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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sarbanes, Matsui, Huffman Urge Forest Service to Take Additional Measures to Protect Old-Growth Forests

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Sarbanes (3rd District of Maryland)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03) and Reps. Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Jared Huffman (CA-02) led a group of 33 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Old-Growth Amendment and urging USFS to take additional measures to protect old-growth forests. 

    “Protecting older forests is part of an overarching climate-informed strategy to increase forest resilience to wildfires, combat climate-related impacts and help retain forest carbon,” the lawmakers wrote.  

    In April 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14072, recognizing mature and old-growth forests as vital to the health, prosperity and resilience of communities across the nation. Mature and old-growth trees absorb and store more planet-warming greenhouse gases than younger trees and are an important part of healthy, resilient ecosystems, making them essential to our climate and conservation goals. 

    In response to the President’s Executive Order, USFS proposed to amend all national forest management plans to protect, conserve and sustainably steward old-growth forests and foster the development of new old-growth forests. On June 21, 2024, USFS issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the National Old-Growth Amendment.

    “We strongly support the USFS’s proposed land management amendment, but we urge USFS to strengthen protections in the Final EIS,” the lawmakers concluded. “In keeping with the President’s E.O. 14072, we urge USFS to clarify that management activities must not degrade or impair old-growth forests and that an area cannot lose its classification as old-growth forest as a result of these management activities. Finally, we urge USFS to take concrete steps to conserve mature forests with the intention of nurturing future old-growth forests.”

    This letter builds on an April 2023 letter urging the USFS to initiate this formal rulemaking protecting old-growth forests and an April 2024 letter supporting USFS’s National Old-Growth Amendment, both of which Congressman Sarbanes also led with Reps. Matsui and Huffman. 

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister advances progress and prosperity at the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Progressive leadership is driven by a shared belief that we cannot falter – on rights, on equality, and on an economy that works for everyone. We must keep moving forward.

    That’s the message the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, delivered as he concluded his participation in the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future, in New York City, United States of America. During UNGA, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing progress, prosperity, and fairness for every generation.

    Prime Minister Trudeau joined global leaders at the Summit of the Future, which concluded with the adoption of the Pact for the Future – an ambitious pact that will see countries work together to tackle shared challenges. At the Summit, the Prime Minister delivered a statement affirming Canada’s support for the Summit of the Future, its call for nations to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its commitment to investing in our workers, our communities, and our future.

    Building on the progress made at the Summit of the Future, Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders and prominent advocates at UNGA to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized Canada’s commitment to unlocking increased financing to achieve the SDGs globally, particularly through his role as Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders group. He also underscored the central role of gender equality as a pathway to achieving sustainable development, and made clear that women and girls must be able to make choices about their bodies, their lives, and their own futures. Canada announced over $112 million to help protect the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls worldwide. We will also invest $58 million in projects that empower women and promote gender equality, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. With this funding, Canada will fulfill its $100 million commitment to address issues in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.

    For tens of millions of people across the globe, including in Canada, climate change is not an abstraction. It is real, it is costly, and it does not stop at our borders. To successfully tackle climate change, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of global, collective climate action. He highlighted industrial decarbonization as one such approach to fight climate change, including through innovative tools such as carbon pricing. He also welcomed six new members to Canada’s Global Carbon Pricing Challenge, which calls on countries to put a price on carbon to cover 60 per cent of global emissions by 2030. The Prime Minister also announced $3.9 million to be delivered through Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program so we can more effectively respond to wildfires and advance international leadership on sustainable forest management.

    Prime Minister Trudeau, alongside the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, convened a High-Level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security, and stability in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing work to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people and Canada’s continued support of the Multinational Security Support mission in the country. He emphasized the criticality of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict. He announced over $16 million to support the transitional government’s election preparedness, increase humanitarian aid, reduce gang violence, and expand access to justice for women and youth detainees while supporting their reintegration into society. These measures will make a meaningful difference in helping Haiti address its immediate needs and create a better, more prosperous future for its people.

    At UNGA, the Prime Minister also announced $3.6 million in new wide-ranging investments to strengthen global peace and security, including on land mine clearance, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly women affected by conflict. He emphasized the role of UN agencies in accomplishing this important work, announcing a $9 million investment to support the UN’s efforts to strengthen development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding assistance in countries across the globe.

    The Prime Minister participated in a leaders’ roundtable titled In Defense of Democracy: Fighting Against Extremism, where he engaged with world leaders on challenges facing democracies, such as inequality, polarization, disinformation, and violent extremism, including online. He reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening the rules-based international order and multilateral institutions, like the UN.

    Throughout his visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with international counterparts to discuss pressing geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its global impacts, as well as the evolving situation in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of protecting democratic institutions from emerging threats, including misinformation and election interference, and safeguarding peace and security around the world.

    At UNGA, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, among others. 

    In the face of global economic and social insecurity, Canada chooses to invest in our country. Whether it’s national $10-a-day child care, an ambitious housing plan, a national dental care program, or an industrial strategy that creates good-paying jobs while fighting climate change – these are choices that will make a positive difference in the lives of Canadians and help solve global challenges.

    Quote

    “Canada chooses to invest in our people, in our future, and in progress. That was my message at UNGA and at the Summit of the Future. Our government is taking action to fight climate change, break down barriers, solve the world’s most pressing challenges, and deliver fairness for every generation.”

    — The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

    Quick Facts

    • While in New York City, Prime Minister Trudeau had bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Mayor of Kitchener, Berry Vrbanovic, the Governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and Malala Yousafzai.
    • The Prime Minister also had interactions with other leaders, including the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, the Taoiseach of Ireland, Simon Harris, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, and the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez.
    • As a founding member of the UN since its creation in 1945, Canada has actively contributed to the organization, playing a key role in drafting the UN Charter, the treaty that is the cornerstone of the rules-based international order.
    • Canada is the sixth-largest donor to the UN, including voluntary and assessed contributions totalling over US$2 billion in 2022.
    • In 2015, Canada joined all UN Member States in adopting ambitious goals for sustainable development, as outlined in Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda centres on a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassing the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Taken together, the SDGs aim to improve the lives of all people, while protecting the planet.
    • Released in 2021, Moving Forward Together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy builds upon 30 actions and five core principles to create and foster an enabling environment for ongoing dialogue and participation to encourage Canadians to take action to realize the SDGs.
    • In 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau was named Co-Chair of the UN SDG Advocates group by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. SDG Advocates work to raise global awareness of the SDGs and of the need for accelerated action by using their respective platforms.
    • Prime Minister Trudeau is also Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders group alongside the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness. The group advocates for equipping developing countries with the financial resources to invest in the 17 SDGs and secure a more just and equitable future for all people.
    • At the Summit for the Future, global leaders enhanced co-operation on critical challenges and addressed gaps in global governance. They reaffirmed existing commitments – including to the SDGs and the UN Charter – and moved toward a modernized UN system that can effectively tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.
    • At the Summit, leaders adopted the Pact for the Future  and its annexes – the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. The Pact is a global framework to bolster global co-operation and address critical challenges facing the world, such as climate change, global inequality, and the need for stronger multilateral co-operation, for the benefit of all and for future generations.
    • In 2021, Canada launched the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge. This partnership aims to expand the use of pollution pricing by strengthening existing systems and supporting emerging ones. The Challenge, which has a collective goal of covering 60 per cent of global emissions by 2030, also serves as a forum for dialogue and co-ordination to make pricing systems more effective and compatible while supporting other countries in adopting carbon pricing and cutting emissions on the path to net-zero by 2050.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Press NASA for Answers on OSAM-1 Mission

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Sarbanes (3rd District of Maryland)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen John Sarbanes, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) wrote to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Bill Nelson, pressing the agency for answers on its decision to cancel the On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) robotic satellite maintenance mission, even after the lawmakers provided $227 million through fiscal year 2024 appropriations legislation to ensure its launch in 2026. The lawmakers also have been working to secure continued funding in the next fiscal year. The OSAM-1 mission, developed at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was expected to offer operators new ways to maintain their satellite fleets more efficiently and help mitigate space debris. In their letter, the Maryland Congressional Delegation members ask Administrator Nelson for a detailed accounting of the review process that led to the cancellation as well as the plan to utilize the nearly complete OSAM-1 satellite.

    “As members of the Maryland Delegation, we write to request information regarding NASA’s decision to cancel the On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) mission on September 4, 2024. OSAM-1 is a space technology mission developed to demonstrate NASA’s capabilities to extend the lifespans of government-owned satellites and other satellites that were not originally built or intended to be serviced in space,” the lawmakers began. “This demonstration intends to show the ability to repair and restore existing satellites, prolong satellite mission life, and pave the way for more sustainable and cost-effective space missions in the future. […] There is currently no existing operation that demonstrates the unique capabilities of this technology within U.S. public or commercial missions.”

    “On February 29, 2024, NASA ordered an orderly shutdown of the OSAM-1 mission, citing technical, cost and scheduling challenges as well as the overall funding environment. Recognizing the value of the mission, Congress directed NASA to continue the OSAM-1 mission in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,” they continued, citing their work to preserve the mission and keep it on track for launch in 2026.

    “It is our understanding that in April 2024 NASA received an updated plan from the mission team, which included a rescope of the mission to meet the launch and budget requirements, as directed by Congress, and reduced testing requirements to adopt a Class-D designation in line with the standard posture of a technology demonstration project. It is also our understanding that the OSAM-1 mission team has proceeded with executing on this updated plan,” pointing to further progress in resolving these issues. 

    The Delegation members conclude their letter noting, however, “On September 4, 2024, members of the Maryland delegation were notified of NASA’s intent to proceed with canceling the OSAM-1 mission.” Following this they underscore, “we have concerns regarding the Agency’s decision-making process,” and go on to ask for answers to a series of questions surrounding the decision, to be received no later than Monday, September 23. 

    Full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Delegation Members Announce $931,000 for Firefighters, First Responders in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard Counties

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Sarbanes (3rd District of Maryland)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) announced $931,896.84 in federal funding to support Maryland firefighters and first responders in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard Counties. The funding will enhance emergency response capabilities through personnel recruitment and equipment upgrades, ensuring better protection for the public, firefighters and other first responders.

    “Maryland’s firefighters and first responders run towards danger every day to protect us, and we need to have their backs. This federal funding will help ensure our local fire departments have the resources and support they need to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies in our communities,” said the lawmakers.

