m. today, October 15, 2024. Mail ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

    Early voting will take place beginning tomorrow, October 16, until 4 p.m. on November 4.

    Election Day is November 5.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington Bridge Demolition Resumes, New Procurement Opens for Bridge Reconstruction

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Tuesday, October 15, 2024

    McKee Administration Provides Key Updates on the Washington Bridge Project

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced key updates on the Washington Bridge project: demolition has resumed, demolition of the substructure has been moved up to ensure a more timely and efficient continuity of work, and a new procurement for the reconstruction opens today.

    “My priority is to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get a new bridge built as soon as we can — all while keeping Rhode Islanders safe,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We know that ensuring this complex project is done right will take time, but it is encouraging to see demolition resuming and the new procurement for the rebuild moving forward.”

    Demolition resumes, demolition of substructure moved up  

    This morning, demolition of the Washington Bridge resumed with crews working on the shoring towers on the East Providence side of the bridge. Necessary nighttime demolition that involves louder work such as jackhammering will not begin until Sunday, after the community is updated during a public meeting which is scheduled for Thursday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m.

    Additionally, as a direct result of feedback received from the industry during the Request for Information (RFI) process, the State also announced that the demolition of the substructure will be moved up to February 2025 and completed as part of the active demolition contract. Moving the demolition of the substructure from the upcoming reconstruction project to the active demolition project will ensure a more timely and efficient continuity of work as crews and equipment are already mobilized at the site. This will prevent additional time and costs associated with bidding out the contract and remobilizing. This update also removes a level of uncertainty for potential reconstruction bidders, helping ensure the new procurement attracts qualified bids.

    New reconstruction procurement opens  

    Today, the State will open a new two-step procurement for the Washington Bridge reconstruction project. The two-step procurement, preferred by the majority of companies that participated in the RFI, begins with the State issuing a Request for Qualifications, a solicitation that asks interested bidders to submit key criteria, such as experience in complex construction projects and qualifications of key staff.  

    The RFQ will result in a shortlist of two qualified design-build companies that will move on to step two of the procurement, the Request for Proposals (RFP). The two-step procurement is designed to minimize risk to the State and the bidders by narrowing the field down to two highly qualified and interested companies early in the procurement process which also helps ensure that the companies that bid are best able to undertake the work. The RFQ opens today, October 15, and the shortlist will be announced on December 11. 

    Once the two shortlisted companies are selected, the process will move forward as follows:

    • The shortlisted companies will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback on an RFP issued by RIDOT. 
    • If RIDOT determines that the feedback received will result in better proposals from the companies (particularly in terms of time and cost), the feedback will be incorporated into an addendum to the RFP and posted on January 24, 2025. 
    • The shortlisted companies will each submit a technical and cost proposal in response to the RFP with a tentative award to be made on June 6, 2025.

    To encourage participation in the RFP, RIDOT will offer an increased $1.75 million stipend to the unsuccessful shortlisted company to help cover the costs associated with crafting their technical and cost proposal. The RFI process showed that companies are often discouraged from advancing to the technical and cost proposal stage on such a complex project due to the significant costs associated with drafting a proposal.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CWA Statement on NLRB Funding Amid Increase in Worker Organizing

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    Search News

    WASHINGTON – The Communications Workers of America released the following statement in response to the NLRB’s announcement that worker organizing has doubled in the past three years:

     

    Today’s National Labor Relations Board release of data on worker union election petitions confirmed that the increase in worker organizing that our union has seen since the start of the Biden-Harris administration is part of a national movement, reversing a decades-long decline. Workers across our country are coming together to exercise their rights at work and organize for a better future. President Biden and Vice President Harris have made it clear that union representation helps build a better future and workers have responded.

     

    But the chronic underfunding of the NLRB has left workers with inadequate protections in their fight to build the American middle class. Despite the thousands of union elections in the past year, the NLRB has just half of the staffing in field offices as it did 20 years ago. This short staffing leads to justice delayed and justice denied for working people. CWA members at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette waited five years and one day from filing unfair labor practice charges against their employer until the day an overburdened and underfunded NLRB filed an injunction against the Post-Gazette to enforce the law. While waiting for justice, CWA members bravely sacrificed to carry on the fight on their own, leveraging the power of the strike and maintaining their picket lines for two years and counting. Every American worker deserves swift justice that can only be served by a fully funded and staffed NLRB.

