NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Miller-Meeks Urges CMS to Approve Bettendorf Facility for Seniors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    Washington DC – Fighting for Quad Cities seniors, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks today urged the Centers for the Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve a UnityPoint Health application for a senior’s healthcare facility in Bettendorf.

    UnityPoint is seeking to open a new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) location in the Quad Cities. PACE centers are a vital lifeline for seniors who wish to live on their own while still having access to nursing home and healthcare services. Approval of the Bettendorf location is critical for Iowa as UnityPoint Health intends to submit application for PACE location in Waterloo and Hiawatha.

    Joining Miller-Meeks were U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Randy Feenstra (R-IA).

    The full text of the letter is below:

    Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure,

    We are writing to express support for a pending service area expansion (SAE) application by UnityPoint Health to open a new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) location in Bettendorf, Iowa.

    PACE locations serve as a vital lifeline for seniors who seek to live with more independence. This unique program enables people who would otherwise need to be in a nursing home to remain at home and in their community while still having appropriate access to healthcare services. We strongly support expansion of these programs to ensure that our constituents can make individual healthcare choices that best suit the needs of themselves and their families. Siouxland PACE was the first PACE program in Iowa and has participated since 2008.

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has the necessary information needed to approve the SAE application and complete the program agreement. We understand that CMS has strong protocols to ensure expansion sites meet all requirements to provide a safe, thriving environment for each participant. We support that rigorous process. As there is local excitement about offering PACE in eastern Iowa, we ask that CMS move as expeditiously as possible with the approval of UnityPoint Health’s pending SAE application before the 3rd quarter PACE application cycle deadline of September 27, 2024.

    If the pending SAE application for Bettendorf, IA, is not approved prior to the 3rd quarter deadline, all forthcoming SAE applications will be unduly delayed because the next SAE application cannot be submitted until December 27, 2024. UnityPoint Health intends to submit SAE applications for two additional PACE expansion sites in Waterloo and Hiawatha – communities that are also in great need of PACE. Because each pending SAE application must be completed before another can be initiated, delays will negatively impact older adults not just in Bettendorf but in Waterloo and Hiawatha as well. All information for a second site is ready for submission but is on hold due to the pending Bettendorf application.

    We encourage CMS to move as expeditiously as possible to approve the pending SAE application before September 27, 2024, to ensure that Iowa residents can benefit from the value PACE brings to their communities. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Supports Resolution Condemning Biden-Harris Administration’s Botched Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, a congressional resolution condemning the Biden-Harris administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    “President Biden and Vice President Harris oversaw the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that jeopardized our national security and cost the lives of 13 American servicemembers. This colossal failure of leadership also left more than $7 billion in U.S. military equipment behind, which has since fallen into the hands of the Taliban,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I voted for this congressional resolution because the families of the fallen and the American people deserve real answers and accountability from the Biden-Harris administration.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Administration’s record speaks for itself, but we put it all in one place for you just in case

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    I know this Administration’s record speaks for itself.

    But we put it all in one place for you just in case.

    WhiteHouse.gov/TheRecord

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utNcSF9NITg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife return from successful Operation CARIBBE

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 25, 2024 – Esquimalt, BC – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Edmonton and Yellowknife returned to their homeport of Esquimalt, British Columbia, after a successful seven-week deployment on Operation CARIBBE.

    During this deployment, on September 5, 2024, HMCS Yellowknife, working closely with the United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, intercepted a drug smuggling vessel. This interception, conducted approximately 430 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,400 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $60 million (Canadian).

    Operation CARIBBE is Canada’s contribution to the enhanced counter-narcotics operations led by the United States through the Joint Interagency Task Force – South, which is responsible for conducting international and interagency detection and surveillance operations and facilitating the interdiction of illicit trafficking. This operation is one of many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada to disrupt transnational criminal activity at sea and help keep drugs off Canadian streets.

    Quotes

    “The performance of HMC Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife on Operation CARIBBE was exceptional and brought great credit to Canada’s Pacific Fleet. The skill and professionalism of both crews, in joint operations with our American allies, resulted in the seizure of tens of millions of dollars worth of dangerous narcotics. This impressive seizure clearly demonstrates how the Canadian Navy contributes to the overall security of Canadians. Welcome home and congratulations, you have earned it.”

    – Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific

    “I would like to thank the crews of HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife, as well as the embarked team from the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment who deployed with us. We are proud of our contribution to the multinational effort to stem the flow of illicit drugs into North America. Through our collaborative efforts, we have helped enhance the safety and security of Canada.”

    – Lieutenant-Commander Tyson Babcock, Commanding Officer of HMCS Yellowknife

    Quick Facts

    HMCS Edmonton and Yellowknife are Kingston-class coastal defence vessels designed for surveillance and patrol of coastal waters.

    The Royal Canadian Navy has been conducting Operation CARIBBE since November 2006 and remains committed to working with partners in the Western Hemisphere and Europe to address security challenges in the region and disrupt illicit trafficking operations.

    Each year, Canada, working closely with partner countries, intercepts and seizes millions of dollars worth of illicit drugs and plays a major role in stemming trafficking in international waters. In doing so, Canada helps control and disrupt drug trafficking in international waters near South and Central America.

    Related products

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Maritime Forces Pacific Public AffairsPhone: 250-363-5789 or 250-888-6775Email: ESQPACIFICNAVYPUBLICAFFAIRS@forces.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Haiti Caucus and Tri-Caucus Statement on False and Dangerous Rhetoric About Haitian Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), along with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Steven Horsford (NV-04), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán (CA-44), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu (CA-28), issued the following statement condemning the false and dangerous lies about Haitian, Latino, and Asian immigrants.

    “We, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, stand united in condemning the false, hateful, and dangerous rhetoric directed at Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. These disgraceful lies, perpetuated by Donald Trump, Senator J.D. Vance, and Republicans, are not only rooted in xenophobia, racism, and anti-Blackness, but are also the latest attempt by Republicans to sow division and fear within our communities and distract from their deeply unpopular agenda.

    “These lies target some of the most vulnerable among us — individuals and families fleeing violence, instability, and humanitarian crises in search of a better life. Our Haitian neighbors, including our Latino and Asian families, who have come to the United States, seek safety and opportunity, and the contributions they make to our cultural and economic fabric are endless. To demonize and dehumanize them with baseless accusations puts their lives at risk and is an affront to everything we stand for as a nation.

    “To be clear: these lies have had very real consequences. Haitian families in Springfield and across the country are living in fear, facing harassment, and facing bomb threats. Children lie awake at night not knowing if they’ll be safe come morning, and parents are consumed with worry for their babies’ safety. We’ve seen this tired playbook before, and we will not stand for it.

    “If you come for one of us, you come for all of us. As leaders of the Haiti Caucus, CBC, CHC, and CAPAC, we stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants and all of our families who have been unjustly targeted. We urge our colleagues to reject this vile rhetoric and instead advance policies that affirm the dignity and humanity of all people, starting with our most vulnerable.”

    As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country, with approximately 46,000 Haitians and Haitian-Americans living across the state and over half in the Boston metropolitan area. Additionally, Massachusetts is home to more than 4,700 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status.

    • On September 20, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs joined colleagues and advocates at a press conference to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans.
    • On June 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration’s extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
    • On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
    • On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP. 
    • On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
    • On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
    • On March 18, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the House Haiti Caucus led 67 lawmakers on a letter urging the Biden Administration to extend TPS for Haiti and halt deportations.
    • On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
    • On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
    • On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
    • On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
    • On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
    • On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
    • On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
    • On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
    • In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
    • On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
    • On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
    • On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
    • On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
    • On February 14, 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
    • On January 12, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Val Demings (FL-10) released a statement on the 12-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
    • On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
    • On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
    • On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
    • On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
    • On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
    • In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
    • In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Vote to Keep Government Funded

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal released the following statement after voting for H.R. 9747, a Continuing Resolution (CR), to prevent a government shutdown. The legislation passed 341-82.

    “Today the GOP majority in the House of Representatives was bailed out by Democrats, as we voted to keep our government from shutting down. A government shutdown would delay flights, stall food safety inspections, increase wait times for Social Security benefits, and much more. Yet Republicans insisted on playing politics with this vote, last week attaching it to poison pill legislation that they knew would fail. 

    “Many of their members still refused to vote for this legislation today since it no longer had extreme MAGA measures attached. Democrats once again stood up for poor and working people, seniors, and all those across the country who would’ve been affected by a government shutdown and kept our government open.

    “However, this CR only serves to kick the can down the road. I hope that in December when it expires, Republicans are able to work with us to pass a full budget that works for poor and working families.”

    Issues: Health Care, Housing, Transportation, & Infrastructure, Jobs, Labor, & the Economy, Public Safety & Criminal Justice

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wittman Statement on Government Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) released the following statement after voting for the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act:

    “With the end of the fiscal year approaching and Senate Democrats refusing to negotiate with the House on an acceptable topline number for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), I voted today for a short-term funding measure to keep the government open and operating for Americans.

    “Earlier this month, I supported a plan for a funding measure paired with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act – which I am a proud cosponsor of – so that we could both meet our funding obligations and ensure election security. I remain frustrated that House Democrats tanked such a common sense piece of legislation. 

