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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Life-saving Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Bill Reaches Critical Milestone in House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after securing the support of a bipartisan majority for the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702) with over 218 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would improve care for seniors by streamlining and standardizing the way Medicare Advantage (MA) plans use prior authorization and increasing oversight and transparency.

    “With over 33 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage, modernization of the prior authorization process is long overdue. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, hundreds of health care organizations, and Americans from all corners of the country agree – streamlining this process will allow our Nation’s seniors to receive the care they are entitled to more efficiently. As champions of this legislation, we are grateful to our bipartisan majority of House colleagues for their support and look forward to working with them to get this critical bill signed into law.”

    BACKGROUND

    Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in unconfirmed faxes of a patient’s medical information or phone calls by clinicians which take precious time away from delivering quality and timely care. Prior authorization continues to be the number one administrative burden identified by health care providers, and three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to prior authorization. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied. More recently, HHS released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.

    Health plans, health care providers, and patients agree that the prior authorization process must be improved to better serve patients and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for clinicians. Additionally, leading health care organizations released a consensus statement to address some of the most pressing concerns associated with prior authorization.

    Specifically, the bill would:

    • Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
    • Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use.
    • Clarify CMS’ authority to establish timeframes for electronic prior authorization requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
    • Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
    • Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the electronic prior authorization process.

    The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act unanimously passed the House in the 117th Congress and was cosponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House of Representatives. 

    This bill is supported by over 440 national and state organizations representing patients, physicians, MA plans, hospitals, and other key stakeholders in the health care industry. To see the list, click here.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here. A section-by-section summary can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis & John Jumper awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

    Source: Google

    This post originally appeared on the Google DeepMind Blog.

    This morning, Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs Sir Demis Hassabis, and Google DeepMind Director Dr. John Jumper were co-awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work developing AlphaFold, a groundbreaking AI system that predicts the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. David Baker was also co-awarded for his work on computational protein design.

    Before AlphaFold, predicting the structure of a protein was a complex and time-consuming process.

    AlphaFold’s predictions, made freely available through the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database, have given more than 2 million scientists and researchers from 190 countries a powerful tool for making new discoveries. The AlphaFold 2 paper, published in 2021, remains one of the most-cited publications of all time.

    AlphaFold’s contributions to science have been widely praised, and among its recognitions are the 2023 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2023 Canada Gairdner International Award, the 2024 Clarivate Citation Laureate award, and the 2024 Keio Medical Science Prize Award.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long shown incredible potential for use in scientific research, and AlphaFold was proof-of-concept. As more scientists adopt AI for use in everything from building data, to simulating experiments, drug design, modelling complexity, discovering novel solutions for extant problems, and building upon existing knowledge, we will continue to see foundational scientific breakthroughs in the years ahead.

    In a statement released after informed of the news, Demis Hassabis said:

    “Receiving the Nobel Prize is the honour of a lifetime. Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to John Jumper and the AlphaFold team, the wider DeepMind and Google teams, and to all my colleagues past and present that made this moment possible. I’ve dedicated my career to advancing AI because of its unparalleled potential to improve the lives of billions of people. AlphaFold has already been used by more than two million researchers to advance critical work, from enzyme design to drug discovery. I hope we’ll look back on AlphaFold as the first proof point of AI’s incredible potential to accelerate scientific discovery.”

    After receiving the news that he won the Nobel Prize, John Jumper released the following statement:

    “Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for this extraordinary honor. We are so honored to be recognized for delivering on the long promise of computational biology to help us understand the protein world and to inform the incredible work of experimental biologists. It is a key demonstration that AI will make science faster and ultimately help to understand disease and develop therapeutics. This is the work of an exceptional team at Google DeepMind and this award recognizes their amazing work.

    Computational biology has long held tremendous promise for creating practical insights that could be put to use in real-world experiments. AlphaFold delivered on this promise. Ahead of us are a universe of new insights and scientific discoveries made possible by the use of AI as a scientific tool. Thank you to my colleagues over the years, for making possible this moment of recognition, as well as the many moments of discovery that lie ahead.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Hubble, New Horizons Team Up for a Simultaneous Look at Uranus

    Source: NASA

    6 min read

    Download this image

    NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons spacecraft simultaneously set their sights on Uranus recently, allowing scientists to make a direct comparison of the planet from two very different viewpoints. The results inform future plans to study like types of planets around other stars.

    Astronomers used Uranus as a proxy for similar planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets, comparing high-resolution images from Hubble to the more-distant view from New Horizons. This combined perspective will help scientists learn more about what to expect while imaging planets around other stars with future telescopes.

    “While we expected Uranus to appear differently in each filter of the observations, we found that Uranus was actually dimmer than predicted in the New Horizons data taken from a different viewpoint,” said lead author Samantha Hasler of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and New Horizons science team collaborator.

    In this image, two three-dimensional shapes (top) of Uranus are compared to the actual views of the planet from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (bottom left) and NASA’s New Horizon’s spacecraft (bottom right). Comparing high-resolution images from Hubble to the smaller view from New Horizons offers a combined perspective that will help researchers learn more about what to expect while imaging planets around other stars with future observatories.
    NASA, ESA, STScI, Samantha Hasler (MIT), Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC), New Horizons Planetary Science Theme Team; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

    Download this image

    Direct imaging of exoplanets is a key technique for learning about their potential habitability, and offers new clues to the origin and formation of our own solar system. Astronomers use both direct imaging and spectroscopy to collect light from the observed planet and compare its brightness at different wavelengths. However, imaging exoplanets is a notoriously difficult process because they’re so far away. Their images are mere pinpoints and so are not as detailed as the close-up views that we have of worlds orbiting our Sun. Researchers can also only directly image exoplanets at “partial phases,” when only a portion of the planet is illuminated by their star as seen from Earth.

    Uranus was an ideal target as a test for understanding future distant observations of exoplanets by other telescopes for a few reasons. First, many known exoplanets are also gas giants similar in nature. Also, at the time of the observations, New Horizons was on the far side of Uranus, 6.5 billion miles away, allowing its twilight crescent to be studied—something that cannot be done from Earth. At that distance, the New Horizons view of the planet was just several pixels in its color camera, called the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera.

    On the other hand, Hubble, with its high resolution, and in its low-Earth orbit 1.7 billion miles away from Uranus, was able to see atmospheric features such as clouds and storms on the day side of the gaseous world.

    “Uranus appears as just a small dot on the New Horizons observations, similar to the dots seen of directly-imaged exoplanets from observatories like Webb or ground-based observatories,” added Hasler. “Hubble provides context for what the atmosphere is doing when it was observed with New Horizons.”

    The gas giant planets in our solar system have dynamic and variable atmospheres with changing cloud cover. How common is this among exoplanets? By knowing the details of what the clouds on Uranus looked like from Hubble, researchers are able to verify what is interpreted from the New Horizons data. In the case of Uranus, both Hubble and New Horizons saw that the brightness did not vary as the planet rotated, which indicates that the cloud features were not changing with the planet’s rotation.

    However, the importance of the detection by New Horizons has to do with how the planet reflects light at a different phase than what Hubble, or other observatories on or near Earth, can see. New Horizons showed that exoplanets may be dimmer than predicted at partial and high phase angles, and that the atmosphere reflects light differently at partial phase.

    NASA has two major upcoming observatories in the works to advance studies of exoplanet atmospheres and potential habitability.

    “These landmark New Horizons studies of Uranus from a vantage point unobservable by any other means add to the mission’s treasure trove of new scientific knowledge, and have, like many other datasets obtained in the mission, yielded surprising new insights into the worlds of our solar system,” added New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute.

    This illustration shows NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft’s view of our solar system from deep in the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons is currently at an estimated distance of more than 5 billion miles from Earth. The probe was 6.5 billion miles away from Uranus when it recently observed the planet. In this study, researchers used the gas giant as an exoplanet proxy, comparing high-resolution images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to the smaller view from New Horizons to learn more about what to expect while imaging planets around other stars.
    NASA, ESA, Christian Nieves (STScI), Ralf Crawford (STScI), Greg Bacon (STScI)

    Download this image

    NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch by 2027, will use a coronagraph to block out a star’s light to directly see gas giant exoplanets. NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, in an early planning phase, will be the first telescope designed specifically to search for atmospheric biosignatures on Earth-sized, rocky planets orbiting other stars.

    “Studying how known benchmarks like Uranus appear in distant imaging can help us have more robust expectations when preparing for these future missions,” concluded Hasler. “And that will be critical to our success.”

    Launched in January 2006, New Horizons made the historic flyby of Pluto and its moons in July 2015, before giving humankind its first close-up look at one of these planetary building block and Kuiper Belt object, Arrokoth, in January 2019. New Horizons is now in its second extended mission, studying distant Kuiper Belt objects, characterizing the outer heliosphere of the Sun, and making important astrophysical observations from its unmatched vantage point in distant regions of the solar system.

    The Uranus results are being presented this week at the 56th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences, in Boise, Idaho.

    The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating for over three decades and continues to make ground-breaking discoveries that shape our fundamental understanding of the universe. Hubble is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope and mission operations. Lockheed Martin Space, based in Denver, Colorado, also supports mission operations at Goddard. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, conducts Hubble science operations for NASA.

    The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, built and operates the New Horizons spacecraft and manages the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio and Boulder, Colorado, directs the mission via Principal Investigator Alan Stern and leads the science team, payload operations and encounter science planning. New Horizons is part of NASA’s New Frontiers program, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

    Media Contacts:

    Claire AndreoliNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MDclaire.andreoli@nasa.gov

    Hannah Braun, Ray VillardSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD

    Science Contacts:

    Samantha HaslerMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Roy, Weber demand action from Biden-Harris admin to prevent non-citizens on voter rolls

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21) and Randy Weber (TX-14) led a group of Texas lawmakers in calling on the Biden-Harris administration to immediately provide the necessary data to protect the integrity of Texas elections and ensure only U.S. citizens are registered to vote in the state of Texas.