     

    Our union applauds the Biden-Harris administration’s pro-worker policies that have empowered workers to stand up for their rights. More work remains to be done. We call on Congress to fully fund the NLRB and pass the PRO Act immediately.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $1.5 Million Awarded at Watts on the Moon Finals 

    Source: NASA

    Great Lakes Science Center, home of the visitor center for NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, hosted the final phase of NASA’s Watts on the Moon Challenge on Sept. 20. NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen attended to help acknowledge the top winners.  
    NASA awarded a total of $1.5 million to two U.S. teams for their novel technology solutions addressing energy distribution, management, and storage as part of the challenge. The innovations from this challenge aim to support NASA’s Artemis missions, which will establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. 
    This two-phase competition challenged U.S. innovators to develop breakthrough technologies that could enable long-duration Moon missions to advance the nation’s lunar exploration goals. 
    The winning teams are: 

    First Prize ($1 million): Team H.E.L.P.S. (High Efficiency Long-Range Power Solution) from University of California, Santa Barbara , won the grand prize for their hardware solution, which featured the lowest mass and highest efficiency of all competitors.  

    Second prize ($500,000): Orbital Mining Corporation, a space technology startup in Golden, Colorado, earned the second prize for its hardware solution that also successfully completed the 48-hour test with high performance. 

    Four teams were invited to refine their hardware and deliver full system prototypes in the  final stage of the competition, and three finalist teams completed their technology solutions for demonstration and assessment at NASA Glenn.  

    NASA Glenn’s Mary Wadel, director of Technology Integration and Partnerships, recognized the work involved to bring this challenge to its conclusion. Rob Button, deputy chief of Glenn’s Power Division and his team of experts, formulated and executed the challenge and oversaw testing. 
    The technologies were the first power transmission and energy storage prototypes to be tested by NASA in a vacuum chamber mimicking the freezing temperature and absence of pressure found at the permanently shadowed regions of the Lunar South Pole.  
    The Watts on the Moon Challenge is a NASA Centennial Challenge led by NASA Glenn. As the agency’s lead center for power systems technologies, NASA Glenn has been involved in the Watts on the Moon Challenge from its inception.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rickey Shyne Named Crain’s Notable Black Leader 

    Source: NASA

    Dr. Rickey J. Shyne, director of Research and Engineering at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, has been named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 2024 Notable Black Leaders.  
    Shyne is responsible for leading a staff of approximately 1,100 engineers and scientists, and managing research and development in propulsion, communications, power, and materials and structures for extreme environments in support of the agency’s missions. He is on the board of Southwest General Health Center and a former board member of Cleveland Engineering Society. 
    Crain’s Notable Black Leaders represent all industries and communities. From magnates to mentors, they are working to enrich their companies, communities and city. Nominees must serve in a senior leadership role at their company or organization; have at least five years of experience in their field; and demonstrate significant accomplishments within their industry, professional organizations, and civic and community groups. They must live and work in the Northeast Ohio area.  
    Shyne is featured in the Crain’s September 30 issue, online and in print.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ohio State Marching Band Performs Tribute to NASA 

    Source: NASA

    The Ohio State University (OSU) teamed up with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for a multi-faceted tribute to NASA on Sept 21. During a home football game against Marshall University, OSU’s Marching Band recognized the agency with a NASA-themed halftime show, in-game salute, and tribute to Glenn and two alums who play significant roles in NASA’s spaceflight operations.  

    The event kicked off in the morning during the Skull Session (pep rally) at St. John Arena on OSU’s campus. Public Address Announcer Wes Clark talked with Center Director Dr. Jimmy Kenyon, who shared information about Glenn and thanked OSU for the honor. During a special spotlight, Kenyon and OSU alums who now work at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center – Jeff Radigan, a NASA flight director, and Molly Radigan, deputy chief of Space Flight Systems – came onto the field to be recognized. 