    “The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act is a very narrow, bare-bones bill including only the extensions that are absolutely necessary. It will prevent the Senate from jamming the House with a bill loaded with billions in new spending and unrelated provisions. While this is not the solution I prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances. 

    “As a longtime advocate for fiscal responsibility, I continue to call for a return to regular order. Congress should have worked through August instead of taking a break for recess in order to pass all 12 government funding bills. That is why I’ve continued to introduce legislation that would bring transparency back to the budget process and hold Members of Congress accountable for not completing their work on time.”

    To date, the House has passed legislation to fund more than 70% of federal government operations for FY25 while the Senate has yet to pass a single FY25 government funding bill.

    Background on Rep. Wittman’s government accountability legislation to fix the government budget and funding process: 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Receives Legislative Champion Award for Work on Adult Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott Receives Legislative Champion Award for Work on Adult Education

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, received the Legislative Champion Award from the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). Congressman Scott was selected by COABE due to his work to strengthen adult education and support adult learners, specifically his work to update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

    “We know that we must give adults the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century economy, and that has the added benefit of also keeping America’s economy competitive on the global stage,” said Congressman Scott. “I was proud to see AStronger Workforce for America Act pass the House earlier this year, and I will keep working to get it passed by Senate and signed into law. That bill will make critical improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and will expand the skills development provided under the law, strengthen the relationship between employers and the workforce system, and put more Americans on the pathway to successful careers. I look forward to working with COABE to support the needs of America’s adult educators, learners and programs.”

    COABE is the leading national organization representing the US system of adult education.

    More information on A Stronger Workforce for America Act can be found by CLICKING HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Bipartisan Castro-Salazar Bill to Target Fentanyl Precursors, Combat Drug Trafficking into the United States

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON — This week, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted unanimously to pass the DISPOSE Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) that seeks to curb fentanyl trafficking and address the devastating toll of fentanyl addiction. Castro and Salazar are the highest-ranking Democrat and Republican, respectively, on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

    “In San Antonio and communities across the world, families have endured unimaginable tragedy as a result of the fentanyl trade,” said Congressman Castro. “The DISPOSE Act is an important step forward to support our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere as they work to curb the trafficking of fentanyl within their own nations. This bill will save lives at home and abroad, and I am honored to work with Chairwoman Salazar and a bipartisan coalition in the House and the Senate as we move this much-needed progress closer to the president’s desk.”

    “The fentanyl crisis has become a scourge of the Western Hemisphere,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “By passing the DISPOSE Act, the Foreign Affairs Committee is committing to working with our partners to destroy fentanyl precursor chemicals well before they reach Miami and the rest of the country.”

    In 2023 alone, Customs and Border Protection seized over 23,000 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border of the United States. The majority of fentanyl produced in the Western Hemisphere is created using Chinese chemicals that are shipped to the Americas, turned into drugs in clandestine labs, and trafficked into the U.S. by transnational criminal organizations. The DISPOSE Act will address fentanyl trafficking by supporting partner nations in the Western Hemisphere as they work to seize and destroy the precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production.

    Specifically, the DISPOSE Act will establish the Precursor Chemical Destruction Initiative to fight drug trafficking with partner nations in the Western Hemisphere. In coordination with international partners, the initiative will:

    • Increase rates of seizure and destruction of listed chemicals in beneficiary countries.
    • Alleviate the backlog of seized chemicals and dispose them in an environmentally safe and effective manner.
    • Ensure that the seized chemicals are not reintroduced into the illicit drug production network within beneficiary countries.
    • Free up storage space for future chemical seizures within beneficiary countries.
    • Reduce the chemicals’ negative environmental impact.

    Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), an original cosponsor of the bill, was instrumental in advancing this bill through the Committee. Rep. Salazar is working to get this bill passed by the full House of Representatives. The Senate version of the DISPOSE Act is led by Senators Chuck Grassley (IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and James Risch (ID).

    To read the full text of the legislation, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Bonamici, Kean Bill to Expand Satellite Data Sharing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    (September 23, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6219, the Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act (ASCEND Act), legislation to permanently authorize the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program within NASA.   

      

    Introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), this bipartisan bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the program as a pilot program in 2017 to acquire commercial small-satellite data in support of NASA’s earth science research.  

      

    Congressman Kean spoke on the House floor in support of his bill, watch HERE.   

     

    “The bipartisan ASCEND Act is a commonsense solution to help researchers benefit from the vast, high-quality data available from commercial satellites to better understand climate change, natural disasters, and earth sciences,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “I’m grateful that the House passed this legislation and I will continue advocating with Rep. Kean for the Senate to schedule a vote on the bill.” 

    “Passing the ASCEND Act demonstrates our strong commitment to NASA’s commercial operators and public-private partnerships,” said Congressman Kean. “These efforts are essential for advancing human exploration and ensuring America’s leadership in space innovation. The ASCEND Act will provide access to data sets and imagery from the commercial space sector, supporting critical scientific research and paving the way for a sustainable future for generations to come. I thank my House colleagues for supporting my bill and look forward to seeing this on the Senate floor soon.”   

     

    The ASCEND Act would:   

    • Establish CSDA as a permanent program within NASA’s Earth Science Division.   
    • Direct NASA to expand procurement licenses to provide federal agencies access to high quality Earth remote sensing datasets and imagery.    
    • Promote the acquisition of new datasets for scientific and non-scientific applications.   
    • Require an annual report to Congress on the uses and impact of commercial data products and licensing agreements.   

     

    Read more about the bill HERE.  

    Congressman Kean serves on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. 

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Watson Coleman Votes for Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

    September 25, 2024

    Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement after voting for a continuing resolution to fund the government for an additional 3 months: 

    “Sadly, instead of working with Democrats to fully fund the government for the next year, on a bipartisan basis in a divided government, House Republicans wasted months on extreme Project 2025 funding bills that had no chance of becoming law. Instead of working for the people, they spent the summer signaling their loyalty to former president Trump and extreme special interests. 

    “Thankfully, the continuing resolution that came to the floor excludes some of the poison pills that were too bitter for even many Republicans to swallow. And once again, the government has been funded because more Democrats voted to avoid a shutdown than Republicans.

    “However, this continuing resolution will leave the American people fretting the chance of a shutdown during the holiday season. The American people deserve better.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Votes in Favor of Continuing Resolution to Avoid a Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act of 2025 to avoid a government shutdown:

    “Although governing by continuing resolution is not ideal, it is far better than the alternative. A full government shutdown would cause undue, harmful disruptions to our national security and vital programs that constituents in Oklahoma’s Fourth District rely on. On top of that, a shutdown would cost the American taxpayers billions due to back-paid furloughed workers, increased costs from delayed starts, and constrained economic growth,” said Congressman Cole. “All of this makes it clear – a government shutdown is not the answer. On the contrary, this continuing resolution is a win for Republicans, as it ensures the government will continue to serve the American people and, better yet, it ensures the American people – and more importantly the next president – have a say in the appropriations process.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CHAT WITH CHUCK: New Text Messages Show, Once Again, That Gotion is Wrong for Michigan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: CHAT WITH CHUCK: New Text Messages Show, Once Again, That Gotion is Wrong for Michigan

    This week, text messages released in court documents revealed that Gotion Senior Vice President of North American Operations personally sought private information on one of the company’s leading critics and disparaged the critic using misogynistic language. In other text messages, the same executive attacked his company’s CEO as an “idiot.” 

    “This is a David vs. Goliath fight and these new documents show how giant Gotion will stop at nothing to personally attack brave people in the community who raise serious concerns about the company’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its plans for the Big Rapids area. Is this really the kind of company the MEDC wants to give millions of dollars to? When will state leaders cut off funding for this company and its attacks on Michigan residents?” said Congressman John Moolenaar.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution to Avert Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement following House passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. This funding bill, commonly referred to as a Continuing Resolution (CR), puts Congress on a path to avert a government shutdown by authorizing continued discretionary funding over the course of the next three months.

    “Extreme MAGA Republicans and their leader, former President Trump, have repeatedly threatened to shut down the government and to hold our economy and the American people hostage over their insistence on implementing the radical policies laid out in Trump’s Project 2025,” said Congresswoman Brownley. 

    “We all know a government shutdown would not only have a devastating economic impact, but it would hinder our military readiness, weaken our national security, deprive veterans of benefits they have earned, prohibit seniors from enrolling in Social Security, and jeopardize the critical services and programs that American families rely on.

    “House Democrats rejected the harmful and dangerous efforts by the extreme wing of the Republican Party to add poison pill riders on budget bills. The continuing resolution that emerged through bicameral, bipartisan negotiations, is not perfect, but it represents a reasonable compromise. 

    “This funding bill reflects House Democrats’ commitment to putting people over politics by curbing MAGA extremism and moving the nation forward, and that is why I voted for its passage. I trust that the Senate and the President will act swiftly so that we can keep the federal government open and continue to serve the American people.”