    Governor Greg Abbott recently announced the removal of 6,500 potential noncitizens from Texas voter rolls, highlighting the critical need for further verification before the upcoming election. The federal government has thus far failed to comply with an urgent request made by the State of Texas for access to USCIS data, which is crucial in verifying voter eligibility.

    Representative Roy said, “Texas has a duty to prevent noncitizens from voting. The Biden-Harris administration is trying to prevent that for the same reason they fought the SAVE Act (H.R. 8281): they want noncitizens — especially illegal aliens — to vote.

    Public confidence in elections is a necessary cornerstone of any representative government. That confidence must be earned through diligence and transparency.”

    “The refusal to provide the State of Texas with vital information that should be readily accessible is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. The Harris-Biden administration is willfully turning a blind eye as noncitizens potentially influence our elections,”said Representative Weber.“If federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, then why are they sitting idly by instead of handing over the information that would ensure Texas can maintain clean voter rolls? It’s really quite simple: they should be doing their job. My Texas Republican colleagues and I are demanding that they release the voter rolls requested by the Texas Secretary of State without further delay.”

    Other Texas Republicans who signed the letter include Lance Gooden (TX-5), John Carter (TX-31), Brian Babin (TX-36), Keith Self (TX-3), August Pfluger (TX-11), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Morgan Luttrell (TX-8), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), and Pat Fallon (TX-4).

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Announces Over $3 Million in New Federal Funding for NW Ohio Fire Departments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, Ohio – Today, during National Fire Prevention Week, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee and of the House Fire Caucus announced $3,052,523 in critical federal funding she helped to secure. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs will award 9 Fire Departments across Northwest Ohio new funding to ensure that first responders have the resources and manpower they need to protect local communities. These awards will provide essential funding for equipment, protective gear, vehicle acquisition, hiring, and training, enabling fire department to respond more effectively to emergencies and keep both the public and our emergency personnel safe.

    The 9 Fire Departments in Northwest receiving AFG and SAFER funding are:

    • Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department – $75,428
      • The AFG funds will help the Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department in Defiance County to afford operations and safety improvements, including the purchase of 8 new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s) and replace outdated ones.
    • City of Wauseon Fire Department – $53,522
      • The AFG funds will allow the City of Wauseon in Fulton County to purchase a Three Drop Source Capture Exhaust System that will help ensure all Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the bay. This will minimize their staff’s exposure to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. The City of Wauseon share of the cost is $2,676.14.
    • Village of Whitehouse Fire Department – $294,214
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Whitehouse in Lucas County to upgrade operations and safety with new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department – $302,182
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Vermillion in Erie County to upgrade operations and safety by replacing outdated air packs for firefighters to better and more safely protect residents
    • Village of Kelleys Island Volunteer Fire Department – $75,361
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Kelleys Island in Erie County for operations and equipment, and will replace aged firehose, handline nozzles, and an additional ground monitor. This equipment will not only be an upgrade, but it will be major upgrades that meet current standards replacing outdated hoses that are 20-30 years old, many of which were donated by other fire departments.
    • City of Huron Fire Department – $135,523
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Huron in Erie County to replace bunker gear for the entire department. This will ensure the department is compliant with safety and equipment upgrades.
    • Monclova Township Fire Department – $1,013,046
      • The SAFER funds will be used by Monclova Township in Lucas County for the hiring of additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.
    • Village of Oak Harbor, Portage Fire District – $163,428
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Oak Harbor in Ottawa County for operations and safety improvements and upgrades, including the replacement of soon to be outdated Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Northwood Fire Department – $939,819
      • The SAFER funds will be used by the City of Northwood in Wood County for the hiring of 3 additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.

    “Our firefighters and first responders are the ones on the frontlines, running toward danger when others are running in the other direction. They deserve nothing less than the best tools and training to stay safe while protecting our communities,” said Congresswoman Kaptur (OH-09). “This funding will give them exactly that — critical gear, better pay, new vehicles, and equipment upgrades to better protect them as they respond to emergencies and safeguard lives across Northwest Ohio.”

    “With the purchase of the SCBA’s this promotes safety for the public and especially for our firefighters by getting equipment we could not afford to replace. SCBA’s are one of the most essential tools of personal protection for the fire rescue personnel, and will allow them to operate more efficiently,” said Village of Sherwood Fire Chief Darrel Rock.

    “This additional Three Drop Source Capture System ensures that all Wauseon Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the apparatus bay, therefore, minimizing the exposure our staff have to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. It is important that when our staff come to work, they are provided with a work environment that minimizes any negative exposure that could harm them or be taken home to their families,” said Wauseon Fire Chief Phil Kessler.  “The Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program is extremely important to fire departments across the nation. These funds allow us to invest in our staff, the infrastructure and most importantly the community. Most departments would not be able to procure many of these much-needed items.”

    “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant significantly benefits The Village of Whitehouse by providing funds to upgrade Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses. This upgrade will impact Whitehouse and surrounding areas by improving Firefighter Safety, embracing new technology, and ensuring operational readiness including mutual aid responses,” said Whitehouse Fire Chief Jason Francis. “As funding is challenging for some communities, this award allows us to replace our outdated equipment that would have been challenging based on our current financial situation.”

    “Congresswoman Kaptur’s FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $302,182  for the City of  Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department was a true game changer for our community,” said Vermillion Mayor Jim Forthofer. “It allows us to replace the outdated air packs to protect our firefighters as they protect our residents. It also releases funds back to the general community for other worthy purposes. Congresswoman Kaptur is a real friend of Vermilion, especially its first responders”

    “Absolutely, we were very fortunate to receive the funding and it is a financial game-changer for the City,” said Vermillion Fire Chief William H. Brown.

    “First of all, I must express our appreciation of this award from not only from our fire department but also our community as a whole. Our community presents itself with unique fire suppression challenges,” said Kelleys Island Assistant Fire Chief Charles Ehrbar. “We are on Kelleys Island on Lake Erie with a little over 120 year-round residences but our summertime population can near 5,000. We have a roster of only 17 volunteer firefighters. The area of the island is approximately 2 miles by 4 miles. We are now experiencing an influx of new builds of larger and taller residential and commercial structures. Being on an island that is accessed only by ferry and aircraft, in the event of a fire incident, our mutual aid is at best one and a half hours for response, if they can respond at all. That being said, we are on our own and must make the best of any situation. This new and updated equipment gives us an advantage of technology and dependability that we certainly did not have prior to this award.”

    “This grant has allowed us to continue serving the citizens and businesses of our service area along with assisting other surrounding fire departments,” said Portage Fire Chief Antonio Hand.

    These new funding announcements follow a $671,428 award for Ney-Washington Township in August 2024, a $952,380 award to the City of Defiance in July 2023, and a $110,014.28 award to the City of Wauseon in June 2023 all secured through FEMA’s AFG program.

    The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, established in 2001, provides funding to meet the needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. AFG awards are designed to help these agencies obtain the necessary resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire-related hazards. In fiscal year 2023 alone, FEMA distributed 1,616 AFG awards, totaling $289.2 Million.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUBBOCK, Texas, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), the parent company of City Bank, today announced that its third quarter 2024 financial results will be released after market close on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET on the same day to discuss the financial results.

    Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-9716 (international callers please dial 1-201-493-6779) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website at https://www.spfi.bank/news-events/events.     

    A replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed through the News & Events tab of the Company’s website as well as by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers please dial 1-412-317-6671). The pin to access the telephone replay is 13749147. The replay will be available until November 6, 2024.  

    About South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains is the bank holding company for City Bank, a Texas state-chartered bank headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. City Bank is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas and has additional banking operations in the Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, Texas markets, and the Ruidoso, New Mexico market. South Plains provides a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in its market areas. Its principal business activities include commercial and retail banking, along with investment, trust, and mortgage services. Please visit https://www.spfi.bank for more information.

    Contact: Mikella Newsom, Chief Risk Officer and Secretary
      investors@city.bank
      (866) 771-3347
       

        Source: South Plains Financial, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States to Provide Php28M in Humanitarian Aid, Logistics Support for Super Typhoon Julian Response

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    MANILA, Philippines  –  

    In response to a request from the Philippine government, the United States government intends to provide Php28 million ($500,000) in humanitarian supplies and logistical support to communities affected by Super Typhoon Julian in Northern Luzon.

    Through this funding, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide emergency shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene support for more than 4,000 households, or 16,000 people, in typhoon-affected areas.

    Since October 7, the U.S. Department of Defense has mobilized multiple military assets to provide logistics support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Office of Civil Defense in transporting humanitarian supplies from Manila to Batanes.

    “My heart goes out to everyone affected by Super Typhoon Julian, especially those living in the most devastated areas, including hard-to-reach Batanes,” U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said.  “The United States is working closely with our Filipino friends, partners, and allies to provide life-saving assistance to enable those in disaster areas to recover as quickly as possible.” 

    This assistance builds on the U.S. government’s previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, such as during the massive flooding in Mindanao in February and Super Typhoon Carina in July. 

     Since 2010, the U.S. government has invested Php21.8 billion ($388 million) for disaster response, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines.  USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: APA Corporation Provides Third-Quarter 2024 Supplemental Information and Schedules Results Conference Call for November 7 at 10 a.m. Central Time

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today provided supplemental information regarding certain third-quarter 2024 financial and operational results. This information is intended only to provide additional information regarding current estimates management believes will affect results for the third-quarter 2024. It is provided to assist investors, analysts and others in formulating their own estimates, and is not intended to be a comprehensive presentation of all factors that will affect third-quarter 2024 results. Actual results and the impact of factors identified here may vary depending on the impact of other factors not identified here and are subject to finalization of the financial reporting process for third-quarter 2024.

