NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert B. Aderholt’s Bill to Name VA Clinic in Guntersville, Alabama Unanimously Passes on House Floor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL) unanimously passed House Resolution 5464 on the House floor today to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the “Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.”

    The bill needs to pass through the United States Senate where Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) will carry it through the Senate process. After Senate passage, the bill will await the President’s signature.

    Ola Lee Mize is a native of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District, born and raised in Albertville, Alabama. Colonel Mize was awarded the Medal of Honor, two Legion of Merits, the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart for his actions across multiple tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret.

    Congressman Aderholt released the following statement:

    ”It is truly an honor to be able to recognize Colonel Ola Lee Mize, an American hero, by renaming a VA clinic that will help so many other American heroes. Colonel Mize’s life and military career exhibited what it means to live a life of service to something greater than yourself.

    “I hope that naming the VA clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, after Colonel Mize will serve his memory well and inspire future generations of Alabamians to lead lives of service.

    Find a clip of Congressman Aderholt speaking on this bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF BRAD ONORATO, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    “It’s my heartfelt sorrow to share that after a long battle with cancer, our dear friend, colleague, and public servant Brad Onorato passed away today. Brad was an incredible public servant to our community and a vital member of Team Thompson for the last 34 years. Brad was a valuable asset and incredibly important member of our team, serving the people of the Fourth District with dedication and care. But more important, Brad was family. Brad loved our district and public service as much as we loved him. He will be dearly missed, and he leaves behind a void that will be impossible to fill.” 

    Details for a service will be shared at a later date.    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Announces $16 Million Federal Infrastructure Grants for San Francisco Ferries

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C.  – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced that San Francisco is set to receive more than $16 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  This federal funding will help modernize the Bay Area’s ferry system and bring the San Francisco Bay Ferry one step closer to realizing a zero-emission fleet.

    “Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, our nation’s infrastructure is stronger than ever – and San Francisco continues to make progress in our mission to be a transit-first city,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said.  “The federal Department of Transportation grants announced for San Francisco will improve the quality of life for Bay Area working families by modernizing our ferry system.  This upgrade will create a cleaner, greener city where reliable public transit reduces congestion and helps build equity and opportunity for all members of our community.”

    “San Francisco Bay Ferry’s Rapid Electric Emission-free Ferry (REEF) Program is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing a clean, congestion-reducing transit connection for some of San Francisco’s fastest growing waterfront neighborhoods,” said Seamus Murphy, San Francisco Bay Ferry Executive Director.  “Now, thanks to this federal investment, even more passengers will be able to ride the nation’s first network of zero-emission ferries.”

    “We are extremely grateful for the funding support to modernize our fleet in order to continue providing first-class ferry service to our users across the San Francisco Bay,” Denis Mulligan, General Manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District said.  “The District is looking forward to introducing a new, high-speed low-emission, 500-passenger ferry that will enhance service and reliability while taking cars off the U.S. Highway 101 Corridor.”

    The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Agency will receive $11.5 million to build two new electric ferry vessels to support the agency’s emission free ferry service between downtown San Francisco, Treasure Island and Mission Bay.  The project will reduce congestion and provide fast, clean and reliable ferry service to emerging neighborhoods and developing employment centers.  The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District will receive $4.9 million to buy a new low-emission ferry that will reduce emissions, enhance service reliability for passengers and relieve congestion on Bay Area roads.

    Today’s announcement was made following letters of support for the projects from Speaker Emerita Pelosi to the Federal Transit Administration.  This funding was awarded to the Bay Area from the Federal Transit Administration’s Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Grant Program in a competitive national selection process.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister meets with Crown Prince of Kuwait

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 11:36PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UNGA in New York today. This was the first meeting between the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince of Kuwa

    Prime Minister conveyed that India attaches utmost importance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait. Both leaders recalled the strong historical ties and people-to-people linkages between the two countries. They noted with satisfaction that the two countries were supporting each other with energy and food security requirements. They expressed their firm commitment to deepen and diversify bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both countries. Prime Minister thanked the Crown Prince for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in Kuwait, which is the largest diaspora group in the country.

    The meeting between the leadership of the two countries is expected to impart a fresh momentum to bilateral ties between India and Kuwait.

    *****

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2057697) Visitor Counter : 34

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address to the Indian Diaspora, New York, USA

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 3:58AM by PIB Delhi

    Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

    Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

    Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

    Namaste U.S.! Now even our “Namaste” has gone multinational, transitioning from local to global, and it’s all because of you. Every Indian who holds Bharat close to their heart has made this possible.

    Friends, 

    You’ve come here from far and wide. Some faces are familiar, while others are new. Your love is a great honour for me. I recall the days when I wasn’t a PM, wasn’t a CM, wasn’t a leader at all. Back then, I used to come here as an inquisitive traveller, eager to see and understand this land, carrying many questions in my mind. Even when I held no official position, I had already toured almost 29 states in America. Later, when I became a CM, I continued connecting with you through technology. As a PM, too, I’ve received immense affection and warmth from you. In 2014, it was Madison Square; Sam Jose in 2015; Houston in 2019; Washington in 2023; and now New York in 2024, and each time, you surpass the last record.

    Friends, 

    I’ve always recognized the strength of the Indian diaspora. Even when I held no official post, I understood it, and I understand it today. You have always been Bharat’s strongest brand ambassadors for me. That’s why I call you the ‘Rashtradoot’ (nation’s emissaries). You’ve connected America to Bharat and Bharat to America. Your skills, talent, and commitment are unparalleled. Though you’ve crossed seven seas, no ocean is deep enough to separate you from the Bharat that resides in your hearts. What Maa Bharti has taught us, we can never forget. Wherever we go, we treat everyone like family. Embracing diversity, living it, and integrating it into our lives—these are our values, embedded in our very being. We are from a country with hundreds of languages and dialects, home to every religion and sect. Yet, we move forward as one and united. In this very hall, some speak Tamil, others Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi, or Gujarati. Our languages may differ, but our spirit is one: “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Victory to Mother Bharat), the spirit of Indianness. This is our greatest strength in connecting with the world. These values naturally make us ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (global friend). As our scriptures say, तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथा: meaning those who sacrifice are the ones who truly enjoy. We find happiness by doing good to others and by sacrificing.  Wherever we live, this spirit remains unchanged. We contribute maximum to the societies we live in. In America, be it as doctors, researchers, tech professionals, scientists, or in other professions, you’ve soared high, and the world has witnessed it.  Just a short while ago the T-20 Cricket World Cup was held here and the USA team played amazingly, and the world has also seen the contribution of the Indians living here in that team.

    Friends, 

    For the world, AI means artificial intelligence, but I believe AI stands for America-India. This America-India spirit is the AI power of the new world, elevating Bharat-America relations. I salute all of you, the Indian diaspora. 

    Friends, 

    Wherever I go in the world, I hear nothing but praise for the Indian diaspora from every leader. Just yesterday, President Biden invited me to his home in Delaware. His warmth and hospitality were truly touching. This honour is for 140 crore Indians, for your hard work, for the millions of Indians living here. I extend my gratitude to President Biden and to all of you. 

    Friends, 

    The year 2024 is crucial for the world. On one side, we see conflicts and tensions among nations, while on the other, some countries are celebrating democracy. Bharat and America are together in this celebration of democracy. Elections are upcoming here in the U.S., while Bharat has already held its elections. These elections in Bharat were the largest in human history. You can imagine: almost double the number of voters as the total population of the U.S., and more voters than the entire population of Europe! So many people cast their votes in Bharat. When we see the scale of Bharat’s democracy, it fills us with pride. A three-month-long polling process, 15 million polling staff, over a million polling stations, more than 2,500 political parties, more than 8,000 candidates, thousands of newspapers in different languages, hundreds of radio stations, TV news channels, millions of social media accounts, lakhs of social media channels—all of this makes Bharat’s democracy vibrant. It’s an era of expanding freedom of expression, and our electoral process undergoes scrutiny at this level.

    And friends, 

    This long election process has led to something unprecedented in Bharat this time. What happened? What happened? What happened? ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—), ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—), ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—)!

    Friends, 

    Our government has been re-elected for the third time. This hadn’t happened in Bharat in the last 60 years. The mandate the people of Bharat has given us is huge and significant. In this third term, we have even greater goals to achieve. We must move forward with three times the strength and three times the speed. You’ll remember one word: PUSHP (flower). Yes, consider it a lotus, I have no objections. PUSHP, and I define this PUSHP. P for Progressive Bharat, U for Unstoppable Bharat, S for Spiritual Bharat, H for Humanity First Bharat, and P for Prosperous Bharat. Together, these five petals of PUSHP will shape a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

    Friends, 

    I am the first Prime Minister of Bharat born after independence. During the freedom struggle, millions of Indians dedicated their lives to Swaraj (self-rule). They didn’t think of their personal interests or comfort zones; they forgot everything and fought against the British. Some were hanged, some were shot, some endured torturous imprisonment, and many spent their youth in jail.