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    Issues: 118th Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Blunt Rochester Statement on Passage of House Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)

    Rep. Blunt Rochester Statement on Passage of House Continuing Resolution

    WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester released the following statement after the House passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open through December 20:

    “Today, the House passed a bipartisan, short-term continuing resolution that will keep our government and agencies operating, and our military prepared. Because of this legislation, we will avoid a government shutdown and provide relief to the American people who are concerned about their access to government resources. The House and Senate must now work together in good faith on full-year funding legislation, consistent with the bipartisan terms set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Bipartisanship is not only the right path forward – it is what the American people deserve.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Kean’s Bill to Expedite Flight Training for Veterans

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

    (September 25, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7323 – Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024. 

    Included in this package is the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill led by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) that would expedite the flight training process for veterans by removing the one-year requirement for accessing their GI Bill benefits. Under the current GI Bill, students can access a maximum of $26,000 per academic year for their flight training. Once these funds are exhausted, they must wait until the following academic year to continue their training. 

    Watch Congressman Kean speak on the House floor in support of the bill HERE.  

    This bill was introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and is co-led by Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03).  

    “Veterans should be able to pursue their aviation careers – or any career – without excessive financial burdens and unnecessary delays,” said Congressman Kean. “The current GI bill system needs to be improved and I’m thankful for my House colleagues for passing today’s revised legislation, which included my bill, the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act, so veteran students can expedite the flight training process.” 

    “Every veteran should be able to use their education benefits however they see fit—and we should be making it easier for them to do so,” said Congressman McGarvey. “Our bill would give veterans the flexibility to use their benefits for flight school without breaking the bank, and I’m thrilled to see it pass through the House of Representatives.” 

    More specifically, this bill would:    

    • Cap the flight training fees and tuition to approximately $115,000 for public flight training institutions.   
    • Allow student veterans to use their GI Bill throughout the whole year, instead of taking time off or paying out of pocket.   

    Read more about the bill HERE.    

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lawler Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Prohibiting Discrimination Against Living Kidney Donors by Life Insurance

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

    Today, Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act, which will prevent life insurance companies from being able to discriminate in the offering, issuance, cancellation, price or conditions of a life insurance policy, or in the amount of coverage provided under a life insurance policy, based solely on the status of an individual as a living kidney donor. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Don Davis (D-NC-01) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02). It is also endorsed by the National Kidney Registry (NKR).

    “Someone who donates a kidney is giving someone the gift of life,” said Congressman Lawler. “No good deed should go punished, especially not one that saves a life. Studies show that donating a kidney does not impact life expectancy. It shouldn’t have an impact on someone’s life insurance, either, and my new bill will ensure that it doesn’t. I’m proud to introduce the Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act and I look forward to working with my colleagues in both parties to get this important bill passed and signed into law.”

    “Kidney donors are already doing one of the most selfless things an individual can do, and punishing them for their actions makes no sense,” said Congressman Van Drew. “It is a no-brainer that we protect these donors and ensure they face no unnecessary hardship, especially when it comes to life insurance, where they should be supported, not penalized, for their generosity.”

    “We must never punish living organ donors who are making a selfless sacrifice for others,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Eastern North Carolinians are suffering from significant health disparities, and the last thing we should do is discourage good Samaritans.”

    “With approximately 90,000 people on the kidney transplant waitlist, every barrier to donation costs lives,” said Garet Hil, National Kidney Registry (NKR) CEO and Founder. “The NKR is grateful for the leadership of our congressional champions on the Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act and is excited to endorse this critical bill to ensure donors are not penalized for their selflessness and courage.”

    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: Chavez-DeRemer Helps Secure Protections for SNAP Theft Victims in Bipartisan Stopgap Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) voted in favor of H.R. 9747, a stopgap funding bill that will prevent a government shutdown on September 30 and extend critical programs, including protections for victims of SNAP theft. Chavez-DeRemer joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues last month, urging congressional leadership to extend these reimbursement protections. 

    The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on a bipartisan vote, and it now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. 

    “I’ve consistently voted in a bipartisan manner to fund the government and prevent shutdowns because it’s the right thing to do for Oregonians. This bill will give the White House and congressional leaders from both parties more time to negotiate and fully fund the government for fiscal year 2025. In this divided Congress, it’s critical to find common ground so we can get back to addressing key issues for our constituents like passing the Agriculture Committee’s bipartisan Farm Bill, lowering utility bills, making housing more affordable, and improving public safety,” Chavez-DeRemer said.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Roy Rodriguez Named Chairman of South Texas Water Working Group by Congresswoman De La Cruz

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

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) this week held her second official meeting of the South Texas Water Working Group, in which she announced the appointment of Roy Rodriguez as its chairman. Rodriguez brings decades of experience in public administration and water management across Texas.

    “I am honored to name Roy Rodriguez as chairman of our South Texas Water Working Group,” said Rep. De La Cruz. “His legacy across Texas speaks for itself, coupled with his deep knowledge of water infrastructure. This makes him the ideal leader to combine efforts with to find long-term solutions to South Texas’ water needs and reduce our dependence on Mexico.”

    “It is an honor and privilege to be Chairman of a group tasked with one of the most important issues in South Texas – availability and sustainability of water. I remain committed to helping our region wherever I can. Congresswoman De La Cruz has brought a new focus to a decades long concern that can easily become a crisis. Thank you, Congresswoman.”

    Rodriguez will lead a coalition of local stakeholders, officials, and experts working to ensure sustainable water resources for the region’s growing population and agricultural sector across the 15th Congressional District of Texas.

    Roy Rodriguez’s career includes stints as city engineer, assistant city manager and city manager in Harlingen, city engineer in Weslaco, county engineer in Jefferson County, general manager of the McAllen Public Utility Board, and area engineer in Oklahoma. Chairmanship of the South Texas Water Working Group is a volunteer position.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leger Fernández Statement on the Passage of the Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM)

    The Legislation Extends the Filing Deadline for Victims of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fires

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting for H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, which passed the House tonight by a widely bipartisan vote of 341-82. 

    “For weeks, extreme Republicans and Trump threatened a government shutdown unless a Continuing Resolution (CR) necessary to keep the government open included a radical Project 2025 proposal that would have made it harder to register and vote,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

    “While this CR is far from perfect, we know that if we fail to act, millions of Americans will suffer the consequences. That is why I voted alongside my Democratic colleagues to put People Over Politics today and pass a clean CR,” she continued.

    “For months, we advocated for this bill to include help for those suffering from the aftermath of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Thanks to our work, this bill extends the filing deadline for a notice of loss until December 20, 2024, for victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and its cascading events. The CR also extends the deadline by which flood insurance premiums must be paid from May 31, 2024, to December 20, 2024. This will ensure claimants have additional time to purchase flood insurance—a vital protection as cascading events continue to threaten communities in New Mexico,” she continued.

    “While this is a big win, there is still more work to do.  Before this extension expires, we hope to pass the entire Hermit’s Peak Claims Extension Act to extend the deadline for two years, so all potential claimants have time to file,” she continued.

    We will continue fighting for those affected by the fires and all New Mexicans as we negotiate a final funding bill,” she concluded.

    A bill summary can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Biden Delivers Remarks on Ukraine’s Recovery and Reconstruction

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    President Biden hosts an event with world leaders launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction.

    New York, NY

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhbAu9puz4s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Four of Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Amendments to the ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ Included in Final House Passage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) released the following statement after four of her active management amendments passed and were included in H.R. 8790, the “Fix Our Forests Act,” which passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 268-151.

    “America needs to do more to actively manage our forests and prevent catastrophic wildfires that are devastating our communities. Federal agencies have to stop spending billions of dollars on the backend putting out fires and shift to a comprehensive, proactive approach. The Fix Our Forests Act and my four amendments do exactly that and are the type of solutions needed in the West and Colorado. I thank House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman for his support on all four of my amendments, and I urge the Senate to take up his critical legislation,” said Congresswoman Boebert.

    Background, courtesy of the House Natural Resources Committee:

    The Fix Our Forests Act is a historic and comprehensive package that will encourage active forest management and support community resiliency to wildfires by expediting environmental analyses, reducing frivolous lawsuits and increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects.

    The bill will:

    • Simplify and expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects
    • Promote federal, state, tribal and local collaboration
    • Deter frivolous litigation that delays essential projects
    • Create a framework for prioritizing treatments in the forests at highest risk of wildfire
    • Encourage adoption of state-of-the-art science and data for federal land managers
    • Encourage active management to improve the safety of powerlines and other infrastructure
    • Strengthen tools like Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting

    Information on Rep. Boebert’s included amendments:

    Boebert Amendment #12: Clarifies existing authorities may be utilized to prevent wildfires in Fire Regimes IV and V 

    Amendment 12 makes an important clarification that expands the acres of at-risk forests that would be eligible for streamlined management authorities. Under current law, regimes 4 and 5 are subject to extensive “National Environmental Policy Act” (NEPA) requirements for active management. A fire regime map by county can be found HERE. 

    This amendment is critical to fire mitigation efforts across the states of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Maine, West Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, Iowa, Florida, and Texas

     

    Boebert Amendment #13: Ensures grazing is one of the hazardous fuel reduction activities authorized by the bill

    Fuels treatments are effective, and federal agencies have made clear that “over 90 percent of the fuel treatments are effective in changing fire behavior and/or helping with control of the wildfire.” 