    Estimated Average Realized Prices – 3Q24
      Oil (bbl) NGL (bbl) Natural Gas (Mcf)
    United States $76.25 $20.75 $0.15
    International $80.00 $45.75 $3.30
    Egypt tax barrels: 35 MBoe/d
    Realized gain on commodity derivatives (before tax): $3 million
    Dry hole costs (before tax): $10-$15 million
    Net gain on oil and gas purchases and sales (before tax):
    Includes gain on natural gas purchased and sold to Cheniere.    		 $178 million
    General and Administrative Expense: $100 million

    Production update

    APA curtailed approximately 103 MMcf/d of U.S. natural gas production in the third quarter in response to weak or negative Waha hub prices. APA also curtailed an estimated 10,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids during the quarter, which were mostly associated with the voluntary gas curtailments. Previous third quarter guidance issued in July contemplated curtailments of ~90 MMcf/d of natural gas and ~7,500 barrels per day of NGLs.

    Asset sales update

    In September, APA announced an agreement to divest non-core assets in the Permian Basin for $950 million, prior to customary closing adjustments. At the time of the announcement, these properties had an estimated net production of ~21 MBOE/D (57% oil). Fourth-quarter guidance issued with the divestiture announcement removed production from the pending divestiture for the entirety of the fourth quarter, though the transaction is not expected to close until later in the fourth quarter.

    Weighted-average shares outstanding

    The estimated weighted-average basic common shares for the third quarter is 370 million, compared with a weighted average of 371 million shares in the second-quarter 2024. APA repurchased 0.1 million shares at an average price of $29.32 per share during the third quarter.

    Third-quarter 2024 earnings call

    APA will host a conference call to discuss its third-quarter 2024 results at 10 a.m. Central time, Thursday, November 7. The conference call will be webcast from APA’s website at http://www.apacorp.com and investor.apacorp.com. Following the conference call, a replay will be available for one year on the “Investors” page of the company’s website.

    About APA

    APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, http://www.apacorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,” “guidance,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “possibly,” “potential,” “projects,” “prospects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar references to future periods, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, expectations, and objectives for operations, including statements about our capital plans, drilling plans, production expectations, asset sales, and monetizations. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See “Risk Factors” in APA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. APA and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Contacts

    Investor: (281) 302-2286 Gary Clark
    Media: (713) 296-7276 Alexandra Franceschi
    Website: http://www.apacorp.com  

    APA-F

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Hosts Final Roundtable on Litigation Reform

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp hosted leaders from Georgia businesses and policymakers today for a roundtable discussion on civil litigation and its impact on the state’s economic wellbeing. This was the final of three roundtable events announced by Governor Kemp for this Fall. Today’s session at the headquarters of the iconic Georgia brand Waffle House provided further insight from major employers on how best to approach this topic in the upcoming legislative session. Participants on the panel included representatives from 12 Georgia businesses across various industries.

    “As the No. 1 state for business for 11 consecutive years, we have always made it a priority to foster a pro-business environment that empowers job creators to create opportunity for the hardworking people of Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “The unfortunate reality is our current litigation climate has led to increased costs for consumers and a higher barrier to entry for those who want to create jobs in our state. As we prepare to address this issue, these listening sessions have allowed us to hear from a diverse group of stakeholders who have shared thoughtful input that will inform our next steps.”

    Governor Kemp hosted the first roundtable on the state’s civil litigation climate in August, hearing from small business leaders on the direct impacts of ballooning civil lawsuits on their operations. This was followed by a roundtable on healthcare civil litigation issues in September, during which healthcare leaders shared the challenges they face in providing care for patients in the current legal climate. The first step in a multi-phase effort to address the issue of litigation reform was taken in the 2024 legislative session with the passage of the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act, sponsored by the governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Will Wade, which created a mechanism to gather needed information that will guide next steps. Both chambers of the General Assembly also worked on legislation during the 2024 session specific to the issue of civil litigation, including SB 426 and SB 83. Both the Senate and House of Representatives will remain valued partners in the broader effort to address soaring costs due to civil litigation.

    “My priority continues to be removing barriers and unnecessary burdens for businesses across Georgia,” said Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. “We need to focus on sensible legislation addressing lawsuit reform that will grow Georgia’s workforce and encourage businesses to hire hardworking citizens. I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for holding these listening sessions so we can hear input from all stakeholders leading up to the 2025 session, when we will address this issue.”

    “I want to thank Governor Kemp for hosting this series of policy roundtable discussions with stakeholders across the state,” said Speaker of the House Jon Burns. “As we continue to gather facts and consider sensible measures to keep Georgia the number one place for business, we recognize there is still more work to be done in order to balance the scales in our courtrooms and level the playing field for every Georgian and our thriving business community.”

    “When I think about lawsuit abuse reform, I think about the thousands of Georgia families who will be stuck in food deserts and struggle to meet their basic needs when these stores are forced to close,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. “I think about the small business owners, who cannot afford their insurance because they must pay for the criminal actions of people who may come to their business. As we continue to discuss the impacts that lawsuit abuse reform will have on our state, and the necessity for its passage this upcoming session, I want us to remember who and what is really at stake.”

    In his remarks opening the roundtable discussion, Governor Kemp discussed the challenges the current climate has placed on Georgia’s economic wellbeing while reiterating his commitment to hearing from all sides on this issue.

    “On behalf of Waffle House, I’d like to thank Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, Commissioner King and the members of the General Assembly for their commitment to addressing the current civil litigation crisis in Georgia,” said Joe Rogers III, CEO of Waffle House. “We look forward to working together on common sense reforms that will restore balance and level the playing field for all Georgians.“

    Participants discussed the impacts of Georgia’s civil litigation climate and its effect on insurance rates and availability and their impact on rising costs for businesses and consumers across the state. Easing the economic burden on Georgians is a top priority of both Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, and that includes taking action to stabilize costs as families continue dealing with the effects of record inflation.

    Hosted by Waffle House, Governor Kemp is grateful to all who participated in today’s roundtable as well as the entire listening session tour. The governor looks forward to continued engagement on this issue as the legislative session approaches.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NFIB Honors Sen. John Albers with Guardian of Small Business Award

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 9, 2024) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has presented its prestigious Guardian of Small Business Award to state Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) this week in Roswell. Sen. Albers, representing parts of Cobb, Cherokee, and Fulton counties, was honored at The Fickle Pickle, a local NFIB member business in Roswell. Business owner Andy Badgett presented the award.

    The Guardian of Small Business Award is NFIB’s highest honor, given in recognition of a legislator’s leadership and support for small businesses. The NFIB Georgia Leadership Council, comprised of NFIB members from across the state, voted to honor Sen. Albers for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.

    “John Albers has been an unwavering supporter of small businesses since entering the Georgia Senate over 10 years ago,” said NFIB State Director Hunter Loggins. “In 2023-24, Sen. Albers achieved a 100 percent NFIB Voting Record and led the charge to place Referendum Question A on the November ballot, which will ease financial burdens on small businesses by raising the threshold for the state tax on tangible personal property.”

    In accepting the award, Sen. Albers expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reinforced his commitment to helping Georgia’s small businesses thrive.

    “It is an incredible honor to receive the Guardian of Small Business Award from the NFIB,” said Sen. Albers. “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and economy, and I remain deeply committed to championing policies that foster their success. I will continue working to ensure that entrepreneurs across Georgia have the support they need to grow, create jobs, and drive our state’s prosperity.”

    Referendum Question A, which Albers helped spearhead, is set to appear on the November ballot. If passed, the measure will raise the tax threshold on tangible personal property, offering much-needed financial relief to small businesses.

    **See attached photo for your use.

    # # # #

    Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina

    Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper held a briefing with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to provide updates on North Carolina’s unprecedented response to Hurricane Helene. They were joined by Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard Major General Todd Hunt, North Carolina Director of Emergency Management Will Ray, NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley and NCDEQ Secretary Mary Penny Kelley to share an update as response and recovery operations continue in Western North Carolina. 

    “Hurricane Helene was a powerful reminder of nature’s might, but it also revealed the unbreakable spirit of our people,” said Governor Cooper. “In the face of adversity, we have seen neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers stepping up, and first responders risking their lives to ensure our safety. This has been a massive, unprecedented state, local and federal response and I am grateful to all of those working tirelessly. Your bravery and selflessness embody the very essence of our community.”

    Goods and services continue to flow into impacted communities through state, federal and local partners.  The North Carolina National Guard and the Joint Task Force- North Carolina have assisted thousands of people who needed rescue, evacuation and other assistance.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    More than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen are now working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to the citizens in western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating more than 40 helicopters and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through a website launched on Saturday.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $60 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western NC disaster survivors and more than 134,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 2,600 people are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Federal partners have delivered approximately 9.78 million liters of water and approximately 7.7 million meals in North Carolina to support both responders and people living in the affected communities.

    More than 900 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,300 responders from 35 state and local agencies have performed 118 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. More than 20,000 hot meals a day are being prepared and served by mobile kitchens. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Missing Persons

    To report a missing person or request non-emergency support, please call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. NC 211 also has a registry page for missing persons and welfare check requests.

    Shelters

    A total of 17 shelters are open in Western North Carolina serving 715 people and 102 pets.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, more than 86,000 customers remain without power as of Tuesday, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region. As connectivity and reporting measures improve, these number may increase.

    NCDOT is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to or in Western North Carolina. NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for travelers to avoid western N.C. NCDOT currently has more than 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 4,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Eighty-nine storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911. To report that you have been unable to reach a person in Western North Carolina, please call 211.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is strongly discouraged. Instead, consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 9, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF congratulates laureates of the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Researchers have enabled the design and prediction of proteins, the building blocks of life

    The U.S. National Science Foundation congratulates David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Baker and his colleagues revolutionized protein design enabling the creation of protein structures never seen in nature, many of which have potential as therapeutics or treatments, new materials or in other applications. Hassabis and Jumper similarly revolutionized protein prediction with the creation of AlphaFold software, enabling the determination of a protein’s structure from its amino acid sequence alone. NSF is immensely proud of the decades of fundamental research support and infrastructure investments that led to these advances.