    At halftime, a special astronaut video from the International Space Station introduced the NASA-themed show. The band then blasted off with its space-themed performance that included several songs — from “Fly Me to the Moon” to “Starman.” The talented band members marched in formations that included an astronaut and spaceship blasting off, garnering excitement for NASA and cheers from the audience. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Assistance for Georgians is Available in a Variety of Languages

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>ATLANTA – Don’t let language be a barrier to applying for FEMA assistance. Regardless of language or accessibility needs, FEMA is in Georgia to help eligible homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property due to Tropical Storm Debby, with an incident period of Aug. 4-20, 2024, and/or Hurricane Helene. Non-English speakers can receive assistance in their language when applying for FEMA disaster aid. Additionally, assistive communication tools are available for those who require them when visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. 

    Language Is Not a Barrier to FEMA Assistance

    Interpreters in a variety of languages are available to people who call the FEMA Helpline. Multilingual phone operators are available to help non-English speaking survivors register for disaster aid and answer questions. When calling the helpline at 800-621-3362, callers should choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. 

    Disaster Recovery Centers have a sign with the phrase “I Speak” in over 40 languages, which staff members can use to connect you with an interpreter that speaks your language, including American Sign Language. To request a video remote interpreter at a recovery center, send an email to FEMA_ASL_Staff@fema.dhs.gov and call 202-705-9500 to ensure the request was received. A specialist will provide the Zoom link information to connect to the service.  

    Assistance is Available for All 

    Disaster Recovery Centers also have assistive listening devices, amplified phones and caption phones available for survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing. Magnifying devices and printed information in Braille and large print are available for people who are blind or have low vision.

    Apply for FEMA Assistance Today

    Georgians who applied for assistance for damage related to Tropical Storm Debby are encouraged to apply for damage related to Hurricane Helene if they had home or property loss for each disaster. There are several ways to apply:

    • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
    • At a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Ex: DRC 40019).
    • By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. The Helpline is available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST.
    • Download the FEMA mobile app.

    To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

    For the latest information on Georgia’s recovery from Tropical Storm Debby visit fema.gov/disaster/4821 and for Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Glenn Connects with Morehead State University  

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Glenn Research Center Director Dr. Jimmy Kenyon met with students and faculty at Morehead State University (MSU) in Kentucky on Sept. 19. Kenyon provided the keynote address on the topic of NASA’s exploration efforts and regional economic impact during the ASTRA-Con (Appalachian Space Technology & Research Advancement Conference). He also moderated a panel, which included Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef Lead Dr. Randy Lillard, MSU’s Dr. Pamela Clark (formerly of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center), and Glenn European Service Module Manager Logan Larson. 

    Dr. Benjamin Malphrus, executive director of the Space Science Center at MSU, provided Kenyon, along with House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers’ staff and members of industry, with a tour of the space center and its capabilities. Kenyon learned about MSU’s space systems engineering program where students gain hands-on experience designing, constructing, and testing satellites before they launch into space.  
    Members of NASA Glenn’s Technology Transfer Office also staffed an informative exhibit during the conference. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Visitors Explore NASA at Ingenuity Fest 

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Glenn Research Center participated in the Cleveland Ingenuity Fest 2024: Take Flight on Sept. 27-29. Ingenuity Fest, held at the 300,000-square-foot Hamilton Collaborative, features artwork, musicians, dancers, poets, and performances of all types. It also highlights maker and innovator exhibits, fine art, and more. 
    NASA Glenn’s staff shared opportunities for the community to engage directly with NASA through prize challenges, crowdsourcing, and citizen science. Through these platforms, the public can make an impact on NASA’s mission by providing innovative solutions to address the agency’s needs.  

    Guests learned about the agency’s mission to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon through the Artemis program, experienced virtual reality visualizations showing NASA’s work with radioisotope power systems, and learned about the effects of drag on an aircraft using a mini wind tunnel. The Graphics and Visualization Lab showcased NASA’s advanced visualization technology to provide innovative solutions for the agency and the scientific community.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: National Basketball Association (NBA) App Launches New Digital Features Highlighted by Multiview Ahead of the 2024-25 Season

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    NEW YORK, United States of America, October 15, 2024/APO Group/ —

    • Fans in Africa Can Watch up to Four Games Simultaneously Across Connected Devices on NBA (www.NBA.com) League Pass via Multiview – 
    • “Pass the Rock” Returns for Season Three with a Special “Rookie Year Edition” Chronicling 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama’s First Season – 

    The NBA today announced the launch of new features available to fans globally on the NBA App – the official home of basketball – for the 2024-25 season, showcasing the league’s dedication to innovation to enhance the fan viewing experience. The new elements are highlighted by multiview now available on connected devices, which gives fans the option to watch up to four games simultaneously on NBA League Pass – the league’s live game subscription service. 