    Grazing animals play an important part in maintaining healthy ecosystems by controlling the ecological balance of vegetative species, reducing fire fuels that result from the accumulation of non-native plant biomass, and improving soil health by trampling plant residue and their own waste into the soil profile. Cattle, sheep, and goats can play a regenerative wildfire mitigation role that also provides for our food and fiber needs.

     

    Boebert Amendment #14: Requires regional foresters to submit a plan through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program for the treatment and removal of trees killed by or infested with bark beetles in Western states

    The Bark Beetle epidemic has caused significant damage to roughly 100,000 square miles of forest in the western United States alone. Along the West Coast and through the Rocky Mountains, bark beetles have affected tens of millions of acres of forest. While bark beetles are native to U.S. forests and play important ecological roles, they can cause extensive tree mortality and negative economic and social impacts.

    Spruce beetles have killed millions of trees on more than 1.8 million acres in Colorado since 2000 and provided increased fuels for wildfires. In Colorado, 2021 was one of the worst wildfire seasons our state has ever endured with the three largest fires in state history. Bark beetle epidemics and catastrophic wildfires are a significant threat. This can be minimized by thinning overgrown forests and removing hazardous fuels produced by beetle overpopulation. 

     

    Boebert Amendment #15: Requires regional foresters to submit a plan for the sale of Christmas trees and firewood on federal lands

    Under current law, American families can purchase a permit from the forest service to cut Christmas trees from their favorite national forest as well as harvest any firewood, transplants, post and poles, and other forest products to improve forest health. We have seen successful Christmas tree and firewood harvesting operations in the state of Colorado, and this program has served as a locally based solution to help thin our overgrown forests. 

    According to the Forest Service, “The permit system helps to thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Local forest health experts identify areas that benefit from thinning trees and tend to be the perfect size for Christmas trees. Removing these trees in designated areas helps other trees grow larger and can open areas that provide food for wildlife.”

    For more information on the Fix Our Forests Act, click HERE.

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    For updates, subscribe to Congresswoman Boebert’s newsletter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Chilkoot Way Road Improvements in Whitehorse

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    Whitehorse, Yukon, September 25, 2024 — Daily travel on the Chilkoot Way in Whitehorse will be improved thanks to a joint investment of $850,000 from the federal government and the City of Whitehorse.

    The work involves installing a new two-way protected bike lane on the north side of Chilkoot Way, creating a new pedestrian crossing, installing signage, completing pavement markings in critical areas, and providing improved lighting. In addition, traffic signals will be upgraded, a new advanced left-turn signal will be installed at Chilkoot and Two Mile Hill, and a new cycle push button will be installed to improve accessibility. The bike path will connect residents to downtown schools, the Whitehorse Health Clinic, workplaces and retail businesses along the river, and roads that connect neighbourhoods.

    Improving the Chilkoot Way will provide a more accessible and safer active transportation route to the Riverfront and Two Mile Hill multi-use paved trails. It will also make it easier for people to get around by walking, cycling or taking public transit.

    Quotes

    “Improving active transportation routes for communities supports healthier travel. Work on the Chilkoot Way in Whitehorse will make transportation infrastructure more accessible for cyclists, pedestrians and transit users, making it easier for them to get around every day.”

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “We are pleased to partner with the federal government to enhance Whitehorse’s active transportation network. The new active transportation route along the Chilkoot Way is a game changer for cyclists commuting downtown. It also promotes inclusion, health and connection by meeting the needs of all, regardless of mobility level, age or fitness level. This project demonstrates the City’s ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable and accessible community.”

    Laura Cabott, Mayor of Whitehorse

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $588,750 in this project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), and the City of Whitehorse is contributing $261,250.

    Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods through human activity. This includes walking, cycling, and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, e-bikes, inline skates, snowshoeing, cross-country skis, and more.

    To support Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy, the Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make active transportation travel easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.

    Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy is the first pan-Canadian strategic approach to promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy aims to make data- and evidence-based investments to expand and build new active transportation networks, and to support healthier, more active, more equitable and more sustainable travel.

    Investing in active transportation infrastructure provides many tangible benefits, creating good middle-class jobs, strengthening the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, ensuring everyone has access to the same services and opportunities, reducing air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CCTF) will provide an average of $3 billion per year in permanent funding to address local transit needs by strengthening integrated planning, improving access to transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable and inclusive communities.

    The FTCC serves the needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas to mid-sized and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities.

    We are currently accepting expressions of interest for Metropolitan Area Agreements and Core Funding. Visit the website Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website to find out more.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia OuslisCommunications AdvisorOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and CommunitiesSofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsHousing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email:media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us onTwitter,Facebook,InstagramAndLinkedInWebsite:Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Matthew CameronManager, Strategic CommunicationsCity of Whitehorse867-689-0515matthew.cameron@whitehorse.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: SARP West 2024 Terrestrial Ecology Group

    Source: NASA

    Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dan Sousa, San Diego State University
    Graduate Mentor: Megan Ward-Baranyay, San Diego State University

    [embedded content]
    Megan Ward Baranyay, graduate student mentor for the 2024 SARP West Land group, provides an introduction for each of the group members and shares behind-the scenes moments from the internship.

    [embedded content]

    Predicting Ammonia Plume Presence at Feedlots in the San Joaquin Valley from VSWIR Spectroscopy of the Land Surface
    Gerrit Hoving, Carleton College
    Industrial-scale livestock farms, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), are a major source of air pollutants including ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. Ammonia in particular is a major contributor to rural air pollution that is released from the breakdown of livestock effluent. Mitigating regional air pollution through improved waste management practices is only possible if emissions can be accurately monitored. However, ammonia is challenging to measure directly due to its short atmospheric lifetime and lack of VSWIR spectral signature. Here we investigate the potential for spectroscopic
    imaging of the CAFO land surface to predict the presence of detectable ammonia emissions. Data from the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) instrument were found to clearly identify plumes of ammonia emitted by specific feedlots. Plume presence or absence was then tied to pixel-level reflectance spectra from the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source (EMIT) instrument. Random forest classification models were found to predict ammonia plume presence/absence from VSWIR reflectance alone with an accuracy in the range of 70% to 80%. Our conclusions are limited by the limited number of
    feedlots overflown by HyTES (n=96), the time gap between HyTES and EMIT data, and potential difficulty in comparing feedlots in different regions. While only tested over a modest area, our results suggest that ammonia plume presence/absence may be
    predictable on the basis of surface features identifiable from VSWIR reflectance alone. Further investigation could focus on more comprehensive model validation, including characterization of the land surface processes and spectral signatures associated with feedlot surfaces with and without observable ammonia plumes. If generalizable, these results suggest that EMIT data may in some circumstances be used to predict the presence of ammonia emission plumes at feedlots in other areas, potentially enabling broader accounting of feedlot ammonia emissions.

    [embedded content]

    Burn to Bloom: Assessing the Impact of Coastal Wildfires on Phytoplankton Dynamics in California
    Benjamin Marshburn, California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo
    California is experiencing rising temperatures as well as increased frequency and length of drought conditions due to anthropogenic climate change. Wildfires are an intrinsic component of California and its Mediterranean ecosystems. However, this change in natural wildfire behavior increases the risk to ecosystems including soil erosion, poor plant regrowth, and ash/nutrient runoff that leads to the ocean. Previous work has attributed phytoplankton blooms in the coastal ocean to runoff from wildfires. This study aims to quantify the extent to which the concentration of chlorophyll-a, an indicator of phytoplankton abundance, can be predicted by wildfire parameters in coastal California and to evaluate which parameters are the most important predictors. Due to climatic variation in California we split the coast into three regions, northern, central and southern, and analyzed three fires from each area. For each fire, the stream length connecting the most severely burned area and the ocean was derived from analysis of a digital elevation model acquired by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Additionally, differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) was used to analyze burn severity for each fire. The change in chlorophyll-a levels before and after each fire from the impacted coastal area were evaluated using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The Random Forest Regression machine learning model did not strongly predict the difference in chlorophyll-a from the fire parameters. However, our moderate R2 value (0.36) shows promising avenues for future work, including investigating post-fire chlorophyll-a after the first significant rain event, as well as the impact of wind-blown ash on coastal chlorophyll-a concentrations.

    [embedded content]

    Species-specific Impact on Maximum Fire Temperature in Prescribed Burns at Sedgwick Reserve
    Hannah Samuelson, University of St. Thomas
    Fuel load plays a key role in determining severity (change in biomass), intensity (temperature), and frequency (length in time) of wildfires and prescribed fires. Fuel loads can vary in fuel conditions, like moisture content, amount, and flammability of the fuel, and are affected by species type and climatic conditions. Moreover, the difference in the chemical composition of plant species can affect its flammability. Anecdotal evidence from firefighters claim that Purple Sage burns hotter than other shrubs. Here we focus on two shrub species and two tree species that are broadly representative of California foothills; Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla), and California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and aim to understand species-specific proclivity to burn with higher or lower severity and intensity. In fall of 2023, a prescribed fire was conducted at Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Barbara County, CA. Field data collection included maximum temperature point measurements with metal pyrometers, the change in 3D vegetation structure using UAV LiDAR, and orthomosaic images for species identification. Radial buffers were created around the locations of the metal pyrometers and used to evaluate the spatial distribution of species, which were verified through field-observed species identification. The relationship between dominant overstory species, change in biomass, and maximum fire temperature was investigated. Preliminary results suggest that Purple Sage produced the highest maximum fire temperatures. Additionally, preliminary results showed both tree species, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak, exhibit similar biomass change at low maximum fire temperatures. This investigation confirmed the firefighters’ anecdotal evidence on the relationship between species and their wildfire dynamics. The results have the potential to refine fire spread models and ultimately land management practices, improving the protection of humans and infrastructure while preventing habitat destruction from wildfires.