    The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

    1. $490,909.08 to Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company in Anne Arundel County to replace thermal imaging cameras and purchase an air and light vehicle, which enables firefighters to refill oxygen tanks and provides high resolution lighting to assist on-scene response.
    2. $272,200 to Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company in Baltimore County for recruitment and retention activities. The Department also received a $64,772.72 award earlier this summer to implement a comprehensive cancer screening program for its members.
    3. $127,533.22 to the Baltimore County Fire Department Administrator Service to distribute and install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in at-risk communities.
    4. $41,254.54 to Howard County Fire and Rescue to support its Fitness and Injury Prevention Program.

    The awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program and Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FP&S) program with funds from FY2023 annual appropriations that the lawmakers fought to secure. The lawmakers additionally worked to reauthorize the AFG, SAFER and FP&S programs through FY2028 within the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023, which passed Congress and was signed into law earlier this year.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cleaver, KC-Area Colleagues Unite Across Party Lines to Address USPS Mail Delivery Delays

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05), Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02), Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), and Sam Graves (R-MO-06) united in a bipartisan effort to address mail delivery delays in the Kansas City area. The group called on U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to act on a recent audit’s recommendations, which identified staffing shortages and inadequate management oversight as key factors contributing to the delays in the Kansas City area.

    “In recent months, our offices have received a growing number of messages from Kansans and Missourians concerned about missing mail, delayed postal delivery, and extended periods with no delivery service at all,” wrote the lawmakers. “The USPS Office of the Inspector General identified clear deficiencies…and identified numerous other issues related to the safety and security of personnel in this audit.”

    Conducted by the independent USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG), the recent audit examined operations at the Kansas City Postal and Distribution Center following reports of some of the nation’s slowest mail service in the nation. The audit identified several deficiencies, including delays in mail delivery, issues with package scanning, and poor property conditions. In response, Davids and her colleagues are calling on the USPS to promptly implement the OIG’s recommended solutions.

    “It is unacceptable that these facilities have fallen and are failing to keep up with the USPS standard of service. We wholeheartedly urge the leadership of the Postal Service to roll out the recommendations of the USPS Office of the Inspector General immediately to improve the service of the USPS in the Kansas City Metro area for our constituents.” Cleaver and his colleagues continued.

    A full copy of the letter can be found here.

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Cleaver, Lee Introduce Bill to Prepare Workers and Next Generation for Technology Driven Workforce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would identify how artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies will change the workforce of the future and provide workers, teachers, and our nation’s students with the resources to develop integral skills required to participate in that workforce. U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    “With the rapid development of technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, there is boundless opportunity to boost innovation, productivity, and prosperity across the nation,” said Congressman Cleaver. “However, as with all new technologies, we must work to ensure the benefits will be distributed equitably across society. As has been highlighted by our work as co-chairs of CBC TECH2025, too often Black and Brown communities get left out when our leaders fail to make intelligent and proactive investments in growing a workforce that supports all Americans. To maximize the potential of these emerging technologies, the U.S. must ensure that we not only have a workforce capable of leading the world in these industries, but also that workers of every background and in every region share in the spoils. I’m proud to partner with Representative Lee and Senator Butler in introducing the Workforce of the Future Act to strengthen the pipeline of America’s technology workforce and safeguard our status as a global leader in innovation.”

    “With the advent of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, it’s essential that we ensure we don’t widen the digital divide that disproportionately harms people of color,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The Workforce of the Future Act will invest $250 million into preparing our students, teachers, and workers for the advanced technology jobs that will shape our future. This bill is about equity, and ensures that the opportunities of tomorrow are available to all communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in the tech sector.”

    The Workforce of the Future Act would require the Department of Labor (DOL), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Department of Education (ED) to conduct a study on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on job outlooks across sectors.

    This bill would also authorize $250 million in grant funding for labor organizations and state, local, and tribal entities managing education and workforce development programming to foster the development of emerging and advanced technology education in K-12 schools. It would also train a new generation of emerging and advanced technology teachers and provide workers with up-skilling and lifelong learning opportunities.

    Major concerns have been raised over the impact AI will have on the job market, particularly in the manufacturing, automobile, and entertainment industries. Throughout 2023, writers, musicians, and other entertainment industry workers held strikes in an attempt to prevent AI from supplanting their jobs.

    Concerns have also been raised about AI not impacting all communities equally. Many AI models are trained on biased data, leading to outcomes that disproportionately harm marginalized groups, especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. These biases can manifest in hiring practices, criminal justice systems, healthcare, and more.

    “Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly change the reality of work. We must continue to understand those impacts, ensuring that we adequately prepare America’s workers to thrive in the evolving job market,” said Senator Butler. “The purpose of this legislation is to solidify our commitment to today’s – as well as tomorrow’s – workers, preparing them to work in tandem with AI and to be ready for the jobs of the future.”

    “As advancements in AI rapidly increase, so do concerns regarding the potential effects of this technology on our workforce,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation will help protect American workers by identifying the impacts AI has on jobs, and investing in education and workforce development to better prepare our students, educators, and workers for the future.”

    Specifically, funding from the Workforce of the Future Act would be administered by the Labor and Education Departments and distributed as follows:

    1. $80,000,000 for the creation of K-12 educational programming utilizing emerging technology to foster interest in and increase exposure to science, technology, engineering, art, and math;
    2. $80,000,000 for initiatives to increase the development and recruitment of emerging and advanced technology teachers; and
    3. $90,000,000 for workforce development, upskilling, and lifelong learning programs specifically targeted towards workers in industries or occupations that are projected to see worker displacement as a result of AI adoption.

    The Workforce of the Future Act is endorsed by The Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Microsoft, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), the Urban League, and the California Department of Education.

    Official text of the Workforce of the Future Act is available here.

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott To Attend Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring the Hidden Figures

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

    Headline: Scott To Attend Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring the Hidden Figures

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) was invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in honor of the distinguished women recognized by the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act; Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and all of the women who contributed to the success of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Space Race. Johnson, Jackson, and Vaughan’s work took place at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia’s Third Congressional District.

    “Today’s ceremony honors an extraordinary group of women from Hampton Roads, Virginia,” said Congressman Scott. “Breaking down barriers of both gender and race at NASA, these women laid the groundwork for John Glenn to become the first American to orbit the earth, and for Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon. I am looking forward to today’s ceremony where we will build on efforts in recent years to ensure these exceptional women’s stories are no longer hidden.”

    Video of the ceremony can be found by CLICKING HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott Votes Against Partisan GOP Government Funding Bill

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

    Headline: Scott Votes Against Partisan GOP Government Funding Bill

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ partisan continuing resolution:

    “For months, Congressional Democrats have tried to work with Congressional Republicans to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025. Speaker Johnson and extreme MAGA Republicans have rejected bipartisanship with today’s continuing resolution. This legislation is not a serious attempt to avert a government shutdown. It would inflict harmful cuts and it would implement significant parts of the Project 2025 agenda. The only viable path forward to avoid a costly government shutdown at the end of the month is for Speaker Johnson and the extreme MAGA Republicans to work with Democrats to pass a short-term continuing resolution that is free of extreme and partisan elements and will allow us to complete the appropriations process.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mary Peltola’s flip-flop on biological men in women’s sports exposed

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 24, 2024

    Extreme Democrat Mary Peltola flip-flopped to allow biological men invading women’s sports, a new investigation revealed.

    “Democrat Mary Peltola’s shameless flip-flop isn’t just a betrayal of Alaska’s women and girls—it’s a full-blown assault on fairness in sports. Peltola has made it clear she’d rather pander to radical San Francisco leftists than represent Alaska values.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    Vulnerable Alaska Democrat’s Embrace of Transgenderism Could Cost Her In November
    Daily Wire
    Mary Margaret Olohan
    September 24, 2024

    When Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola ran for the Congress seat in 2022, she danced around addressing whether trans-identifying men should be allowed in women’s sports. Fairness is important, she indicated, but she needed to learn more.

    “I need to better acquaint myself with this issue, which I believe is more complicated than some make it out to be,” Peltola told the Anchorage Daily News in August 2022. “My starting point is that sports should be fair for all students, and we must protect the rights of all students – especially those that are already subject to significant discrimination. I look forward to learning more, and focusing on the many other pressing challenges the U.S. Congress is facing.”

    Fast forward about a year to April 2023, when Peltola voted against the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023” — legislation prohibiting school athletic programs from allowing boys who identify as girls to play in girls’ sports. The bill, which passed the House of Republicans, would have made it a violation of Title IX for federally-funded education programs to allow men in women’s athletic programs.

    When Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace put forward an amendment to that same legislation, which would have required a study on the effect that men participating in women’s sports has on women, Peltola voted against it.

    She also co-sponsored the far-left “Equality Act,” legislation that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prevent “discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation,” meaning that individuals who identify as another gender could not be denied access to the locker room of their choice.

    The Equality Act would specifically require public women’s facilities, such as women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters, to admit men who identify as transgender women. Critics have pointed out that women who are trying to escape violent men and seek refuge in shelters would then be forced to share living spaces with men who identify as women.

    As “Must Read Alaska” reported at the time, the bill would apply to institutions like Anchorage’s “Downtown Hope Center,” a faith-based cold-weather shelter where women can seek refuge during the night.

    Peltola’s positions may put her out of step with her home state. The Alaska Board of Education voted in August 2023 to block boys who identify as girls from playing on girls’ athletic teams. And the Alaska House of Representatives passed a law in May 2024 banning boys from playing in girls’ sports. The bill then went to the State Senate, where it is expected to die, but the House Republicans who voted for the bill told Alaska Public Media that they were prioritizing the issue at the request of their constituents.

    “Alaskans are outraged by Rep. Mary Peltola’s misguided championing of the radical transgender agenda,” Cindy Glassmaker, an Alaskan mother of three daughters who play or played high school sports, told The Daily Wire.

    “Peltola’s stance is a slap in the face to every female athlete,” Glassmaker added. “We’re not buying this woke nonsense that cancels women’s sports and hands women’s hard-earned rights to biological men.”

    Peltola did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire asking for clarity on her gender positions.

    Since 2022, Peltola has received about $6,000 from the Human Rights Campaign, which pushes transgender sex change hormones, surgery, and puberty blockers for children, and $5,500 from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the action arm of Planned Parenthood, which boasts of being the “second largest provider” of transgender hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

    Her opponent, Nick Begich, told The Daily Wire that Peltola is endangering the rights of women in Alaska.

    “Mary Peltola’s reckless push to allow biological males to compete against girls isn’t just unfair— it’s a direct assault on women’s athletics,” Begich said. “Alaska can’t allow Peltola’s radical woke ideology to erase opportunities for our daughters, sisters, and mothers. It was our late Senator Ted Stevens who fought for Title IX and Mary Peltola should not be working to erase such an important part of his legacy.”