    Friends, 

    We couldn’t die for our country, but we can surely live for it. Dying wasn’t in our destiny, but living is our destiny. Right from day one, my mind and mission has been clear. I couldn’t give my life for ‘Swaraj’ (independence), but I decided to dedicate my life to ‘Suraj’ (good governance) and a ‘Samridh’ (prosperous) Bharat. A large part of my life was spent wandering across the country for years. Wherever I found food, I ate; wherever I found a place to sleep, I slept. From the shores of the ocean to the mountains, from deserts to snow-covered peaks, I met people from every region, got to know and understand them. I gained first-hand experience of my country’s life, its culture, and its challenges. Though my path was different, destiny brought me into politics. I never imagined becoming a Chief Minister, but I became Gujarat’s longest-serving CM for 13 years. I remained Gujarat’s Chief Minister for 13 years and then people promoted me to Prime Minister. But the lessons I learned traveling through the country have shaped my governance model, both at the state and central levels. Over the past 10 years, the success of this governance model is evident to you and the world. And now, with great trust, the people of Bharat have given me a third term. I approach this third term with three times the sense of responsibility.

    Friends, 

    Today, Bharat is one of the world’s youngest nations. Bharat is filled with energy and dreams. Every day, new records are being set. Every day, new news. Just today, we received great news: Bharat won gold in both men’s and women’s categories at the Chess Olympiad. But let me tell you one more thing, which will require even more applause. For the first time in nearly 100 years, this has happened! The whole country and every Indian is proud of our chess players. There’s another AI driving Bharat. And what is that? It is A for Aspirational and I for Bharat: Aspirational Bharat. This is our new energy. The aspirations of millions of Indians are driving Bharat’s growth. Every aspiration is giving rise to new achievements, and every achievement is fuelling new aspirations. In just one decade, Bharat has risen from the 10th to the 5th largest economy. Now every Indian wants Bharat to quickly become the third-largest economy. Today, a large section of Bharat’s population has seen their basic needs met. Over the past 10 years, crores of people have gained access to clean cooking gas, piped water, electricity, and toilets. These crores of people now aspire to a better quality of life.

    Friends,

    Now, the people of Bharat don’t just want roads; they want magnificent expressways. Now, the people of Bharat don’t just want rail connectivity; they want high-speed trains. Every city in Bharat aspires to have metro services, and every city wants its own airport. Every citizen, whether from a village or a city, wants world-class facilities, and we are seeing the results of these aspirations. In 2014, only 5 cities in Bharat had metro services; today, 23 cities have metros. Bharat now has the second-largest metro network in the world, and it is expanding every day.

    Friends,

    In 2014, only 70 cities in Bharat had airports; today, more than 140 cities have airports. In 2014, fewer than 100 gram panchayats had broadband connectivity; today, more than 200,000 panchayats have it. In 2014, Bharat had around 140 million LPG consumers; today, the number has risen to over 310 million. What used to take years to accomplish is now being completed in months. There is a new confidence in Bharat’s people, a determination to reach their goals. Development in Bharat is becoming a people’s movement, and every Indian is becoming an equal partner in this movement of development. They believe in Bharat’s success and in its achievements.

    Friends,

    Today, Bharat is a land of opportunities. Bharat no longer waits for opportunities; Bharat creates opportunities. Over the past 10 years, Bharat has prepared a new launching pad for opportunities in every sector. Look at this – just in the last decade, and this will make you proud, 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. How did this happen? It happened because we changed the old mindset and approach. We focused on empowering the poor. We connected more than 500 million people to the banking system, provided more than 550 million people with free medical treatment up to 500,000 rupees, gave over 40 million families proper housing, and through collateral-free loans, we provided millions of people with ease of credit. Many such initiatives helped people lift themselves out of poverty, and those who have emerged from poverty today form the neo-middle class, which is driving Bharat’s development at a faster pace.

    Friends,

    We have prioritized women-led development alongside women’s welfare. The crores of houses built by the government have been registered in the name of women. Out of the crores of bank accounts opened, more than half were in women’s names. Over the past decade, 10 crore Indian women have joined the Micro Entrepreneurship Scheme. Let me give you another example. We are making significant efforts to integrate agriculture with technology in Bharat, and today, drones are being used extensively in farming. While drones may not be new to you, what might surprise you is this: do you know who is taking responsibility for them? It’s rural women. We are training thousands of women to become drone pilots, and this remarkable technological revolution in agriculture is being driven by rural women.

    Friends,

    The areas once neglected have now become national priorities. Bharat is more connected today than ever before. You may be astonished to learn the current size of Bharat’s 5G market. Would you mind if I told you? Today, Bharat’s 5G market is larger than that of the United States, and this achievement has been made within just two years. Now, Bharat is working on Made-in-India 6G. How did this happen? It happened because we devised policies to advance this sector. We invested in Made-in-India technology, affordable data, and mobile phone manufacturing. Today, nearly every major mobile brand in the world is Made in India. Bharat is now the second-largest mobile manufacturer globally. There was a time, before my tenure, when we were importing mobile phones; today, we are exporting them.

    Friends, Bharat no longer lags behind. Now, Bharat creates new systems and leads the way. Bharat has introduced the world to a new concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI has promoted equality and become a powerful tool in reducing corruption. Bharat’s UPI is now capturing the world’s attention. While you may have a wallet in your pocket, in Bharat, people have both physical wallets and e-wallets on their phones. Many Indians no longer carry physical documents, as they now use DigiLocker. When travelling to airports, they seamlessly use DigiYatra. This has become the launching pad for digital public infrastructure, innovation, job creation, and every related technology.

    Friends,

    Bharat will not stop now, nor will it slow down. Bharat envisions a future where as many global devices as possible operate on Made-in-India chips. We have made the semiconductor sector the foundation of Bharat’s accelerated growth. In June last year, Bharat announced incentives for the semiconductor industry, and just a few months later, the foundation stone for Micron’s first semiconductor unit was laid. To date, five such units have been approved in Bharat. The day is not far when you will see Made-in-India chips here in America as well. This small chip will elevate Bharat’s journey towards development to unprecedented heights, and that’s Modi’s promise.

    Friends,

    The resolve and commitment towards reforms in Bharat today are unprecedented. Our Green Energy Transition Programme is a prime example of this. Despite accounting for 17 percent of the world’s population, Bharat’s contribution to global carbon emissions is only 4 percent. We played no part in harming the planet. In fact, compared to the rest of the world, our impact is nearly negligible. We, too, could have fuelled our growth by relying on carbon emissions, but we chose the path of green transition, guided by our deep-rooted respect for nature. As a result, we are investing heavily in solar, wind, hydro, green hydrogen, and nuclear energy. Bharat was the first country in the G20 to achieve the Paris climate goals. Since 2014, our solar energy capacity has increased by over 30 times. We are working to make every home in the country a solar-powered home. To achieve this, we have launched an extensive rooftop solar mission. Today, our railway stations and airports are transitioning to solar energy. From homes to streets, Bharat has embarked on a journey towards energy-efficient lighting. These efforts are generating a large number of green jobs in Bharat.

    Friends,

    21st-century Bharat is advancing through education, skills, research, and innovation. You are all familiar with the name Nalanda University. Not long ago, Bharat’s ancient Nalanda University was revived in a modern form. Today, it’s not only the university but also the spirit of Nalanda that is being reborn. We are creating a modern educational ecosystem that attracts students from across the globe to come to Bharat and study. Over the past 10 years, something remarkable has happened in Bharat. In this period, one new university has been built in Bharat every week, two new colleges have been established every day, and one new ITI has opened each day. In a decade, the number of IIITs has risen from 9 to 25, IIMs from 13 to 21, and AIIMS has tripled to 22. The number of medical colleges has nearly doubled in the same period. Today, even the world’s top universities are coming to Bharat. Bharat is now renowned. The world has long witnessed the power of Indian designers; now it will witness the brilliance of ‘Design in India’.

    Friends,

    Today, Bharat’s partnerships are expanding globally. Previously, Bharat followed a policy of Equal Distance, but now it embraces a policy of Equal Proximity. We are also becoming a strong voice for the Global South. You may have noticed that, due to Bharat’s initiative, the African Union was granted permanent membership at the G20 Summit. Today, when Bharat speaks on the global stage, the world listens. Not long ago, when I said, “This is not the era of war,” the gravity of the statement was understood worldwide.

    Friends,

    Whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the world, Bharat is one of the first to respond. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we sent vaccines and medicines to over 150 countries. Whether it was an earthquake, a cyclone, or a civil war, we were among the first to offer assistance. This is a reflection of the values and teachings passed down by our ancestors.
    Friends,

    Bharat is emerging as a new catalyst on the global stage, and its influence will be felt across all sectors. Bharat’s role will be crucial in accelerating global growth, promoting global peace, advancing climate action, closing the global skills gap, driving innovation, and stabilising the global supply chain.

    Friends,

    For Bharat, power and capability are symbolised by “ज्ञानायदानायचरक्षणाय”, meaning knowledge is for sharing, wealth is for caring, and power is for protecting. Therefore, Bharat’s priority is not to impose its dominance but to enhance its influence. We are not like fire that burns; we are like the sun’s rays that provide light. We do not seek to dominate the world but to contribute to its prosperity. Whether it’s promoting yoga, advocating for superfood millets, or championing the Mission LiFE vision (Lifestyle for the Environment), Bharat is prioritizing human-centric growth alongside GDP-centric growth. I urge you all to promote Mission LiFE as much as possible here. Small changes in our lifestyle can have a significant positive impact on the environment.

    You may have heard, and perhaps some of you have already participated, in a movement that’s gaining momentum in Bharat. Across the country, people are planting a tree in honour of their mothers (Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam). If your mother is alive, plant a tree along with her. If she is no longer with us, plant a tree in her memory – carry a picture of her with you and plant a tree. This movement is taking place in every corner of Bharat, and I encourage all of you to initiate a similar campaign here. This will not only honour the mothers who gave us life but also our Mother Earth.