    [embedded content]

    Quantifying the Influence of Soil Type, Slope, and Aspect on Live Fuel Load in Sedgwick Reserve
    Angelina Harris, William & Mary
    The severity and increasing frequency of California wildfires requires investigation of factors that characterize pre-fire landscapes to improve approaches to wildland management and predict the spread of wildfire. Quantifying the relationship between soil type and fuel load could improve existing efforts to map both overall quantity and composition of live fuel for fire spread models which may assist in preventative wildfire measures and potentially active firefighting work. The southwest corner of Sedgwick Reserve, Santa Barbara County, CA hosts two dominant soil types that broadly represent soil variability in the area. The more northerly soil unit is a Chamise shaly loam, and the more southerly soil unit is a Shedd silty clay loam. The Chamise series has a mixed texture, abundant in clay with a significant amount of rock fragments (> 35%) composing its texture while the Shedd series has a fine texture dominated by silt-sized particles. Topography, specifically slope and aspect, plays a significant role in formation and characteristics of soil due to influence on erosion and deposition and sun exposure, respectively. This research aims to explore the relationship between soil type and topography and quantify their influence on live fuel using a Canopy Height Model (CHM) derived from airborne LiDAR collected on 11/04/2020 with a point density of 10.19 pts/m2. The LiDAR-based CHM was filtered to separate trees (> 2 m) and shrubs (.07 – 2 m). A Random Forest Regressor was used to investigate the relationship between soil type, slope, and aspect to identify which variable is the best predictor of canopy height. Preliminary results suggested that soil type and aspect were the most important variables to determine canopy height (variable importance of .50 and .41, respectively). Further studies investigating quantity and composition of live fuel load focusing on additional soil units within Sedgwick Reserve are encouraged.

    [embedded content]

    From Canopy to Chemistry: Exploring the Relationship Between Vegetation Phenology and Isoprene Emission
    Emily Rogers, Bellarmine University
    Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) represents the most abundant non-methane biogenic volatile organic compound in the troposphere, with annual emissions almost equal to those of methane. Depending on the chemical environment, this effective thermoregulator and reactive oxygen species scavenger participates in photochemical reactions to produce climate pollutants and toxins such as ozone and secondary organic aerosols. Previous studies have revealed strong connections between isoprene emission and photosynthesis as its precursors are formed during the Calvin Cycle. This raises questions as to whether the periodic biological events of plants, collectively known as vegetation phenology, influences tropospheric isoprene quantities. In this study, we investigate the influence of vegetation phenology on isoprene emission in Southern California by comparing photosynthetic activity and the spatial distribution of the isoprene oxidation product, formaldehyde, for regions dominated by plants of two different physiologies: high altitude woodlands and coastal shrublands. We interrogate the annual phenology of these regions using high resolution solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) estimates from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, and formaldehyde vertical column measurements from the recently activated Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) geostationary satellite. We explore the seasonal trends in both formaldehyde formation and SIF as well as their bivariate relationship. Preliminary results indicate both heightened formaldehyde emission and heightened SIF during summer months relative to winter months, with a comparatively stronger correlation between the two metrics during the fall. Our findings will provide insight toward the response of plants to variations in their environment which directly influence chemical systems in the air. Whereas VOCs hold a great potential for environmental and anthropological harm if emitted in excess, it is crucial to understand the factors involved in their formation. As such, we hope that our findings provide information relevant to the development of air pollution mitigation strategies.

    [embedded content]

    Keeping it Fresh(water): Understanding the Influence of Surface Mineralogy on Groundwater Quality within Volcanic Aquifer Systems
    Sydney Kent, Miami University
    Geology plays a key role in determining the chemical profile of groundwater through weathering and erosion, leading to minerals entering the groundwater. The Columbia Plateau, a geologic region that resides within the Pacific Northwest volcanic aquifer system, is known to have water management issues due to groundwater extraction for agriculture. Decreases in groundwater levels can lead to higher concentrations of rock-originated minerals, so the relationship between basaltic geology and well water quality is particularly important in these systems. This research aims to assess the extent in which the basaltic surface mineralogy of the Columbia Plateau impacts predetermined health benchmarks pertaining to trace elements, radionuclides, and nutrients. NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) instrument, a spaceborne imaging spectrometer on the International Space Station, was used to map surface minerals within and among distinct regions of the Columbia Plateau. Some basalt aquifers have uranium that decays to radon-222, a mineral that can be toxic when consumed, as well as lithium, which is commonly found during volcanic eruptions. Preliminary findings showed that where basalt and its secondary minerals were identified with EMIT, chlorite and calcite, well data also indicated raised levels of lithium and radon-222. The relationship between EMIT mineral maps and water quality data indicated that EMIT can potentially be used to identify basalt aquifer systems that may be at risk of poor water quality. Results from this study can be used to enact more personalized water purification methods in areas with water quality issues and individuals with private wells can be more informed about the hazards present in their water.
    Click here watch the Atmospheric Aerosols Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Ocean Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Whole Air Sampling (WAS) Group presentations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SARP West 2024 Whole Air Sampling (WAS) Group

    Source: NASA

    Faculty Advisor: Dr. Donald Blake, University of California, Irvine
    Graduate Mentor: Katherine Paredero, Georgia Institute of Technology

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    Katherine Paredero, graduate student mentor for the 2024 SARP West Whole Air Sampling (WAS) group, provides an introduction for each of the group members and shares behind-the scenes moments from the internship.

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    Urban Planning Initiative: Investigation of Isoprene Emissions by Tree Species in the LA Basin
    Mikaela Vaughn, Virginia Commonwealth University
    Elevated ozone concentrations have been a concern in Southern California for decades. The interaction between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrous oxides (𝑁𝑂!) in the presence of sunlight leads to enhanced formation of tropospheric ozone (𝑂”) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA). This can lead to increased health hazards, exposing humans to aerosols that can enter and be absorbed by the lungs, as well as a warming effect caused by ozone’s role as a greenhouse gas in the lower levels of the atmosphere. This study will focus on a VOC that is of particular interest, isoprene, which has an atmospheric lifetime of one hour, making it highly reactive in the presence of the hydroxyl radical (OH) and resulting in rapid ozone formation. Isoprene is a biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emitted by vegetation as a byproduct of photosynthesis. This BVOC has been overlooked but should be investigated further because of its potential to form large sums of ozone. In this study the reactivity of isoprene with OH dominated ozone formation as compared to other VOCs. Ambient isoprene concentrations were measured aboard NASA’s airborne science laboratory (King Air B200) along with whole air sampling canisters. Additionally, isoprene emissions of varying tree species, with one to three samples per type, were compared to propose certain trees to plant in urban areas. Results indicated that Northern Red Oaks and the Palms family emitted the most isoprene out of the nineteen species documented. The species with the lowest observed isoprene emissions was the Palo Verde and the Joshua trees. The difference in isoprene emissions between the Northern Red Oak and Joshua trees is approximately by a factor of 45. These observations show the significance of considering isoprene emissions when selecting tree species to plant in the LA Basin to combat tropospheric ozone formation.

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    VOC Composition and Ozone Formation Potential Observed Over Long Beach, California
    Joshua Lozano, Sonoma State University
    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), when released into the atmosphere, undergo chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight that can generate tropospheric ozone, which can have various health effects. We can gauge this ozone formation by multiplying the observed mixing ratios of VOCs by their respective rate constants (with respect to OH radicals). The OH radical reacts very quickly in the atmosphere and accounts for a large sum of ozone formation from VOCs as a result, giving us an idea of the ozone formation potential (OFP) for each VOC. In this study, we investigate observed mixing ratios of VOCs in order to estimate their contribution to OFP over Long Beach, California. The observed species of VOCs with the highest mixing ratios differs from the observed species with the highest OFP, which highlights that higher mixing ratios of certain VOCs in the atmosphere do not necessarily equate to a higher contribution to ozone formation. This underscores the importance of understanding mixing ratios of VOC species and their reaction rates with OH to gauge impacts on ozone formation. In the summer there were significantly lower VOC concentrations compared to the winter, which was expected because of differences in boundary layer height within the seasons. Additionally, a decrease in average mixing ratios was observed between the summer of 2014 and the summer of 2022. A similar trend was observed in OFP, but by a much smaller factor. This may indicate that even though overall VOC emissions are decreasing in Long Beach, the species that dominate in recent years have a higher OFP. This research provides a more comprehensive view of how VOCs contribute to air quality issues across different seasons and over time, stressing the need for targeted strategies to mitigate ozone pollution based on current and accurate VOC composition and reactivity.