    Peltola finished first in the August primary, coming in at 50.38% with 48,418 votes. Begich followed her at 26.98% with 25,930 votes, and Nancy Dahlstrom came next with 20.01% and 19,234 votes.

    But NRCC polling released Monday found Begich “surging into the lead” against Peltola. Begich is now leading Peltola 44% to 40% on the first round ballot, with 10% undecided.

    That polling found that the more voters learn about Peltola, the less they like her.

    “Among those who have seen, read, or heard something recently about Peltola, a plurality of voters are left with a more unfavorable impression of Peltola.”

    “Mary Peltola is taking on water despite her initial spending advantage, driven in large part by Republican ads highlighting her support for the Biden agenda and votes against Alaska’s veterans and those actively serving in uniform,” says a memo from American Viewpoint on the key findings of the Alaska survey. “If this trend continues, Nick Begich will be the next Member of Congress from Alaska.”

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Prepare now: Four overnight weekend closures of I-5 in Fife planned for September and October

    Source: Washington State News 2

    Additional closures planned in Puget Sound area Sept. 27-30 as part of ‘monster’ weekend of roadwork

    FIFE – Setting the second longest pre-cast concrete girders in the world will close both directions of Interstate 5 in Pierce and King counties overnight on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28. This is the first of four consecutive weekends the interstate will be closed overnight between State Route 18 in Federal Way and 54th Avenue East in Fife to build a new bridge and tear down an old one. The remaining overnight closures for I-5 are scheduled for Oct. 4-6, Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20. 

    In addition, the Sept 27 and 28 weekend work coincides with highway closures in King County on I-405, SR 167 and SR 520. Drivers are urged to prepare now for all of the closures. The I-5 detour route does not have the same capacity as I-5 and alternate routes in the area are limited.

    Over the course of the weekend closures, crews working on the SR 167 Completion Project for the Washington State Department of Transportation will set 15 bridge girders over I-5. The girders form the backbone of a new bridge that will carry the new SR 167 tolled expressway over I-5 in Fife. This new bridge will be located immediately north of the existing Wapato Way East bridge. At the same time as the girder setting, other construction crews will tear down the nearby 70th Avenue East bridge, which has been closed to the public since 2021.  

    Closing times

    • 7 p.m. – Lanes in both directions of I-5 begin closing.
    • 10:30 p.m. – All northbound lanes are closed.
    • 11 p.m. – All southbound lanes are closed.

    Saturday reopening times

    • 7 a.m. – Northbound lanes begin reopening.
    • 7:30 a.m. – Southbound lanes begin reopening.
    • 11 a.m. – All lanes in both directions are open.

    Sunday reopening times

    • 8 a.m. – Northbound lanes begin reopening.
    • 8:30 a.m. – Southbound lanes begin reopening.
    • Noon – All lanes in both directions are open.

    Ramp closure details 

    Multiple ramps will also close beginning at 8:30 p.m. Ramps reopen by 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.

    • Southbound I-5 exit to Port of Tacoma Road (closed overnight during the first two weekends for girder delivery).
    • Southbound I-5 exit to 54th Avenue East.
    • Westbound SR 18 and South 348th Street ramp to southbound I-5.
    • 54th Avenue East ramp to northbound I-5.
    • 54th Avenue East ramp to southbound I-5 (intermittent closures during the first two weekends for girder delivery).

    Detour information

    Drivers who are headed into the Fife or Port of Tacoma areas are encouraged to detour to SR 99 between SR 18 and 54th Avenue East. All other travelers are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes such as SR 161, 167 and 512. Maps of the local SR 99 detour route and regional alternate routes are available online. 

    Drivers should also:

    • Consider delaying discretionary trips.
    • Leave earlier in the evening or later in the morning.
    • Allow extra time for traveling the detour or alternate routes, which will have more traffic than usual while I-5 is closed. 

    About the girder setting and new bridge

    Each of the 15 bridge girders that will be set during the first two weekends weigh 270,000 pounds and are 222 feet 9 inches long, spanning the entire width of I-5 at the Fife curve. Multiple cranes must be placed in both northbound and southbound lanes of I-5 to lift and set the girders into place. The girders are manufactured by Concrete Technology Corporation in Tacoma. After leaving the plant, the girders will travel north using the southbound lanes of I-5 from Port of Tacoma Road to the work zone. Traffic entering southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue East will be temporarily halted each time a girder is delivered. 

    Demolishing an old bridge

    To tear down the old 70th Avenue East bridge, crews will spread a protective 6-inch-deep layer of sand over I-5 to protect the roadway. Excavators fitted with claw and jackhammer-like attachments will break and remove pieces of the bridge, dropping them on I-5. Bulldozers and sweepers will push the bridge debris off I-5 in time to open lanes each morning. The bridge has not been open to travelers since 2021, when the new Wapato Way East bridge opened.

    Other regional closures Sept. 27-30

    In addition, travelers should be aware of around-the-clock weekend closures on northbound I-405 in Renton, southbound SR 167 in Kent, the SR 520 floating bridge between Seattle and Bellevue and the Mercer Street ramps to I-5 in Seattle. More information about these closures is available on the WSDOT website. 

    SR 167 Completion Project information

    The SR 167 Completion Project builds 6 miles of new tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. The new highway is being built in stages. The portion currently under construction between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma is scheduled to open in 2026. The third stage is scheduled to begin construction in 2025 and construction work on the last stage will begin in 2026. The entire project is planned for completion by 2029.  

    Puget Sound Gateway Program overview

    The SR 167 Completion Project is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program, which also includes the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County. Combined, the two completion projects finish critical missing links in Washington’s highway and freight network.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hirono, Chu Lead CAPAC Members to Urge OMB to Support SPD 15 Implementation Efforts for AANHPI Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Mazie K. Hirono
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) led 7 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young on Statistical Policy Directive 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15), urging OMB to take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively incorporating its revised standards to SPD 15. OMB’s revised standards to SPD 15 include changes that will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets. By implementing increased data disaggregation through these revisions, federal agencies would be able to better understand more communities, including the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities that encompass over 70 ethnicities.
    “Federal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity,” wrote the Members. “While SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards.”
    The letter urges OMB to work directly with federal agencies to provide them with the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. The letter further requests clarification on what a “sufficient justification” would be to exclude an agency from detailed demographic reporting requirements.
    “OMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes,” the lawmakers concluded. “In all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.”
    Senator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of the AANHPI communities in Hawaii, the U.S., and the Pacific Island nations and territories, working to ensure that all communities are accounted for and supported. Just last year, Senator Hirono reintroduced the All Students Count Act of 2023, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data in K-12 schools, helping to ensure that AANHPI student groups are better accounted for and supported by schools across the country.
    In addition to Senator Hirono and Representative Chu, the letter was signed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Mark Takano (D-CA).
    The full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Director Young:
    Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities in the United States. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our country has taken important steps toward promoting an inclusive society where everyone has opportunities to succeed. We write today regarding OMB’s recent revisions to “Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity” (SPD 15) – dated March 28, 2024. We commend OMB for revising these standards, which will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets, and thank the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and other OMB officials for discussing the revisions with Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), on July 31, 2024. In order to ensure that these standards are fully implemented in a manner that supports our communities, we strongly urge OMB to comply with statutory mandates and take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively and efficiently incorporating the revised standards.
    Federal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity. However, since SPD 15 was last updated in 1997, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) advocacy groups have raised concerns over SPD 15’s overly-broad minimum reporting categories, which obfuscate the diverse experiences of over 70 ethnic groups under the AANHPI umbrella. Due to distinct histories and particular experiences with violence and persecution, for example, only 14% of Bhutanese Americans, 19% of Laotian Americans, and 22% of Burmese Americans have obtained a bachelor’s degree—half the rate of all Asian Americans and lower than the overall population.
    Accurate and comprehensive data on race and ethnicity is necessary for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. We applaud the 2024 SPD 15 for requiring federal agencies to collect new and more detailed racial and ethnic information, such as “Chinese,” “Nigerian,” and “Native Hawaiian,” by default. This will help illuminate areas of need within particular ethnic and racial communities and allow policymakers to allocate resources appropriately.
    While SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards. A recent report from AAPI Data, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) detailed concerning gaps in the updated SPD 15’s rollout, including the absence of an existing inventory of all federal agency data collections—a requirement of The OPEN Government Data Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-411)— to assist federal agencies in implementing the revised standards. SPD 15 also allows federal agencies to apply for an exception to its new detailed demographic reporting requirements, but does not set a clear standard for what OIRA should consider a “sufficient justification” to grant an exception. In all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.
    OMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes. In order to ensure SPD 15 is implemented in an effective way, we urge OMB to work directly with federal agencies to ensure they have the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. Without such inventories, there is no reasonable way to account for all the data collections taking place within the federal government, and to fully understand whether these collections are in compliance with SPD 15.
    Thank you for your consideration on this important matter. We look forward to receiving your response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault on Campus

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Mazie K. Hirono
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing legislation to support survivors of sexual assault on college campuses. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, would require that every college and university that receives federal funding have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response.
    “As we continue working to ensure that our students are safe on campus, the S.O.S. Campus Act would help to ensure that survivors of sexual assault at colleges and universities receive the treatment and support they deserve,” said Senator Hirono. “All students deserve to be safe and supported on campus and I will keep fighting to combat sexual violence and ensure that survivors can access much-needed medical, legal, and mental health resources.”
    Sexual violence and harassment on college campus is heavily underreported, in part due to shortcomings in existing reporting structures. After a change to Title IX under the Trump administration, many universities experienced a drastic decrease in the number of sexual assaults being reported. The Association of Title IX Administrators estimated that upwards of 90% of sexual misconduct cases are handled “informally” and without formal protections and guidance for survivors. 
    The S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to:
    Emergency and follow-up medical care,
    Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement,
    Medical forensic or evidentiary exams,
    Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and
    Information on their legal rights.
    Local rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations are currently providing many of these services in communities and on campuses around the nation. The legislation recognizes the importance of these partnerships by requiring that universities either consult with or partner with these organizations to ensure that survivors can access the services they need.
    Full text of the legislation is available here.
    Senator Hirono has been a strong advocate for making sure survivors of campus sexual assault have the resources they need to be supported. Earlier this Congress, she reintroduced the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), which, like the S.O.S. Campus Act, would provide additional resources for colleges and universities to support survivors. Specifically, GEEA would create an Office for Gender Equity (OGE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that would, among other things, be responsible for providing Title IX coordinators with annual trainings, detailed information, and best practices about Title IX compliance. ED’s OGE would also be responsible for administering a new $160 million grant program to provide resources for colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other entities to comply with Title IX.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to WHO data on adolescent social media use and gaming

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Data published by the World Health Organisation looks at adolescent social media use and gaming.