    Friends,

    Bharat today dreams big and pursues those dreams with determination. The Paris Olympics concluded just a few days ago, and the next host will be the USA. Soon, you will also witness the Olympics being held in Bharat. We are making every possible effort to host the 2036 Olympics. Whether in sports, business, or entertainment, Bharat has become a centre of global attraction. Today, Indian leagues like the IPL rank among the world’s top leagues, and Indian films are making waves internationally. Bharat is also soaring in global tourism. There is a growing interest in celebrating Indian festivals across different countries. I notice that people in cities everywhere are now learning Garba for Navratri—this reflects their love for Bharat.

    Friends,

    Today, every country seeks to learn more about Bharat. I have something else that will bring you joy. Just yesterday, America returned 300 ancient inscriptions and statues to Bharat, some as old as 1,500 to 2,000 years, which had been stolen from Bharat So far, the United States has returned around 500 such artefacts to Bharat. This is not just about the return of a few items; it is a tribute to our rich heritage spanning thousands of years. It is a matter of pride for Bharat and for all of you. I am deeply grateful to the US government for this gesture.

    Friends,

    The partnership between Bharat and the United States is growing stronger by the day. Our collaboration is for the benefit of the world. We are enhancing cooperation across all sectors, and your convenience has been taken into account as well. Last year, I announced that our government would open a new Consulate in Seattle, which has now become operational. I had also sought your suggestions for the opening of two more consulates, and I am pleased to inform you that, based on your feedback, Bharat has decided to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles.

    I am also delighted to announce the establishment of the Thiruvalluvar Chair for Tamil Studies at the University of Houston. This will further help in propagating the philosophy of the great Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar to the world.

    Friends,

    This event of yours has truly been remarkable. The cultural programme that took place here was fantastic. I have been informed that thousands of people wished to attend this event, but the venue proved to be too small. I apologise to those whom I couldn’t meet today. I look forward to meeting all of you next time, at another venue on another day. However, I know the enthusiasm will remain the same, and the passion will remain undiminished. May you all stay healthy and prosperous, and continue to strengthen the India-US friendship. With these wishes, I extend my heartfelt thanks to you all!

    Join me in saying:

    Bharat Mata ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata ki Jai!

    Many thanks.

    DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Cramer: NIFA Awards $1.6 Million to NDSU

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced a $1,600,000 investment in North Dakota State University (NDSU) to support research pertaining to the economics of markets and trade. Specifically, the award will be distributed to the following projects at NDSU:
    $800,000 to support a project assessing the resilience of the supply chain systems of corn and soybeans, the drought-induced impediments in the network under uncertainty, and the resulting impacts on trade, food security, and farm income. 
    $800,000 to support a project assessing the impacts of regulations for genetically modified organisms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Manchin, Scott Bipartisan Resolution Dedicating September 2024 As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    September 20, 2024
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Casey (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to designate September 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children past infancy; each year, more than 14,500 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer.
    “Every September, we honor the children taken from us too soon, recognize the strides we have made in treatment and recovery, and recommit ourselves to fighting this disease. Every child deserves to have a chance at a full and healthy life,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to help raise awareness around childhood cancer and the lives it affects every day. Gayle and I will continue to keep all cancer patients and their families across West Virginia and the country in our prayers.”
    “I’m proud to join my colleagues again in recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since my Childhood Cancer STAR Act became law and was reauthorized last year, we have secured better outcomes for children fighting this terrible disease and grown our research capabilities, especially with institutions in West Virginia. I will continue to support initiatives that improve our understanding of childhood cancer, provide high-quality care for childhood cancer patients, and create better outcomes for survivors until we enter a world where cancer is a disease of the past,” Senator Capito said.
    “Cancer is tragically the most common cause of death by disease among children in America,” said Senator Scott. “I am proud to work with my colleagues to dedicate September to raising awareness and honoring the bravery of children and their families who are affected by this devastating disease. Let this occasion be a reminder that there is so much more work to be done to help every kid have the happy, healthy childhood they deserve.”
    “We are deeply grateful to Senators Manchin and Scott for their continued support in designating September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. While we celebrate the progress that has been made in improving the survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer, there is still so much work to be done. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children, and too many young lives are lost. This resolution reminds us of the urgent need to fund research and find cures so that every child has the chance to grow up cancer-free,” the Alliance for Childhood Cancer said in a statement.
    To view the resolution, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy , Sullivan, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Hold VA Accountable for Financial Shortfall

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and 12 Republican colleagues introduced the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act to hold the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accountable for a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) budget shortfall of $3 billion. This bill institutes a three-year requirement for the VA to submit quarterly in-person budget reports to Congress to encourage greater oversight and financial accountability. Additional financial shortfalls would result in the withholding of bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) personnel.
    “The VA has a massive budget shortfall. The Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) recently hired 10,000 additional employees. Did the VBA not know they needed these employees when they suggested their original budget? Did the VBA blow through its budget hiring employees knowing it would run out of money expecting Congress to automatically cover the difference? How much are the employees being paid? What are they doing?” said Dr. Cassidy. “If a federal agency runs a mid-year massive budget hole, taxpayers should ask these questions.”
    “Telling Congress we have to provide $3 billion to the VA in a matter of days or our constituents won’t get their benefits—without any accountability or reforms—is a shocking failure in leadership and management,” said Senator Sullivan. “It is incumbent upon the Secretary to appear before the committee and answer questions, but remarkably, he declined to do so. This is not a great victory as some are spinning it. The VA has a duty to provide congressional oversight committees with high-quality, in-person briefings explaining these shortfalls in the future—earlier than just a month in advance. In light of this budgetary fiasco and the millions of dollars’ worth of bonuses improperly distributed to VA executives, I’ve put forward commonsense legislation to require the VA to abide by a basic level of accountability and oversight. Let me be clear: We will fund this shortfall. Our veterans deserve and rely upon their hard-earned benefits. But, going forward, our veterans also expect a much higher standard of accountability from VA leaders. I expect the Secretary and other VA leaders to come to the table with clear answers as to how these deficiencies keep happening and how they are going to prevent them in the future.”
    Cassidy and Sullivan were joined by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Braun (R-IN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
    Click here for the full bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Cramer Announces Mobile Office Hours in Ashley and Ellendale

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Ashley and Ellendale on Monday, September 30.
    “Since it’s not always possible for people to travel to my in-state offices, these mobile office opportunities help bring the services we offer closer to the constituents who need them,” said Cramer. “Having members of my staff in Ashley and Ellendale will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face with people who are in a position to help.”
    Individuals from the Ashley and Ellendale areas are encouraged to stop by the mobile office for help with veterans and Social Security benefits, Medicare difficulties, immigration issues, military records or medals, or other assistance with federal agencies. 
    Mobile Office Hours – Monday, September 30
    McIntosh County Courthouse
          112 1st St NE
          Ashley 
          11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT
    Ellendale City Hall
           55 3rd Ave S
           Ellendale
           2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CDT
    Constituents should contact Cramer’s Constituent Services Representative Reid Kemp at Reid_Kemp@cramer.senate.gov for more information.
    For press inquiries, please contact Rachel Buening at Rachel_Buening@cramer.senate.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Carper, Coons cosponsor resolution reaffirming access to emergency health care, including abortion care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined a resolution led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today reaffirming that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care, resulting in preventable deaths.
    “Every American, no matter where they live, deserves to receive the health care that they need,” said Senator Carper. “Reproductive health care continues to be attacked all across our country. Women and their doctors, not politicians and judges, should make these private health care decisions.”
    “New reporting makes clear what many Americans have suspected: Women are dying because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and conservative states’ Trumpian abortion bans,” said Senator Coons. “Since the elimination of the federal right to an abortion, pregnant women who are in desperate need of medical attention are being turned away from emergency rooms, while doctors are afraid of being jailed for providing lifesaving care. I will fight tirelessly to protect emergency abortion care so that women don’t have to take their lives into their own hands when becoming pregnant.”
    “I introduced this resolution alongside my colleagues to simply reaffirm the basic principle that when you go to the ER, doctors should be allowed to treat you, and when you need emergency care – including abortion care – no politician should stop you from getting it,” said Senator Murray. “Yet here in America, in the 21st century, pregnant women die – not because doctors don’t know how to save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republicans will let them. Democrats will keep pressing to fully restore reproductive freedoms for every woman in America and we will continue to put a white-hot spotlight on the devastating, deadly fallout of Donald Trump’s abortion bans.”
    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, nearly two-dozen Republican-led U.S. states have banned or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform lifesaving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, pregnant people are being turned away from emergency rooms. New reporting by ProPublica this week reported on the death of Amber Furman, a Georgia woman who died of medical complications after failing to receive a routine medical procedure that doctors were afraid to carry out because of Georgia’s new anti-abortion law.
    This summer, in Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to lifesaving emergency care in every state, but instead, the court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. One-hundred-and-twenty-one congressional Republicans, including 26 senators, filed an amicus brief arguing that EMTALA does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life.
    Alongside Senator Murray, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) co-led the introduction of the resolution. In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.),George Helmy (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
    The House companion bill was introduced last week by U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.).
    The full text of the resolution can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OSHA pledges to reevaluate proposed rule after Senator Coons, colleagues call to protect volunteer firefighters from burdensome regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – This week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responded to calls by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and their colleagues to reevaluate and exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of a proposed rule that would apply burdensome new regulations to volunteer fire departments in Delaware and across the country.
    “Delaware’s volunteer fire companies already face unprecedented challenges trying to keep their communities safe,” said Senator Coons. “OSHA’s proposed rule– while well-intended – would add a massive burden to under-resourced and understaffed volunteer fire departments, requiring expensive new equipment and trainings that the departments cannot afford. I’m glad OSHA is listening and responding to our shared concerns. I will always recognize our firefighters’ bravery and work to ensure they can fully protect the communities they serve.”
    “Volunteer fire departments and rural communities have made their voices heard, and I am pleased OSHA has listened and is reevaluating the proposed rule,” said Senator Moran. “This is a great first step, and I encourage Kansans to continue sharing their views with OSHA on how this rule would place a financial burden on volunteer fire departments.”
    OSHA proposed a new rule earlier this year that would require fire departments to furnish new reports, trainings, equipment, and health services.
    In August, Senator Coons and Moran called on Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Julie Su to exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of the proposed rule. The effort was also supported by Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).
    This week, OSHA issued a statement that it is reevaluating the financial and regulatory impact the rule would have on volunteer firefighters: “OSHA has received comments in response to the NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] from many stakeholders, including volunteer emergency responders, fire chiefs, trade organizations, and members of Congress, which raise serious concerns about the economic feasibility of the proposed standard for volunteer fire departments. OSHA takes these concerns seriously. This new information will help the agency make the necessary determinations about whether the proposed standard is feasible for volunteer organizations.
    “OSHA is committed to taking steps in any final standard, consistent with the rulemaking record, to assess and minimize detrimental effects on volunteer fire departments. If supported by the record, this may include excluding voluntary emergency response organizations entirely based on these feasibility concerns.”
    The full statement from OSHA can be found here.
    OSHA will hold a public rulemaking hearing on November 12, 2024, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments for the hearing. Instructions for how to participate in the hearing are available on the Emergency Response rulemaking webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Sanders to Lead HELP Committee Hearing on Outrageous Ozempic and Wegovy Prices with Novo Nordisk CEO