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    Investigating Enhanced Methane and Ethane Emissions over the Long Beach Airport
    Sean Breslin, University of Delaware
    As climate change continues to worsen, the investigation and tracking of greenhouse gas emissions has become increasingly important. Methane, the second most impactful greenhouse gas, has accounted for over 20% of planetary warming since preindustrial times. Methane emissions primarily originate from biogenic and thermogenic sources, such as dairy farms and natural gas extraction. Ethane, an abundant hydrocarbon emitted from biomass burning and natural gas, contributes to the formation of tropospheric ozone. The data for this project was collected in December 2021 and June 2022 aboard the DC-8 aircraft, where whole air samples were taken during low approaches to find potential sources of methane and ethane emissions. Analysis of these samples using gas chromatography revealed a noticeable increase in methane and ethane concentrations over Long Beach Airport, an area surrounded by numerous plugged oil and gas wells extracting crude oil and natural gas. In this study, we observe that methane and ethane concentrations were lower in the summer and higher in the winter, which can be primarily attributed to seasonal variations in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer height. Our results show that in both summer and winter campaigns, the ratio of these two gases over the airport was approximately 0.03, indicating that for every 100 methane molecules, there are 3 ethane molecules. This work identifies methane and ethane hotspots and provides a critical analysis on potential fugitive emission sources in the Long Beach area. These results emphasize a need to perform in depth analyses on potential point sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the Long Beach area.

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    Investigating Elevated Levels of Toluene during Winter in the Imperial Valley
    Katherine Skeen, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    The Imperial County in Southern California experiences pollutants that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and as a result, residents are suffering from adverse health effects. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds with a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are readily emitted into the atmosphere and form ground level ozone. Toluene is a VOC and exposure poses significant health risks, including neurological and respiratory effects. This study aims to use airborne data to investigate areas with high toluene concentrations and investigate potential source. Flights over the Imperial Valley were conducted in the B200 King Air. Whole air canisters were used to collect ambient air samples from outside the plane. These Whole Air Canisters were put through the UCI Rowland Blake Lab’s gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, which identifies different gasses and quantifies their concentrations. Elevated values of toluene were found in the winter as compared to the summer in the Imperial Valley, with the town of Brawley having the most elevated amounts in the air. Excel and QGIS were utilized to analyze data trends. Additionally, a backward trajectory calculated using the NOAA HYSPLIT model revealed the general air flow on days exhibiting high toluene concentrations. Here we suggest Long Beach may be a source of enhanced toluene levels in Brawley. Both areas exhibited enhanced levels of toluene with slightly lower concentrations observed in Brawley. We additionally observed other VOCs commonly emitted in urban areas, and saw a similar decrease in gasses from Long Beach to Brawley. This trend may indicate transport of toluene from Long Beach to Brawley. Further research could be done to investigate the potential for other regions that may contribute to high toluene concentrations in Brawley. My study contributes valuable insights to the poor air quality in the Imperial Valley, providing a foundation for future studies on how residents are specifically being affected.

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    Characterizing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Surface Expressions of the Salton Sea Geothermal System (SSGS)
    Ella Erskine, Tufts University
    At the southeastern end of the Salton Sea, surface expressions of an active geothermal system are emitting an assemblage of potentially toxic and tropospheric ozone-forming gasses. Gas measurements were taken from ~1 to 8 ft tall mud cones, called gryphons, in the Davis-Schrimpf seep field (~50,000 ft2). The gaseous compounds emitted from the gryphons were collected using whole air sampling canisters. The canisters were then sent to the Rowland-Blake laboratory for analysis using gas chromatography techniques. Samples from June of 2022, 2023, and 2024 were utilized for a time-series analysis of VOC distribution. Originally, an emission makeup similar to petroleum was expected, as it has previously been found in some of the seeps. It is thought that hydrothermal fluid can rapidly mature organic matter into hydrothermal petroleum, so it is logical that the emission makeup could be similar. However, unexpectedly high levels of the VOC benzene were recorded, unlike concentrations generally observed in crude oil emissions. This may indicate a difference between the two sources in regard to their formation process or parent material composition. A possible cause of the elevated benzene could be its relatively high aqueous solubility compared to other hydrocarbons, which could allow it to be more readily incorporated into the hydrothermal fluid. Since the gryphons attract almost daily visitors, it is important to quantify their human health effects. Benzene harms the bone marrow, which can result in anemia. It is also a carcinogen. Additionally, benzene can react with the OH radical to form ozone, an additional health hazard. Future studies should revisit the Davis-Schrimpf field to continue the time series analysis and collect samples of the water seeps. Additionally, drone and ground studies should be conducted in the geothermal power plant adjacent to the gryphons to determine if benzene is being emitted from drilling activities.

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    Airborne and Ground-Based Analysis of Los Angeles County Landfill Gas Emissions
    Amelia Brown, Hamilton College
    California has the highest number of landfills of any individual US state. These landfills are concentrated in densely populated areas of California, especially within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Landfills produce three main byproducts: heat, leachate, and landfill gas (LFG). LFG is primarily composed of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), with small concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other trace gases. The CH4 and CO2 components of LFG are well documented, but the VOCs and trace gases in LFG remain underexplored. This study investigates the emission of trace gases from four landfills in Los Angeles County, with a particular focus on substances known to have high Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODPs) and Global Warming Potentials (GWPs). The four landfills sampled were Chiquita Canyon Landfill, Lopez Canyon Landfill, Sunshine Canyon Landfill, and Toyon Canyon Landfill. Airborne samples were taken above the four landfills and ground samples were taken at Lopez Canyon as this was the only site accessible by our research team. The substances of interest were chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and halons. Airborne CH4 and CO2 measurements over the four landfills were obtained using the Picarro instrument onboard NASA’s B-200 aircraft. Ground samples were collected using whole air sampling canisters and were analyzed to determine the concentrations of these gases. The analytical approach for the ground samples combined Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) with Flame Ionization Detection (FID) and Mass Selective Detection (MSD), providing a comprehensive profile of the emitted compounds. Findings reveal elevated levels of substances with high ODP and GWP, which were banned under the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and its subsequent amendments due to their contributions to stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change. These results underscore the importance of monitoring and mitigating landfill gas emissions, particularly for those containing potent greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances.
    Click here watch the Atmospheric Aerosols Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Terrestrial Ecology Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Ocean Group presentations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SARP West 2024 Oceans Group

    Source: NASA

    Faculty Advisor: Dr. Henry Houskeeper, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
    Graduate Mentor: Lori Berberian, University of California, Los Angeles

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    Lori Berberian graduate student mentor for the 2024 SARP West Oceans group, provides an introduction for each of the group members and shares behind-the scenes moments from the internship.

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    Leveraging High Resolution PlanetScope Imagery to Quantify oil slick Spatiotemporal Variability in the Santa Barbara Channel
    Emory Gaddis, Colgate University
    Located within the Santa Barbara Channel of California, Coal Oil Point is one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon seep fields. The area’s natural hydrocarbon seepage and oil production have sustained both scientific interest and commercial activity for decades. Historically, indigenous peoples in the region utilized the naturally occurring tar for waterproofing baskets, establishing early evidence of the natural presence of hydrocarbons long before modern oil extraction began. Gaseous hydrocarbons are released from the marine floor through the process of seeping, wherein a buildup of reservoir pressure relative to hydrostatic pressure causes bubbles, oily bubbles, and droplets to rise to the surface. This hydrocarbon seepage is a significant source of Methane CH4—a major greenhouse gas––emissions into the atmosphere. Current limitations of optical remote sensing of oil presence and absence in the ocean leverage geometrical as well as biogeochemical factors and include changes in observed sun glint, sea surface damping, and wind roughening due to changes in surface oil concentrations. We leverage high-resolution (3m) surface reflectance observations obtained from PlanetScope to construct a time series of oil slick surface area spanning 2017 to 2023 within the Coal Oil Point seep field. Our initial methods are based on manual annotations performed within ArcGIS-Pro. We assess potential relationships between wind speed and oil slick surface area to support a sensitivity analysis of our time series. Correcting for confounding outside factors (e.g., wind speed) that modify oil slick surface area improves determination of oil slick surface area and helps test for changes in natural seepage rates and whether anthropogenic activities, such as oil drilling, alter natural oil seepage. Future investigations into oil slick chemical properties and assessing how natural seepage impacts marine and atmospheric environments (e.g., surface oil releases methane into the atmosphere) can help to inform the science of optimizing oil extraction locations.

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    Investigating Airborne LiDAR Retrievals of an Emergent South African Macroalgae
    Rachel Emery, The University of Oklahoma
    Right now, the world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, with areas of high biodiversity at the greatest risk of species extinction. One of these biodiversity hotspots, the Western Cape Province of South Africa, features one of the world’s largest unique marine ecosystems due to the extensive growth of canopy forming kelps, such as Macrocystis and Ecklonia, which provide three-dimensional structure important for fostering biodiversity and productivity. Canopy-forming kelps face increasing threats by marine heatwaves and pollution related to climate change and local water quality perturbation. Though these ecosystems can be monitored using traditional field surveying methods, remote sensing via airborne and satellite observations support improved spatial coverage and resample rates, plus extensive historical continuity for tracking multidecadal scale changes. Passive remote sensing observations—such as those derived using observations from NASA’s Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer – Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) —provide high resolution, hyperspectral imagery of oceanic environments anticipated to help characterize community dynamics and quantify macroalga physiological change. Active remote sensing observations, e.g., Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), are less understood in terms of applications to marine ecosystems, but are anticipated to support novel observations of vertical structure not supported using passive aquatic remote sensing. Here we investigate the potential to observe an emergent canopy-forming macroalgae (i.e., Ecklonia, which can extend more than a decimeter above the ocean’s surface) using NASA’s Land, Vegetation, and Ice sensor (LVIS), which confers decimeter-scale vertical resolution. We validate LVIS observations using matchup observations from AVIRIS-NG imagery to test whether LiDAR remote sensing can improve monitoring of emergent kelps in key biodiversity regions such as the Western Cape.