    Prof Ben Carter, Professor of Medical Statistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, said:

    “The authors provide a useful snapshot of the evidence and whilst again the study includes cross sectional data- it is large and has collected very pertinent data throughout Europe. 

    “However, they offer an unvalidated tool for problematic social media use. Whilst better than merely ‘screentime’, it isn’t entirely based on the DSM-V criteria for defining a behavioural addiction. Again, this is a useful starting point for measuring potential harm.

    “Their findings suggest approximately 1 in 10 are at risk of problematic use and are consistent with other studies (Carter et al, 2024) which state problematic smartphone usage slightly higher, but when focusing on social media alone offer utility in understanding the problem. 

    “Including Social media and gaming together is not a convincing argument as they are not the only forms of harm adolescents are at risk from- but the findings showing the difference between genders are well established. However, this is a very new and emerging field. 

    “The authors draw distinctions to the long periods of time spent gaming and the risk of harm is at odds with the incredibly helpful quote from the boy highlighting that the time spent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The boy clearly shows insight highlighting the need to understand the underlying use (e.g. when and what) rather than just the time. This is consistent with the literature 

    “I welcome these finding and thank the authors for the valid contribution to the evidence base.”

    ‘A focus on adolescent social media use and gaming in Europe, central Asia and Canada’ by the World Health Organisation was published at 00:01 UK time on Wednesday 25th September.

    Declared interests

    Prof Ben Carter: No declarations.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Bean, Colleagues Recognize POW/MIA Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—Recently, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04), U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and U.S. Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating the third Friday of September annually, as “National POW/MIA Recognition Day.” This legislation will encourage all Americans to properly honor the service and sacrifice of all POW/MIA by participating in commemorative celebrations in local communities, appropriately displaying the POW/MIA flag, and performing acts of good will, compassion, and service to the family members of these American heroes.

    According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 142,000 service members who have been captured as prisoners of war (POW) and more than 81,000 service members listed as missing in action (MIA) from the outset of WWII.

    Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “We will never be able to repay our debt to those who have given their last measure of devotion for America. But we can continue to do our solemn duty to remember. With this national day of recognition, we the people of the United States, salute those who endured great dangers at the hands of the enemy and those lost in service to our nation and reaffirm our commitment to resolve the accounting of our great American patriots.”

    Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

    Watch Congressman Bean’s House floor remarks HERE.
     

    BACKGROUND

    Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Susan Wild (D-PA), Kay Granger (R-TX), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), August Pfluger (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Randy Weber (R-TX),Brian Mast (R-FL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Bill Keating (D-MA), and Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    This resolution is supported by Enlisted National Guard Association of the U.S. (EANGUS), National Guard Association of the U.S. (NGAUS), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A (JWV), and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

    In May 2023, Congressman Bean introduced the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act to designate the POW/MIA Memorial Museum at Cecil Field as a national landmark to honor, connect, inspire and educate the American people about our prisoners of war and those missing in action.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Biden welcomes the UConn Huskies Men’s Basketball team to the White House

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

    Even if you made it look easy at times, you made a lot of sacrifices to cap off your success, UConn Huskies.

    It was great to have you back at the White House after back-to-back championship seasons.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PHKfW6zXS8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Will Rollins busted for lying about legal work

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 24, 2024

    Extreme Democrat Will Rollins’ fantastical claims about his legal work crumbled under scrutiny. 

    “Rollins has greatly exaggerated his record,” a new investigation found. Reminder: A judge slapped down Rollins for attempting to trick voters with a similarly “misleading” ballot designation.

    “Extreme liberal Will Rollins will say or do anything to get elected. Riverside County families cannot trust a word that comes out of this serial liar’s mouth.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    ‘I Took On the Sinaloa Cartel’: Democratic House Candidate Will Rollins Claims He Fought Drug Lords, ISIS, and MS-13. Did He?
    Washington Free Beacon
    Meghan Blonder

    Democrat Will Rollins has made his prosecutorial record central to his rematch against Rep. Ken Calvert (R., Calif.). The Palm Springs lawyer repeatedly boasted that he went after ISIS, the Sinaloa cartel, and MS-13 when he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California.

    “Rollins, a counterterrorism prosecutor, took on ISIS terrorists and went after the Sinaloa cartel to stop illegal drugs from crossing our border,” said a February ad, which made salacious allegations about Calvert and called him “one of the most corrupt members of Congress.”

    The ad ended with Rollins saying, “I’m Will Rollins, and I approve this message because I’ve spent my career fighting to keep our families safe.”

    But there’s no available evidence that Rollins had any role in fighting the Sinaloa Cartel or ISIS. His only documented involvement in fighting MS-13? He helped negotiate a lenient plea deal for a meth dealer who was once on a list of “members and associates” of the gang.

    Indeed, an exhaustive Washington Free Beacon review found no documentation indicating Rollins participated in the prosecution of anyone tied to ISIS or the Sinaloas during his five-year stint as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. Rollins also claims he’s gone after “murderers,” but the Free Beacon connected only one homicide case to the junior prosecutor—one that wasn’t resolved until two years after Rollins had quit his job.

    In early August, the Free Beacon began asking the Rollins campaign to provide information about the candidate’s record during his tenure from 2016 to 2021 in the Central District, which includes Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs. The Rollins campaign did not respond to any of the Free Beacon’s inquiries. Rollins’s extensive public claims—on his campaign website, social media, and press interviews—don’t cite specific cases or link to Department of Justice or FBI press releases.

    The Free Beacon reviewed every federal court case that mentioned Rollins, scouring through reams of documents. The review also included extensive searches of the Central District’s website.

    The Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel—which controls much of the drug trade—along with the sadistically violent Salvadoran immigrant gang, MS-13, and the Islamic terrorists of ISIS are three of the world’s most feared criminal organizations, and many ambitious young prosecutors would jump at the chance to battle them. But since Rollins’s name doesn’t appear on any public government documents involving Sinaloa or ISIS, it is highly unlikely he had a meaningful role in such cases, according to a former assistant U.S. attorney who spoke on the condition of anonymity. It is possible he was involved in more minor ways that kept his name off cases, like writing search warrants and applying for digital surveillance, or in supervising cases that others actually prosecuted.

    Furthermore, the law firm where Rollins currently works makes no mention of ISIS, the Sinaloa cartel, or MS-13 on his biography page. Instead, Raines Feldman Littrell, a Los Angeles-based corporate law firm that must accurately represent its lawyers to its clients, simply says that Rollins prosecuted “a wide variety of U.S. counterterrorism, export control, and national security laws” as an assistant U.S. attorney.

    The Free Beacon found one instance in which Rollins prosecuted a member of MS-13 for dealing meth—and struck a sweetheart plea deal. In that 2012 case, Juan Carlos Garcia was caught dealing 80 grams of meth in front of his children. He faced two distribution charges, one carrying a prison sentence of up to 40 years, the other a life sentence. Rollins dropped one count and helped Garcia score the mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for the other.

    A 2013 FBI press release lists Garcia among “members and associates of the MS-13 street gang.” Garcia’s indictment, however, doesn’t mention gang membership, nor does his pleading. His court judgment only noted that he was barred from associating with known members or wearing anything connected to MS-13.

    Rollins’s attempts to use his stint in government to boost his campaign have become a flashpoint in his campaign. A county GOP chairman challenged Rollins’s bid to describe himself as a “counterterrorism attorney” on the primary ballot, and a judge ruled that he must instead describe himself as a “counterterrorism law attorney.”

    […]

    Rollins has also said in campaign ads that he’s “put away” members of a gang called the Mexican Mafia. The United States-based prison and street gang organizes other Hispanic gangs to establish a larger network of illegal activities.

    The Free Beacon’s review found Rollins was involved in two cases that were peripherally connected to the Mexican Mafia. In both, Rollins signed off on lenient plea deals that gave the gang members light prison sentences for serious crimes.

    Julio Cesar Alvarado faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for a firearm charge in June 2016. He admitted he was a member of the Eastside Santa Ana gang, an affiliate of the Mexican Mafia. Rollins struck a plea deal, and Alvarado was sentenced to just two years in prison.

    Justin Robert Burkett, a known member of the Westside VLP gang, another Mexican Mafia affiliate, was busted with 120 grams of meth and a stolen .38 caliber revolver. He faced a life sentence for peddling drugs and another five years for the gun crime. But Rollins dropped the firearm charge and helped Burkett score a 10-year prison sentence, the mandatory minimum for the distribution count. Burkett was also required to participate in a substance abuse program once he got out of prison.

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Prime Minister advocates progress and prosperity at UN General Assembly and Future Summit

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French

    Progressive leadership is driven by the belief that we cannot turn back the clock on rights, equality, and an economy that works for everyone. We must keep moving forward.

    This was the message delivered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the conclusion of his participation in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Future Summit in New York, United States of America. At the UNGA, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to progress, prosperity and equity for all generations.

    Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders at the Future Summit, which concluded with the adoption of the Compact for the Future, an ambitious agreement that will inspire countries to work together to address shared challenges. At the Summit, the Prime Minister issued a statement indicating Canada’s support for the Future Summit, calling on countries to deliver on the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentand intended to invest in its workers, in its communities and in its future.

    Building on the progress made at the Future Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders and prominent human rights advocates at the UNGA to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He signalled Canada’s commitment to finding new sources of financing to achieve the SDGs globally, particularly as co-chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders Group. He highlighted the fundamental role of gender equality as a means to achieve sustainable development and made clear that women and girls must be able to make choices about their bodies, their lives and their futures. To this end, Canada announced more than $112 million in support to protect access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights services for women and girls around the world. Canada will also invest $58 million in projects that empower women and promote gender equality, particularly in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. With this funding, Canada will deliver on its $100 million commitment to address issues related to paid and unpaid care work in low- and middle-income countries.

    For tens of millions of people around the world, including in Canada, climate change is not an illusion: it is real, it is costly and it knows no borders. To effectively combat this threat, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of collective action on a global scale. He highlighted decarbonizing the industrial sector as one solution to combat climate change, including through innovative tools such as carbon pricing. He also welcomed six new members of theGlobal Carbon Pricing Challenge launched by Canada, which calls on countries to set a price on carbon to cover 60% of global emissions by 2030. The Prime Minister also announced $3.9 million through Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program, so we can better fight wildfires and advance international expertise in sustainable forest management.

    Prime Minister Trudeau, together with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, convened a High-level Meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security and stability in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted the work being done to address the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people and Canada’s continued support for the Multinational Security Support Mission in the country. He emphasized the critical importance of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict. In this regard, he announced more than $16 million to support the transitional government’s electoral preparations, increase humanitarian assistance, reduce gang-related violence, and increase access to justice for women and youth detainees, while supporting their reintegration into society. These measures will go a long way to helping Haiti address its immediate needs and create a brighter, more prosperous future for its people.