    NSF has supported the Protein Data Bank (PDB), the critical repository for structure data for large biological molecules that enabled the work of all the awardees, for nearly five decades. PDB now contains over 200,000 structures from proteins to DNA and RNA. Baker used this library as a knowledge base for his first protein structure design algorithms which became part of the Rosetta family of tools — and later his protein design tools — for which his portion of the Nobel Prize is being awarded. The PDB also provided the training library for AlphaFold, a deep learning, artificial intelligence-powered software designed by Hassabis, Jumper and the DeepMind team for which they earned half of the prize.

    In addition to its support of PDB, NSF has continuously supported Baker’s career since his Young Investigator award in 1994. The interdisciplinary nature of the work and the potential impact of protein design is exemplified by the broad nature of NSF support received by Baker that has come from NSF Directorates for Biological Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Computer and Information Science and Engineering.

    In 2003, Baker and colleagues were able to design the first completely novel globular protein with atomic level accuracy. In 2008, Baker and colleagues reported the first design of an enzyme — a protein that initiates a reaction in a cell. Several of the proteins designed by Baker and his team are already moving toward being used to treat Celiac disease and cancers.

    “Protein design holds transformative potential to address societal challenges by enabling the discovery of once unimaginable structures,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “Decades of federal investments in fundamental research and infrastructure, combined with industry innovation, have yielded tools that significantly impact everyday life. Baker’s work continues to break new ground — as he recently received 5,000 hours of computing time on NSF’s Frontera supercomputer through the NSF-led National AI Research Resource pilot — to create even more advanced biological models.”

    NSF’s support of Baker also has helped enable a wide range of broader societal impacts, including the training of a legion of students and fellows that are now contributing to the field of biotechnology and synthetic biomaterials in academia and industry around the world. In addition to those he trained directly, Baker’s early and long-standing commitment to open access and sharing policies fostered development of a broad community of developers and users that have accelerated the pace of discovery and innovation in the field.

    Select NSF awards

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    After every major disaster — no less after the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding — people come together to help. A couple of popular ways to do this is to make a donation and to volunteer your time. To make the most of your contributions and your valuable time, it’s important for New Mexicans to follow guidelines for donating and volunteering responsibly,  

    Cash is Best 

    Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery. 

    Cash, check or online donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources. Many charities specialize in providing relief in disaster areas, yet they face significant financial barriers to getting their staff, equipment, and supplies into impacted areas. 

    Your donation helps put experienced disaster responders on the ground and gives them the tools they need to help New Mexico residents recover. 

    More than $2 million has been donated to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County that’s being used to assist residents impacted by the fires and floods with immediate needs. In addition, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has raised more than $1 million and has already distributed more than $350,000 to non-governmental organizations and communities in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties including the Mescalero Apache Reservation. These funds will provide financial resources to support immediate and long-term recovery needs. 

    Monetary donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico by visiting their website  Greatest Needs Impact Fund for Lincoln & Otero (fcsuite.com). In addition, donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County by visiting their website, The Shelter Fund | Community Foundation Of Lincoln County | Ruidoso (cfolc.org). 

    Beware of Bogus Solicitations  

    Unscrupulous solicitors for phony scam charities may play on your sympathy for your New Mexico neighbors whose homes and property have been damaged in the fires and floods. Be wary of any solicitation that may come to you by phone, letter, email or a face-to-face visit.

    Under New Mexico law, charitable organizations existing, operating, or soliciting in the state must register with the New Mexico Department of Justice and file annual reports with the Attorney General’s office. You can check to see if a charity is registered with the state by visiting https://secure.nmag.gov/CharitySearch/.

    In-Kind Donations 

    Yes, many kinds of donated items are needed. However, without thoughtful planning, donated goods can further burden a community that is already in crisis. Knowing what is needed, where it is needed and getting it there at the right time are the keys to successful donating. Critical needs change rapidly. Before collecting, confirm the need:

    • Not everything is needed. Used clothing is never needed.  
    • Bulk donations are best. Pallet loads of a single item, sorted, and boxed. 
    • Timing is important. Too soon or too late and no one wins. 
    • Transportation needs to be worked-out. How will it get to where it is needed? 

    If you have questions about in-kind donations or to make an in-kind donation, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    Voluntary Agencies Active in New Mexico

    FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) in New Mexico serve as an important link between FEMA programs and community partners. They have engaged with nearly 200 affiliates of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), non-profits, government, faith-and community-based organizations to identify survivor resources, unmet needs, and provide critical information on FEMA and it’s programs. The VALs have also identified more than 170 survivor resources being provided from local, state, national VOADs as well as faith- and community-based organizations and government entities. 

    The VALs have also been working with State Disaster Case Management (DCM) to assist with identifying survivor resources in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, as well as connections to other agencies to assist with unmet needs. Lastly, the FEMA VALs have been coordinating with the Village of Ruidoso and local stakeholders in Lincoln County to develop a Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD) and Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) that will help assist with long-term recovery efforts for individuals and households with disaster-related, unmet needs. 

    The numerous operations VALs have coordinated in this disaster include:

    • The American Red Cross sheltered nearly 800 New Mexicans and distributed 17,331 meals and 18,846 snacks to people. They also distributed 7,983 clean-up kits and other emergency supply items to 588 households.
    • Twenty-six donation centers and points of distribution (PODs) in Lincoln County, Mescalero, and surrounding counties were identified. The Salvation Army assisted with more than 11 donation centers and PODs in areas affected by the fires and floods. It also managed donation warehouses in Roswell and Ruidoso Downs and distributed more than 130,000 relief items and supplies to impacted families. 
    • More than 5,100 individual volunteers affiliated with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) such as the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, and Southern Baptists Disaster Relief have contributed more than 110,000 hours to the response and recovery. Nearly 30 local, regional, state, and national organizations have reported volunteers and volunteer hours to FEMA and the Village of Ruidoso. 
    • Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, Southern Baptists Disaster Relief, and other local faith-based groups assisted nearly 400 households with flood and fire cleanup, content recovery, debris removal, etc. 

    How to Volunteer 

    Volunteers can expect to be called on to work in a variety of disaster relief situations. Nonprofits and volunteers often distribute bottled water and nonperishable food; help demolish homes and businesses damaged in the disaster, and clear out fallen trees and other debris. 

    Rule Number One: Do Not Self-Deploy 

    Do not just “show up” to volunteer. Trusted organizations operating in New Mexico’s affected areas know where volunteers are needed. Depending on the current phase of the fires and flooding, volunteers can be extremely helpful to ensure citizens can return to their new normal. By working with an established nonprofit organization, the appropriate safety, training and skills are considered. 

    And remember, recovery lasts a lot longer than media attention. There will be volunteers needed in parts of New Mexico for many months — perhaps many years. 

    Here’s How You Can Help 

    If you have items to donate, time to volunteer in support of a nonprofit, or cash to give and have questions, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    FEMA wants to help you help others. 

    To find a list of trusted organizations, additional information on donations, volunteering and other resources, visit National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. 

    angela.ambroise

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Three So-Called Market Makers and Nine Individuals in Crackdown on Manipulation of Crypto Assets Offered and Sold as Securities

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers and nine individuals for engaging in schemes to manipulate the markets for various crypto assets being offered and sold as securities to retail investors. As alleged, the schemes were intended to induce investor victims to purchase the crypto assets by creating the false appearance of an active trading market for them.

    According to the SEC’s complaints, crypto asset promoters Russell Armand, Maxwell Hernandez, Manpreet Singh Kohli, Nam Tran, and Vy Pham (Promoters) hired so-called market makers ZM Quant and Gotbit to provide market-manipulation-as-a-service, which included generating artificial trading volume or manipulating the price of crypto assets that the Promoters offered and sold as securities to retail investors in unregistered transactions. The SEC also alleged that ZM Quant and a third so-called market maker, CLS Global, undertook similar schemes to manipulate the market of a crypto asset offered and sold as a security that was created at the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of its parallel investigation into potential market manipulation in the crypto asset industry.

    “Today’s enforcement actions demonstrate, once more, that retail investors are being victimized by fraudulent activity by institutional actors in the markets for crypto assets,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “With purported promoters and self-anointed market makers teaming up to target the investing public with false promises of profits in the crypto markets, investors should be mindful that the deck may be stacked against them.”

    The SEC alleged that ZM Quant and its employees Baijun Ou and Ruiqi Lau, Gotbit and its employee Fedor Kedrov, and CLS Global and its employee Andrey Zhorzhes manipulated markets on behalf of the Promoters by self-trading (commonly referred to as “wash trading”) on popular crypto asset trading platforms or by engaging in other trading practices that likewise served no economic purpose, and that they used algorithms (or bots) that, at times, generated quadrillions of transactions and billions of dollars of artificial trading volume each day.

    “We remain concerned about the ease with which the market for a crypto asset can be manipulated and are committed to rooting out instances of such misconduct when it involves securities,” said Jorge G. Tenreiro, Acting Chief of the Division of Enforcement’s Crypto Asset and Cyber Unit (CACU). “The wrongdoers behind these schemes are profiting handsomely at the expense of investors that have been deceptively lured into these markets and lost their hard-earned savings.”

    The SEC’s five complaints, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, allege that all defendants violated the antifraud and market manipulation provisions of the securities laws and that certain defendants violated registration provisions. The complaints seek permanent injunctions, conduct-based injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains plus interest, and civil penalties against all the defendants, as well as officer and director bars against certain defendants. Armand, Hernandez, and Pham consented to bifurcated settlements, subject to court approval, permanently enjoining them from further violations of the federal securities laws, subjecting them to conduct-based injunctions, and barring them from acting as officers or directors. The court will determine the amount of disgorgement and prejudgment interest, and any civil penalties.

    The SEC appreciates the assistance of the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, which today announced parallel criminal actions.