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – As millions of Americans struggle with diabetes and obesity, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), on Tuesday will lead the committee in a hearing to examine why Novo Nordisk charges the American people the highest prices in the world for its lifesaving drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. Epidemiologists have estimated that more than 40,000 lives per year could be saved if Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs were made affordable and widely available in the United States.
    Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen will join the hearing to provide in-person testimony on a solo panel.
    “I want to thank Mr. Jørgensen for our discussions and for his agreeing to voluntarily testify before the HELP Committee about the outrageously high cost of Ozempic and Wegovy in the United States,” said Sanders. “The American people are sick and tired of paying, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. They deserve to hear from Mr. Jørgensen.”
    Novo Nordisk has made nearly $50 billion in sales from these two products alone. Yet, Novo Nordisk currently charges Americans with Type 2 diabetes $969 a month for Ozempic, while this same exact drug can be purchased for just $155 in Canada, $122 in Denmark, and just $59 in Germany. Incredibly, Novo Nordisk also charges Americans with obesity $1,349 a month for Wegovy, while this same exact product can be purchased for just $186 in Denmark, $140 in Germany, and $92 in the United Kingdom.
    In March of 2024, a study from researchers at Yale University found these drugs could be profitably manufactured for less than $5 a month, or $57 per year. Earlier this week at an expert discussion hosted by Sanders, the chairman announced that some CEOs of major generic pharmaceutical companies are willing to sell Ozempic to Americans for less than $100 per month, at a profit. More than 250 physicians also came together earlier this week to call on Congress to rein in the exorbitant prices of GLP-1s, like Ozempic and Wegovy.
    If half of all adults in the U.S. took these weight loss drugs, it would cost $411 billion per year – $5 billion more than what Americans spent on all prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter in 2022.
    This hearing builds on the HELP Committee’s previous efforts to ensure pharmaceutical companies provide life-saving medicines at affordable prices, including taxpayer funded prescription drugs, COVID vaccines, inhalers, and insulin.
    DetailsWhat: Senate HELP Committee hearing titled, “Why Is Novo Nordisk Charging Americans with Diabetes and Obesity Outrageously High Prices for Ozempic and Wegovy?”When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Tuesday, September 24, 2024Where: Room 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The discussion will also be livestreamed on the HELP Committee’s website and Sanders’ social media.Who:
    Senate HELP Committee members
    Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center Scientists Present at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering in Rome, Italy

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Drs. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Michael Itzkin of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center presented research on sediment transport in coastal regions at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering, 9/8-9/14/2024, in Rome, Italy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deadline to Apply for SBA Physical Disaster Loans Approaching in Vermont

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Vermont affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred July 9 – 11, to apply for physical damage disaster loans by the Oct. 21 deadline.

    Those affected by the disaster should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.    

    The disaster declaration covers Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden Essex, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington which is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs):  Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, Rutland and Windsor in Vermont; Coos and Grafton in New Hampshire and Clinton, Essex and Washington in  
    New York.  

    Applicants can still get assistance at SBA’s Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Washington County. Customer Service Representatives at the BRC will help business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Recovery Center in advance. The Center address and hours of operation are indicated below.

    Business Recovery Center (BRC)  
    Washington County      

    Barre Municipal Auditorium  

    20 Auditorium Hill

    Barre, VT 05641  

    Hours:            Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

                            Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

    Closed:          Sunday  

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.  

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  

    Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Oct. 21, 2024. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is May 20, 2025.

    ###  

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration  

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SAAB Organizing Win in Indiana

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    On Sept. 15, 2024 the IAM Organizing Department helped the workers of SAAB Aerospace claim victory in their union election. Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Billy Anderson spearheaded the campaign. The SAAB Aerospace campaign in West Lafayette, Ind., concluded with 102 Hoosiers voting in overwhelming support of the IAM.

    “I couldn’t be prouder and more excited for our newest IAM members from Saab Aerospace,” said Anderson. “Their courage and commitment to unionize their shop is reflective of the same passion and skills that they provide in service to our nation’s defense.”

    Credit: Saab, Inc.

    As the Swedish company expands into North America, our new brothers, sisters, and siblings will continue to provide excellent work at the advanced manufacturing and production facility. Saab, widely known for their now discontinued sports car lineup, has expanded into defense manufacturing. Saab recently received a $101 million order from Boeing to produce the T-7A aft fuselage system in West Lafayette. The facility, opened in 2021, is expected to expand to up to 300 employees by 2027. 

    “They deserve the very best that an IAM contract can offer,” said Anderson. “This was a team effort and I want to thank the workers, the IAM Midwest Territory and the IAM Organizing Department working together to make this happen.”

    “After 36 years with the IAM, wins like these never get old. We’re proud that over the past five years we’ve organized more workers than any other AFL-CIO union. Wins like these will help ensure that trend continues for another five years and beyond.” says Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli

    “If new members are the lifeblood of any union, then great organizers like Billy Anderson are our heart,” says Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “We welcome each of these 102 workers into their union, and we’re excited to see how they advance our shared mission”

    The 70-23 vote win follows a close loss last year. After the unit size doubled, Anderson doubled down, and recommitted himself to organizing the unit. The win goes to show that while conditions change, the persuasive message of union security, great benefits, and collective power can still win the day. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Darren Soto voted for more sanctuary city hellscapes

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    September 20, 2024

    Darren Soto just voted for American taxpayers to foot the bill for liberals’ radical and unsafe sanctuary cities.

    For years, ICE has warned that sanctuary jurisdictions create a “public safety threat,” but can’t help themselves and support dangerous far-left open border policies that put their communities at risk.

    “Even when sanctuary cities are proven to be a ‘public safety threat,’ Darren Soto can’t help but put his far-left open borders agenda ahead of the safety of his communities. Taxpayers don’t deserve to pay for Democrats’ crime-ridden hellscapes.” — NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Specialists Helping Floridians Apply for Assistance After Hurricane Debby

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Specialists Helping Floridians Apply for Assistance After Hurricane Debby

    FEMA Specialists Helping Floridians Apply for Assistance After Hurricane Debby

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews continue to work in Florida neighborhoods helping people apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Debby.

    The crews have worked in Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwannee and Taylor counties. Now they are beginning work in Baker, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

    DSA specialists wear FEMA attire and have federal photo identification badges. They go door to door in impacted neighborhoods using mobile devices to help residents apply for assistance, check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. DSA specialists never ask for, or accept, money. Local law enforcement officials are informed when DSA crews work in a community and residents can verify their presence with local law enforcement.

    The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

    To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube. The deadline for applications is Oct. 9, 2024.

    For the latest information about Florida’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    kirsten.chambers

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Titus and Horsford voted for more sanctuary city hellscapes

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    September 20, 2024

    Dina Titus and Steven Horsford just voted for American taxpayers to foot the bill for liberals’ radical and unsafe sanctuary cities.

    For years, ICE has warned that sanctuary jurisdictions create a “public safety threat,” but can’t help themselves and support dangerous far-left open border policies that put their communities at risk.