    At the UNGA, the Prime Minister also announced $3.6 million in major new investments to strengthen global peace and security, including mine clearance, and to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly women affected by conflict. He highlighted the role of the United Nations in this important work, and announced an investment of $9 million to support United Nations initiatives to increase the effectiveness of development, humanitarian and peacebuilding assistance in countries around the world.

    The Prime Minister participated in a leaders’ roundtable entitled “Defending Democracy: Combating Extremism,” where he spoke with world leaders about the challenges facing democracies, such as inequality, polarization, disinformation and violent extremism, including online. He reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening the rules-based international order and multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations.

    During his visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with his international counterparts to discuss priority geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its global implications, as well as developments in the Middle East. He also stressed the need to protect democratic institutions from emerging threats, including disinformation and election interference, and to preserve peace and security around the world.

    At the UNGA, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio, among others.

    In the face of economic and social insecurity around the world, the Government of Canada is choosing to invest in our country. From a $10-a-day national child care program to an ambitious housing plan, a national dental care plan, and an industrial sector strategy that creates well-paying jobs – not to mention fighting climate change – these choices will have a positive impact on the lives of Canadians and help address global challenges.

    Quote

    “Canada is choosing to invest in its people, its future and progress. This is the message I wanted to bring to the UNGA and the Future Summit. Our government is taking action to fight climate change, break down barriers, address the world’s most pressing challenges and give every generation a fair chance.”

    Highlights

    During his trip to New York, Prime Minister Trudeau held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Garry Conille of Haiti, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of Kitchener, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, Senior Advisor to Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, President William Ruto of Kenya, and Malala Yousafzai. The Prime Minister also held discussions with other leaders, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, International Monetary Fund President and Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. As a founding member of the United Nations since its creation in 1945, Canada has actively contributed to the organization, including playing a key role in drafting the UN Charter, the cornerstone treaty of the rules-based international order. Canada is the sixth largest donor to the United Nations, with voluntary contributions and assessed contributions totaling more than US$2 billion in 2022. In 2015, Canada joined all UN Member States in adopting ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, as outlined in theTransforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda focuses on a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Together, the SDGs aim to improve people’s lives, but also protect the planet. Released in 2021, theCanada’s National Strategy for the 2030 Agenda: Moving Forward Togetheris based on 30 actions and 5 core principles to create and foster an environment for ongoing dialogue and engagement to encourage Canadians to take action to implement the SDGs. In 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau was appointed Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates Group by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. Through their respective platforms, the members of the SDG Advocates Group aim to raise global awareness of the SDGs and the need to accelerate action to achieve them. Prime Minister Trudeau also serves as Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders Group, alongside Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica. The Group advocates for developing countries to have the financial resources they need to invest in the 17 SDGs to ensure a just and equitable future for all people. At the Future Summit, world leaders strengthened cooperation on major challenges and addressed gaps in global governance. They renewed existing commitments, including to the SDGs and the Charter of the United Nations, and undertook to modernize the United Nations system to effectively address the challenges of today and tomorrow. Also at the Summit, leaders adopted the Deal for the Future and its annexes, the Global Digital Deal and the Declaration on Future Generations. The Deal for the Future is a comprehensive framework to promote global cooperation and address critical challenges facing the world, such as climate change, inequality, and the need for strong multilateral cooperation, for the benefit of all and future generations. In 2021, Canada launched the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge. This partnership aims to scale up the use of pollution pricing by strengthening existing systems and supporting new ones. The Challenge, which collectively aims to cover 60% of global emissions by 2030, also serves as a forum for dialogue and coordination to improve the effectiveness and compatibility of pricing regimes, while helping other countries adopt carbon pricing and reduce emissions towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

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    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: Senator Markey Introduces AI Civil Rights Act to Eliminate AI Bias, Enact Guardrails on Use of Algorithms in Decisions Impacting People’s Rights, Civil Liberties, Livelihoods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF) | Section by section (PDF)
    Washington (September 24, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, introduced his Artificial Intelligence (AI) Civil Rights Act, comprehensive AI civil rights legislation which will put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) is a cosponsor on the bill.
    “Whether on the Senate floor or around the dining room table, artificial intelligence is the hottest topic of the year. But these complex algorithms have a darker side as well — one that has real consequences for everyday people, especially marginalized communities,” said Senator Markey. “I am introducing the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act to ensure that the AI Age does not replicate and supercharge the bias and discrimination already prevalent in society today. Make no mistake: we can have an AI revolution in this country while also protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyday Americans, we can support innovation without supercharging bias and discrimination, and we can promote competition while safeguarding people’s rights.
    I am grateful for the support of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and many other advocates who have been essential partners in this fight for fair and equitable AI. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that any AI regulation includes strong and enforceable civil rights protections.”
    “While AI can improve decision-making across various sectors, systemic biases in AI algorithms disproportionately impact marginalized communities,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation would help to protect Americans against biased algorithms and mitigate discrimination perpetuated through AI, helping to secure the civil rights and liberties of all Americans.”
    In particular, the AI Civil Rights Act:
    Regulates algorithms involved in consequential decisions, such as those that impact people’s rights, civil liberties, and livelihoods, including employment, banking, health care, the criminal justice system, public accommodations, and government services;
    Prohibits developers and deployers from offering, licensing, or using covered algorithms that discriminate based on protected characteristics or that cause a disparate impact;
    Requires developers and deployers of covered algorithms to complete independently audited pre-deployment evaluations and post-deployment impact assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate any potential biased use or discriminatory outcomes;
    Requires developers and deployers to mitigate any harms identified by the pre-deployment evaluations and impact assessments and ensure that any covered algorithm performs reasonably well and is consistent with its publicly-advertised purpose;
    Increases transparency around the use of covered algorithms in consequential decisions, including providing individuals a right to appeal an algorithmic decision to a human decision-maker; and
    Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private individuals to enforce the Act.
    The AI Civil Rights Act is endorsed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Free Press Action, UnidosUS, NAACP,  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Public Citizen, Access Now, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJ, Brennan Center for Justice, Fight for the Future, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Common Cause, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), The Trevor Project, National Council of Negro Women, Encode Justice, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Accountable Tech, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), Color of Change, and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).
    “Algorithmic justice is a civil rights issue. Just as the struggles of the civil rights movement gave rise to groundbreaking civil rights laws, the harms resulting from the unregulated use of AI and other algorithmic tools demand passing new legislation now,” said Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The AI Civil Rights Act is first-of-its-kind legislation that takes a comprehensive approach to regulating AI across sectors. It prioritizes protecting Black communities and other people of color from discrimination, bias, and rampant AI abuse. The civil rights bill of the future is right here, and we are proud to endorse it.”
    “After a flurry of AI bills being introduced by this Congress — with many omitting any mention of civil rights or safeguards — it’s refreshing to see Senator Markey take a unique and necessary approach. The AI Civil Rights Act is comprehensive, touching on everything from employment to housing and education and setting a standard for other pieces of AI legislation to address real-world harms. Rather than reflect Big Tech talking points and the urge to ‘move fast and break things,’ this bill recognizes that innovation must include all of us,” said Koustubh “K.J.” Bagchi, vice president of The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology.
    “The AI Civil Rights Act is the bold, innovative policy we need today to ensure a just tomorrow for us all. The premise is simple: the AI tools and systems used at the most critical decision points in our lives – mediating our access to homes, employment, healthcare, and opportunities –should be demonstrated to be accessible and fair before being unleashed on the American public. With this technologically sophisticated bill, anchored in enduring American commitments to freedom, Senator Markey ushers in a new day for civil rights and digital equity,” said Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress and former Acting Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    “It is vitally important that technological development serves the public interest. A key part of this is ensuring that those who develop and deploy technology, including advanced AI systems that impact people’s civil rights and opportunities, are held to a duty of care. The AI Civil Rights Act provides a detailed and practical approach to ensuring that we can continue to benefit from safe innovation in technology,” said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, former White House AI Advisor and co-author of the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
    “AI products are now making their way into the lives of real people at an unfathomable scale – impacting everything from our experience at work to our ability to access benefits. It is crucially important in this moment that we do what we can to protect the vulnerable populations most impacted by these systems. Even in the hyped rush to adopt AI technology, we cannot permit anything to interfere with our hard-earned civil rights,” said Deborah Raji, researcher, UC Berkley.
    “Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering every corner of our lives — from access to education, healthcare and insurance to decisions made by the courts, police, and immigration officials — with far too little public input or recourse when these systems cause real-world bias or harm,” said Craig Aaron, President and Co-CEO of Free Press Action. “The AI Civil Rights Act is a serious step toward addressing these urgent issues and enabling federal regulators to keep up with these evolving technologies. It prohibits the use, sale, or promotion of algorithmic decision-making systems that discriminate or cause disparate impact on the basis of race, sex, religion, or disability. This legislation would require those designing and deploying AI tools to conduct audits for potential harms and publicly share the results. Ensuring new tools and technologies aren’t used to exacerbate discrimination must be a top priority for policymakers. We applaud Senator Markey and the co-sponsors of this legislation for their leadership.”
    “AI systems—which already today impact consumer credit, law enforcement, immigration, housing, and health care decisions—can be unfair in any direction, and in multiple directions at once, because the systems generate predictions based on inferences from complex data sets. Assessing the fairness of the inputs to systems and the outcomes is an essential check—or we risk models that senselessly bind our futures to our often-problematic past. We simply cannot afford to implement systems first and check them later, nor would that approach be consistent with a multicultural democracy that strives to achieve opportunity for all,” said Laura MacCleery, Senior Policy Director, UnidosUS. “By mandating pre- and post-deployment testing, minimum transparency standards, and human alternatives to AI decision-making, this legislation establishes essential steps to help make the uses of AI both accountable and legitimate. We commend Senator Markey for his continued leadership in this ongoing effort to keep emerging technologies fair and responsible—not just in name but in practice. This Act is an excellent foundation for the checks and balances we will need to harness AI’s potential while protecting civil rights and promoting fairness.”
    “The AI Civil Rights Act is a benchmark for AI legislation; it avoids sensationalist claims about AI, while providing real protections from civil rights harms that are happening already. The emerging world of AI is complex, and Sen. Markey has set the bar for legislation ensuring that AI is fair and equitable. We look forward to continuing to refine and champion these protections and working with Congress for passage,” said Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU.
    “Artificial intelligence systems are being developed and deployed in opaque and unaccountable ways that are harming individuals and exacerbating biases. Senator Markey’s Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2024 puts critical guardrails in place to ensure automated decision-making is fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory. EPIC is proud to support this legislation,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
    “With the AI industry launching products that will make decisions on key aspects of our lives, such as unemployment insurance, Congress must install guardrails to prevent violations of our rights. The AI Civil Rights Act is necessary legislation that addresses the growing need to protect civil rights in an era where AI systems are increasingly shaping critical decisions in areas such as employment, housing, and access to services. By setting rigorous standards for the development, deployment, and auditing of AI technologies, the Act installs pertinent guardrails so that these powerful models will not perpetuate discrimination or harm marginalized communities. Public Citizen commends Senator Markey for his leadership in advancing this vital piece of legislation,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen.
    “Secretive algorithms developed by the private sector can easily fuel discriminatory surveillance, policing, and immigration enforcement,” said Faiza Patel, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “The AI Civil Rights Act is a significant step towards ensuring that the private sector undertakes adequate and transparent due diligence to mitigate AI’s most profound risks to civil liberties and rights.”
    “Access Now is proud to support the AI Civil Rights Act, a crucial step in holding algorithmic decision-making accountable at every stage,” said Willmary Escoto, U.S. Policy Counsel, Access Now. “This bill prioritizes human rights by enforcing transparency, accountability, and remedies for those harmed by AI. We commend Senator Markey for championing equity, privacy, and justice, and urge Congress to advance this critical legislation.”
    “When it comes to AI regulation, the AI Civil Rights Act is right to prioritize civil rights protections coupled with requirements to test and provide transparency. We desperately need AI policies that are rooted in human rights, free expression, and addressing the most immediate harms to the most marginalized people. It’s clear that AI is exacerbating problems with discrimination and bias, but those problems are being hidden behind layers of tech hype, trade secrets, and a focused but familiar campaign to tell legislators and everyday people alike that we aren’t smart enough to grapple with the realities of emerging technology. This is a lie that is being weaponized to allow AI’s supercharged harms to run rampant. This bill is an important step toward putting risky and harmful AI projects and their shady sycophants back in their place. Human rights and accountability should come before tech profits,” said Lia Holland, Campaigns and Communications Director, Fight for the Future.
    “AI inherently poses risks for voters, as biased algorithms can perpetuate discrimination and lead to disparate outcomes,” said Ishan Mehta, Director for Media and Democracy, Common Cause. “We commend Senator Markey for his bill to create important and strong safeguards for AI systems, which will promote equity and accessibility.”
    “The Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act is our generation’s moonshot for democracy in the digital age. It ensures that as machines learn, America’s values aren’t forgotten. This isn’t just about regulating technology; it’s about safeguarding the very fabric of our society for generations to come. With this Act, we’re not just keeping pace with AI – we’re encoding fairness and equal opportunity into the DNA of our technological future,” said Sunny Gandhi, VP of Political Affairs, Encode Justice.
    “The AI Civil Rights Act must become law to ensure that people are not denied work or career advancement because of biased algorithms ingrained in artificial intelligence systems. Whether it’s a journalist who covers marginalized communities or a first-time screenwriter whose voice is not a common tone, we cannot let employers weaponize AI as cover to discriminate against people based on race, religion, age or other protected characteristics,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the Writers Guild of America, East.
    “Organizations developing and deploying AI tools should have to prove to the public that their tools aren’t harmingful before they are allowed to release these tools. We’re glad to see Senator Markey taking these steps to prioritize citizen’s rights over profits for multinational corporations,” said Timnit Gebru, Founder and Executive Director of Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR).
    While artificial intelligence has already begun to revolutionize certain industries, the federal government must be committed to combating potential side effects of this emerging technology. Senator Markey has called on the federal government to hold Big Tech accountable, investigate AI, and stop algorithmic injustice. On September 17th, 2024, Senator Markey and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Shalanda Young, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, demanding that all federal agencies that use AI for consequential decisions establish or maintain a civil rights office to establish additional safeguards to prevent algorithmic discrimination.
    In December 2023, Senator Markey introduced the Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems (BIAS) Act to ensure that every federal agency that uses, funds, or oversees artificial intelligence (AI) has an office of civil rights focused on combatting AI bias and discrimination. In October 2023, he and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) applauded the Biden administration for heeding their call to incorporate the White House Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights into its AI Executive Order. In July 2023, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) reintroduced their Algorithmic Justice and Online Platform Transparency Act to ban discriminatory algorithms and improve transparency on social media platforms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Passes Amendment to Combat Pine Beetle Infestation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Nick LaLota(R-Suffolk County) successfully passed his amendment to H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, focusing on the devastation caused by the southern pine beetle in the Northeast, particularly within Long Island’s Pine Barrens. LaLota’s amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on the causes, effects, and solutions for the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern United States, ensuring that the problem is addressed with targeted actions.