    The SEC’s investigations were conducted by David D’Addio, Amy Harman Burkart, Ivan Panchenko, Jeffrey Cook, and John McCann in the SEC’s Boston Regional Office, as well as Colin Missett and Joy Guo of the CACU. They were supervised by Amy Gwiazda, Michael Brennan, Donald Battle, and Mr. Tenreiro of CACU and by Celia Moore and John T. Dugan of the Boston Regional Office. The team also thanks the staff of the SEC’s Office of Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology for their assistance. The litigations will be led by Mr. D’Addio and Ms. Burkart.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Garamendi Introduces Bill to Expand Eligibility for Early Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

    WASHINGTON, DC—In recognition of Head Start Awareness Month, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) recently introduced legislation to expand eligibility for Head Start, the country’s largest federal early education program. Head Start’s current eligibility is primarily tied to the federal poverty line, with limited categorical exceptions. This has left behind many families in California who do not fall below the federal poverty line, but experience poverty due to the disproportionately high cost of living.

    The “Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024” (H.R.9825) would address this gap by amending the Head Start Act to include families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and federal housing assistance as eligible. Specifically, this legislation would expand categorical eligibility to WIC and federal housing assistance. It would also codify existing categorical eligibility to Head Start for TANF, SSI, and, most recently, SNAP, to prevent a future administration from revoking this inclusion.

    “While the right-wing extremists behind Project 2025 threaten to eliminate Head Start entirely, I am working alongside Head Start administrators to expand access to this critical early education program,” said Garamendi. “By expanding eligibility for Head Start, this legislation ensures that our most vulnerable children and families are no longer left behind in early education. Every child living in poverty should have the opportunity learn and thrive, and this legislation brings us closer to realizing that goal.”

    “Head Start California is proud to support the Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024,” said Melanee Cottrill, Executive Director of Head Start California. “Many families are eligible for a myriad of other Federal assistance programs but are left out of Head Start. This bill would level the playing field by allowing more of our most vulnerable children and families to apply for Head Start services. It would also stabilize enrollment in parts of California that are experiencing under-enrollment due to demographic shifts and the State’s implementation of universal pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds. We appreciate that this bill would maintain local control of enrollment, allowing individual programs to continue determining which eligible children and families the program is most suited to serve.”

    “E Center is proud to support the Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024.  E Center firmly believes that families that qualify for and rely on supplemental food and housing programs should qualify for Head Start Services.  This bill recognizes that families in need of these basic necessities are also in need of quality childcare services providing support to families as they strive towards self-sufficiency.  Childcare is an essential need for low income families as they work towards stability,” said E Center.

    Since its inception in 1965, the federally funded Head Start program has provided over 39 million children from low-income families with high-quality early education and the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Additionally, these locally-run programs partner with families and communities to provide children and their families with health and nutrition services. Nationwide, Head Start serves over 800,000 children annually, including nearly 95,000 in California.

    Endorsed by:  Head Start California, NEA, AFT, AASA, California County Superintendents, National Center on Housing and Child Welfare, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, Oregon Head Start Association

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Weber, Roy Demand Action from Biden-Harris Admin to Prevent Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14) and Chip Roy (TX-21) led a group of Texas Republican lawmakers in calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to immediately provide the necessary data to protect the integrity of Texas elections and ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote in the State of Texas. The letter to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) follows Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s request for citizenship verification data and the federal government’s failure to meet the deadline for providing this crucial information.

    In recent weeks, Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal of 6,500 potential noncitizens from Texas voter rolls, highlighting the critical need for further verification before the upcoming election. The federal government has thus far failed to comply with an urgent request made by the State of Texas for access to USCIS data, which is crucial in verifying voter eligibility.

    Other Texas Republicans who signed the letter include Reps. Lance Gooden (TX-5), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Troy Nehls (TX-22), John Carter (TX-31), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Pete Sessions (TX-17),  Brian Babin (TX-36),  Keith Self (TX-3), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Pat Fallon (TX-4), Morgan Luttrell (TX-8).

    “The Harris-Biden administration’s refusal to provide Texas with crucial information is a clear dereliction of duty,” said Rep. Weber. “They’re turning a blind eye to noncitizens influencing our elections, and they even killed the SAVE Act, which would have barred noncitizens from voting. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, so why won’t they hand over the voter rolls Texas needs to keep our elections clean? My Texas Republican colleagues and I demand they release the information without delay.”

    “Texas has a duty to prevent noncitizens from voting. The Biden-Harris administration is trying to prevent that for the same reason they fought the SAVE Act (H.R. 8281): they want noncitizens — especially illegal aliens — to vote,” said Rep. Roy. “Public confidence in elections is a necessary cornerstone of any representative government. That confidence must be earned through diligence and transparency.”

    “This election is the most important election of my lifetime,” said Rep. Nehls. “The federal government must provide Texas’s Secretary of State, Secretary Nelson, with USCIS citizenship data to ensure non-citizens are not registered to vote in the Lone Star State. I’m proud to join my Texas colleagues in urging the Director of USCIS to expeditiously provide Secretary Nelson with this critical information to ensure the integrity of our elections.”

    “Regrettably, we live in a time where Democrats, in order to cling to power, will break any law, violate any precedent, and utterly disregard the safety and well-being of the American people,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “Democrats have openly stated they want more mass illegal immigration because they need the populations in failing blue states.  While Biden and Harris have inflicted open border policies on our nation, Texas is, once again, working to do what is right by trying to make sure non-citizens are not allowed to vote and our states’ election integrity is preserved.”

    “Ensuring American elections are decided by Americans is of the utmost importance,” said Rep. Sessions. “It is pressing that the federal government fulfill their role and provide information for Texas to verify their voter rolls. I am proud to stand alongside my Texas colleagues.”

    “It’s outrageous that the Biden-Harris administration has refused Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s request for citizenship data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency,” said Rep. Self.  “It is their duty.  It is what they were created for—it’s in the agency’s name. Texans are tired of this lawless administration. USCIS must hand over the data immediately—no delays, no excuses.”

    “Democrats have consistently put illegal immigrants over American citizens, this includes allowing and encouraging them to cross our border and vote in our elections,” said Rep. Jackson. “There are far too many vulnerabilities in our election system, so I am proud to sign this letter and remain dedicated to doing everything I can to ensure we have safe and secure elections in Texas and beyond.” 

    “The Biden administration doesn’t seem to have a desire to ensure the very basic level of election security is met by verifying that only Americans vote in America’s elections,” Rep. Carter. “The Biden’s administration’s failure to provide the requested information to Texas is unacceptable. The American people deserve a free, fair and secure election and I hope the Biden administration will work with the state to ensure that’s the case.”

    Read the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Courtney, Himes, Hayes Announce Over $16 Million For Lead-Free Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 09, 2024

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) on Wednesday announced over $16 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to protect children under the age of six years old from lead poisoning. The funds are awarded through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program.

    “Investing in lead paint removal will protect our communities from the lifelong, devastating effects of lead poisoning. This $16 million in funding will help mitigate lead-based paint hazards in older homes, maintain affordable housing, and provide resources to ensure families in Bridgeport, Norwich, and Waterbury can address other health and safety concerns. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and I will keep fighting to ensure everyone in our state has a safe and healthy place to call home,” said Murphy. 

    “Over $16 million will protect families across Connecticut from exposure to the pernicious poison that is lead in their homes. Lead poisoning causes detrimental and irreversible damage, especially to children. Currently, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are affected by lead each year and I am proud that federal funding will work to address this dire crisis,” said Blumenthal.

    “My office and I were pleased to lead the federal effort to advocate on the City of Norwich’s behalf and bring the federal funding home to ensure less children are exposed to the serious dangers of lead paint. The federal funding award is a clear testament to the outstanding work executed by the City, Wayne Sharkey, and his team, and the hours and hours they spent on this application to continue their live-saving work,” said Courtney. 

    “Many New England homes and apartments were constructed well before we knew how dangerous lead paint exposure can be, especially for young children. The over $6 million in federal funding Bridgeport will receive will allow the city to expand its remediation efforts and help ensure children are no longer exposed to lead paint’s harmful effects. When coupled with the Governor’s Lead Free CT Campaign, this investment brings us closer to eliminating lead contaminants in Connecticut once and for all,” said Himes.

    The federal funding announced today will address lead-based paint hazards in the following municipalities:

    1. The City of Waterbury will receive $7,000,000.
    2. The City of Bridgeport will receive $6,006,105.
    3. The City of Norwich will receive $3,157,991.

    The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program helps transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing, and improving communities and the health of children and families in these communities. In addition to addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD also offers healthy homes supplemental funding to address other housing related health and safety issues while addressing the lead-based paint. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Seeks DOT Guidance To Improve Roadway Safety And Address Traffic Fatalities In Letter To Secretary Buttigieg

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 09, 2024

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for details on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) efforts to improve roadway safety. Murphy referenced the recent tragic deaths of Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier and ConnDOT worker Andrew DiDomenico, as well as his own Walk Across Connecticut, where he saw dangerous driving conditions firsthand. Expressing concern over rising traffic fatalities in Connecticut, Murphy requested additional information on specific measures being implemented, strategies to address dangerous driving behaviors, and how federal and state governments can collaborate to enhance roadway safety.

    “There were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024,” Murphy wrote. “This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.”

    Murphy continued: “My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous. While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities.”

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

    I am writing to inquire about the Department of Transportation’s work on highway safety. Unfortunately, as you are aware, there were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024. This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.

    My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous.

    While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities. To that end, I am requesting your answers and input on the following questions:

    1. What specific measures is the Department of Transportation implementing under the National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, particularly in Northeast states like Connecticut?
    2. What strategies are being developed to combat issues such as high-speed driving, ignoring traffic signs, and distracted driving? Are there any new initiatives on these issues forthcoming?
    3. Has there been an increase in accidents involving young or less experienced drivers? What targeted programs or campaigns does the Department plan to introduce to improve their safety on the roads?
    4. How is the Department of Transportation engaging with local communities, such as schools and construction sites, to gather insights on roadway safety concerns and to promote safer driving practices?
    5. How can state governments like Connecticut better collaborate with the federal government to enhance roadway safety and address specific local concerns?
    6. What additional actions can Congress take to better enable your agency to address this issue?