    Vertical structure of the aquatic light field based on half a century of oceanographic records from the southern California Current
    Brayden Lipscomb, West Virginia University
    Understanding the optical properties of marine ecosystems is crucial for improving models related to oceanic productivity. Models relating satellite observations to oceanic productivity or subsurface (e.g., benthic) light availability often suffer from uncertainties in parameterizing vertical structure and deriving columnar parameters from surface observations. The most accurate models use in situ station data, minimizing assumptions such as atmospheric optical thickness or water column structure. For example, improved accuracy of satellite primary productivity models has previously been demonstrated by incorporating information on vertical structure obtained from gliders and floats. We analyze vertical profiles in photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) obtained during routine surveys of the southern California Current system by the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation (CalCOFI). We find that depths of 1% and 10% light availability show coherent log-linear relationships with attenuation measured near surface (i.e., within the first 10 m), despite vertical variability in water column constituent concentrations and instrumentation challenges related to sensitivity, self-shading, and ship adjacency. Our results suggest that subsurface optical properties can be more reliably parameterized from near-surface measurements than previously understood.

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    Comparing SWOT and PACE Satellite Observations to Assess Modification of Phytoplankton Biomass and Assemblage by North Atlantic Ocean Eddies
    Dominic Bentley, Pennsylvania State University
    Upwelling is the shoaling of the nutricline, thermocline, and isopycnals due to advection by eddies of the surface ocean layer. This shoaling effect leads to an increase in the productivity of algal blooms in a given body of water. Mesoscale to deformation scale eddy circulation modulates productivity based on latitude, season, direction, and other physical factors. However, many processes governing the effects of eddies on the ocean microbial environment remain unknown due to limitations in observations linking eddy strength and direction with productivity and ocean biogeochemistry. Currently, satellites are the only ocean observing system that allows for broad spatial coverage with high resample rates, albeit with limitations due to cloud obstructions (including storms that may stimulate productivity) and to observations being limited to the near-surface. A persisting knowledge gap in oceanography stems from limitations in the spatial resolution of observations resolving submesoscale dynamics. The recent launch of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission in December of 2022 supports observations of upper-ocean circulation with increased resolution relative to legacy missions (e.g. TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, OSTM/Jason-2). Meanwhile, the launch of the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite in February of 2024 is anticipated to improve knowledge of ocean microbial ecosystem dynamics. We match up SWOT observations of sea surface height (SSH) anomalies—informative parameters of eddy vorticity—with PACE observations of surface phytoplankton biomass and community composition to relate the distribution of phytoplankton biomass and assemblage structure to oceanic eddies in the North Atlantic. We observe higher concentrations of Chlorophyll a (Chla) within SSH minima indicating the stimulation of phytoplankton productivity by cyclonic features associated with upwelling-driven nutrient inputs.

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    Assessing EMIT observations of harmful algae in the Salton Sea
    Abigail Heiser, University of Wisconsin- Madison
    In 1905, flooding from the Colorado River gave rise to what would become California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea. Today, the majority of its inflow is sourced from agricultural runoff, which is rich in fertilizers and pollutants, leading to elevated lake nutrient levels that fuel harmful algal blooms (HAB) events. Increasingly frequent HAB events pose ecological, environmental, economic, and health risks to the region by degrading water quality and introducing environmental toxins. Using NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) imaging spectrometer we apply two hyperspectral aquatic remote sensing algorithms; cyanobacteria index (CI) and scattering line height (SLH). These algorithms detect and characterize spatiotemporal variability of cyanobacteria, a key HAB taxa. Originally designed to study atmospheric mineral dust, EMIT’s data products provide novel opportunities for detailed aquatic characterizations with both high spatial and high spectral resolution. Adding aquatic capabilities for EMIT would introduce a novel and cost-effective tool for monitoring and studying the drivers and timing of HAB onset, to improve our understanding of environmental dynamics.

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    Reassessing multidecadal trends in Water Clarity for the central and southern California Current System
    Emma Iacono, North Carolina State University
    Over the past several decades, the world has witnessed a steady rise in average global temperatures, a clear indication of the escalating effects of climate change. In 1990, Andrew Bakun hypothesized that unequal warming of sea and land surface temperatures would increase pressure gradients and lead to rising rates of alongshore upwelling within Eastern Boundary Currents, including the California Current System (CCS). An anticipated increase in upwelling-favorable winds would have profound implications for the productivity of the CCS, wherein upwelled waters supply nutrient injections that sustain and fuel coastal ocean phytoplankton stocks. Increasing upwelling, therefore, is anticipated to increase the turbidity of the upper ocean, corresponding with greater phytoplankton concentrations. Historical observations of turbidity are supported by observations obtained using a Secchi Disk, i.e., an opaque white instrument lowered into the water column. Observations of Secchi depth—or the depth at which light reflected from the Secchi Disk is no longer visible from the surface—provide a quantification of light penetration into the euphotic zone. The shoaling, or shallowing, of Secchi disk depths was previously reported for inshore, transition, and offshore waters of the central and southern CCS for historical observations spanning 1969 – 2007. Here, we reassess Secchi disk depths during the subsequent period spanning 2007 to 2021 and test for more recent changes in water clarity. Additionally, we evaluate the seasonality and spatial patterns of Secchi disk trends to test for potential changes to oceanic microbial ecology. Indications of long-term trends in some of the coastal domains assessed were found. Generally, our findings suggest a reversal of the trends previously reported. In particular, increases in water clarity likely associated with a recent marine heatwave (MHW) may be responsible for recent changes in Secchi disk depth observations, illustrating the importance of MHW events for modifying the CCS microbial ecosystem.
    Click here watch the Atmospheric Aerosols Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Terrestrial Ecology Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Whole Air Sampling (WAS) Group presentations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Announces Nearly $424 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Sudan and Others Affected by the Conflict

    Source: USAID

    Today, the United States announced nearly $424 million in additional humanitarian assistance for people in need in Sudan and in neighboring refugee-hosting countries, including more than $276 million through USAID and more than $147 million through the Department of State. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced this additional assistance at a Sudan-focused event co-hosted by the United States during the UN General Assembly High-level week to call for global action to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan and its impact on the region. 

    USAID’s assistance includes $175 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will help to purchase, ship, and distribute nearly 81,000 metric tons of food commodities from American farmers to support more than 1.2 million people experiencing acute food insecurity in Sudan. USAID and the Department of State’s funding will also support UN and nongovernmental organization partners providing food, health, nutrition, protection, and other critical assistance to people across Sudan and neighboring countries who have been devastated by the ongoing conflict.

    This additional funding brings the total U.S. government’s humanitarian assistance in Sudan and neighboring countries since April 2023 to more than $2 billion, including more than $1.1 billion to date in Fiscal Year 2024. We call on other donors to continue their support to meet historic levels of humanitarian needs. 

    The United States continues to stand with the people of Sudan and call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians, facilitate unhindered access so that aid can reach people in need across Sudan, and return to the negotiating table and end this war that is causing needless suffering for the Sudanese people. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Threat Actors Continue to Exploit OT/ICS through Unsophisticated Means

    News In Brief – Source: US Computer Emergency Readiness Team

    CISA continues to respond to active exploitation of internet-accessible operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) devices, including those in the Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) Sector. Exposed and vulnerable OT/ICS systems may allow cyber threat actors to use default credentials, conduct brute force attacks, or use other unsophisticated methods to access these devices and cause harm.   

    CISA urges OT/ICS operators in critical infrastructure sectors to apply the recommendations listed in Defending OT Operations Against Ongoing Pro-Russia Hacktivist Activity to defend against this activity. To learn more about secure by design principles and practices, visit CISA’s Secure by Design webpage. For more information and guidance on protection against the most common and impactful threats, tactics, techniques, and procedures, visit CISA’s Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024 SARP West Atmospheric Aerosols Group

    Source: NASA

    Faculty Advisors: Dr. Andreas Beyersdorf, California State University, San Bernardino & Dr. Ann Marie Carlton, University of California
    Graduate Mentor: Madison Landi, University of California, Irvine

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    Madison Landi, graduate student mentor for the 2024 SARP Aerosols group, provides an introduction for each of the group members and shares behind-the scenes moments from the internship.