    “This tiny pest, no larger than a grain of rice, has wreaked havoc on over 5,000 acres of forest in my district alone, threatening our ecosystem and critical natural resources. The southern pine beetle infestation has put immense pressure on Long Island’s Pine Barrens, which serve as a vital habitat for wildlife and play a crucial role in protecting our water supply,” said LaLota. “My amendment is not just about studying a pest; it’s about taking proactive measures to protect our environment, safeguard the drinking water of millions, and ensure that our forests’ rich biodiversity and natural beauty remain intact for future generations. Without intervention, the consequences for our ecosystem and local economy could be severe so we must take action now.”

    LaLota spoke on the House floor ahead of the amendment’s passage, click HERE to watch.

    To read the full text of the amendment, click HERE.

    Background:

    The Pine Barrens, crucial for preserving clean drinking water and home to endangered species, have suffered significant damage from the pine beetle infestation. LaLota’s amendment will enable federal, state, and local officials to better understand and mitigate the pine beetle’s impact, fostering resilient forest ecosystems across the region.

    Along with this amendment, LaLota has fought to preserve the abundant natural environment Long Island is blessed with.

    Earlier this year, LaLota announced he had secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program. This funding for the Sound is provided by the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill LaLota helped pass, which was signed into law in March.

    In January, LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The same month, LaLota testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of including a reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program in the biannual Water Resources Development Act.

    The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028. In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Objects to Democrats’ Partisan Push to Extreme Advance Extreme Abortion Agenda, Jeopardizing Health Care for Women

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s remarks on YouTube.
    CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s remarks on Rumble.
    WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chair of the Senate Values Action Team, went to the Senate floor to object to Senate Democrats’ attempts to force a vote on their extreme abortion agenda.
    He objected to a resolution falsely stating the Senate believes women lack access to life saving care, and that doctors face criminal prosecution for caring for their patients. During a Senate FinanceCommittee hearing today, he called out Democrats’ fearmongering on abortion and warned that it may discourage women from receiving health care.
    Excerpts
    Lankford Challenges Fearmongering Rhetoric:  This resolution itself, and the wording that it has in this resolution, says it’s sense of the Senate that every person has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care. I’m going to be very, very specific on this. We had a hearing today in the Finance Committee where this same subject was addressed. We had OBGYNs from both perspectives on this, those that perform abortions and those that have a moral objection to it. We had a very good argument to be able to lay some facts out, to be able to walk through this with two sets of attorneys that were there to be able to walk through the law. Here’s what became very clear during that conversation in this morning in that open hearing.
    There is no state in America in which a woman faces persecution or prosecution for having an abortion. No state criminalizes miscarriage. No state criminalizes removing an ectopic pregnancy. No state prohibits life saving care for the mother. No state requires a woman to be actively dying in order for her doctor to care for her. We heard story after story about doctors being concerned that they may face this because they’re hearing political rhetoric—political rhetoric like Vice President Harris in a speech that she said recently where she said, ‘Women were being arrested and facing prosecution for experiencing miscarriages.’ That is not true.
    So all of this rhetoric that is being put out there is making doctors afraid, but it was very clear from the conversation in law that none of those things are actually true. Every physician, prior to the Dobbs decision, when there were limitations on abortion across the country, and post Dobbs decision when every single state is making those decisions, allowed physicians in an E.R. to be able to make lifesaving decisions for the mother and the child. Every doctor has already the ability to be able to make that decision, to be able to protect the life of the mother. They have the protections to be able to do that. So this is a false claim that somehow that what happened in the Dobbs decision and what’s happening in states is limiting, that it’s actually the political rhetoric that’s making people afraid.
    Democrats’ Abortion-On-Demand Obsession Endangers Women: What also came out during the hearing this morning was the very real risk of chemical abortions. That we’ve recently had tragic situations where women use the chemical abortion pills that they’re being told are ‘as safe as Tylenol,’ and then it has life threatening and in some cases, recently, life taking consequences. Chemical abortion pills are not Tylenol, yet they’re being sold as that. And what we’re seeing is more and more cases of the diminishing of ‘This is no big deal to be able to end this pregnancy’ when they haven’t seen a doctor, because the Biden Administration is now saying ‘You don’t have to see a physician’ so the woman doesn’t know if she has an ectopic pregnancy or not. If she takes the chemical abortion pill while she has an ectopic pregnancy, she is at risk.
    But the Biden Administration is saying ‘You don’t have to go see a doctor. They can just mail it to you. It’s just as safe as a Tylenol.’ When it’s not. They’re also not being tested for their blood type to be able to make sure this doesn’t affect future pregnancies during this chemical abortion. And they’re not also determining by a sonogram how far along the mom is in this process, because there are limitations to this where it becomes more and more dangerous.
    All those things are restrictions that used to be there, that the Biden Administration has taken away to say, ‘No, we want more people to have access to chemical abortions,’ but it’s making it more dangerous for women. And we have seen that recently. So we want to engage in a conversation about how can we actually put some of those basic, humane, doctor-requested restrictionsin there to make sure that we’re protecting the lives of all those women. That’s a better conversation for us to be able to have.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Veterans Translate Military Certifications to Civilian Jobs

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced legislation to provide every transitioning servicemember with documentation outlining their military certifications and qualifications to use when applying for a job. The bipartisan Translating Military Skills into Civilian Jobs Act would establish a military training and competency record to ensure that every servicemember has a record of the training, certifications, and qualifications they achieved during their time in the military, so that when they transition, they can provide that record to employers to determine if their qualifications meet the job requirements. Currently, too many veterans are forced to spend time and money earning the same certifications for civilian jobs that the military already trained them to do. 
    “The men and women of our military earn valuable skills and certifications during their service that should more easily qualify them for a wide array of high-demand civilian jobs when they transition into veteran status,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to provide every transitioning servicemember with a record detailing their training, certifications, and qualifications earned through their service so that they can more easily start their civilian careers. I’ll keep working across party lines to support our veterans.”
    “Military service provides servicemembers and veterans with unique skills that make them valuable employees to any company,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would make certain every servicemember leaves the military with a document outlining the training and qualifications they achieved during their service, to assist in the job search and their life after service.”
    Senator Rosen has been leading bipartisan efforts to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. Earlier this month, she helped pass bipartisan legislation to allocate billions of dollars for PACT Act benefits. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently maintain a helpline for veterans to obtain information and assistance with VA services. Senator Rosen secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veteran’s access to telehealth in the last bipartisan government funding package.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of Kenya William Ruto

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Kenya, William Ruto, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

    The two leaders discussed the situation in Haiti. Prime Minister Trudeau commended Kenya’s leadership of the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support mission (MSSM) and reiterated Canada’s commitment to working with Haiti, Kenya, and other international partners to support a successful mission. The leaders underlined the need for the international community to step up and provide much-needed support for the mission and agreed on the importance of re-establishing peace and security and holding free and fair elections in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted Canada’s ongoing efforts to support the MSSM, including its previous investment of over $86 million to provide direct assistance.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and President Ruto agreed to remain in close contact and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing common interests.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $45.7 Million For West Virginia Opioid Prevention Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

    September 24, 2024

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $45,774,615 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) State Opioid Response grant program for the West Virginia Department of Human Services. This program supports substance use disorder education and prevention efforts statewide.