    “Even when sanctuary cities are proven to be a ‘public safety threat,’ Titus and Horsford can’t help but put their far-left open borders agenda ahead of the safety of their communities. Taxpayers don’t deserve to pay for Democrats’ crime-ridden hellscapes.” — NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vicente Gonzalez voted for more sanctuary city hellscapes

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    September 20, 2024

    Vicente Gonzalez just voted for American taxpayers to foot the bill for liberals’ radical and unsafe sanctuary cities.

    For years, ICE has warned that sanctuary jurisdictions create a “public safety threat,” but can’t help themselves and support dangerous far-left open border policies that put their communities at risk.

    “Even when sanctuary cities are proven to be a ‘public safety threat,’ Vicente Gonzalez can’t help but put his far-left open borders agenda ahead of the safety of his communities. Taxpayers don’t deserve to pay for Democrats’ crime-ridden hellscapes.” — NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sharice Davids voted for more sanctuary city hellscapes

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    September 20, 2024

    Sharice Davids just voted for American taxpayers to foot the bill for liberals’ radical and unsafe sanctuary cities.

    For years, ICE has warned that sanctuary jurisdictions create a “public safety threat,” but can’t help themselves and support dangerous far-left open border policies that put their communities at risk.

    “Even when sanctuary cities are proven to be a ‘public safety threat,’ Sharice Davids can’t help but put her far-left open borders agenda ahead of the safety of her communities. Taxpayers don’t deserve to pay for Democrats’ crime-ridden hellscapes.” — NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 3959, Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 3959 would aim to streamline the enrollment process for people applying to more than one credentialing program sponsored by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), including the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and Hazardous Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment (HME) programs. Personnel who need access to secure areas on maritime facilities must have a TWIC and drivers who transport certain hazardous materials are required to have an HME on their state‑issued commercial driver’s license.

    Among other things, the bill would authorize applicants to use one application for both programs and reduce the number of times an applicant must visit a TSA enrollment center. TSA would be required to implement those changes within two years of enactment. 

    In addition, S. 3959 would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit the implementation of the TWIC and HME programs by TSA and the states within one year of enactment and to report to the Congress on ways to improve those programs within another 180 days. The bill would require TSA to implement GAO’s recommendations and to report to the Congress on those efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 6235, Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 6235 would reauthorize and expand activities administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) related to the research, observation, and control of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. Harmful blooms occur when colonies of algae grow uncontrollably and become toxic, which also may lead to reduced oxygen (or hypoxia) in the water. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $27.5 million annually from 2024 through 2028 for those purposes, which includes expanding the membership and activities of an existing interagency task force and establishing a new program to create technologies to mitigate and control harmful algal blooms. In 2024, NOAA allocated $31.5 million for those activities. 

    The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $2 million to address harmful blooms and hypoxia events that would have a significant detrimental effect on the environment, economy, or public health of a state. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Greg Landsman misleads voters in campaign ad

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    September 20, 2024

    Sleazy politician Greg Landsman has been caught misleading voters in his campaign ad, where he claims “Members of Congress are using insider information to get rich trading stocks. That’s crazy,” and “I don’t take corporate PAC money because I want you to know I’m with you and not billionaires.”

    Well, a new report shows Landsman actually failed to disclose his own transactions for months—a violation of the STOCK Act. He also held shares in oil and pharmaceutical companies—industries he’s railed against

    “Sleazy politician Greg Landsman is engaging in more sleazy politics… not surprising! Ohio voters deserve transparency from their representative — not lies in campaign ads just to score a vote.” — NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella

    Read more from the Washington Free Beacon here or see excerpts below.

    Dem Rep. Greg Landsman, An Aggressive Financial Ethics Crusader, Failed To Disclose His Stock Trades
    The Washington Free Beacon 
    Meghan Blonder 
    September 19, 2024

    Rep. Greg Landsman (D., Ohio) has spent years pushing government ethics reforms and demanding more financial transparency from public officials. But the congressman failed to disclose his own transactions for months—a violation of the STOCK Act, a campaign finance expert told the Washington Free Beacon.
     
    As a Cincinnati city councilman, Landsman introduced reforms “aimed at restoring public trust in government,” such as an ethics commission “tasked with local reporting of financial disclosure forms” and investigating complaints, CityBeat reported in 2020. He continued his ethics crusade after winning a House seat, claiming this month in a reelection ad that “members of Congress are using insider information to get rich trading stocks. That’s crazy.”
     
    But Landsman filed a required disclosure form in August showing that he failed to report more than 87 financial transactions within the legally required timeframe. That failure, according to Craig Holman, an ethics lobbyist with the progressive think tank Public Citizen, is a violation of the STOCK Act, a 2012 law intended to combat insider trading through financial transparency. The August disclosure also showed Landsman held shares in oil and pharmaceutical companies—industries he’s railed against.
     
    “Rep. Landsman is required to file a periodic transaction report no later than 45 days after each transaction,” Craig Holman told the Free Beacon. The majority of Landsman’s transactions, 63, were from 2023, with 19 dating back to January that year. Each violation carries a $200 penalty.
     
    […]
     
    Still, the Democrat’s failure stands at odds with his aggressive advocacy for financial transparency for government officials. In 2020, then-councilman Landsman pushed several local reforms following Cincinnati corruption scandals. In addition to the ethics commission, he proposed hiring a chief ethics officer and creating mechanisms to punish or even remove officials who violate campaign finance rules.
     
    “We need people to know that this is a highly effective government, one that is fair, and one that people can trust. We also need good people in public service to stay, and for good people considering public service to join what I believe to be incredibly important and noble work,” Landsman told CityBeat at the time.
     
    In his September reelection ad, Landsman called Washington “a mess.”
     
    “I don’t take corporate PAC money because I want you to know I’m with you and not billionaires,” Landsman said.
     
    His belated financial disclosure, meanwhile, showed he held shares in some of the most profitable companies of all time, including Nvidia, BlackRock, CrowdStrike, Amazon, and Microsoft. It also showed he bought and sold stocks in Diamondback Energy, an oil and natural gas company, as well as in Horizon Therapeutics, formerly Horizon Pharma.
     
    In March 2022, Landsman accused his opponent, then-Rep. Steven Chabot (R.), of being beholden to those industries.
     
    “He’ll be with Big Pharma and Big Oil. I’ll be with our children and families,” he wrote.
     
    The next month, Landsman published a press release titled “Pharma Over Families: Chabot Chooses Chaos in Fight to Lower Costs” and called out political contributions his opponent received from pharmaceutical companies.
     
    “[T]hat’s whose side he’s on…not ours,” Landsman wrote.
     
    Landsman bought and sold up to $30,000 in Horizon shares between January and February 2023, while his wife sold as much as $15,000, according to his financial disclosure. He also bought up to $65,000 in Diamondback shares and sold up to $30,000 between January 2023 and July 2024.
     
    Landsman spent his 2022 congressional campaign criticizing oil and gas companies, calling them “out of control.”
     
    “Oil and gas corporations are making record profits right now,” he posted to X. “They’re price gouging. It’s outrageous, totally unfair to our working families, and a disaster for our economy.”
     
    Landsman’s 2024 campaign website says he’s fighting to “hold polluters accountable” and is working to direct federal funds to “renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental restoration in Southwest Ohio.”
     
    Diamondback focuses on the “acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas,” its website states.
     
    Helwig did not comment on the Free Beacon inquiries about Landsman’s specific investments.
     
    This is not the first time Landsman failed in his responsibilities to the government. In March 2022, the state of Ohio filed a tax lien against the Democrat and ordered him to pay interest on unpaid taxes he owed through his accounting firm Landsman & Associates, the Free Beacon previously reported. Still, Landsman voted eight times to raise taxes and fees over a four-year period as a city councilman—even as he acknowledged his constituents were “struggling.”
     
    The Landsman household income, according to finance documents, totaled more than $380,000 in 2022. During a debate, the Ohio Democrat described the rising inflationary costs of gas and groceries as “very frustrating” for him and his wife.

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Awards $1.5 Million at Watts on the Moon Challenge Finale

    Source: NASA

    NASA has awarded a total of $1.5 million to two U.S. teams for their novel technology solutions addressing energy distribution, management, and storage as part of the agency’s Watts on the Moon Challenge. The innovations from this challenge aim to support NASA’s Artemis missions, which will establish long-term human presence on the Moon.
    This two-phase competition has challenged U.S. innovators to develop breakthrough power transmission and energy storage technologies that could enable long-duration Moon missions to advance the nation’s lunar exploration goals. The final phase of the challenge concluded with a technology showcase and winners’ announcement ceremony Friday at Great Lakes Science Center, home of the visitor center for NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
    “Congratulations to the finalist teams for developing impactful power solutions in support of NASA’s goal to sustain human presence on the Moon,” said Kim Krome-Sieja, acting program manager for NASA Centennial Challenges at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “These technologies seek to improve our ability to explore and make discoveries in space and could have implications for improving power systems on Earth.”
    The winning teams are:

    First prize ($1 million): H.E.L.P.S.  (High Efficiency Long-Range Power Solution) of Santa Barbara, California
    Second prize ($500,000): Orbital Mining Corporation of Golden, Colorado

    Four teams were invited to refine their hardware and deliver full system prototypes in the final stage of the competition, and three finalist teams completed their technology solutions for demonstration and assessment at NASA Glenn. The technologies were the first power transmission and energy storage prototypes to be tested by NASA in a vacuum chamber mimicking the freezing temperature and absence of pressure found at the permanently shadowed regions of the Lunar South Pole. The simulation required the teams’ power systems to demonstrate operability over six hours of solar daylight and 18 hours of darkness with the user three kilometers (nearly two miles) away from the power source.
    During this competition stage, judges scored the finalists’ solutions based on a Total Effective System Mass (TESM) calculation, which measures the effectiveness of the system relative to its size and weight – or mass – and the total energy provided by the power source. The highest-performing solution was identified based on having the lowest TESM value – imitating the challenges that space missions face when attempting to reduce mass while meeting the mission’s electrical power needs.
    Team H.E.L.P.S. (High Efficiency Long-Range Power Solution) from University of California, Santa Barbara, won the grand prize for their hardware solution, which had the lowest mass and highest efficiency of all competitors. The technology also featured a special cable operating at 800 volts and an innovative use of energy storage batteries on both ends of the transmission system. They also employed a variable radiation shield to switch between conserving heat during cold periods and disposing of excess heat during high power modes. The final 48-hour test proved their system design effectively met the power transmission, energy storage, and thermal challenges in the final phase of competition.
    Orbital Mining Corporation, a space technology startup, received the second prize for its hardware solution that also successfully completed the 48-hour testwith high performance. They employed a high-voltage converter system coupled with a low-mass cable and a lithium-ion battery.
    “The energy solutions developed by the challenge teams are poised to address NASA’s space technology priorities,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “These solutions support NASA’s recently ranked civil space shortfalls, including in the top category of surviving and operating through the lunar night.”
    During the technology showcase and winners’ announcement ceremony, NASA experts, media, and members of the public gathered to see the finalist teams’ technologies and hear perspectives from the teams’ participation in the challenge. After the winners were announced, event attendees were also welcome to meet NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen.
    The Watts on the Moon Challenge is a NASA Centennial Challenge led by NASA Glenn. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center manages Centennial Challenges, which are part of the agency’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA contracted HeroX to support the administration of this challenge.
    For more information on NASA’s Watts on the Moon Challenge, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/wattson
    -end-
    Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington321-432-4624jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov
    Lane Figueroa Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov 
    Brian NewbacherGlenn Research Center, Cleveland216-469-9726Brian.t.newbacher@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks At the Naming Ceremony of the U.S.S. Baltimore (SSN-812) Aboard the U.S.S. Constellation, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland (As Delivered)

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Good morning, everyone. Secretary Del Toro, Senator Cardin, Mayor Scott — thank you for your leadership, for your support of the finest and fiercest fighting force in the world, and of course for being here today.

    I am incredibly honored to be the sponsor of the future U.S.S. Baltimore.

    Baltimore, and Maryland, have deep meaning for me.

    Some of my earliest childhood recollections are from living in Annapolis, just a few hours’ sail down the Chesapeake.

    And some of my fondest memories are from being back in the Old Line State, for graduate school. It’s where I met my husband, after all — we are fellow Terps. And we’ve spent time here over the years at this very harbor and throughout Baltimore’s neighborhoods. So Charm City will always hold a special place in my heart, and now even more so as the Baltimore‘s sponsor.

    And America’s submarine force, well, she’s just in my blood.

    You see, I grew up in a submarine family. The origin story began 73 years ago this past summer, when my father, Jerry Holland, left his landlocked hometown of Iowa City, Iowa, for the western shores of Maryland, to attend the U.S. Naval Academy.

    He’s never told me exactly why he was drawn to the Navy, but he is a prolific writer, and in one book he observed that “dreams of life at sea can appear at a very young age, and almost always grow in the presence of a ship model, at a museum, on a lake or a pond, or even in a bathtub.”

    So, anything’s possible.

    But we do know that for many midshipmen in those nascent days of the Cold War, submarines were the vanguard of the future.

    It was the birth of America’s nuclear navy. Just a few months before my dad commissioned from Annapolis, the U.S.S. Nautilus went “underway on nuclear power,” making headlines and breaking records for speed and endurance.

    Meanwhile, Run Silent, Run Deep was one of the year’s hottest novels, and would soon be a film starring none other than Clark Gable, the so-called “King of Hollywood.”

    All the star-studded attention was well deserved.

    Think about what it means to serve on a nuclear submarine.

    To willfully seal yourself inside a metal canister along with scores of other human beings.

    Propelled through the inky black depths of the sea by power generated from the splitting of atoms.

    Sensing your environment not by sight, but by sound.

    And to do so for weeks if not months at a time, traversing thousands of miles from open sea to crowded ports, without being heard by other ships even if they’re steaming right above you.

    It takes a special combination of brains, heart, courage, and cool-under-pressure that many admire, but only a few possess. And that’s partly why those who join the silent service are consummate quiet professionals.

    They don’t necessarily brag about being the “best of the best.”

    They just are.

    And my dad was no exception. Like all prospective nuclear submariners in those days, he was personally interviewed by Admiral Rickover, the father of the nuclear navy, to see if young Ensign Holland was up to snuff — and my dad’s decades of service as a submariner, retiring as a Rear Admiral, are testament that he was.

    Throughout that career, the submarine community was more than just his professional home.

    It was a family support system, one in which my mother, Anne Holland, was a leader. One that played an important role for me and my six older brothers and sisters.

    It was a community I was born into.

    For my siblings and me, submarines were more than just where dad went to work. Like other kids, we played with train sets and paper dolls, but we also played with toy submarines.

    [Laughter]

    And the real ones were docked down the street, discussed at the dinner table, and a part of our family identity.

    It is especially fitting — and I am so grateful — that both of my parents are with us here today.

    And as the sponsor of the future U.S.S. Baltimore, SSN-812, I will continue to carry our family’s legacy of service, and commitment to the submarine force.

    And what a force it is.

    As Deputy Secretary of Defense, I’m focused on ensuring America’s military has the capabilities required to defend our nation, our allies and partners, and our interests. America’s submarines are vital contributors to those goals.

    The United States maintains significant overmatch in undersea warfare compared to our pacing challenge, the People’s Republic of China. And we’re going to keep it that way, even as the PLA Navy continues to modernize. Submarines like Baltimore are a big part of how we’re staying in the lead — and not only ahead of the PRC, but also ahead of Russia.

    Indeed, years ago my dad wrote in Proceedings that our submarines are “invisible, nearly invulnerable, and capable of operating close to shore to provide large volumes of fire.” That’s why they’re so important to joint force design, and a deterrent to any who might threaten us.

    And when we invest together with our allies in advanced conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capabilities — like we’re doing through our AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom — it’s a win-win for everyone, from Gare Loch to Groton to Garden Island. In fact, Australian sailors completed maintenance on a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Australian waters for the first time just this month.

    Now, today’s boat naming is the beginning of a long journey for the Baltimore: from laydown to launch, shakedown to commissioning, and then a 30-plus-year service life.

    And it’s built, assembled, outfitted, and evaluated — and as it does so — it will be touched by the hands of a world-class workforce: machinists, welders, pipefitters, systems engineers, technicians, testers and more.

    It’s a workforce that is benefitting from the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments, in partnership with Congress, to bolster and accelerate the productivity of America’s submarine industrial base: so it can support our military and our AUKUS commitment with our Australian and British allies. Over four years of defense budgets and supplemental appropriations, it’s about a $10-billion-dollar investment in the future strength and lethality of the silent service.

    And when Baltimore joins the fleet, with a world-class crew, it will be among the most agile, lethal, resilient, and capable conventional nuclear-powered submarines we’ve ever made.

    When I think about the boats my father served on and skippered — submarines that patrolled from the North Atlantic to the western Pacific, outfoxing the Soviet Navy time and again — I’m reminded that the Baltimore belongs to a continually-modernized class of attack submarines that are not only larger, more powerful, and more lethal. They also run quieter, deeper, and faster.

    It would take over two-and-a-half of those earlier-generation submarines to equal the submerged displacement of a single Virginia-class sub like the Baltimore.

    Virginia-class reactors also produce two-and-a-half times more megawatts than the reactors my dad trained on — that’s enough electricity to power tens of thousands of Maryland households today — and their turbines also generate over three times more shaft-horsepower for propulsion. That’s effectively a 20 percent higher thrust-to-weight ratio.

    And compared to the subs my dad commanded, the most lethal Virginia-class submarines coming off the line today can carry two-and-a-half times more munitions, including dozens of anti-ship missiles like the Maritime Strike Tomahawk. And they have 11 times more torpedo and missile tubes.

    As my dad once wrote, “the submarine provides a flexibility that presents our leaders with many options. Superior both offensive[ly] and defensive[ly].” In that way, Virginia-class subs are a Swiss Army Knife of naval capabilities:

    • They’re capable of anti-surface and strike missions, plus anti-submarine warfare.
    • They can support special operations.
    • They can provide more inputs into our multi-domain awareness.
    • They’re interoperable with U.S. allies’ and partner forces.
    • And they’re built to be upgraded for even more, with technologies and capabilities that we’re still developing today, and even with those that we haven’t yet imagined.

    Of course, our submarine force is still the ‘silent’ service. Even with the passage of time since my dad retired from the Navy, there are still aspects of subs and their missions that he and I cannot share publicly, that remain classified for their ongoing relevance to U.S. national security. And that will be the case for many years to come — just as it will be true for the Baltimore and its future crews.

    But make no mistake about Baltimore‘s purpose. Like all of our submarines, conventional and otherwise, we build them not to provoke war, but rather to prevent wars, through deterrence.