    In addition, NBA League Pass subscribers in Africa and around the world will have the ability to customize their viewing experience and always be live when watching NBA games. Fans can smart rewind games from any point with key plays highlighted, download full games for offline viewing and access a range of game recap versions including “All Possessions,” “10-Minute Condensed,” “Key Highlights,” and more. Additionally, the app will offer interactive synced stats and analytics, ensuring fans experience the game in the app as if it is live no matter when they are watching. 

    Among the game-changing enhancements is “NBA Insights,” an AI-powered tool that leverages the power of Microsoft Azure. The feature uses AI rooted in deep basketball understanding to identify key narratives, player performances, and notable milestones, providing fans with a continuous feed of text-based updates that go beyond the box score to better contextualize what’s happening on the court. The league is also using Generative AI to localize content, offering game recaps in French, Portuguese and Spanish as well as translations for select original programming and live games. 

    Additionally, content on the NBA App throughout the season will incorporate “Dunk Score,” an AI-calculated grade for in-game dunks in real-time based on a breadth of factors including the player’s jumping distance, style and force at the rim, and defensive efforts from the opposing team.  

    “Pass the Rock,” the popular NBA App series highlighting the emerging league stars, returns for season three with a special “Rookie Year Edition.” This episode will follow San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s transition to the NBA, culminating in him being named the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. On Sunday, Oct. 20, the NBA will launch “Raising 18,” a nine-part docuseries narrated by five-time NBA All-Star Al Horford spotlighting the Boston Celtics’ journey to their 2024 NBA Finals victory.  

    Popular experiential features within the NBA App have been enhanced to increase personalization, including the all-new ‘Following’ tab, which combines the latest content from your favorite teams and players into an algorithmic feed as well as the revamped “Game Stories” now with pre-game analysis, highlights and interactive polls. “Moments” – the popular vertical social media-style feed feature – has been upgraded to include multi-language support and can now be accessed on Roku TVs for quick content consumption on larger screens.  

    On NBA League Pass, fans will have access to a variety of alternate telecast options, including in-language streams (Spanish, Portuguese and Korean), the return of the popular “NBA Strategy Stream” providing fans with a unique viewing option breaking down in-game tactics and “NBA HooperVision” featuring NBA legend Quentin Richardson and special guests. Additional alternate stream options will be announced throughout the season. 

    As part of the league’s partnership with Meta, 52 live game broadcasts will be streamed in immersive VR in NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds and Xtadium on Meta Quest, the Official MR Headset of the NBA, NBA G League and WNBA.  Xtadium will also allow NBA League Pass subscribers to watch every live 2D game nightly in mixed reality, complete with real-time stats.  More information, including the full 2024-25 NBA game schedule for Meta Quest, can be found here (https://apo-opa.co/3YaWS7w). 

    The league continues to expand the technological capabilities of its “Next Gen integrated digital platform,” which is now powering four team-specific direct-to-consumer streaming services in the NBA App, including BlazerVision (https://apo-opa.co/3Ypldb1) (Portland Trail Blazers), ClipperVision (https://apo-opa.co/3Ypldb1) (LA Clippers), Jazz+ (https://apo-opa.co/3A1d7fq) (Utah Jazz) and Suns Live (https://apo-opa.co/3Ypldb1) (Phoenix Suns). The platform, which is the technology backbone for the NBA App, is also enabling Spectrum SportsNet+ (Los Angeles Lakers). 

    The NBA App – a product of NBA Digital, the league’s joint venture with TNT Sports – is powered by Microsoft Azure and free to download here (https://apo-opa.co/4dPaT0o)

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER REINTRODUCES BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) reintroduced a resolution recognizing individuals who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. In 2006, Congress first recognized October 15th as “National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.”