    “With the highest rate of overdose death out of every state in the country, we must have an all-hands-on-deck approach to combatting the drug epidemic in West Virginia. This more than $45 million investment will strengthen substance use disorder prevention efforts and support individuals and families who continue to struggle with addiction,” said Senator Manchin. “As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have also worked to ensure West Virginia gets its fair share of federal support, by ensuring a 15 percent set aside in opioid funding for states with the highest rate of drug overdose. I am proud to secure this essential funding and I will continue to fight for resources to prevent overdoses and save lives, families and communities across the Mountain State.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone’s HEARTS Act to Address Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young People Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Federal bill inspired by New Jersey student-athlete tragedies heads to the Senate, aiming to safeguard young lives across the nation

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that his Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act has overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Pallone authored the HEARTS Act in response to the rising number of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) incidents among young people, particularly student-athletes, ensuring schools are better equipped to handle life-threatening cardiac emergencies with vital resources and training.

     

    “I introduced the HEARTS Act because too many young people are tragically dying from sudden cardiac arrest,” Pallone said. “In New Jersey, we’ve seen devastating losses like that of Edison’s Kittim Sherrod, who collapsed and died at just 17 during track practice from an undiagnosed heart condition. The HEARTS Act ensures that schools have the AEDs, training, and resources needed to act swiftly during a cardiac emergency. No child should lose their life because schools weren’t prepared—we owe it to our students and their families to act now.”

     

    The bill was inspired by local tragedies like that of Kittim Sherrod, a standout football star at Edison High School, who passed away in 2009 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an often undiagnosed condition. The HEARTS Act aims to prevent future tragedies by ensuring that schools across the country are equipped with life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs), and CPR training for both staff and students.

     

    With strong bipartisan backing, the HEARTS Act was expanded to include provisions from the Access to AEDs Act, ensuring that AEDs are available in schools and childcare centers and that students, staff, and sports volunteers receive critical CPR and AED training. A federal grant program will be established to support these efforts, making sure schools can access the funding they need to implement these life-saving measures.

     

    In his remarks on the House floor, Pallone emphasized the need for immediate action, saying, “The HEARTS Act will raise awareness about the causes of sudden cardiac arrest and ensure schools are more prepared to deal with cardiac emergencies so we can save lives. This legislation has the support of the American Heart Association and the Smart Heart Coalition, among others. We cannot afford to delay—this is about saving young lives.”

      

    The HEARTS Act mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patient advocacy groups, and health professional organizations to develop and distribute educational materials on cardiomyopathy to schools, parents, and teachers. This educational push is critical, as cardiomyopathy, the condition that took Sherrod’s life, is often silent until a fatal cardiac event. According to the CDC, approximately 2,000 young people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year—a sobering figure that highlights the urgent need for this legislation.

     

    Support for the HEARTS Act has been widespread, with organizations such as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation, and the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation applauding Pallone’s leadership in raising awareness and helping schools prepare for cardiac emergencies.

     

    “Having a cardiac emergency response plan in place and people nearby who know what to do can be the difference between life and death for the more than 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year. The HEARTS Act will help improve the safety of our schools and playing fields and we urge the Senate to quickly follow the House to make this policy the law of the land,” Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association.

     

    “The John Taylor Babbitt Foundation is thrilled to see this critical piece of legislation pass out of the House of Representatives. Creating heart safe communities for our children continues to be a priority for our organization and this law would provide access to resources in helping to achieve that goal,“ JoAnne Babbitt, Vice President, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and co-founder of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation.

     

    “The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation wholeheartedly supports the HEARTS Act of 2024 (H.R 6829) and commends Rep. Frank Pallone for stewarding this lifesaving legislation. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a public health crisis. It strikes 356,000 people a year in the U.S., including 23,000 youth. Enacting this legislation will undoubtedly help improve the current survival rate of ~10 percent—not only in schools, but also in communities,” Mary. M. Newman, MS President, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

     

    “We are thrilled the HEARTS bill has passed the house and thankful to Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-06) for championing legislation for kids with cardiomyopathy.” said Kathy Swenson, executive director of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation. “This disease is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest, and this legislation has the potential to save the lives of many children.”

     

    “The HEARTS Act will take precautions to save lives, which were not in place 15 years ago when my grandson Kittim Sherrod succumbed to this silent disease Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Many youths’ lives were lost due to the lack of knowledge as well as the lack of the proper equipment available to assist in saving lives. I am so thankful that Frank Pallone continued in the quest to take action to make a difference in the future of our children’s heart health. Thank you, Congressman Frank Pallone, Kittim did not die in vain,” Razeenah Walker, President of The Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation.

     

    The bill now moves to the Senate, where its passage is crucial to ensuring that schools across the nation can implement these life-saving measures.

     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Announces Continuation of Critical Dredging in Shrewsbury, Navesink Rivers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced the continuation of a major dredging project in the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers. Following a temporary pause in January of this year for fish spawning, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has resumed maintenance dredging this month with the goal of completing the project by the end of 2024. Pallone secured $26 million for the project as part of a federal spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023, which was signed into law by President Biden.

    “Dredging in these rivers is essential for both local recreation and commerce,” said Pallone. “The Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers are not only natural treasures but also critical to the economy of our coastal communities. Ensuring safe navigation for boaters by addressing the shoaling in the federal channel is a top priority, and I’m glad to see this important work continuing.”

    The project is taking place in three phases, with the first phase already completed during the summer 2023. This initial phase involved dredging sand material from the mouth of Sandy Hook Bay south to the Route 36 bridge. The second and third phases were started last fall before the January 2024 pause.

    In the second phase, the Army Corps is dredging the remaining sand material from the Shrewsbury River and the Navesink River. This sand will be transported and pumped onto sections of Monmouth Beach for beach replenishment. The final phase, which will run concurrently, will focus on dredging the silt material within the federal channel of both rivers as far west as the Branchport Ave. bridge in Long Branch for the Shrewsbury River and as far west as the Route 35 Bridge in Red Bank for the Navesink River. The dredged material will be transported to a nearby facility in Woodbridge for processing and repurposed as construction fill.

    Pallone first secured funding for this crucial project after receiving reports of dangerous shoaling that posed risks to navigation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Leads Bipartisan Push to Make FEMA’s New Disaster Aid Rule Retroactive for Hurricane Ida Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-New Jersey) is leading a bipartisan effort, alongside U.S. Representatives Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico) and Troy Carter (D-Louisiana), urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to apply its new disaster aid rule retroactively. This would ensure that those affected by past events, like Hurricane Ida, can benefit from the improved and more accessible assistance. The proposed extension would cover major disasters declared since January 20, 2021, ensuring that survivors of these events—including those in New Jersey—are eligible for the updated relief measures.

     

    The draft interim Individual Assistance Program Equity rule, a major reform introduced by the Biden-Harris Administration in early 2024, marks the first significant overhaul of FEMA’s aid program in 20 years. The changes were driven by mounting frustrations from survivors who faced delays, denials, and excessive bureaucratic hurdles when seeking help. With the growing frequency and severity of disasters due to climate change, the Administration recognized the need for more accessible and efficient aid, particularly for low-income and vulnerable communities.

     

    Key updates include Critical Needs Assistance, which automatically provides $750 to cover immediate expenses, and up to $42,500 in FEMA aid not covered by insurance. The rule also eliminates outdated eligibility requirements, such as removing the mandate that the Small Business Administration reject a survivor’s loan application before they could receive FEMA aid, reduced documentation requirements, and a simplified appeals process. These changes aim to deliver faster, fairer assistance to those in need.

     

    “The Biden-Harris Administration has made meaningful changes to FEMA’s Individual Assistance program that will help New Jerseyans get back on their feet faster when the next storm hits,” said Pallone. “We must make these improvements retroactive, so people devastated by Hurricane Ida get the same opportunity to benefit and aren’t left behind.”

     

    “I’m proud to have advocated for changes to FEMA for future storm survivors, but I’m still nowhere near recovered from Hurricane Ida three years ago.  These changes would have helped me tremendously – I had to get an SBA loan because FEMA told me to apply.  I had no choice and am now very in debt and I am still fighting my flood insurance for a fair payout.  Having FEMA help more with my uninsured losses would be so much better than a loan I can’t afford to pay.  We are grateful to Congressman Pallone for his ongoing work on behalf of storm survivors and we hope the Biden administration makes the changes retroactive for my family and families like mine around the country,” said Leanna Jones a single mother of two and Storm Organizer with the New Jersey Organizing Project. 

     

    The full letter to FEMA is available below and online here:

     

    Dear Administrator Criswell:

     

    We are encouraged by the Individual Assistance Program Equity interim final rule you announced on January 22, 2024 and urge you to make it retroactive to all major disasters with individual assistance that President Biden has declared since January 20, 2021. Retroactively making this assistance available to that date will allow many of our constituents impacted by devastating natural disasters to finally move forward with their recovery.

     

    This rule has the potential to dramatically improve Americans’ experience and ability to access the federal disaster assistance system. However, as members whose constituents have been impacted by recent major disasters, many of our constituents turned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in their time of need and were denied assistance due to the preceding rule’s strict and confusing eligibility requirements. Likewise, our constituents that were deemed eligible for assistance may have received far less support under the preceding rule than they may potentially be able to receive now. These disaster survivors are still struggling to get back on their feet and they deserve the opportunity to benefit from the new and improved disaster assistance system. 