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    A Comparative Analysis of Tropospheric NO2: Evaluating TEMPO Satellite Data Against Airborne Measurements
    Maya Niyogi, Johns Hopkins University
    Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) plays a major role in atmospheric chemical reactions; the inorganic compound both contributes to tropospheric ozone production and reacts with volatile organic compounds to create health-hazardous particulate matter. The presence of NO2 in the atmosphere is largely due to anthropogenic activity, making NO2 at the forefront of policy decisions and scientific monitoring. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) satellite launched in 2023 with the goal of monitoring pollution across North America. The publicly-accessible data became available for use in May 2024, however parts of the data remain unvalidated and in beta, creating a need for an in situ validation of its data products. Here we analyze TEMPO’s tropospheric NO2 measurements and compare them to aloft NO2 measurements collected during the NASA Student Airborne Research Project (SARP) 2024 airborne campaign. Six of the campaign flights recording NO2 performed a vertical spiral, providing vertical column data that was adjusted to ambient conditions for comparison against the corresponding TEMPO values. Statistical analyses indicate we have reasonable evidence to conclude that TEMPO satellite data and the flight-collected data record similar values. This research fills a critical knowledge gap through the utilization of aloft NO2 measurements to validate NASA’s newly-launched TEMPO satellite. It is expected that future users of TEMPO data can apply these results to better inform project creation and research.

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    Investigating the Atmospheric Burden of Black Carbon Over the Past Decade in the Los Angeles Basin
    Benjamin Wells, San Diego State University
    Black Carbon is a primary aerosol emitted directly into the atmosphere as a result of biomass burning and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. During the pre-industrial revolution, the main source of black carbon was natural sources whereas currently, the main source is anthropogenic activities. When black carbon is released into the atmosphere, it is a dominant absorber of solar radiation and leads to a significant warming effect on Earth’s climate. In addition to its harmful effects associated with climate change, ambient black carbon inhalation is correlated with adverse health effects such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality. In this study, we analyze aloft black carbon measurements in 2016 and 2024 acquired on NASA SARP research flights and compare these concentrations to black carbon measurements taken during the 2010 CalNex field campaign. Both field campaigns flew similar flight paths over the Los Angeles basin allowing us to conduct a critical comparative analysis on vertical and spatial profiles of the atmospheric burden of black carbon over the past 14 years. During the CalNEX study, mass concentrations of black carbon ranged from 0.02 μg/m3 to 0.531 μg/m3, meanwhile 2024 SARP measurements demonstrate concentrations as elevated as 7.83 μg/m3 within the same region. Moreover, similar flight paths conducted during SARP 2024 and 2016 allow for further analysis of aloft black carbon concentrations over a period of time. The results of this study examines and analyzes the changing spatial and temporal characteristics of black carbon throughout the years, leading to an increase of adverse effects on both the climate and public health.

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    Tracking Methane and Aerosols in relation to Health Effects in the San Joaquin Valley
    Devin Keith, Mount Holyoke College
    The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is located in central California and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country for dairy, nuts, and berries, producing more than half of California’s $42 billion output. Due to the SJV’s close proximity to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to the East and predominantly Easterly winds, air pollution often accumulates because it is trapped by the geography. Significant chemical constituents of trapped particulate matter are ammonium (NH4), chloride (Cl), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), black carbon, and organic carbon. The particle size measured in this study is less than 1 micron in diameter, and due to their size, can easily penetrate the respiratory tract leading to adverse health effects such as: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. We employ airborne data collected during the SARP 2024 mission onboard NASA’s P-3 research plane to observe spatial and temporal trends of NH4, Cl, SO4, NO3, and black carbon. Further, we analyze measurements from SARP 2016 flights and compare the atmospheric burden of pollution in the SJV across time. To investigate observations in the context of the public health impacts, we utilize data collected by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment and find asthma and cardiovascular disease rates are higher in the SJV hotspots identified here. Per capita health impacts are greater than other California regions such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. The SJV exhibits higher rates of poverty than other communities, which may reveal an environmental justice issue that is difficult to explicitly quantify especially where measurements are sparse.

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    Investigating the Effects of Aerosols on Photosynthesis Using Satellite Imaging
    Lily Lyons, Brandeis University
    Aerosols in the atmosphere can affect the way sunlight travels to the ground by absorbing or scattering light. Sunlight is a critical component in plant photosynthesis, and the way light scatters affects productivity for vegetation and plant growth. When plants absorb sunlight, the chlorophyll in their leaves releases the excess energy as infrared light, which can be measured from space via satellite. To better understand how aerosol loading in the atmosphere affects plant photosynthesis, this study examines locations in Yosemite, Sequoia, Garrett, and Talladega national forests, and compares aerosol optical depth (AOD), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and solar induced fluorescence (SIF) in these areas. Yosemite and Sequoia act as proxies for the old growth sequoia grove ecosystems, and Talladega and Garrett act as proxies for the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forest ecosystem. Our results show that within 2015-2020 during July, SIF and NDVI levels are significantly greater in mixed mesophytic forests than in sequoia groves. Using linear regression plots, we determined the correlation between SIF, NDVI and AOD to be weak in the given locations. Greater SIF in mixed mesophytic forests could suggest that the presence of a prominent and biodiverse understory is positive for the overall primary productivity of an ecosystem. This study is a good starting point for analyzing diverse ecosystems using SIF, NDVI and satellite data as proxies for photosynthesis, and broadening the scope of biomes examined for their SIF. Furthermore, it highlights the need for further investigation of aerosol impact on the trajectory and amount of sunlight that reaches certain plants.

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    Validating the Performance of CMAQ in Simulating the Vertical Distribution of Trace Gases
    Ryleigh Czajkowski, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
    Air quality modeling simulates atmospheric processes and air pollutant transport to better understand gas-and particle-phase interactions in the atmosphere. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model couples meteorological, emission, and chemical transport predictions to simulate air pollution from local to hemispheric scales. CMAQ provides scientists and regulatory agencies with important assistance in air quality management, policy enactment, atmospheric research, and creating public health advisories. Recently, a new update to CMAQ (v5.4) was released, utilizing new chemistry mechanisms and incorporating a new atmospheric chemistry model. This study evaluates the performance of the latest model update by analyzing multiple time series of vertical distributions of formaldehyde (CH2O) and methane (CH4) in the Los Angeles Basin and Central Valley regions of California. It compares data from aloft measurements taken during NASA SARP 2017 flights with model predictions to evaluate accuracy. Our study analyzes CMAQ’s capabilities in capturing the vertical dispersion of CH2O and CH4 in different regions, offering insights into the effectiveness of CMAQ for air quality management and the analysis of trace and greenhouse gas dynamics. Using NASA airborne data, this research utilizes a diversified data set to validate the model, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of its capabilities, and thus providing valuable insight into future developments of CMAQ.

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    Estimating Aerosol Optical Properties Using Mie Theory and Analyzing Their Impact on Radiative Forcing in California
    Alison Thieberg, Emory University
    Anthropogenic aerosols, unlike greenhouse gasses, provide a net cooling effect to the Earth’s surface. Particles suspended in the atmosphere have the ability to scatter incoming solar radiation, preventing that radiation from heating up the surface. These aerosols like black carbon, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and organics are byproducts of both natural and anthropogenic activities. Measuring radiative forcing as a result of these aerosols over time can provide insight on how anthropogenic industries are altering our Earth’s temperature. This study analyzes the changes in radiative forcing from aerosols in central and southern California using data collected from NASA SARP flights from 2016-2024. Aerosol size, composition, and single scattering albedo were used to estimate the aerosol characteristics and to calculate the aerosols’ radiative forcing efficiency. Our results show that aerosols are found to have less of a cooling effect over time when looking at the change in radiative forcing in California from 2016 to 2024. When narrowing in on specific geographic regions, we observe the same trends in the Central Valley with the area becoming warmer as a result of aerosols. However, more southern regions like Los Angeles and the Inland Empire have become cooler from aerosols during this time period. The overall decrease in the cooling effect of California’s aerosols could indicate that the average size of particulates is changing or that the aerosol composition could be shifting to a greater concentration of absorbing aerosols rather than scattering aerosols. This study shows how aerosols influence radiative forcing and their subsequent impacts across regions in California from multiple years.
    Click here watch the Terrestrial Ecology Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Ocean Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Whole Air Sampling (WAS) Group presentations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Announces Additional Funding to Support Displaced Persons And Host Communities in the Western Hemisphere

    Source: USAID

    Today, at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, Secretary Antony Blinken announced more than $686 million in additional humanitarian, development, economic, and security assistance to facilitate United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners’ responses to the needs of displaced persons, migrant and refugee populations, and host communities across the Western Hemisphere. 

    Today, there are unprecedented levels of forced displacement in the region, with more than 7.7 million Venezuelans displaced due to prolonged political and economic mismanagement, persecution, and violence in Venezuela. The $686 million announced today includes more than $228 million from USAID to provide emergency food assistance to Venezuelan migrants and refugees and host communities in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, as well as other forms of humanitarian aid for vulnerable populations in Venezuela. 

    The $686 million also includes more than $49 million in economic and development assistance from USAID to support the regularization and integration of migrants, as well as to promote temporary labor mobility opportunities. This support will help migrants to regularize their legal status in the region and access public services and achieve socio-economic integration so they can build new lives and contribute to their new communities. This support will also help facilitate workers’ access to safe, lawful, and temporary labor pathways in countries with demonstrated labor needs not met by the available workforce.  

    The United States government remains committed to working with partners to support displaced people in the region and to advance a safe, orderly, and humane approach to managing hemispheric migration.

    MIL OSI USA News –