    “Today, my heart goes out to all the families who have experienced the terrible pain of losing a pregnancy or infant. The heartbreak of such a loss is unmeasurable. Let’s take a moment to support those who have had to navigate such a devastating journey, and honor their resilience through the unimaginable,” said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10).

    The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Mike Carey (OH-15), Donald Davis (NC-1), Terri Sewell (AL-7), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Raul Grijalva (AZ-7), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and David Trone (MD-6).

    The resolution text is available here and below:

    Supporting the designation of October 15, 2024, as “National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day” and recognizing the people who have lost a pregnancy or an infant.

    Whereas 2024 marks the 18th nationally recognized “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day”;

    Whereas each year, approximately 1,000,000 pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn;

    Whereas pregnancy and infant loss can affect families long after the loss;

    Whereas loss of an infant or a pregnancy can negatively affect a person’s mental health;

    Whereas families would benefit from bereavement leave from work to take care of themselves and their families;

    Whereas people who have experienced pregnancy loss or infant loss should not have their experiences minimized or stigmatized;

    Whereas Congress should acknowledge the personal experiences of individuals who have lost a pregnancy or infant and empower those individuals to speak about their losses;

    Whereas recognizing “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day” is an opportunity to increase awareness, promote research and greater understanding, and provide community to individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss or infant loss; and

    Whereas “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day” allows the people of the United States to consider how we can best support families who experience, or work to prevent, pregnancy or infant loss: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

    (1) supports the goals and ideals of “National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day”;

    (2) understands the importance of honoring these losses and supporting affected people and their families; and

    (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day with appropriate programs and activities.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Cardona’s “Educación En Accion” Summit

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Join us for a day of professional learning, cultura and inspiration at Secretary Miguel Cardona’s “Educación En Acción” Summit on from 10am – 5pm ET, in the LBJ Auditorium!

    Hear from Secretary Miguel Cardona, federal education leaders, community change makers, leaders in higher education, and recognized teachers of the year.
    Learn from best-selling authors as they discuss the importance of telling YOUR story.
    Hear from Latino influencers and celebrities who are using their platform to advocate for Latino communities.
    Enjoy student performances by Los Tigres de Tolleson Elementary School District Mariachi (AZ), Estrellitas de Sorto Latin dancers (DC), and Nino Clamp and the Hartt Salsa All-Stars from the University of Hartford (CT).
    Connect with students, staff, and community members from all over the nation!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdC8lxdgyK4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Xavier Becerra announces the start of Medicare Open Enrollment

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    HHS Secretary Becerra announces the start of Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15 – December 7. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, plans are changing for the better, so it’s more important than ever to review and compare plans to ensure people with Medicare get the right plan for them.

    —

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov

    http://www.Twitter.com/HHSGov | http://www.Facebook.com/HHS http://www.Instagram.com/HHSGov
    http://www.LinkedIn.com/company/us-department-of-health-and-human-services

    HHS Privacy Policy: http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Power and Promise of NASA’s International Partnerships

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    “New things are possible—more things are possible—because we are going together. And we’re going together, as nations, now more than ever before.”

    NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks to the power, the promise, and the potential of NASA’s international partnerships, and how those partnerships help humanity reach new possibilities.

    Credit: NASA
    Producer: Shane Apple
    Music: Universal Production Music

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX1JBbNlZyk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: You’re Hired! The Onboarding Process – CBP Hiring Process | CBP

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    After you’ve accepted your employment offer from CBP, you will receive your Final Selection Letter, which includes important information regarding your start date, work location, and more. This video outlines what to expect for your first day at CBP, key forms and documentation needed during onboarding, and important contact points to provide support during this process. The goal of this video is to equip you with all the necessary information to seamlessly begin your career and help you understand the onboarding process and timeline at CBP.

    Join our Talent Network: https://go.dhs.gov/3zN

    Start Your Application: https://careers.cbp.gov/s/search-careers  

    Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/CBPgov
    Facebook ➤ https://facebook.com/CBPgov
    Twitter ➤ https://twitter.com/CBP
    Official Website ➤ https://www.cbp.gov

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

    MIL OSI Video –