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to continuing to work with you to build safer roadways that improve safety and the travel experience for the American people.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the ‘social cost of carbon’ measurement can hide economic inequalities and mask climate suffering

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Majid Hashemi, Adjunct assistant professor, Economics Department, Queen’s University, Ontario

    The social cost of carbon (SCC) is an essential tool for climate decision-making around the world. SCC is essentially a large cost-benefit calculation that helps policymakers compare the benefits of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the society-wide costs of continued use.

    The “right” SCC has long been an open debate, with several studies attempting to estimate it using a range of methods. In fact, there are more than 323 studies that provide varying SCC estimates in one form or another.

    Most studies focus on the global level working with aggregate SCC values from countries around the world. This global value, however, hides an important nuance. When one looks at individual SCC values at the country level a clear picture emerges. Poorer countries have proportionally lower SCCs than richer ones.



    Read more:
    Don’t applaud the COP28 climate summit’s loss and damage fund deal just yet – here’s what’s missing

    To put this in context, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a global social cost of carbon at US$208 per ton of CO2 for 2024 (average of recent studies).

    The Government of Canada uses the same EPA value after exchange rate. When this global estimate (i.e., the aggregate damages to the entire planet) is broken down to country-specific estimates (i.e., the damages to a particular country), it reveals SCCs of less than US$1 for poor countries.

    Does this imply that poorer countries bear lower costs due to climate change impacts? Not at all, in fact the reality is quite the opposite. Studies reveal that the damages associated with climate change are proportionally higher for lower-income countries. These damages are often hidden in SCC values in ways that reveal much about the inequalities of our modern world.

    Why is the social cost of carbon lower?

    The answer is the modelling approach.

    To estimate the social cost of carbon, a complicated model integrates multidisciplinary scientific evidence into a single framework to analyze climate change damages. These models incorporate “damage functions” that account for various pathways through which climate change impacts societies.

    Pathways include some of the things that we can measure, such as reduced agricultural productivity, increased energy expenditures for space heating and cooling, flood-related property damages and premature death due to extreme temperatures and weather events.

    Despite the comprehensive nature of these climate damage models, a critical disparity remains. The monetary value of damages is significantly smaller in poorer countries than in richer ones. Again, this does not mean the impacts are less severe; instead, it reflects the lower overall economic value of losses in these regions because of their lower overall income levels.

    One of the three studies referenced by the U.S. EPA’s guidance on SCC finds climate-change-related agriculture damages and premature deaths account for 45 per cent and 49 per cent of the total global damages, respectively. In poorer countries these percentages are likely much lower given both a comparatively undervalued agricultural sector and lower ability to pay for life saving equipment.

    Simply put, extreme global economic inequality hides the very real losses and damages experienced by many in poorer countries. This is because the comparative wealth gap between them and richer countries results in a lower relative SCC value.

    What does this mean?

    To a national policymaker, an almost zero SCC means that climate change-related projects will likely compete neck-and-neck with basic-needs projects (e.g., addressing malnutrition). From the global perspective, this leaves poorer countries with little incentive to allocate resources to the fight against climate change. Poor countries may even see their investments in such efforts as nothing more than donations to richer countries.

    Indeed, from such a simple SCC-based perspective any CO2 emissions reduction step a poorer country takes could result in a higher SCC value in richer countries — a value which they are likely to receive very little of. What can be done to address this imbalance?



    Read more:
    How COP28 failed the world’s small islands

    One proposed solution has been to use the differences in SCC values between poorer and richer countries to inform international climate negotiations on the implied historical responsibility and liability, commonly known as the loss and damage funds.

    Additionally, international development assistance to climate adaptation funds should be more equitably aligned with SCC imbalances to ensure that richer countries — which will benefit more from emission reduction efforts — help bear the burden in supporting poorer countries’ adaptation and mitigation efforts.

    While methods for estimating SCC values have become more sophisticated in recent years, addressing the global-versus-country-specific imbalance requires a combination of financial transfers and practical co-operation between richer and poorer nations. This will help ensure that the costs and benefits of global CO2 emissions reductions are shared more equally, accounting for both ethical and economic considerations.

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

    – ref. How the ‘social cost of carbon’ measurement can hide economic inequalities and mask climate suffering – https://theconversation.com/how-the-social-cost-of-carbon-measurement-can-hide-economic-inequalities-and-mask-climate-suffering-233041

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Celebrates National 4-H Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and 4-H alumna, co-led a resolution with 39 of her colleagues to designate this week as National 4-H Week and recognize the important role the program plays in youth development and education.
             
    “My time as a 4-Her equipped me with the skills to lead and taught me from a young age what it means to serve my community and my country,” said Senator Ernst. “4-H has given generations of Iowans the chance to participate in meaningful hands-on learning while striving to make the best better. I’m proud to support an organization that fosters a lifetime of connection to agriculture and civic engagement in our next generation of leaders.”
    Click here to view the resolution.
    Background:
    As a former 4-H member who grew up walking beans and feeding hogs on her family farm in southwest Iowa, Ernst experienced firsthand the valuable educational experiences and leadership opportunities the program offers. She has proudly supported 4-H during her time in the Senate and often meets with 4-H members in Washington, D.C. and Iowa.
    4-H is the largest youth development organization in the country, impacting nearly six million young people with over 27,000 members in Iowa alone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hurricane Milton: Flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent, growing threat

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James R. Elliott, Professor of Sociology, Rice University

    An industrial storage tank overturned by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., shows the power of fast-moving floodwater. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

    Hundreds of industrial facilities with toxic pollutants are in Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads toward Florida, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded communities across the Southeast.

    Milton, expected to make landfall as a major hurricane late on Oct. 9, is bearing down on boat and spa factories along Florida’s west-central coast, along with the rubber, plastics and fiberglass manufacturers that supply them. Many of these facilities use tens of thousands of registered contaminants each year, including toluene, styrene and other chemicals known to have adverse effects on the central nervous system with prolonged exposure.

    Farther inland, hundreds more manufacturers that use and house hazardous chemicals onsite lie along the Interstate 4 and Interstate 75 corridors and their feeder roads. And many are in the path of the storm’s intense winds and heavy rainfall.

    Black dots indicate facilities in EPA’s 2022 Toxic Release Inventory within Hurricane Milton’s projected impact zone.
    Rice University Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience, CC BY-ND

    Helene’s heavy rainfall in late September 2024 flooded industrial sites across the Southeast. A retired nuclear power plant just south of Cedar Key, Florida, was flooded by Helene’s storm surge.

    In disasters like these, the industrial damage can unfold over days, and residents may not hear about releases of toxic chemicals into water or the air until days or weeks later, if they find out at all.

    Yet pollution releases are common.

    After Hurricane Ian broadsided Florida’s western coast in 2022, runoff that included hazardous materials from damaged storage tanks and local fertilizer mining facilities, in addition to millions of gallons of wastewater, was visible from space, spilling across the coastal wetlands into the Gulf of Mexico. A year earlier, Hurricane Ida triggered more than 2,000 reported chemical spills.

    During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, floodwater surrounded chemical facilities near Houston. Some caught fire as cooling systems failed, releasing huge volumes or pollutants into the air. Emergency responders and residents, who didn’t know what risks they might face, blamed the chemicals for causing respiratory illnesses.

    Many types of toxic material can spread, settle and change the long-term health and environmental safety of surrounding communities – often with little notice to residents. Our team of environmental sociologists and anthropologists has mapped hazardous industrial sites across the country and paired them with hurricanes’ projected impact maps to help communities hold nearby facilities accountable.

    Major polluters on Gulf Coast at high risk”

    The risks from industrial facilities are most obvious along the U.S. Gulf Coast, where many major petrochemical complexes are clustered in harm’s way. These refineries, factories and storage facilities are often built along rivers or bays for easy shipping access.

    But those rivers can also bring storm surge flooding that can raise the ocean by several feet during hurricanes. The storm surge from Helene was over 10 feet above ground level in Florida’s Big Bend and over 6 feet in Tampa Bay. With Milton, forecasters warning of a 10- to 15-foot storm surge at Tampa Bay.

    A boom surrounds flooded railcars to try to contain leaks at a chemical plant in Braithwaite, La., after Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    A recent study found evidence of two to three times more pollution releases during hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico than during normal weather from 2005 to 2020.

    The effects of these pollution releases fall disproportionately on low-income communities and people of color, further exacerbating environmental health risks.

    Why residents may not hear about toxic releases

    The statistics are disconcerting, yet they get little attention. That is because hazardous releases remain largely invisible due to limited disclosure requirements and scant public information. Even emergency responders often don’t know exactly which hazardous chemicals they are facing in emergency situations.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires major polluters to file only very general information about chemicals and on-site risks in their risk management plans. Some large-scale fuel storage facilities, such as those holding liquefied natural gas, are not even required to do that.

    These risk management plans outline “worst-case” scenarios and are supposed to be publicly accessible. But, in reality, we and others have found them difficult to access, heavily redacted and housed in federal reading rooms with limited access. The reason local officials and national scientific review panels often give for the secrecy is to protect the facilities from terrorist attack.

    Oil storage tanks and industrial facilities line the Houston Ship Channel, which is vulnerable to storm surge from Gulf of Mexico hurricanes.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    Adding to this opacity is the fact that many states – including those along the Gulf – suspend restrictions on pollution releases during emergency declarations. Meanwhile, real-time incident notifications from the National Response Center – the federal government’s repository for all chemical discharges into the environment – typically lag by a week or more,

    We believe this limited public information on rising chemical threats from our changing climate should be front-page news every hurricane season. Communities should be aware of the risks of hosting vulnerable industrial infrastructure, particularly as rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours and powerful hurricanes.

    Mapping the risks nationwide to raise awareness

    To help communities understand their risks, our team at Rice University’s new Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience investigates how industrial communities in flood-prone areas nationwide can better adapt to such threats, socially as well as technologically.

    Our interactive map shows where elevated future flood risks threaten to inundate major polluters that we identify using the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory.

    The U.S. has several hot spots with clusters of flood-prone polluters. Houston’s Ship Channel, Chicago’s waterfront steel industries and the harbors at Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey are among the biggest.