    When our would-be adversaries consider the risks of aggression, sometimes they will see the ‘big stick’ of U.S. and allied military assets, like the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt and our other aircraft carriers. They certainly send a signal, and they have the firepower to back it up.

    But other times, there may be advantage in not sending a signal. And for those times, you need something that the other side can’t see.

    U.S.S. Baltimore — with its stealth, endurance, lethality, and speed — will be just such an asset, part of our unseen advantage. And the only thing the adversary will hear is the sound of silence.

    Just over 25 years ago, when the first submarine my father commanded was being decommissioned, he had the opportunity to tour that boat, U.S.S. Pintado. It was “astonishing,” he later wrote, to find the sub “in nearly as perfect condition as when she was commissioned.”

    For over two-and-a-half decades, that submarine had patrolled the seas, helping ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce, so that Americans, our allies, and many more people around the world could sleep soundly at night, live free, and prosper.

    Dad, to you and all your shipmates past: thank you for having the watch. Mom, thank you for everything you did to lead pier-side, from running Family Service Centers to running the family.

    America is grateful for the service you both gave, and the sacrifices you both made, on all of our behalf. And I am grateful.

    [Applause]

    Thank you.

    Today, and every day, I’m thankful to those who built that submarine, who served aboard it, and who supported them and their families — just as I’m grateful to those who will do the same for the U.S.S. Baltimore.

    Someday not too far off, I’ll be honored to welcome the future Baltimore‘s crew as an extended part of that family. I’ll be proud to know it will be the best submarine our country’s ever made: beautiful and deadly. It won’t be built overnight, but it will be built to last.

    A quarter of a century from now, in 2049 and long beyond, the U.S.S. Baltimore will still be standing guard, out on patrol, so that we all — Americans, our allies, and hopefully the world — can sleep soundly at night, live free, and prosper.

    Thank you.

    [Applause]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Radha Plumb, DOD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Delivers Remarks at the Advana Industry Day

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Good morning, everyone. This a great event and these events don’t happen without a lot of teamwork so I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all our teams who have put in so much time and work leading up to it. A special thanks to the teams that made this happen in CDAO – our Acquisition & Assurance, Mission Analytics, and Enterprise Platform and Services and our Air Force acquisition team partners at AFICC. And thanks to you all for joining us here today.

    I want to take a few minutes to provide some context to the more in depth briefs you’ll get today and preview our Advancing AI Multiple Award Contract – which at a $15 billion dollar ceiling and 10-year period of performance will be one of the largest data and AI government acquisition actions ever. Before I talk at you for the next 10 minutes – let me start with the Who, then move to the “Why” and the “How” — to include more details on the AAMAC.

    As most of you know, I am the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Officer. Our mission is to accelerate adoption of digital and AI solutions across DOD. I sort of think of this as having two parts: Advancing deterrence by ensuring our warfighters have the very best digital capabilities and beating bureaucracy by ensuring our critical business functions – like financial management, logistics, and health care – have the digital solutions to deliver for the warfighters and the taxpayers.

    What that means in practice is that I oversee that teams that do everything from the policy and governance process to the teams that deliver and sustain the data and AI infrastructure to the teams that work with key customers around DOD to ensure they have the right digital solutions. Functionally – we approach this broad mission by aligning our teams into three buckets: ENABLE, SPEED, and SCALE. From the outside our structure can feel opaque, so I think it’s worth sharing in some detail how we’re organized and how we coordinate to across our teams to deliver for the Department.

    • ENABLE encompasses the writing of policies and then the processes that promulgate and oversee these practices across DOD. This includes setting formal standards, delivering best practices, building templates and tools, and also defining acquisition pathways and processes to put capabilities in the hands of DoD users.
    • SPEED relates to areas where we put direct investment and staff expertise to develop and deliver solutions on an accelerated timeline – to really prove out the art of the possible. You all are seeing that in the advanced command and control space with the work in GIDE and the recent minimum viable capability for CJADC2.
    • SCALE is focused on the delivery of large, central enterprise platforms that include data stacks; development environments and test and evaluation tools to build capabilities; the data, analytic, and AI enabled products that spread insights across the enterprise; and the assurance processes to build an interoperable ecosystem of platforms and products that are technically sound, secure, and work together to deliver real value. My Deputy CDAOs – Eugene Kuznetsov and Garrett Berntsen – who lead these “SCALE” functions in CDAO, will talk more about their efforts later today.

    As many of you know – CDAO is a new organization. We began by combining pockets of excellence across AI, data, and analytics teams in DoD. And, while each of these teams had promising work, when combined they were truly greater than the sum of their parts. As we move into our third year, we are working to create that flywheel that connects these ENABLE, SPEED, and SCALE functions to drive the digital transformation across the entire defense enterprise.

    Okay – so then WHY are we here today. The short answer is – Open DAGIR

    In May we announced Open DAGIR, which stands for Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories. {I know…it’s a mouthful]

    But the Open DAGIR construct is actually straightforward in nature – it is a holistic approach that aligns the architecture (that is platforms, data, and applications) and acquisition approaches (governance, budget, incentives and industry engagements.) The structure is driven to create speed, flexibility, interoperability and is made up of three parts:

    (1) enterprise-level infrastructure to ensure reliable, enduring access to the Government-owned, Contractor-operated technology stacks that can onboard new capabilities quickly.
    (2) enterprise-wide applications that we procure through license agreements to streamline access and standardize a core set of digital tools.
    (3) a transparent and agile acquisition process to prototype and where appropriate scale new digital solutions.

    Open DAGIR is by construction not about by a single company or product – it is a way to leverage a competitive acquisition process to rapidly procure and integrate best-in-class technology from industry to meet specific DoD requirements and ensure interoperability.

    In July we held our first Open DAGIR Insight Day, which outlined how we use our experimentation series – GIDE—to identify new technical capabilities to solve novel challenges focused on our strategic command and control requirements. The digital tools and underlying infrastructure that enable what we call “strategic command and control,” a critical warfighting function. This was the first line of effort under Open DAGIR.

    Today we are here to talk about our second line of effort – focused on enabling enterprise-level data-driven digital solutions with tools ranging from advanced analytic applications that can yield greater insights in a fraction of the time to AI-enabled applications that can transform critical functions from the boardroom to the battlefield. And much of this builds off the work of Advana – our Advanced Enterprise Analytics at the Department of Defense – program.

    Before we talk about Advana’s future, it’s worth talking a bit about the journey. I returned to the Department in early 2021 and was Deputy Secretary Hicks’ Chief of Staff. In 2021, she outlined a north star for creating Data Advantage with five Data Decrees. Inherent in that document was a recognition that the Department’s data ecosystem is distributed and heterogeneous. To balance the value of this federated ecosystem with the need to integrate data, she established Advana as the single enterprise data analytics platform for the Department’s leadership. Since then, Advana has grown to DOD’s largest data platform – rapidly reaching over 100,000 users, connecting 500+ source systems and proving out the promise of data-driven digital solutions. Later today you will hear from several members of our team and key customers about Advana’s successes. Their journey and the growth of the platform has been truly remarkable and is a testament to the Department’s rapid digital transformation. Rooted in these successes but with many lessons learned, we are now evolving Advana – everything from the scope to the technical architecture to the acquisition approach to meet the needs of the future. Advana was a critical enabler along our data transformation but it could never be singular end-state solution for all of DoD’s data needs. DoD – which has an $800 billion dollar budget, 3 million employees, a health care system with 9 million beneficiaries, and supply chain with 3 times the suppliers of Walmart. We have more ground vehicles than major shipping companies, more planes than major commercial airlines. We operate 24/7 and cover all contingencies. Globally, the analytic and AI requirements of the DoD are broad and deep and so – we in CDAO knew we needed to continue to adapt and modernize our data backbone to meet those needs.

    So – HOW are we going to meet these diverse needs?

    That’s really the future of Advana – to move beyond a singular, vertically integrated stack and applications to a more federated ecosystem. To do that and to ensure we can integrate the existing data and analytic infrastructure with future solutions, we are executing a series of technical enhancements – called “Advana 1.2” – that will ensure more explicit government stewardship of the platform – to include improved pathways for integration and government-owned environment for development. This will allow us to accelerate the addition of new software capabilities, and allow the Advana data infrastructure to be more easily interoperable with other platforms. You will hear more details about these architecture upgrades from our platforms lead and really one of the builders of Advana 1.0– Alex O’Toole—later today.

    In parallel – under the Open DAGIR construct, we are moving from a single award contract to a multiple award IDIQ contract that will be open to a wide range of potential vendors, called the Advancing AI Multiple Award Contract (AAMAC). This 10-year, $15 billion dollar ceiling IDIQ will be the largest data and AI government acquisition action in history and will be open for customers across DoD. The AAMAC will help scale our data backbone and bring in new digital tools to meet more varied needs from a wider population of DoD users, encourage vendor diversity and partnerships, and drive innovation and mission delivery at scale. It will also set the foundation for transformative investments into data and AI across the DoD enterprise to make real this Open DAGIR construct.

    Let me try to unpack what I mean by the Open DAGIR construct – at the heart of the Open DAGIR approach is a common foundation to enable broad data access and interoperability in tools. This allows data that is ingested and enriched by one set of tools to be used in another tool set. In other words, every platform, tool, and application within the Open DAGIR ecosystem will need to meet a common baseline set of requirements for interoperability and, where possible, integration.

    Our teams will drive the core elements of commonality and flexibility across key technical architecture elements such as:

    • Building a common architecture or backbone to support data interchange and discoverability across platforms, tools, and applications.
    • Establishing common enterprise APIs and a common approach to federated data governance.
    • Standing up a federated governance process based on alignment with core principles but allowing different solutions to compliance – a sort of trust but verify construct.
    • Establishing interoperable stacks- a clear pipeline and pathway for successful applications.

    So in addition to the acquisition and technical upgrades, in the coming months, you’ll see CDAO defining these core technology principles to enable interoperability, including things as basic as: “how do we define a platform?” or “how do we define an application?” to the more complex but still critical “what are the minimum data parity standards we need to set across Open DAGIR platforms?” and “how is intellectual property protected for third party developers while ensuring government insights?”

    Through the Open DAGIR approach, our intent is to add transparency and support industry innovation by protecting vendor proprietary applications and intellectual property, and simultaneously maintain appropriate Government ownership and access to our data and infrastructure.

    The end-state we’re striving for is very achievable – it’s about delivering the right capability delivery on the right timeline. And that means creating a transparent and accessible set of requirements, a collaborative environment for industry innovation, the right protections for intellectual property, and flexible and agile license agreements fit for various stages of prototypes, production, or sustainment.

    Our goal with Open DAGIR and the forthcoming AAMAC is to lay the foundation for more predictable and repeatable tools and processes that match technology solutions with the resources and acquisition pathways to put solutions in the hands of DoD users.

    America’s enduring advantage is our vibrant and creative industry. On the government side – our measure of success is our ability to partner quickly and effectively to deliver those innovative new solutions to our warfighters. We – simply put – cannot afford to fail. And this is truly a partnership with industry – we need your dedication, innovation, and candid feedback to help us drive digital transformation across the DoD enterprise at SCALE.

    Let me close by calling out the elephant in the room – I know we in DOD are not always easy to work with. The acquisition process can be daunting and feel cumbersome and slow, and it can be hard to know who to call. Let me assure you – we’re trying to be less hard to work with

    This Industry Day is just one of multiple opportunities over the next few months for partners across industry to actively engage in plenary/educational sessions alongside CDAO to talk about Open DAGIR and provide meaningful feedback on our approach for the framework and the future of Advana. We have RFIs, challenges, and future industry days. We’re working with a variety of industry associations and groups to set up smaller feedback sessions.  We look forward to continuing the conversation and engaging with you all as we strive to solve some of DoD’ toughest and most complex data and AI challenges.

    Thank you for your time and we welcome your feedback.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Death of an inmate from the Regional Reception Centre 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On September 19, 2024, Jano Vincent, an inmate from the Regional Reception Centre, died while in our custody.

    On September 19, 2024, Jano Vincent, an inmate from the Regional Reception Centre, died while in our custody.

    At the time of death, the person was 38 years old and had been serving an indeterminate sentence since July 11, 2024.

    The person’s next of kin have been notified.

    As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances.

    CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.

    Associated links

    CSC website

    Commissioner’s Directive: Death of an Inmate

    Deaths in custody

    Regional Reception Centre 

    -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads The Nation In Retail Trade Growth

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 20, 2024

    Growth in province’s retail trade ranks first in both month-over-month and year-over-year categories

    According to data released today by Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan ranks first among the provinces for year-over-year growth in retail trade. Retail trade sales in the province increased by 6.3 per cent from July 2023 to July 2024 (seasonally adjusted), reaching $2.2 billion.

    “The growth we are seeing in our retail sector is a vitally important leading economic indicator, which shows the current strength of Saskatchewan’s economy and points to our continued leadership position in Canada,” Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison said. “This growth is creating new opportunities for the people and families of our province. With the strongest job growth in the country, lowest rate of inflation, and record investment, Saskatchewan’s strong and vibrant communities are well positioned now and into the future.

    “Our government will continue to work alongside our industry partners and job creators to protect and promote the interests of Saskatchewan residents.”

    The value of retail trade in Saskatchewan increased by 3 per cent in July 2024 compared to June 2024 (seasonally adjusted), also ranking first in terms of percentage change among the provinces.

    The Monthly Retail Trade Survey compiles data on sales, including e-commerce sales, and the amount of retail locations by province, territory, and selected census metropolitan areas from a sample of retailers.

    Retail sales is a measure of total receipts at stores, or establishments, that sell goods and services to final consumers.

    The province continues to see positive outcomes in several key economic areas, with Saskatchewan currently maintaining the lowest year-over-year rate of inflation according to the Consumer Price Index, at 1.1 per cent.

    Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers also indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.2 billion, or 1.6 per cent. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.2 per cent.

    Private capital investment is projected to reach $14.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 14.4 per cent over 2023. This is the highest anticipated percentage increase in Canada.

    The province has revealed “Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy,” in conjunction with the launch of the investSK.ca website. These initiatives are positioned to amplify growth in Saskatchewan, serving as pivotal instruments in driving further development.

    To learn more, visit: investSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan Launches Historic Partnerships in Wind Generation

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 20, 2024

    Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan Launches Historic Partnerships in Wind Generation

    – – –
    Next Generation of Energy Will Keep Rates Low for All Manitobans: Kinew

    The Manitoba government is unveiling the plan to build the next generation of affordable energy, Premier Wab Kinew, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, and Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.

    “We are giving you the freedom to make climate-friendly choices by making those choices more affordable,” said Kinew. “Building more energy capacity starts with a new government-to-government partnership in wind, the best source of new clean energy. By building out the grid we’ll keep rates low for everyone and put more Manitobans to work in good union jobs. Together we’ll build the next generation of affordable energy to power Manitoba’s future.”

    For the first time in the province’s history, the Manitoba Affordable Energy Plan formalizes into government policy Indigenous-owned, utility-scale electricity resource supply through the creation of government-to-government partnerships with Indigenous nations in wind generation, while ensuring Manitoba Hydro stays public.

    “Manitoba has some of the lowest energy costs in the country, thanks to decades of investment in Manitoba Hydro’s clean energy grid and skilled workforce,” said Sala. “But we can’t just take it for granted. Now it’s time to build on our advantage to ensure we have low rates, good jobs and clean energy for years to come.”

    Other actions in the plan include:

    • Creating an Indigenous loan-guarantee program to provide First Nations and Métis the capital support and capacity to participate in the energy transition and finance new partnerships in wind generation.
    • Refurbishing Manitoba Hydro generating stations to unlock up to 200 megawatts of power.
    • Ending the first-come, first-served approach for large grid connection to better align with Manitoba’s economic development goals.
    • Strengthening energy codes for homes and buildings to generate long-term energy savings for Manitoba families.
    • Stronger oversight of the oil and gas sector with regular provincial inspections to ensure environmental safety and reliability.
    • Installing new Manitoba Hydro owned and operated public electric vehicle chargers.
    • A renewed focus on energy security with stronger protections in place for procurement and data management to keep Manitoba’s energy supply safe and secure.

    “Our plan supports Manitoba’s path to net zero emissions by 2050 and will help us protect our air, land and water for future generations,” said Schmidt. “By making clean energy choices more affordable, we’ll help families save money while they save energy.”

    To read the plan, visit https://manitoba.ca/energyplan.

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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez Slams Republican Efforts to Strip Funding from Cities Welcoming Migrants & Asylum Seekers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    Ramirez pointed out Republicans’ hypocrisy in proposing the legislation while immigrants contribute nearly $100 billion in taxes annually

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, voted “NO” on H.R. 5717, No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, which would strip federal funds for cities providing services to new migrant arrivals and asylum seekers. Yesterday, Ramirez took to the House Floor to urge her colleagues to vote against the legislation while calling out Republicans for using the serious process of legislating to advance a political agenda to cut the funding of Democratic cities and states like Chicago and Illinois. 

    VIDEO HERE

    Remarks as prepared:

    I rise to address the hypocrisy of the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.”

    My Republican colleagues seem to have missed the irony of proposing this bill:  

    During the month we honor the contributions of the Latine community to this nation…

    Knowing immigrants contribute nearly $100B in taxes.

    So immigrants BAIL OUT federal programs with their labor and taxes, but it’s the federal government that has to stop the BAILOUTS?

    Miss me with that.

    Chicago and Illinois know immigrants contribute to the economic and social vibrancy of our communities.

    So you have to ask… why else might Republicans propose a policy that would strip billions in federal funds from states like New York, California, and Illinois?

    Can you think of a reason? I can.

    A political stunt to take money away from diverse communities and Democratic cities.

    I will be voting No on HR 5717, and I urge my colleagues to do so, too.

    I yield back.

    Background:

    Since 2023, Chicago has welcomed 54,309 new arrivals, 89% of which were sent by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The City of Chicago and many surrounding suburbs have worked to provide short-term shelter, long-term housing, medical care, food, clothing, and social services to welcome and integrate new arrivals. A 2019 report showed that Chicago metro area immigrants generated more than $20.6 billion in taxes that year alone. According to a Bloomberg Report, undocumented immigrants in the United States pay nearly $100 billion in taxes in 2022. 

    Ramirez had previously called for $10 billion in federal funding to support welcoming cities nationwide. She also successfully secured $1 million for a new immigrant welcoming center for Chicago and $2.75 million for the construction of new affordable housing across her district.

    MIL OSI USA News –