     

    We urge you to at least prioritize extending the rule’s coverage to survivors of the 19 largest disasters which had more than 10,000 Individual and Household Program applications:

     

    • 2021: Texas Severe Winter Storm Uri (DR-4586), Michigan Severe Storm (DR-4607), Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania Hurricane Ida (DR-4611, DR-4614, DR-4515, and DR-4618),  Kentucky Tornado (DR-4630)
    • 2022: Kentucky Flood (DR-4663), Missouri Flood (DR-4665), Puerto Rico Hurricane Fiona (DR-4671), and Florida Hurricane Ian (DR-4673)
    • 2023: California Severe Storm (DR-4683), California Severe Storm (DR-4699), Florida Flood (DR-4709), Guam Typhoon Mawar (DR-4715), Hawaii Wildfire (DR-4724), Illinois Severe Storm (DR-4728), Florida Hurricane Idalia (DR-4734), and Illinois Flood (DR-4749)

     

    Under the old system, many survivors of these disasters were pushed into expensive or untenable circumstances due to their inequitable denial of Individual Assistance or low levels of federal support. Giving people a chance to receive assistance they were unjustly denied will allow them to make informed decisions regarding their housing needs without duress. Survivors of these disasters would especially benefit from the new rule’s changes to home repair assistance, the treatment of insurance proceeds, the definition of “owner-occupied” housing, rental assistance, and the elimination of the Small Business Administration application requirement, among other changes. The improved accessibility to Individual Assistance brought by these and other changes will help survivors fix their homes, make accessibility modifications, and ease short-term housing debts. FEMA could help these survivors move out of hotels, inadequate rental properties, nursing homes, and other care institutions and into safe and permanent housing.

     

    Thank you for your serious consideration of our request and commitment to improving our disaster assistance system. We look forward to your response.

     

    Sincerely,

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone’s Bill to Preserve AM Radio in Cars Advances to House After Full Committee Passage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) championed passage of his bipartisan legislation to preserve AM radio in cars in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, advancing the critical legislation for consideration in the House. The bill mandates that all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States include devices capable of receiving analog AM radio signals at no additional cost to consumers.

    Amid concerns that some automakers, including Tesla, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Rivian, and Volkswagen, have considered phasing out AM radio from certain vehicle models, top Committee Democrat Pallone led the initiative to preserve this essential resource that Americans rely on for broadcasting local and national news, emergency alerts, and public safety information.

    “During crises like Superstorm Sandy, AM radio has proven indispensable for providing vital information when other communication networks falter,” stated Congressman Pallone. “This legislation ensures that AM radio, a fundamental tool for public safety and information dissemination, remains accessible to all Americans.”

    The bipartisan bill garnered support from various stakeholders, including the New Jersey Broadcasters Association and public safety officials who rely on AM radio’s broad reach during emergencies. Pallone remains committed to safeguarding access to essential services for his constituents and communities across the nation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Helps Secure Nearly $2.5 Million For Community Policing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Long Branch, NJ –– Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced he has helped secure nearly $2.5 million in federal funding for Highland Park, Neptune, Perth Amboy, Sayreville and Old Bridge police departments. This funding was made possible through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Hiring Program (CHP), Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program (LEMHWA), and Technology and Equipment Program (TEP). These funds will be used to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts by hiring officers, improving access to mental health and wellness services for officers, and acquiring effective equipment and technologies.

    “We rely heavily on our local law enforcement officers to build relationships with the communities they serve, and to work together to prevent crime and promote public safety,” said Congressman Pallone. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement officers who work hard to help make New Jersey a safe place to live. I’ll continue advocating for federal funding to ensure our municipalities have the resources they need to promote public safety.”

    Grant awards are as follows:

    2024 Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Hiring Program (CHP) Awards

    • Highland Park – $375,000 to hire 3 officers
    • Neptune – $375,000 to hire 3 officers
    • Perth Amboy – $250,000 to hire 2 officers

    2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program Awards

    • Sayreville – $162,050 to support its Psychological Wellness Program

    2024 COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program (TEP) Awards

    • Old Bridge – $1.3 million

    “This generous grant from the Department of Justice will help strengthen our police department and enhance public safety in Highland Park. We are committed to ensuring a safer community for all, and this funding allows us to continue that important work. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Congressman Pallone for his support and to the Department of Justice for this critical investment in our future,” said Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster.

    “Strong communities are safe communities, and that is what we strive for every day in Neptune Township,” Mayor Tassie York said. “We are grateful for the tireless support of Rep. Frank Pallone and his efforts to secure this funding which will play a critical role as we push forward on building an even better Neptune Police Department,” said Neptune Township Mayor Tassie D. York

    “Our priority is to ensure our students feel safe and supported at school. In response to growing safety concerns across the country, the city and school district in Perth Amboy have teamed up to take proactive steps, maintaining a secure and focused learning environment for our students. With the support of Congressman Pallone and the COPS Hiring Program, we are bringing in specially trained School Resource Officers (SROs) to work directly with our schools. This strong partnership highlights our shared commitment to safety, giving students, teachers, and families the confidence that we’re doing everything to protect and support our community.”said Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin J. Caba.

    “I am pleased the Borough will be receiving $162,050 from the federal Department of Justice through the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program,” said Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien. “I want to extend my appreciation to Congressman Pallone for his efforts, as this grant will allow the Sayreville Police Department to enhance mental health and wellness resources for our officers, ensuring they are well-supported in serving and protecting our community.”

    “I would like to thank the Department of Justice for considering our application and awarding this grant to Old Bridge Township which will assist our Police Department in upgrading its technology equipment, emergency operations center, and much more,” said Old Bridge Mayor Debbie Walker.

    Additionally, New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety received $4 million to investigate illicit activities relating to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or prescription opioids, as well as $1 million to investigate precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman, Evans Announce $21 Million for Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Westpark Redevelopment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

    Grant to connect Westpark Redevelopment to park, SEPTA station; Funding comes from RAISE grants, thanks to the infrastructure law;
    Members have secured highly competitive RAISE grants for Philadelphia for four consecutive years—each year since infrastructure law passed

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) announced $21,395,555 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). The grant will support the creation of a new of street grid and pedestrian infrastructure to facilitate the redevelopment of the Westpark Apartments in West Philly. The funding comes from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).

    “From visiting housing developments across Philadelphia, I’ve seen firsthand the transformational work PHA does to not only provide safe, affordable housing, but build vibrant communities,” said Senator Casey. “I fought for this funding to better connect Westpark residents with resources and opportunities in their community and beyond. I’ll keep working to deliver funding to make Philadelphia more livable for all who call the city home.”

    “Any day that we can announce more federal dollars heading to Pennsylvania is a good day,” said Senator Fetterman. “This RAISE grant will support the infrastructure needed to create the new Westpark housing development and connect the campus to transit and green space. This is a smart, thoughtful project that will greatly improve the lives of the people who will live at the redeveloped Westpark Apartments. It exemplifies that values of PHA and is a stellar example of the critical work they do. I’m proud to have fought alongside Senator Casey and Congressman Evans for this funding.”

    “This is great news for West Philadelphia and another way that the Biden Infrastructure and Jobs Act I voted for continues to deliver for Philadelphia and the region. I thank Senators Casey and Fetterman for their continued partnership as we work together to deliver for our shared constituents,” said Congressman Evans.

    “We at PHA are extremely grateful to Senator Casey, Senator Fetterman, Congressman Evans, and all our federal partners for this exciting news,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “The grant marks a tremendous milestone in the redevelopment of Westpark. It will ensure that once the project is complete, residents will have ready access to SEPTA and to public parkland. Senator Casey, who advocated for this grant, proves once again that he is a true champion for expanding housing opportunities in Philadelphia and across the state. And I’m confident that Westpark will serve as a national model for a 21st century public housing and affordable housing development.”

    This project will construct an extension of the existing street grid in West Philadelphia in order to create new space for housing and connect the Westpark Apartments campus to SEPTA’s 46th Street station. It will support a new network of shared streets, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure that will create the roads necessary to integrate new, forthcoming housing more seamlessly into the neighborhood.

    2024 marks the fourth consecutive year the Members of Congress have secured highly competitive RAISE grants for infrastructure projects in Philadelphia. Last year, SEPTA received $25 million to modernize trolleys and the City received the same amount for the North Philadelphia School Zone Traffic Safety Project. In 2022, the “Great Streets PHL” project was awarded $25 million to make safety improvements to high-crash corridors in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty. In 2021, shortly following passage of IIJA, SEPTA won $15 million to renovate the 19th and 37th Street Trolley Subway Stations and make them accessible for people with disabilities. To see more federal investments Senator Casey has delivered to Philadelphia and the Commonwealth, click here.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Beatty Boosts STEM Education Equity & Awareness with STEM Week Bill   

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

    Washington, D.C. — Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-3) and Mike Carey (OH-15) introduced the National STEM Week Act. The bill would create an annual week dedicated to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education access and interest, especially among communities with limited access to educational resources.

    “Ohio is the heart of American innovation and will soon be home to the most advanced semiconductor fabrication facilities in the world thanks to historic investments from the Biden-Harris administration and Intel. STEM fields power these industries of the future, so it is vital that we help future generations in our community develop the skills they need to make the most of this generational investment,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Establishing a National STEM Week to promote education in these fields, particularly among underserved communities, gives our kids the chance to actually see what a future in STEM looks like and will ensure that every student – no matter their background or zip code – has the tools needed to become the next generation of American innovators.”

    “As Ohio students begin another school year, it is all the more important to recognize the role that STEM education plays in preparing them for the future,” said Congressman Carey. “Science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning can inspire new curiosity, a lifelong passion or a successful career. Unfortunately, not every student has the same access to this transformative education. A National STEM Week will help emphasize the value of these subjects to students, parents and teachers alike.” 

    “It has long been the philosophy of COSI that science, technology, engineering and math need not be confined to a laboratory or a classroom,” said Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO of COSI, one of the nation’s top ranked science museums and a co-developer of this bill. “They form the fabric of our daily lives, existing everywhere for everybody to experience and learn from.  This belief is what inspired us to co-develop the National STEM Week Act – which will inspire students in Ohio and beyond to appreciate the wonders of STEM that exist all around us. We applaud Representatives Carey and Beatty for their leadership in introducing this bill, and their underlying appreciation for the role of STEM in creating a better America.”  

    Specifically, the bill aims to promote STEM education and careers among all students regardless of their geographic or socio-economic status, support both formal and informal learning tools like field trips and clubs, and encourage families, teachers and industry leaders to participate in students’ STEM education.

    Full text of the National STEM Week Act is available here.

    For inquiries, please contact Cassandra Johnson at Cassandra.Johnson@mail.house.gov.

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