    Three of the biggest hot spots, where large numbers of industrial facilities with toxic materials face elevated future flood risks, are in the Northeast, the northwestern Gulf Coast and the southern end of the Great Lakes.
    Rice University Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience, CC BY-ND

    But, as Helene revealed, there can also be great concern in less obvious spots. Inland, particularly in the mountains, runoff can quickly turn normally tame rivers into fast-rising torrents. The French Broad River at Asheville, North Carolina, rose about 12 feet in 12 hours during Helene and set a new flood stage record.

    When hurricanes and tropical storms are headed for the U.S., our interactive maps show where major polluters are located in the storm’s projected cone of impact. The maps identify hazardous flood-prone facilities down to the address, anywhere in the country.

    Knowledge is the first step

    Knowing where these sites are located is only the first step. Often, it’s up to communities themselves, many of them already overexposed and historically underserved, to raise concerns and demand strategies for mitigating the health, economic and environmental risks that industrial sites at risk of flooding and other damage can pose.

    These discussions can’t wait until a disaster is on the way. By knowing where these risks may be, communities can take steps now to build a safer future.

    This article, originally published Sept. 30, has been updated with Hurricane Milton.

    James R. Elliott receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Lab.

    Dominic Boyer receives funding from the National Science Foundation, NOAA and Texas Sea Grant.

    Phylicia Lee Brown has nothing to disclose.

    – ref. Hurricane Milton: Flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent, growing threat – https://theconversation.com/hurricane-milton-flooded-industrial-sites-and-toxic-chemical-releases-are-a-silent-growing-threat-239977

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis & John Jumper awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

    Source: Google

    This post originally appeared on the Google DeepMind Blog.

    This morning, Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs Sir Demis Hassabis, and Google DeepMind Director Dr. John Jumper were co-awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work developing AlphaFold, a groundbreaking AI system that predicts the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. David Baker was also co-awarded for his work on computational protein design.

    Before AlphaFold, predicting the structure of a protein was a complex and time-consuming process.

    AlphaFold’s predictions, made freely available through the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database, have given more than 2 million scientists and researchers from 190 countries a powerful tool for making new discoveries. The AlphaFold 2 paper, published in 2021, remains one of the most-cited publications of all time.

    AlphaFold’s contributions to science have been widely praised, and among its recognitions are the 2023 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2023 Canada Gairdner International Award, the 2024 Clarivate Citation Laureate award, and the 2024 Keio Medical Science Prize Award.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long shown incredible potential for use in scientific research, and AlphaFold was proof-of-concept. As more scientists adopt AI for use in everything from building data, to simulating experiments, drug design, modelling complexity, discovering novel solutions for extant problems, and building upon existing knowledge, we will continue to see foundational scientific breakthroughs in the years ahead.

    In a statement released after informed of the news, Demis Hassabis said:

    “Receiving the Nobel Prize is the honour of a lifetime. Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to John Jumper and the AlphaFold team, the wider DeepMind and Google teams, and to all my colleagues past and present that made this moment possible. I’ve dedicated my career to advancing AI because of its unparalleled potential to improve the lives of billions of people. AlphaFold has already been used by more than two million researchers to advance critical work, from enzyme design to drug discovery. I hope we’ll look back on AlphaFold as the first proof point of AI’s incredible potential to accelerate scientific discovery.”

    After receiving the news that he won the Nobel Prize, John Jumper released the following statement:

    “Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for this extraordinary honor. We are so honored to be recognized for delivering on the long promise of computational biology to help us understand the protein world and to inform the incredible work of experimental biologists. It is a key demonstration that AI will make science faster and ultimately help to understand disease and develop therapeutics. This is the work of an exceptional team at Google DeepMind and this award recognizes their amazing work.

    Computational biology has long held tremendous promise for creating practical insights that could be put to use in real-world experiments. AlphaFold delivered on this promise. Ahead of us are a universe of new insights and scientific discoveries made possible by the use of AI as a scientific tool. Thank you to my colleagues over the years, for making possible this moment of recognition, as well as the many moments of discovery that lie ahead.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales to supply handheld thermal imagers to the Canadian Army

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales to supply handheld thermal imagers to the Canadian Army

    • The Thales Sophie Ultima long-range handheld thermal imagers have been selected by the Canadian Armed Forces, the first contract awarded under Canada’s Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project.
    • Manufactured and maintained in Canada, the Sophie Ultima will enhance operational capabilities for the Canadian Army with advanced technology and resilient navigation.
    • This contract award further affirms Thales’ commitment to Canada with significant local industrialization, skills development and training in Quebec.
    ©Thales

    Thales Canada is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Thales Canada for the acquisition of its Sophie Ultima Handheld Thermal Imager (HHTI) as part of the Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project. This award marks an important advancement in Canada’s defence capabilities, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to excel in complex and challenging operational environments.

    The Sophie Ultima, a lightweight, handheld thermal imager, is engineered to deliver extraordinary performance in the field. With a high performance infrared channel, it offers NATO tank recognition range performance of up to 6 kilometres. The continuous optical zoom and wide 20° field of view enable operators to maintain visual contact with targets during detection, recognition, and identification phases, ensuring rapid and precise engagement.

    Thales will manufacture and maintain the Sophie Ultima at its existing Canadian Electro-Optics Center of Excellence, further strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base. This initiative will create new jobs and spur economic growth, expanding Thales’s current supply chain within Canada. In addition, the Thales Optronics facility in Montreal will provide comprehensive in-service support, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces benefit from a dedicated repair facility with rapid turnaround, reducing equipment downtime.

    “Thales is committed to delivering advanced, reliable, and locally supported solutions like the Sophie Ultima,” said Benoit Plantier, Vice President, Optronics, Missile Electronics and Unmanned Air Systems, Thales.

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity.

    It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

    The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

    Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

    About Thales Canada

    A Canadian leader in research and technology, Thales Canada combines over 50 years of experience with the talent of over 1,300 skilled people from coast-to-coast. Thales Canada offers leading capabilities in the defence, civil aviation, digital identity and security sectors – meeting the most complex needs and requirements of its customers across all operating environments.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Ecuador formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Director-General Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Ecuador’s formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the largest tuna exporters in the world and the proud steward of the Galapagos islands, Ecuador stands to gain immensely from this global commitment to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. This Agreement will not only preserve marine biodiversity but will also secure long-term economic opportunities for the nation.”

    Ambassador Valencia said: “It is an honour to present, on behalf of Ecuador, the instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the first WTO instrument that promotes trade regulations while considering the sustainability of the oceans. The acceptance of this Agreement reaffirms Ecuador’s and its government’s firm commitment to promoting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, protecting the life cycles of marine populations, improving the living conditions of citizens who depend on fishing activities—particularly the most economically vulnerable communities—and promoting transparency by prohibiting subsidies to harmful activities such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”

    Ecuador’s instrument of acceptance brings to 84 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement. Twenty-seven more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership.

    Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

    The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

    Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

    The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee meeting focuses on preparing for full operations

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee meeting focuses on preparing for full operations

    The meeting brought together key stakeholders working for the operationalization of the Fish Fund in support of developing and least-developed country (LDC) members’ implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
    “Last time we gathered in July for the Second Steering Committee meeting, I remarked how impressive it was that this Steering Committee had so quickly achieved tangible results and was about to deliberate on the framework documents that will enable the Fish Fund to begin its operations,” Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard said at the meeting. “Since then, I have been following the Committee’s work very closely, and I can see from today’s full agenda that your remarkable efforts are continuing to deliver results.”
    DDG Ellard reported that the Fund has received close to USD 12 million from donors and has signed contribution agreements for more than USD 3.5 million. The members that have contributed to the Fund thus far are Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and most recently the United Arab Emirates. The United Kingdom has pledged GBP 1 million.
    “These resources will have a real impact, and members are waiting to put them to good use,” DDG Ellard said.
    The Secretariat updated the Steering Committee that the consulting firm Dalberg was selected through a procurement process to develop the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework for the Fish Fund. The Manager of the Fish Fund reported on progress in planning for future calls for project proposals to be supported by the Fund and other updates on strategy, budget, staffing, and communications.
    The meeting also featured a presentation from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on its Self-Assessment Tool for implementing the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. Belize shared its experiences using this tool.  The Seychelles Fishing Authority unveiled a project to upgrade its fisheries management system.
    Because the new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will involve adjustments and enhancements to WTO members’ legislative and administrative frameworks, their transparency and notification obligations, and their fisheries management policies and practices, Article 7 of the Agreement provides for the creation of a voluntary funding mechanism to provide targeted technical assistance and capacity building to help developing and least developed country members with implementation. For the Agreement to enter into force, two-thirds of members have to deposit their “instruments of acceptance” with the WTO. Eighty-four WTO members have formally accepted the Agreement; twenty-seven more are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. Resources from the WTO Fish Fund will be available to members once they have deposited their instrument of acceptance.
    The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. More information on the Fund is available here.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden urges regulators to adopt proposed delay to lobster gauge increase, calls for level playing field with Canadian lobstermen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) yesterday sent a letter urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) to formally adopt a delay to a lobster gauge increase in the Gulf of Maine until at least July 2025. He called on the Commission to gather more accurate lobster stock data in the meantime while also addressing the unequal regulatory burden between Maine and Canadian lobstermen.

    “It is my hope that the ASFMC will ultimately support a long-term pause of the amendment to allow additional time for the technical committee to consider the stock’s health more carefully.…” Golden wrote. “…These efforts should coincide with robust engagement with your Canadian counterparts to address the regulatory disparity between American and Canadian lobstermen and create a level playing field for all harvesters in the Gulf of Maine.”

    Lobstermen gauge the size of a lobster by measuring its carapace from eye socket to tail. Lobsters that are smaller than the minimum gauge size must be put back in the water so they can grow, protecting the lobster population for the future. According to the ASMFC, lobster stock decline in Lobster Management Area 1 has surpassed 35 percent — the trigger point for an automatic increase in allowable catch size from 3 1/4 inches to 3 5/16 inches. However, Maine fishermen have questioned the data used to justify these changes, including concerns that ASMFC stock data is out of date. 

    This new rule — known as Addendum 27 — was originally scheduled to begin in January 2025. Following calls in April and August from Golden and industry leaders, ASMFC voted to approve a delay until July 2025. However, the Commission has yet to formally adopt the measure — Addendum 31 — which means implementation is still currently slated for January.  

    In his letter, Golden noted that moving forward with the gauge increase is estimated to cause theloss of more than 680 jobs and $59.6 million to Maine’s economy. Any such change in the Gulf of Maine would not apply to Canadian lobstermen.

    “The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association would like to express our gratitude to Congressman Golden for highlighting the problems associated with an increase in the minimum gauge size in area 1 for lobster,” Dustin Delano, a lobsterman and chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association said. “We feel the many negative, unintended consequences in this ‘proactive approach’ in management were severely overlooked, will cause major disruptions to the market, and place American dealers and harvesters at a major disadvantage from their Canadian counterparts.”

    “Congressman Golden’s support to review data used to regulate the lobster fishery is vital to the fishermen’s survival,” Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union said. “The last thing our industry needs is rules with unintended consequences.”  

    In July, Golden introduced a bipartisan amendment to the federal budget that would block any proposed gauge increase for one year. 

    Golden’s newest letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

     

    +++

     

    October 8, 2024

    Robert Beal
    Executive Director
    Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
    1050 North Highland St, Suite 200 A-N
    Arlington, VA 22201

    Dear Director Beal and Commissioners,

    I am writing to you again requesting that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the American Lobster Board delay the implementation of the Lobster Management Area 1 gauge increase, Addendum XXVII, currently scheduled to begin in January 2025. While I believe that the proposal as written in Addendum XXXI to delay a gauge increase until July 1, 2025, is the better of the two options presented by the ASMFC, I encourage the Commission to proceed solely based on the full consideration of all data sources and a commitment from Canadian regulators to enhance their conservation measures.

    As you know, the intent of Addendum XXVII is to mitigate declining stocks of American lobster proactively, a goal shared by harvesters, dealers, and the ASFMC. In my conversations with lobstermen and dealers, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations. That is why, as I previously stated in my letter to you on April 29, 2024, I am concerned that the data used to arrive at the trigger index for a gauge increase is overly precautionary and has limitations that do not entirely reflect the current status of the stock.

    It is my hope that the ASFMC will ultimately support a long-term pause of the amendment to allow additional time for the technical committee to consider the stock’s health more carefully while considering other resiliency measures and incorporating thorough scientific data and objective analysis acceptable to regulators and members of the commercial lobster fishery. Other data that has not been considered or will become available include mandatory harvester reporting, the conservation equivalent from a reduction of overall lobster licenses, and the 2025 lobster stock assessment. These efforts should coincide with robust engagement with your Canadian counterparts to address the regulatory disparity between American and Canadian lobstermen and create a level playing field for all harvesters in the Gulf of Maine.

    Without a longer-term pause, devastating economic consequences are on the horizon for Maine’s lobster industry. For the latest year data is available, it is estimated that if Addendum XXVII goes into effect, it would decrease the value of lobster landings, resulting in a loss of over 680 jobs and $59.6 million to Maine’s economy. I am deeply concerned about how this economic impact would impact the industry and the hundreds of communities in Maine that depend on a viable lobster fishery. Few involved in the fishery or these communities are adequately prepared for the economic disruption that would likely occur.

    These decisions must always include those with significant experience, the harvesters themselves. I trust that you, as the regulators, will also consider and incorporate their invaluable input in matters before you.

    Sincerely,

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Lawler and Carbajal Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Rail Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) in introducing legislation to strengthen protections for rail yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other rail yard workers. The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees. The bill has been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. 

    “Railroad incidents have sparked major concerns here in my district and across America,” said Congressman Lawler. “Ensuring safe conditions for those who operate our railways is essential to ensuring the safety not only of these workers but also of the communities in which these railways operate. Unfortunately, yardmasters are exempt from existing hours of service laws despite the integral rial they play. The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act will ensure safe conditions for these essential workers and I’m proud to join Congressman Carbajal in introducing this critical common sense legislation.”

    “Yardmasters serve a critical role in our nation’s railroad network. They oversee the operations of a rail yard and manage the duties of various rail workers” said Congressman Carbajal. “They not only direct the activities of their fellow workers but also passenger and freight trains when they arrive and depart. But currently, there are no limitations to the number of hours a yardmaster can work in a day, week, or month. This is not only dangerous for the well-being of the yardmasters but the safety of workers on the yard and train passengers.” 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Warren County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)

    (October 9, 2024) WARREN COUNTY, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) met with Dr. William Austin, Warren Community College President, along with students, faculty, and deans, ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into the critical need for funding to enhance the Agricultural Education and Training Center’s facilities. Congressman Kean requested $978,625 for Warren Community College in this year’s appropriation process. The funding would be used for improvements to the existing Agricultural Education and Training Center’s facilities to serve as a location for training students on vocational agriculture and culinary studies.   

    “Hands-on experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical application, providing opportunities that can be transformed into valuable real-world skills,” said Congressman Kean. “This funding would provide students with the necessary resources and training in vocational agriculture and culinary studies, helping to foster skill development and workforce readiness in these fields. I thank President Austin and his team for taking the time to show me the site today and look forward to getting this funding across the finish line.”  

    “We are honored to welcome Congressman Kean to our Robotics research facility, where we reviewed our past work in precision agriculture and discussed our plans to automate food processing,” said Dr. William Austin, President of Warren Community College. “By collaborating with local farmers and the Congressman, we aim to develop a cutting-edge food science innovation center for Northwest New Jersey.” 

    Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE.   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tiffany Announces October Mobile Office Hours

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

    WAUSAU, WI – Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the following mobile office hours. 

    A member of Congressman Tom Tiffany’s staff will be at the following locations to assist residents who may need help with a federal agency. Appointments are not necessary, and staff will be able to aid in federal matters concerning Veterans Affairs, Social Security, the Internal Revenue Service, Medicare, passports, and more. 

    Mobile Office Hours on Wednesday, October 16th: 

    Price County

    Location: Phillips Public Library 

    286 Cherry Street 

    Phillips, WI  54555 

    Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm 

     

    Mobile Office Hours on Monday, October 28th: 

    Lincoln County

    Location:  T. B. Scott Public Library 

    106 1st Street 

    Merrill, WI 54452 

    Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm 

     

    Lincoln County

    Location:  Tomahawk Public Library 

    300 West Lincoln Avenue 

    Tomahawk, WI  54474

    Time: 3:00 – 4:00pm 

     

    Oneida County

    Location:  Rhinelander Public Library 

    106 North Stevens Street 

    Rhinelander, WI  54501 

    Time: 5:00 – 6:00pm 

     

    Mobile Office Hours on Tuesday, October 29th:  

    Taylor County

    Location:  Frances Simek Memorial Library 

    400 North Main Street 

    Medford, WI  54451 

    Time: 8:30 – 9:30am 

     

    Clark County

    Location:  Neillsville Public Library 

    409 Hewett Street #1923 

    Neillsville, WI  54456

    Time: 11:00 – 12:00pm 

     

    Polk County

    Location:  Osceola Village Hall 

    310 Chieftain Street 

    Osceola, WI 54020 

    Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm 

     

    Wood County

    Location:  Pittsville Community Library 

    5291 3rd Avenue 

    Pittsville, WI  54466

    Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm 

     

    Polk County

    Location:  St. Croix Falls Public Library

    230 South Washington Street 

    St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 

    Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm 

     

    Wood County

    Location:  Everett Roehl Public Library 

    105 South Maple Avenue 

    Marshfield, WI  54449

    Time: 3:00 – 4:00pm 

     

    Mobile Office Hours on Wednesday, October 30th:  

    Oneida County

    Location:  Minocqua Public Library 

    415 Menominee Street 

    Minocqua, WI  54548

    Time: 9:30 – 10:30am 

     

    Burnett County

    Location:  Grantsburg Public Library 

    415 South Robert Street 

    Grantsburg, WI 54840 

    Time: 10:00 – 11:00am 

     

    Oneida County

    Location:  Minocqua Public Library 

    415 Menominee Street 

    Minocqua, WI  54548

    Time: 9:30 – 10:30am 

     

    Marathon County

    Location: Stratford Public Library 

    213201 Scholar Street 

    Stratford, Wisconsin 54484 

    Time: 11:30 – 12:30pm 

     

    Vilas County

    Location:  Walter Olson Memorial Library 

    203 North Main Street 

    Eagle River, WI  54521

    Time: 11:30 – 12:30pm 

     

    Polk County

    Location:  Frederic Public Library 

    127 Oak Street East 

    Frederic, WI 54837 

    Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm 

     

    Forest County

    Location:  Laona Public Library 

    5216 Forest Avenue 

    Laona, WI  54541

    Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm 

     

    Mobile Office Hours on Thursday, October 31st:  

    Bayfield County

    Location: Drummond Public Library 

    14990 Superior Street 

    Drummond, WI  54832

    Time: 10:00 – 11:00am 

     

    Sawyer County

    Location: Hayward City Hall 

    15889 West 3rd Street 

    Hayward, WI  54843 

    Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm 

     

    If you have any further questions or need help with a federal agency and cannot make it to these mobile office hours, Congressman Tiffany’s district staff remains ready to help at (715) 298-9344.  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anandasangaree to provide updates on the establishment of a new Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, alongside Indigenous Modern Treaty partners will provide updates on the establishment of a new Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation.

    Ottawa, Ontario — The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, alongside Indigenous Modern Treaty partners will provide updates on the establishment of a new Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation.

    Date: October 10, 2024

    Time: 11:00 a.m. (ET)

    Where: Foyer of the House of Commons of Canada
    111 Wellington Street, West Block
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2

    Gregory Frame
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
    Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
    gregory.frame@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –