NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Statement on House’s Passage of The Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding the House’s unanimous passage of H.R. 9106, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024. 

    “I’m pleased the House unanimously passed legislation I cosponsored with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) to give President Trump and all major presidential candidates the same security as the sitting President. There is no greater threat to our democracy than an attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate, right before an election.”

    The legislation will direct the Director of the United States Secret Service to apply the same standards for determining the number of agents required to protect Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grants to Revitalize Communities Across New York

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications for the $50 million Round 9 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative grant program will launch on Monday, September 23. The funding, which was included as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, supports municipalities’ efforts to demolish, rehabilitate, and restore blighted structures and transform them into vibrant residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. The program is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) and, in this round, priority will be given to projects designed to address recovery efforts related to tornado and storm damage that occurred on July 15-16, 2024.

    “We are revitalizing communities across New York State through the Restore New York Communities Initiative – giving towns and cities the chance to build a future that is safer, more affordable, and more livable,” Governor Hochul said. “With Upstate municipalities still working to recover from major damage caused by July’s extreme weather, we’re prioritizing those projects and looking to other transformational opportunities that will better the lives of residents and businesses everywhere.”

    The goal of Restore New York is to help municipalities attract residents and businesses by redeveloping residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Each project should align with the strategic plan of the community’s Regional Economic Development Council and projects should be either architecturally consistent with nearby properties or the municipality’s local revitalization or urban development plan. Communities interested in applying are encouraged to register for ESD’s instructional webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, September 25. An intent to apply form must be received by ESD by Wednesday, October 23. The program application and guidelines will be available Monday.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Restore New York is a pillar of Governor Hochul’s community revitalization efforts and promotes projects that address urban decay to promote vibrant neighborhoods and new and dynamic housing. The funding awarded to municipalities through this program is vital to generating new investments that welcome visitors and new residents and support regional economic growth.”

    Restore New York grants can be used for vacant, abandoned, condemned, or surplus buildings and these properties can be demolished, deconstructed, rehabilitated, or reconstructed. Emphasis will be placed on projects in economically distressed communities, projects that leverage other state or federal redevelopment funds, and the project’s feasibility and readiness. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, and villages within New York State based on the following criteria:

    • Cities with populations over 100,000 may apply for up to $2 million for one project. However, cities with populations exceeding one million residents and counties therein must apply for projects in a distressed area of the city.
    • Cities and villages with populations between 40,000 and 99,999 may apply for one project up to $1.5 million.
    • All other municipalities may apply for one project, up to $1 million.
    • The amount for which a county is eligible to apply is based upon the municipality within which the project is located.

    ESD may award a limited number of Special Project designations. Municipalities and counties with populations of one million or less residents per the latest census may apply for an additional $3.5 million for either a second project, or as part of a larger project in addition to the program’s funding limits. Special Projects are those where the property causes severe economic injury to the community, leaving a highly visible and blighted property or properties in the central business district of a highly or moderately-distressed community, which creates a depressing effect on the overall economic development potential of the community.

    In July, Governor Hochul announced more than $64.1 million in Restore New York grants was awarded to support 43 projects across nine regions of the state. Round 8 included a $10 million Special Project designation to support the demolition of Albany’s Central Warehouse. These projects complement Governor Hochul’s economic development vision by making strategic investments in communities across the state which revitalize the economy and create more opportunities for New Yorkers. The FY25 Enacted Budget also includes $100 million for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and $100 million for NY Forward. These programs help local municipalities promote quality of life, foster socio-economic development, and create more walkable, livable, and safer neighborhoods in every corner of the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Murray, Rosen, Baldwin Lead Introduction of Resolution Affirming Access to Emergency Health Care, Including Abortion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 20, 2024
    Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., today introduced a resolution that would protect the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, for all patients, regardless of where they live. 
     
    The Every Woman Has the Right to Emergency Health Care resolution comes as new reporting from ProPublica shows Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care and resulting in preventable deaths. 
     
    “As Donald Trump brags about overturning Roe, women are dying because they’re not receiving the health care they need. Doctors are fearing jail time for doing their jobs,” Wyden said. “The fight to restore reproductive health care protections and the right of women everywhere to make choices about their own bodies is the fight of a lifetime – we can’t let Donald Trump and Republicans roll back the clock.”
    “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,” Murray said. “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 Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, extreme abortion bans across our nation are restricting women’s ability to get life-saving care,” Rosen said. “All women, regardless of where they live, should be able to access the emergency medical care they need, which is why I’m helping introduce this resolution. I’ll continue standing up for women’s freedom to make decisions over their own bodies and working to restore Roe.”
    “Under our state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban, Wisconsinites learned firsthand what it meant to not have the right to access lifesaving abortion care. For 15 months, we heard stories about women with unviable pregnancies or suffering miscarriages who were denied care until they were on the brink of death all because Republicans overturned Roe v. Wade. These are not exaggerations, they are real stories about what it means when we strip Americans of their freedom to control their own bodies,” Baldwin said. “I’m in this fight until every woman has the freedom to decide what is best for her health, family, and future, without interference from judges and politicians – and that most certainly means when her life depends on it.”
    Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade more than two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, 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 they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even be charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite federal requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.
    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 life-saving 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 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. A total of 121 Congressional Republicans, including 26 Senators, filed an amicus brief arguing incorrectly that federal law does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life. 
    In addition to Senators Wyden, Murray, D-Wash., Rosen, D-Nev., and Baldwin, D-Wis., the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Charles 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., Tom Carper, D-Del., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Chris Coons, D-Del., 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-Hawai’i, 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-Hawai’i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., 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.
    Last week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, and Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., introduced the House companion to today’s Senate resolution. 
    The text of the resolution is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Eshoo Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Azerbaijani Assault on Artsakh

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

    Washington, D.C. – Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) released the following statement today recognizing the one-year anniversary of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh:

    “One year ago today, Azerbaijan initiated an unprovoked military assault on civilians in Artsakh in flagrant violation of international law. More than 120,000 Armenians were forced to flee their homeland where their families had lived for centuries. They remain refugees today and Azerbaijan has yet to face meaningful consequences for engaging in ethnic cleansing.

    “The U.S. needs to sanction Azerbaijani officials responsible for atrocities, end all U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and provide additional humanitarian aid for Artsakh’s refugees. A just peace in the Caucasus can only be achieved through genuine accountability.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huizenga Bill to Improve Retirement Savings, Strengthen Economic Security, Confront ESG Mandates Passes U.S. House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)


    Huizenga Bill to Improve Retirement Savings, Strengthen Economic Security, Confront ESG Mandates Passes U.S. House | Congressman Bill Huizenga

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huizenga Announces Legislation to Protect Taxpayer Dollars From Funding the Taliban

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)

    Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the introduction of H.R. 9503, the Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act. In May 2024, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that at least $10.9 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars went to the Taliban in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities. Even more troubling, since the Biden-Harris Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the report found that neither the State Department nor USAID have a true accounting of the amount of U.S. taxpayer dollars that were paid to the Taliban by relief organizations operating in Afghanistan and funded by American taxpayers.

    “After leaving billions of dollars in taxpayer funded military equipment in the hands of the Taliban, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to fail American taxpayers,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “It is an absolute disgrace that the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to set up the appropriate safeguards to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not flow into the coffers of the Taliban. With interest payments on our national debt now exceeding what we spend on defense, the federal government must make every effort to end waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act is a commonsense measure that will save millions of taxpayer dollars from being wasted and funding the oppressive Taliban regime.”

    The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act takes the following actions:

    • Prohibits US taxpayer dollars in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities from being paid to the Taliban.
    • Requires the State Department and USAID to promulgate reporting regulations for any payments or withholdings made to the Taliban, state-owned enterprises, or governing institutions in Afghanistan by an implementing partner receiving funding from American taxpayers.
    • Requires the State Department and USAID to amend existing grants and contracts to include language prohibiting these activities.

    Last week, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a report detailing the Biden-Harris Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Read the report here.

    The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act is cosponsored by: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Congresswoman Maria Salazar, Congressman Mike Lawler, Congressman Keith Self, Congressman Jim Baird, Congressman Warren Davidson, Congressman Michael Guest, Congressman Ben Cline, Congressman Ralph Norman, Congressman Randy Weber, Congressman Josh Brecheen, and Congressman Byron Donalds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tonko Secures $200K County Grant to Saratoga for Battlefield Interpretation Exhibit

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) today announced that Saratoga County has been awarded $200,000 for a Battlefield Interpretation Grants (BIG) project. He advocated to the National Park Service for Saratoga County to receive this funding for the implementation of technology to establish new, immersive exhibits that will interpret the figures and events that took place during the American Revolution.

    “As we rapidly approach the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, our region will receive national and international attention and increased awareness of its role and importance in the war for our nation’s independence,” Congressman Tonko said. “The grant to Saratoga County will help to better tell that rich local history from diverse new perspectives, which is why I pushed to deliver this federal funding. I’m thrilled that this support has been secured and I won’t stop working to strengthen our national parks so they can continue to foster a sense of place and connection to our communities and to the story of our nation.”

    Phil Barrett, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman said, “The National Park Service Battlefield Interpretation Grant will assist with promotion, education, and appreciation of the important role our area played in the American Revolution. We will also improve infrastructure dedicated to our historic sites and increase heritage tourism as we approach the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga. We are grateful to Congressman Tonko for his support of Saratoga County’s America’s Turning Point initiative.”

    Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission said, “These grant funds from the National Park Service will help the County tell the stories of the Battles of Saratoga to a new generation and reignite enthusiasm for our area’s revolutionary history through interactive experiences that merge modern technology with compelling true accounts of the past. We thank the National Park Service for this grant and Congressman Tonko for his support of Saratoga County’s America’s Turning Point initiative, which aims to transform heritage tourism in our region.”

    CLICK HERE to learn more about the Saratoga County project.

    Tonko has long been an advocate and champion for the preservation of the rich heritage of our Capital Region and our nation. Last Congress, he authored the National Heritage Area Act that reauthorizes all Heritage Areas for the next 15 years and establishes clear, transparent standards that make it easier for communities and local partnerships to develop and maintain the Heritage Areas they cherish. That bill was signed into law in 2023.

    Saratoga is one of a handful of BIG projects awarded across the country to promote a broad and inclusive stewardship of battlefields and sites of armed conflict on American soil. Funding for these grants is provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation without spending taxpayer dollars. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Announces $2.4 Million to Protect Lake Michigan Shoreline, Improve Access in Green Bay

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    GREEN BAY, WI  – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced the City of Green Bay will receive $2.4 million in federal funding to install a wildlife viewing platform and shoreline walk at the Bay Beach Amusement Park on Lake Michigan, enhancing recreation, learning, and community opportunities within the Bay. Funding comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which Baldwin has worked to secure continued funding for in the annual appropriations process and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  
    “Wisconsin’s fresh coasts and the communities on them are not only home to so many Wisconsin families, they are a critical driver for our economy and tourism,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to champion the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and deliver funding that will bring economic, health, and recreational benefits to the City of Green Bay, while preserving our freshwater resources and protecting habitats for generations to come.”
    “The City of Green Bay is thrilled to accept these funds to jumpstart our long-planned efforts to improve our shoreline and provide enhanced access to the Bay, home to the largest freshwater estuary in the world!” said Mayor Eric Genrich. “Special thanks to Senator Baldwin for her steadfast support for our Great Lakes and our Bay, Administrator Regan for his forward-looking leadership, and the Biden-Harris administration for the priority they’ve placed on strengthening local communities across the country.”
    Funding for the City of Green Bay will be used to build a wildlife viewing platform and shoreline walk with a related retaining wall and fence at Bay Beach Amusement Park within the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern, or environmentally degraded sites along the Great Lakes. Once installed, the project will address two Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) associated with Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations, and Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. The project will bring enhanced recreation, learning opportunities, wildlife viewing, fishing opportunities, and waterfront access at the park and within the Bay.
    Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends this critical program for another five years through 2031 and increases its annual funding. The Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also making a $1 billion investment in the Great Lakes to clean up Areas of Concern.
    One independent economic study found that for every dollar the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invests, it produces an additional $3.35 of economic activity. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, more than $816 million in GLRI funding has made over 1,200 projects possible throughout Wisconsin’s Great Lakes basin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Lankford’s Bill to Reduce Dependence on China and Other Adversarial Nations for Critical Minerals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK —The Senate passed legislation authored by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) to reduce American reliance on China and other adversarial nations for critical minerals.

    “The United States should not depend on communist China to keep our critical mineral supply chain running. Relying on China for critical minerals means relying on our adversary for batteries, medical supplies, and military equipment,” said Lankford. “We need to prioritize American-produced energy solutions and give US suppliers a seat at the table.”   

    “America must reduce its reliance on China and other adversaries for critical minerals and rare earth metals in order to stay competitive on the global economic stage —especially when it comes to the future of electric vehicles and the auto industry,” said Peters. “Our nation’s dependence on foreign sources for these materials creates a serious threat to our national and economic security. My bipartisan legislation will mitigate this growing threat by strengthening our domestic supply chain and creating more good paying jobs here at home.”  

    “By relying on China for critical minerals, we continue to put our economic and national security at risk,” Romney said. “Today’s passage of our legislation is a strong step in the right direction to shore up our supply chains and bolster production of critical minerals here in the United States. I hope to see it passed by the House and signed into law by the President soon.” 

    Critical minerals and rare earth metals are used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, military equipment, and other technology that is vital to American economic competitiveness and homeland security. China remains the largest source for more than half of the critical minerals on the US Geological Survey’s 2022 list that the United States imports, such as lithium and cobalt. The Senators’ bill would address this threat to our manufacturing supply chains by creating an intergovernmental task force to identify opportunities to increase domestic production and recycling of critical minerals. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.  

    The Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act creates a presidential task force with representatives from federal agencies who must consult with state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to determine how to address national security risks associated with America’s critical mineral supply chains. The task force will also identify new domestic opportunities for mining, processing, refinement, reuse, and recycling of critical minerals. The legislation would also require the task force to publish a report to Congress and publish findings, guidelines, and recommendations to combat the United States’ reliance on China and other foreign nations for critical minerals.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: 48 hours at the US-Mexico border story Sep 19, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    By Dr. Belen Ramirez, project coordinator with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Arizona

    It’s early morning in Arizona, just before daybreak, and I am driving on an unpaved road along the border wall between the United States and Mexico. It is raining and I can hear thunder in the distance.  

    Driving just ahead of me are volunteers from Samaritans, who for decades have provided water, food, and other essential items to migrants who cross the border into southern Arizona. We’re on our way to the End of the Wall, a volunteer-run makeshift camp located near a gap in the wall that runs along the southern United States border with Mexico.  

    This remote part of the Sonoran desert, where the 30-foot steel bollard wall ends and a chest-high fence continues to mark the border, is a crossing point for people entering the US from Mexico in hopes of claiming asylum. For the past five weeks as a project coordinator with MSF, I have been supporting Arizona-based volunteer groups like the Samaritans who are providing humanitarian aid to migrants and asylum seekers in Arizona, including in the area where the End of the Wall camp is located. 

    Migrants and asylum seekers from Bangladesh and Nepal wait for US Border Patrol to pick them up along the unpaved road next to the US-Mexico border wall in Sasabe, Arizona. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    No typical day

    There is no typical day for those who volunteer at the End of the Wall camp. On some days, volunteers spend just a few minutes with asylum seekers. On other days, they can spend hours with them before US Border Patrol takes them away to their Forward Operation Base in Sasabe, and later to a detention center in Tucson where people can start the legal process for asylum. During this time, volunteers try to make people feel welcome and provide water, food, much-needed psychological first aid, and information about what comes next.

    This morning, we are the first to arrive at the camp. Volunteers get to work and start replenishing storage bins and a cooler with snacks and water bottles, among them 77-year-old Judy Storey, who has been volunteering with Samaritans for seven years. “When it gets really hot, we soak bandanas in ice water and bring them out,” she tells me. “People put it on their heads or around their necks, and it’s been a godsend when it’s in the 90s out here, and they have to wait five hours for Border Patrol.”

    Soon, a group of men and women who have just crossed the border walk in. “Hi, welcome,” we say, “where are you from?” Some respond that they are from Cameroon. “Northwest, Bamenda,” someone explains.  

    Another man says, “We are from Sudan, from Darfur.” He shares that he fled Sudan to neighboring Chad because of the war that started in April 2023. He then traveled for two months, starting in Morocco and then going to Spain, Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, and finally to the US. “I am now on the safe side,” he says.

    I notice that the Sudanese man is shaking. He asks where he is. I tell him he is in Arizona. I make sure he is able to drink water properly before a Border Patrol agent directs him to get in the car. I can only imagine what he went through to make it to this point.

    Outside the tent, other volunteers speak with a group of men and women from Mexico. A few minutes later, around 8:00 a.m., Border Patrol agents arrive to pick them up.  

    Asylum seekers from around the world cross at the End of the Wall camp and other gaps at the border wall in this remote region. They are dropped by guides on the Mexico side of the border and told that they can surrender to Border Patrol to apply for asylum protection in the US. But the nearest Border Patrol station is miles away and asylum seekers must walk for hours through extreme terrain and weather conditions or wait to be picked up by Border Patrol agents.

    Volunteers hand the new arrivals water bottles and snacks for the road. We tell them they are safe and try to explain what will happen next.

    I notice that the Sudanese man is shaking. He asks where he is. I tell him he is in Arizona. I make sure he is able to drink water properly before a Border Patrol agent directs him to get in the car. I can only imagine what he went through to make it to this point. 

    From left: Dr. Ramirez speaks with volunteers from Samaritans at the End of the Wall camp; messages written by a volunteer in several languages on one of the tents at the camp. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    The End of the Wall

    Volunteers from Samaritans, No More Deaths, and Humane Borders cover morning, midday, and night shifts, seven days a week at End of the Wall camp. They often stay until Border Patrol picks everyone up around 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

    There are three tents that provide shade and some protection from the elements; water bottles and tanks that are periodically replenished with drinking water; snacks and diapers in plastic bins. There is also a solar powered internet service that helps migrants and volunteers stay connected with family and emergency services, and porta potties.

    Despite language barriers, and with occasional help from an asylum seeker who speaks English or an online translation app, volunteers provide some guidance about what to do next, what to expect when Border Patrol arrives, and their right to seek asylum.

    Many of the volunteers speak Spanish fluently and can provide this information to asylum seekers who come from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. But since last year, people from countries as far as China, Guinea, Nepal, India, Iraq, Mauritania, and Yemen have arrived. Volunteer groups have gotten some ad hoc translations in Bengali and Arabic, but still, information in more languages is needed. 

    Abdul* reads a document in Bengali with information prepared by volunteers from Samaritans, including his current location, when US Border Patrol will to come to pick him up, and his right to file for asylum. As more people that speak languages other than English continue to arrive at the End of the Wall camp, there is a need for these translations, as many migrants do not speak English. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    Unaccompanied minors

    Often volunteers see unaccompanied minors arriving at the camp. Just the day before, on a very hot summer day, Abdul*, a 17-year-old boy from Bangladesh, crossed into the US at the End of the Wall camp. He looked tired and said he needed to drink water. He said he was hungry and hot.

    Volunteers from Samaritans invited Abdul to come into a tent for shade, water, apples, and other snacks to eat. Sally Meisenhelder, a 77-year-old volunteer with Samaritans, handed him some documents in Bengali about what to expect in the next few hours and after Border Patrol picks him up. These documents have been translated recently to bridge the language gap and provide some basic information to people arriving from Bangladesh.

    That day, I decided to wait for a few hours with Abdul to make sure he felt safe and was not alone for such a long time, waiting for Border Patrol.  

    The boy, Mateo*, was clutching a small plastic bag attached to the rosary around his neck. Inside was a piece of paper with his mother’s phone number written on it. She was in the US waiting for him.

    Through our language barrier, he explained that he flew from Bangladesh to Qatar, then to Paraguay or Uruguay; he was not sure which one. He then flew to Colombia and made his way north to cross the notoriously dangerous Darién Gap into Panama and continued onward through Central America and Mexico.  

    Most of his belongings were stolen in Mexico, he said, including his phone and passport. The only document he carried with him was a piece of paper—his birth certificate.

    Another day that week, there was a group of 11 unaccompanied minors from Mexico and Guatemala at the End of the Wall camp. The youngest one was five years old. Some of the older children, aged 11 and 12, told us that they found him alone and crying when they reached the camp at dawn. They asked him to sit with them and comforted him.

    Ramirez comforts a 3-year-old boy who was just stung by a bee at the End of the Wall camp. The boy’s mom, who is from Guatemala, is holding him, and shared that she fled to the US after she was extorted by gangs. “They told me that I would have to pay, or they would take my children,” she said. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    The boy, Mateo*, was clutching a small plastic bag attached to the rosary around his neck. Inside was a piece of paper with his mother’s phone number written on it. She was in the US waiting for him.

    When I met him, he kept telling me this paper was for the police. He seemed very worried about it.  

    I was able to call Mateo’s mother on video.  

    I am accustomed to stories of hardship and fear, but I have never gotten used to hearing these stories from children who undergo this traumatic journey, especially those who travel alone.

    “Mommy, mommy,” he said, so happy to see her. Mateo’s mom told him to be brave and not to cry. I explained to both of them that Border Patrol would take the boy to a special center for unaccompanied minors, and that I did not know exactly how long it would be before she heard from officials. I wanted to make sure that she knew he was fine.

    I am accustomed to stories of hardship and fear, but I have never gotten used to hearing these stories from children who undergo this traumatic journey, especially those who travel alone.

    It was just one of those days. We provide psychological first aid to people crossing the border to make sure their basic needs are covered. Connecting with family members to let them know that you are safe is one of the most impactful mental health interventions, especially during the critical moments after a traumatic event. 

    The End of the Wall camp is located across from this gap between the border wall and a chest-high fence. The area is used as a crossing point by migrants and asylum seekers entering the US.
    United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    Day Two at End of the Wall camp

    On another nontypical day, as I drive toward the End of the Wall camp, I encounter a group of 18 men from Nepal and Bangladesh who have walked about three miles west towards Sasabe along the hilly road next to the border wall. They crossed into the US overnight and kept on walking, and now they are tired and had sat down to rest. The shoes of one of the men had no soles, so he had used his shoelaces to secure the insoles to his feet.

    We give them water and snacks and ask them not to walk anymore, as the road is steep and there is little shade. The sun is about to come up for another hot day.

    Further ahead, I come across another group of nine men from India walking along the road. We tell them to stop walking because it’s dangerous, and to wait for Border Patrol.

    There are also more asylum seekers at the End of the Wall camp. There is a family from Chiapas, Mexico, who told us they fled cartel violence, leaving everything they owned behind. They feared their teenage daughter could be recruited into a prostitution ring.  

    I also meet a young mother from Guatemala and her three-year-old child. She said she used to own a corner store in the capital, Guatemala City, and was extorted by local gangs. “They told me that I would have to pay, or they would take my children,” she says.

    A group of volunteers from Samaritans drives out to check on people who left the camp on foot. Sally Meisenhelder is worried about those walking on the hilly road. “I have written messages in multiple languages on the tent telling people not to walk. They can be hit by a car,” she says. “When you come up over the hills [the driver] cannot see who is on the other side until they start to drop down. That is dangerous. Plus, they can’t make it all the way [to Sasabe].”

    Several cars from Border Patrol arrive on schedule around 8:00 a.m. They ask people to line up and inform us that some of the asylum seekers have been picked up on the road. They ask unaccompanied minors, families, and women to get in the cars first.

    We say goodbye and wish them good luck, waving as they are driven away. After cleaning up, we drive for about 40 minutes to the place we are staying. When we arrive, we get a message from volunteers from Samaritans. More asylum seekers had arrived at the End of Wall camp after we left, and they stayed behind to help.  

    * Name changed to protect privacy.

    Our work in Arizona

    Since early 2024, MSF has worked alongside volunteers from Humane Borders, Samaritans, No More Deaths, and other Arizona-based groups helping asylum seekers and migrants crossing the US-Mexico border in the Sonoran desert. Initially, a small team evaluated medical needs in the region, and suggested ways to develop capacity and increase services and collaboration. In August 2024, MSF resumed its support to local groups. MSF will consider additional support based on the needs that might arise from a surge in numbers of people crossing the border.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine Announce Over $3.5 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Behavioral Health Services in Virginia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA) announced $3,517,754 in federal funding to support behavioral health across Virginia. The funding will help expand mental health and substance use disorder services at community health centers, which are often a primary source of care for individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid. It was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Behavioral Health Service Expansion program.
    “Behavioral health care is a critical part of caring for our communities, and we need to do more to expand access to this support,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding will help community health centers across Virginia reach more Virginians and provide them with the behavioral health services they need.”
    The funding is allocated as follows:
    $600,000 for New Horizons Healthcare in Roanoke
    $600,000 for Neighborhood Health in Alexandria
    $600,000 for Rockbridge Area Health Center in Lexington
    $600,000 for Southwest Community Health in Saltville
    $599,996 for Tri-Area Community Health in Laurel Fork
    $517,758 for Daily Planet Inc. in Richmond
    Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to expand and support behavioral health across the Commonwealth. Last year, Warner and Kaine announced nearly $1.4 million in federal funding made possible by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act they helped pass to expand access to mental health care in Virginia. Warner and Kaine also introduced the CONNECT for Health Act, which would expand coverage of telehealth services, including mental health treatment and treatment for substance use disorders. Earlier this year, Kaine’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize his Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to help reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals passed out of the Senate HELP Committee. The law has already provided $100 million in funding for mental health care for providers across the country, including $5.6 million in federal funding for Virginia providers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Butler Joins Senate Resolution: “Every Woman Has the Right to Emergency Health Care”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for California – Laphonza Butler

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in introducing a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate 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 and resulting in preventable deaths.

    Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade over two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, 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 life-saving 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, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.

    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 life-saving emergency care in every state, but instead, the Court sent the case back to the lower courts, effectively punting on the issue. Senator Butler was one of 258 Congressional Democrats who filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to clarify that hospitals must provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life. While the litigation continues in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. 

    In addition to Senators Butler, Murray, Rosen, Baldwin, and Wyden the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bennet (D-Colo.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Booker (D-N.J.), Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cardin (D-Md.), Carper (D-Del.), Casey (D-Pa.), Coons (D-Del.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Duckworth (D-Ill.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Fetterman (D-Pa.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Hassan (D-N.H.), Heinrich (D-N.M.), Helmy (D-N.J.), Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kaine (D-Va.), King (I-Maine), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Merkley (D-Ore.), Padilla (D-Calif.), Peters (D-Mich.), Reed (D-R.I.), Sanders (I-Vt.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Smith (D-Minn.), Stabenow (D-Mich.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Warner (D-Va.), Warnock (D-Ga.), Warren (D-Mass.), Welch (D-Vt.), 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.

    Last week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio-13) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-11) introduced the House companion to today’s Senate resolution.

    The full text of the resolution can be read HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Bonamici, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Stop Predatory Payday Lending Practices

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to protect consumers from predatory payday lending practices.

    The Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act of 2024 would safeguard consumers as predatory payday lenders have continued to flourish online despite laws passed by many states to stop abusive lending. Internet lenders hide behind layers of anonymously registered websites and “lead generators” to evade enforcement and can empty consumers’ bank accounts before they have a chance to assert their rights.

    “Payday lenders take advantage of working families, struggling to pay medical bills or rent, by trapping them in a seemingly endless cycle of debt,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “I’m proud to lead this legislation with Congresswoman Bonamici that would protect consumers across the country by closing loopholes, increasing transparency, and putting an end to these predatory lending practices. Congress has a responsibly to protect hardworking people from bad actors, and that’s exactly what we will accomplish with our SAFE Lending Act.”

    “Predatory payday lenders rob hard-working individuals and families of their resources at a time when they are financially vulnerable,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The SAFE Lending Act would finally put an end to the unscrupulous practices payday lenders use to trap consumers in an unending cycle of debt.”

    “Predatory payday lenders trap hardworking Americans in an inescapable vortex of debt,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “Before we kicked payday lenders out of Oregon, they preyed on families in my blue-collar neighborhood. We need strong consumer protections to break this cycle of endless debt for families across America.”

    The SAFE Lending Act is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Main Street Alliance, U.S. PIRG, and UnidosUS. It would:

    1. Give Consumers Control of Their Own Bank Accounts

    • Prevent third parties from gaining control of a consumer’s account through remotely created checks (RCCs) – checks from a consumer’s bank account created by third parties. To prevent unauthorized RCCs, consumers would be able to preauthorize exactly who can create an RCC on his or her behalf, such as when traveling.
    • Allow consumers to cancel an automatic withdrawal in connection with a small-dollar loan. This would prevent an internet payday lender from stripping a checking account without a consumer being able to stop it.

     2. Allow Consumers to Regain Control of their Money and Increase Transparency

    • Require all lenders, including banks, to abide by state rules for the small-dollar, payday-like loans they may offer customers in a state. Many individual states currently have much tougher laws than the federal government. There is currently no federal cap on interest or limit on the number of times a loan can be rolled over.
    • Increase transparency and create a better understanding of the small-dollar loan industry by requiring payday lenders to register with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
    • Ban overdraft fees on prepaid cards issued by payday lenders who use them to gain access to consumers’ funds and to add to the already exorbitant costs of payday loans.
    • Require the CFPB to monitor any other fees associated with payday prepaid cards and issue a rule banning any other predatory fees on prepaid cards.

     3. Ban Lead Generators and Anonymous Payday Lending

    • Some websites describe themselves as payday lenders but are actually “lead generators” that collect applications and auction them to payday lenders and others. This practice is rife with abuse and has led to fraudulent debt collection.
    • The SAFE Lending Act bans lead generators and anonymously registered websites in payday lending.

    The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on access to capital on Tribal lands and directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to promulgate rules to implement this legislation.  

    A one-page summary of the SAFE Lending Act can be found here. The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA) and Katie Porter (D-CA).

    The Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

    Issues: Jobs, Labor, & the Economy

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “We Will Not Back Down”: Whip Clark Touts Democrats’ “Commitment to America’s Women”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Katherine Clark (5th District of Massachusetts)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), DWC Vice Chairs Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) and Veronica Escobar (TX-18), DWC Communications Co-Chair Shontel Brown (OH-11), DWC Pro-Choice Caucus Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28), and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-2) to announce the “Commitment to America’s Women,” a platform reaffirming Democrats’ commitment to safeguarding reproductive freedom, lowering costs, strengthening economic security, and opposing MAGA Republicans’ continued attacks on women and girls. Below is a transcript of her remarks: 

    “So grateful to all my colleagues for being here and to Chair Frankel for your leadership of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. In the face of a politics-first MAGA Majority, the DWC has been a force for women’s freedom, for their dignity and prosperity.

    “I am proud to stand with my colleagues in making a solemn commitment to American women. We will not back down from this fight. We will not allow extremists to prioritize their ideology over your wellbeing. We will always defend your basic rights. 

    “Our country faces a choice between two radically different visions for the future of our daughters and our granddaughters. You’ve heard what that means for reproductive freedom. You’ve heard about the need to lower costs. Because this is also about economic opportunity. The ability to have a job, to pursue a career, and raise a family. The ability not just to get by but get ahead. Let’s look at early education.

    “Women know the cost of child care is painfully — outrageously — high. We know it pushes 4 out of 10 families into debt. Trump thinks that child care is — quote — ‘not that expensive.’ 

    “We want to lower those costs and open more classrooms in more neighborhoods. Trump wants to eliminate Head Start. It’s all written down in Project 2025. We want to pay early educators a fair wage. Trump proposes to cut school funding in half, fire teachers, and shut down the Department of Education. 

    “That’s the stark difference between our two plans. Democrats are ready to move our country forward and build a future worthy of our children. A future where every family can afford to give their child a great start. 

    “So, let’s reject the extremism and build that better future. It’s my pleasure to yield to a leader who’s been helping us get there. My friend from the land of enchantment, New Mexico, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández.” 

    Photos of the event can be found HERE, the full event can be viewed HERE

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Cortez Masto Delivers Remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 47th Annual Awards Gala

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    In Case You Missed It, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) delivered remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) 47th Annual Awards Gala as celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month kick off across the United States. Cortez Masto celebrated the Latino community’s immeasurable contributions to our country and discussed Congressional Democrats’ fight to continue delivering for all American families.
    A third generation Nevadan, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is the first and only Latina in the U.S. Senate and the highest ranking Hispanic Senator in the Democratic Caucus. She passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in the Senate. She helped create a new series of commemorative circulating coins highlighting remarkable American women trailblazers in the U.S.—including Latinas like Celia Cruz, Nina Otero-Warren, and Jovita Idar. And she’s leading the charge in the Senate to build the National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall.
    Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery.
    I want to thank CHCI Chair Representative Adriano Espaillat, CHCI’s President and CEO Marco Davis, and all the CHCI staff for inviting me and putting such a great event together.
    Looking out at this crowd, I feel so much pride in our Latino community and how much it’s grown.
    When my grandfather, a baker from Chihuahua, Mexico, came to Nevada to pursue the American Dream, the Latino community was pretty small.
    As my father grew up and became a larger part of the community, he started regularly getting together with a key group of Latinos in Southern Nevada to discuss how to promote Latino businesses, education, and workers.
    That was 40-50 years ago. Today, Latinos make up one third of the population in Nevada! It’s incredible.
    The Latino community is growing throughout this country. But we all know we continue to face challenges to our success.
    That’s why the CHC is working together with the Biden-Harris administration to lower costs for Latino families, create clean energy jobs that will help us address the climate crisis, build more homes that working Latinos can afford, and ensure our small businesses have the resources they need to thrive.
    Latino families deserve every opportunity – just look at how much we’ve contributed to this country! The 2024 report on U.S. Latino GDP was just released, and from 2019 to 2022, the Latino GDP in the United States grew faster than the GDP of any of the world’s top 10 economies – including China and India!
    And yet, we still have a huge pay gap in this country. Imagine how much it would help Latino families if we close that gap.
    It’s our goal as the CHC to close that gap by ensuring every Latino across this country has a seat at the table.
    And what better way to continue to promote who we are than by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?
    This is our time to share our achievements as Latinos, our culture, our food – to share who we are with this country we love so much.
    And our stories deserve to be told! That’s why we’re working to build a The Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall here in Washington! And it’s why we passed a bill out of Congress to put Latinas like Celia Cruz, Jovita Idar, and Nina Otero-Warren on American quarters!
    But the CHC is just getting started.
    We will continue to stand with Latinos across this country as we fight to restore a woman’s right to choose, bring down prices at the grocery store, expand affordable housing, and create a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers and their families.
    Together, we will keep working to ensure future generations of Latinos can live, work, and thrive in this country.
    Thank you!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Announces $200 Million for Moses Lake’s Group 14 to Help Power America’s Battery Manufacturing Sector, Create 300 Local Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray is the Chair of the full Senate Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee that funds the Department of Energy, and has made investments in clean energy and American manufacturing and innovation a top funding priority for the federal government
    ICYMI FROM AUGUST 2023: Senator Murray Discusses New Clean Energy Jobs and Opportunities at Big Bend Community College’s Workforce Training Center in Moses Lake
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Energy & Water Development Appropriations subcommittee, announced $200 million in federal funding to help Moses Lake’s Group 14 build a new facility to produce silane. Silane gas is critical for the development and manufacturing of new energy storage devices and advanced batteries. The proposed facility would produce silane in Moses Lake at a significantly reduced capital and energy requirement from the conventional process and be capable of directly feeding silane to multiple silicon anode powder manufacturers via pipeline or container, alleviating a critical bottleneck for the industry.
    “For America to continue building a stronger, cleaner economy and leading the world in new technologies, we have to strengthen our supply chains and invest in bringing the industries that are powering the future to states like Washington—and that’s exactly what this funding from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will do,” said Senator Murray. “This investment isn’t just bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to Moses Lake, it is bringing hundreds of jobs to Moses Lake and helping our country ramp up production of a key resource that is necessary to make batteries. The new Group14 facility in Washington state will reduce America’s dependence on countries like China for silane gas and provide a crucial foundation to build even more domestic manufacturing of other products for years to come. We are building a stronger clean energy economy while creating good-paying union jobs in our rural communities—this is a win for Moses Lake, for union workers, our future, and our entire economy.”
    By manufacturing and delivering large commercial volumes of transformational silicon-based anode material named SCC55 , Group14 is seeking to support the global transition from fossil fuels to a green energy future with a net zero-carbon economy.
    However, manufacturing large commercial volumes of silicon-based anode materials in the U.S. requires commensurately large-scale commercial access to silane gas. The objective of this project is to install, commission, and operate a U.S.-based silane manufacturing plant.
    While the largest source of silane today is China, Group14 and other silicon battery companies must strategically source this critical raw material domestically to support EV-scale battery production and reduce foreign battery supply chain dependence. Approximately 80% of the largest available source of silane produced in the U.S. is controlled by a single company and earmarked for solar polysilicon. Additional domestic silane capacity is required to develop the silicon battery industry.
    The proposed project will create more than 300 jobs to construct the plant and retain 150 employees to commission, ramp up, and sustain production. Group14 will be meeting quarterly with the Washington Building Trades to collaborate on ensuring there is a skilled workforce to complete the project on time and on budget. In addition, Group14 will use its Project Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council for local residents to provide feedback on the project and address issues early on in the project. Group14 anticipates that it will provide funding to help support workforce development in the local community.
    As Appropriations Chair, Senator Murray is supporting key investments to ensure the federal government can deliver grants and loans to develop a diversified portfolio of projects that help deliver a durable and secure battery manufacturing supply chain for the American people. In the Fiscal Year 2025 Senate energy bill Murray authored and passed out of committee, she secured $17.74 billion for the Department of Energy’s non-defense programs, a $296 million increase over Fiscal Year 2024. That funding includes key investments to boost renewable energy and strengthen our energy grid. Murray is currently working to pass this bill into law before the end of the year.
    Murray visited Moses Lake just last year to tour Big Bend Community College’s Workforce Training Center and hold a roundtable discussion on how new clean energy investments are bringing career opportunities to communities like Moses Lake while helping tackle the climate crisis. Murray’s visit came shortly after Group14 broke ground on their battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake—with a boost from climate incentives Murray secured in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Collins, King Announce More Than $2,000,000 for Police Departments in Maine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that six Maine police departments have been awarded a total of $2,075,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant programs. The various programs overseen by the COPS office support numerous initiatives for local police departments, including improved hiring practices, school violence prevention, community policing development, and mental health wellness for law enforcement officers and their families.

    “Law enforcement officers willingly place themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities. It is our responsibility to equip them with the resources they need,” said Senators Collins and King. “This important funding will help improve community policing across the State of Maine, enhance school safety, and provide essential mental health support for law enforcement officers.”

    The COPS grant funding awarded to Maine law enforcement agencies falls into four distinct categories:

    • COPS Hiring Program (CHP): More than $157 million was awarded to 235 agencies nationwide to hire nearly 1,200 entry-level law enforcement officers, aimed at increasing community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
      • In Maine, the recipients include:
        • Town of Rangeley: $125,000
        • Rumford Police Department: $250,000
        • City of Westbrook: $250,000
    • School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP): Approximately $73 million was awarded to 203 school districts and government entities across the country to enhance security on school grounds, improving safety measures for students and staff.
      • In Maine, the recipients include:
        • Lewiston Public Schools: $500,000
        • Maine School Administrative District 17: $500,000
    • Community Policing Development (CPD): This program provided more than $25.1 million nationwide to support crisis intervention teams, accreditation efforts, and innovative policing strategies, all aimed at improving community relations and law enforcement capabilities.
      • In Maine, the recipient of this funding is:
        • Rumford Police Department (supporting law enforcement agencies seeking accreditation in Oxford County): $250,000
    • Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness (LEMHWA) Program: More than $9 million was awarded nationwide to improve the delivery of mental health and wellness services for law enforcement officers and support staff.
      • In Maine, the recipient of this funding is:
        • Maine Indian Township Tribal Government: $200,000

    These grants are part of a broader national effort by the DOJ’s COPS office to combat opioid and methamphetamine distribution, prepare for active shooter situations, and support technical assistance and hiring programs for law enforcement agencies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: September 19th, 2024 Good Samaritan legislation inches closer to president’s desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Legislation that would make it easier to clean up abandoned mines is one step closer to the president’s desk.
    The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week.
    The legislation received unanimous support in the U.S. Senate earlier this year, but still needs to pass the full House before it can make it to the president’s desk.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $627,000 for Firefighters, First Responders in Western Maryland

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Chris Van Hollen

    September 20, 2024

    Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $627,785.49 in federal funding to support firefighters and first responders across Western Maryland. The funding will enhance emergency response capabilities through equipment and facility upgrades, ensuring better protection for the public and the volunteer firefighters. These awards come after the lawmakers previously announced $838,000 last month for Western Maryland fire departments and emergency response agencies.

    “Western Maryland residents have always been able to count on their firefighters and first responders when emergencies arise. This federal funding will help ensure local fire departments have the resources they need to continue keeping our communities safe,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “Firefighters are beacons of their communities, providing life-saving care in our scariest moments. They have our back, and Team Maryland has theirs. We will continue to fight for funding that protects our protectors,” said Senator Cardin.

    “My responsibility on the House Appropriations Committee is to fight for and secure the funding Marylanders deserve,” said Congressman David Trone. “I’m proud Team Maryland is able to further support the firefighters and first responders keeping our communities safe.”

    The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

    1. $276,254.54 to replace outdated hoses and nozzles at seven Allegany County Fire Departments, including Barton Fire Department, Goodwill Fire Company, Borden Shaft Volunteer Fire Department, LaVale Volunteer Fire Department, Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company, Cresaptown Volunteer Fire Department, and Oldtown Volunteer Fire Department
    2. $222,035.23 to Garrett County to replace outdated fire hoses at Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company, Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, and Gorman Fire Department
    3. $63,142.85 to Bedford Road Volunteer Fire Company in Allegany County to purchase 17 new sets of personal protective equipment
    4. $41,876.68 to Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS Company in Washington County to replace outdated fire hoses and nozzles and purchase two thermal imaging cameras
    5. $24,476.19 to Midland Fire Company in Allegany County to purchase a new gear washer and dryer

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Congressman Meuser’s Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9)

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Huizenga. The bill includes a beneficial provision authored by Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), H.R. 4653, the Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act.

    Rep. Meuser’s legislation specifically targets foreign overreach by addressing the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study how this EU directive harms U.S. businesses.

    CSDDD imposes politically motivated environmental and social mandates on U.S. businesses operating in European markets, threatening U.S. economic sovereignty, and harming our economy. Any U.S. business that does $100 million in revenue in the EU is captured and forced to comply or face heavy penalties.

    “Let me be clear—Republicans are not against ESG as an investment choice,” said Congressman Meuser. “If individual investors want to prioritize environmental, social, or governance factors, that’s their freedom. What we oppose is when these ideological views are mandated—when investors and businesses are forced to comply with burdensome regulations that prioritize political ideology over profitability.”

    Congressman Meuser’s legislation prioritizes economic growth, limits regulatory overreach, and safeguards the freedom of choice for American investors. Congressman Meuser urges the Senate to swiftly pass this important legislation to ensure American businesses and investors are protected from harmful, unnecessary mandates.

    Text of H.R. 4653, the Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act, can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Promote U.S.-Israel Energy Development Cooperation

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

    Washington DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced the introduction Thursday of the BIRD Energy and U.S.-Israel Energy Center Reauthorization Act of 2024. This bipartisan legislation expands upon the U.S.-Israel energy cooperation program, increasing funding and extending the program through 2034 to advance clean energy technologies, improve energy security, and foster economic innovation in both nations.

    The BIRD Energy program has consistently demonstrated its success, supporting 49 projects with a combined investment of more than $38 million. These initiatives have driven advancements in clean energy technologies and fostered strong U.S.-Israel collaboration.

    “By renewing and expanding this vital partnership, we can leverage our combined resources to tackle the most pressing energy challenges of today, while supporting clean energy innovation and job creation in both the U.S. and Israel,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “This legislation will drive advancements in energy storage, cybersecurity for energy infrastructure, renewable energy, and more.”

    “The BIRD Energy partnership allows both the U.S. and Israel to develop the next generation of clean energy technology. This initiative not only strengthens our economic ties but also accelerates innovation, which is the key to protecting our environment while growing our economy,” said Rep. Carter. “Together, we can create a reliable, affordable clean energy sector, and reauthorizing the BIRD program is a critical step in getting us there.”

    “Reauthorizing the BIRD Energy program is an important demonstration of the strong partnership with our ally Israel, making lasting investments in the future of clean energy. By collaborating on cutting-edge technologies, we can enhance our energy security, create good-paying jobs, and contribute to the global fight against climate change,” said Rep. Schneider. “The success of this program proves that when nations come together with a shared goal, we can make meaningful strides toward a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous future.”

    “I am grateful to cosponsor this important bipartisan bill that will further critical U.S.-Israel cooperation on the energies of the future like hydrogen and fusion as well as the technologies to modernize and protect our energy infrastructure. U.S.-Israel energy cooperation brings together the best of both nations’ capabilities to advance our joint energy goals,” said Rep. Wilson “It is imperative that we deepen and expand our cooperation with our valued ally Israel across all sectors to ensure we can meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

    The BIRD Energy program has sparked partnerships between Israel and U.S. companies resulting in the development of innovative flexible solar panels for wireless electronics. Another collaboration led to solar energy production systems that operate over water reservoirs.

    By focusing on innovative solutions like solar energy, smart grid systems, and energy efficiency, BIRD Energy has significantly enhanced both countries’ energy security while contributing to global progress in the clean energy sector.

    The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation program, established in 2009, has supported the commercialization of clean energy technologies and played a key role in improving both countries’ energy competitiveness. Read the entire bill here.

     

    ####

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: September 20th, 2024 Heinrich Delivers Over $5.4 Million to Strengthen Maternal and Newborn Care, Expand Mental Health Care & Substance Use Treatment in Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced three Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grants he secured totaling $5,416,000 to strengthen maternal and newborn care, improving outcomes for mothers and babies in rural New Mexico, and to expand mental health care and substance use disorder treatment in Gallup and Carlsbad. 

    Heinrich secured these three grants in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

    “Every New Mexican should be able to access affordable, high-quality health care, in their home communities,” said Heinrich. “These investments will help ensure that more mothers and their newborns can access the health care they need closer to home, and more folks can access the mental health care and substance use treatment when and where they need it.”

    Heinrich fought for and secured $3,900,000 for the University of New Mexico’s Neonatal Opiate Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Project to improve prenatal, delivery, and post birth care for babies and mothers in rural New Mexico. Currently, there is a crisis in rural maternity care in New Mexico. By supporting rural providers, families can access maternity care closer to home – improving outcomes for families and babies in rural New Mexico.

    Additionally, Heinrich fought for and secured $516,000 for Gallup Community Health to expand its mental health services to include onsite behavioral health and substance use disorder counseling and case management.

    Heinrich also fought for and secured $1,000,000 for Carlsbad Lifehouse to develop a certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Southeastern New Mexico.

    This is the latest example of Heinrich’s longtime work to provide New Mexicans better access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment. 

    Heinrich negotiated and passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included a provision that paved the way for New Mexico to be added to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program. This program provides states with funding to expand access to mental health care and substance use services.  In the FY23 Appropriations Bills, Heinrich also secured a $450,000 Congressionally Directed Spending grant for Family and Youth Innovations Plus (FYI+) in Las Cruces to become the first CCBHC in New Mexico, which was instrumental in helping New Mexico eventually qualify for the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program.  

    Find an extensive list of Heinrich’s actions to improve access to mental health care in New Mexico here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Southern California Man Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns

    Source: US State of California

    A Southern California man pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing and filing false tax returns for his clients.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, starting in 2013, Salvador Gonzalez, of Corona, operated Grace’s Lighthouse Resource Center Inc., a return-preparation business. Since then, Gonzalez has prepared or assisted in the preparation of more than 11,000 tax returns that requested refunds from the IRS totaling more than $38 million. 

    Consistently, Gonzalez directed his clients to create a phony corporation and to title their homes, cars and other assets in the name of the corporation. Gonzalez then referred those clients to an associate to prepare these sham corporation’s tax returns. The associate would provide the clients with a blank spreadsheet and request that they input their business expenses into that spreadsheet. At Gonzalez’s direction, the clients would include personal expenses, such as their mortgage payments, car payments and utility bills, and then provide the spreadsheet to the associate. The associate would, in turn, use the spreadsheet to prepare the business tax returns, which inevitably would show a loss.

    Gonzalez then prepared the clients’ individual income tax returns, which incorporated the fraudulent business losses and offset their income. To further reduce the clients’ taxes owed to the IRS, Gonzalez also fabricated deductions on the personal returns such as unreimbursed employee expenses, cash contributions to charity and medical and dental expenses. As a result of Gonzalez’s fraudulent return-preparation practices, his clients paid less taxes than they owed.

    Gonzalez profited from his return-preparation business. Before 2019, he typically charged clients a flat fee of $500 per tax return. In 2019, he started charging clients 1% of their gross income as a fee for his services.

    Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 7 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns to which he has pleaded guilty. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and any other statutory factors.  

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli A. Alcaraz for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Blaine’s Bulletin – From Friendship to Fraud

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03)

    Recently, I spoke with a resident from right here in Missouri who had fallen victim to a scam that seemed like something out of a thriller but, unfortunately, is becoming all too common. She shared a story about “Anna,” someone she believed she knew everything about—a person who had carefully built a genuine connection over time. “I had zero doubt that Anna was who she said she was. I knew everything about her, and I was certain she cared about me,” she explained. But that trust was shattered when the truth came out: it was all a carefully orchestrated scam.

    Sadly, this isn’t an isolated case. Many Missourians, or someone they know, have come dangerously close to being deceived. Whether it’s clicking a link that looks like it’s from your local bank or engaging with someone posing as a friend in need, we’re all just a moment away from falling into a scammer’s trap. These criminals are constantly evolving, using more sophisticated and deceptive tactics every day. Their goal is simple: steal your hard-earned money and personal information.

    Scammers are targeting Missourians through a variety of schemes—fake investments, fraudulent purchases, crypto, phony charities, and more. They’ve mastered the art of making their texts, phone calls, and online interactions appear legitimate, luring people into their web. Research shows that most scam victims don’t report these crimes. While property theft or vandalism is often reported to law enforcement, less than 30% of scam victims take that step. This underreporting is concerning because these scams are on the rise, and their financial and emotional toll can be just as devastating.

    Even here in Missouri, the anxiety over being scammed is growing. Over half of Americans say they frequently or occasionally worry about being tricked into sending money or sharing financial details. Even if you think you’re safe, nearly 20% of people admit to worrying occasionally, and with scammers becoming bolder, those numbers are likely to rise. These schemes leave deep scars—not only financially but emotionally. They prey on your trust, emotions, and the desire to improve your financial future, making them hard to detect until it’s too late.

    This week, my colleagues and I in Congress addressed this pressing issue during a hearing titled, “Protecting Americans’ Savings: Examining the Economics of the Multi-Billion Dollar Romance Confidence Scam Industry.” My top priority is combating these increasingly sophisticated criminals and the risks they pose to Missouri’s families and the nation’s financial security. While our U.S. financial system has safeguards to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, scam victims are still being manipulated into unknowingly wiring large sums to foreign accounts. Scammers often coach their victims to bypass safeguards in the banking system like suspicious activity reports and finding ways around the system. It’s time to put an end to this chaos.

    I urge everyone to stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim. Don’t trust unsolicited messages or emails, especially if they request personal information or money. Verify any financial opportunities with trusted professionals or secure sources. Be cautious of anyone who tries to build a quick, deep connection, especially if they bring up investments or money.

    If you are ever targeted by a scam, report it to ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.  It’s one of the most powerful tools we have in fighting back against these criminals and protecting our community from their traps.

    CONTACT US: I encourage you to visit my official website or call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) or Cottleville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter and Instagram.

                                                                                                                                                                         ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Introduces Legislation to Correct Past Injustices Against Pregnant Servicemembers

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

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Women Involuntary Separated Earnings Remittance (WISER) Act to rectify a wrong perpetuated against women servicemembers from 1951 to 1976. Specifically, this bill establishes a process for upgrades to military records and discharges for women who were wrongfully and involuntarily separated due to parenthood and/or pregnancy, provides a one-time payment to eligible veterans, and expands U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care eligibility to these veterans.

    “Despite their great sacrifice and commitment to defending our nation, women veterans have faced a long history of systemic inequities both in the military and within the VA,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “As the founder and former chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, my goal has been to identify disparities in access to care and benefits for women veterans, and where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that rectifies past injustices. The unfair practice of discharging women from the military because they became pregnant or became a mother was not only wrong but it perpetuated a harmful cycle of gender prejudice. 

    “My bill, the WISER Act, corrects this wrong, and it also provides recompense for this transgression and often overlooked attack on women servicemembers. This bill is a critical step forward in not only rectifying the impact of this discriminatory practice and restoring fairness for these women veterans, but it brings true equity closer to the two million women who have served our nation in uniform.”

    Background on the WISER Act

    In June 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was enacted, which formally authorized the appointment and enlistment of women in the regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Three years later, Executive Order 10240 changed everything for women with family obligations.

    Specifically, from 1951 to 1976, many women servicemembers were involuntarily separated from the military due to motherhood, living with a stepchild for more than 30 days per year, becoming pregnant, adopting a child, and/or gaining custody of a child. These women were not afforded separation benefits and lost their ability to earn an income and to continue serving our country in uniform. In 1976, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that Executive Order 10240 was unconstitutional and the corresponding policy was rescinded. However, there was no action to make the affected women whole.

    To begin to right this wrong, I authored language (Section 530) acknowledging this discriminatory policy was wrong. The language was included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. While this resolution was a step forward, now is the time for Congress to act on that sentiment.

    The WISER Act would establish a process for discharge upgrades for those who were wrongfully and involuntarily separated and provide a one time payment to eligible veterans, as well as expand VA health care eligibility for these veterans. 

    This bill is endorsed by Minority Veterans of America (MVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and American Veterans (AMVETS).

    Read the full text of the bill here.  

    ###

    Issues: 118th Congress, Veterans’ Affairs, Women Veterans Task Force

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Colorado Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offenses Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q

    Source: US State of California

    Anderson Lee Aldrich, 24, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences to run consecutive to 190 years in prison after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges related to the Nov. 19, 2022, mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ establishment in Colorado Springs.  

    According to the plea agreement, Aldrich admitted to murdering five people, injuring 19, and attempting to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious, and premediated attack at Club Q. According to the plea, Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded, privately manufactured assault weapon and began firing. Aldrich continued firing until subdued by patrons of the Club. As part of the plea, Aldrich admitted that this attack was in part motivated because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person.

    “Fueled by hate, the defendant targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community at a place that represented belonging, safety, and acceptance – stealing five people from their loved ones, injuring 19 others, and striking fear across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the Justice Department is committed to protecting the right of every person in this country to live free from the fear that they will be targeted by hate-fueled violence or discrimination based on who they are or who they love. I am grateful to every agent, prosecutor, and staff member across the Department – from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, to the Civil Rights Division, the ATF, and FBI – for their work on this case. The Justice Department will never stop working to defend the safety and civil rights of all people in our country.”

    “The 2022 mass shooting at Club Q is one of the most violent crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community in history,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI and our partners have worked tirelessly towards this sentencing, but the true heroes are the patrons of the Club who selflessly acted to subdue the defendant. This Pride Month and every month, the FBI stands with the survivors, victims, and families of homophobic violence and hate.”

    “ATF will not rest until perpetrators like this defendant are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “I hope today’s life sentence brings at least some peace to the victims and survivors of this senseless, horrific tragedy. That this sentence should come during Pride month reinforces how far we have left to go before all communities, including all LGBTQIA+ communities, are safe here. It also shows how far ATF and all our partners will go to ensure hatred does not win.”

    “The defendant’s mass shooting and heinous targeting of Club Q is one of the most devastating assaults on the LGBTQIA+ community in our nation’s history. This sentence cannot reclaim the lives lost or undo the harms inflicted. But we hope that it provides the survivors, the victims’ families, and their communities a small measure of justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our message today should be loud and clear. No one should have to fear for their life or their safety because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate hate-fueled, bias-driven attacks.”

    “Hate has no place in our country and no place in Colorado” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch for the District of Colorado. “I hope that today’s sentence demonstrates to the victims and those connected to this horrific event that we do not tolerate these heinous acts of violence.”

    The FBI Denver Field Office, Colorado Springs Police Department, and ATF investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Connaughty and Bryan Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: September 20th, 2024 Heinrich, Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Bill extends the wildly successful Every Kid Outdoors Program that Heinrich helped to establish in 2019 to provide all American fourth graders and their families free national park access

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced their bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act to provide free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth grade students and their families, through 2031.

    “As a father and a former outdoor educator, I know firsthand how much of a difference getting outside can make for our kids,” said Heinrich. “I’m so proud of the doors we have opened to our public lands for fourth graders and their families since we passed my Every Kid Outdoors Act into law five years ago. Now, we can double down on this successful program, turning our national parks and other public lands into outdoor classrooms with endless opportunities for children to learn and families to make new memories.”

    “Introducing young Americans to our national parks inspires an appreciation for the lands and resources that help define our country. I’m proud to support this legislation that allows the next generation to discover our national treasures and explore the outdoors,”said Boozman.

    Starting in 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior has offered fourth graders and their families free entrance to all federally managed public lands. Heinrich led the original bipartisan effort in Congress, alongside then-U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to codify the Every Kid Outdoors program into law. Heinrich and Alexander’s Every Kid Outdoors Act passed in 2019 as part of the larger John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. 

    The authorization under Heinrich’s original legislation is currently scheduled to expire in 2026. Heinrich and Boozman’s Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act would extend the authorization for the program through 2031.

    Full text of the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act can be found HERE.

    The Every Kid Outdoors program has been wildly successful at encouraging tens of thousands of children and their families to explore America’s public lands, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all. In 2023, Every Kid Outdoors vouchers helped create free admission for 11,805 visits to New Mexico public lands, including 879 visits to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 295 visits to Bandelier National Monument, and 396 visits to White Sands National Park.

    Support for the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act:

    The Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act has garnered widespread support, including endorsements from The Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, and the Outdoor Alliance for Kids.

    “Over the past nine years, hundreds of thousands of children have been able to enjoy our public lands with the support of the Every Kid Outdoors program. This program has helped to introduce and facilitate outdoors adventures and experiences to these children and their families during a critical formative period in their lives. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is eager to see this program continue to benefit families and communities for generations to come,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NREL Research Points Path to Higher Blends of Biodiesel

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL researchers have identified strategies to blend more biomass-based diesel fuel into petroleum diesel. Photo from National Biodiesel Board, NREL

    Barriers that are currently preventing the use of greater percentages of biomass-based diesel fuel blended into petroleum diesel have been identified, along with strategies to overcome them, according to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

    The bio-derived diesel fuel in use today is blended into petroleum diesel at a relatively low percentage, typically from 5% to 20%. An NREL team investigated the performance of much higher blends of biodiesel into both renewable diesel and petroleum diesel. They specifically examined blends of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. A switch to using higher percentages of biomass-based diesel fuels would reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by the transportation sector. Biodiesel is an oxygenate made from fats, oils, and greases. Renewable diesel is made from the same feedstocks but processed to be a hydrocarbon chemically similar to petroleum diesel.

    “It’s amazing to me, but there are thousands of papers published every year on biodiesel, and almost nobody looks at blends over 20%,” said NREL Senior Research Fellow Robert McCormick, corresponding author of the newly published research paper “Properties That Potentially Limit High-Level Blends of Biomass-Based Diesel Fuel,” which appears in the journal Energy & Fuels. “This research addresses a major data gap about biodiesel blends, both because it looks at high-level blends and because it looks at blends with renewable diesel as well as petroleum diesel. Biodiesel blends with renewable diesel are 100% renewable.”

    The paper was coauthored by researchers Gina Fioroni, Nimal Naser, and Jon Luecke, all also from NREL.

    The researchers examined biodiesel produced from soybean oil, which is the most common feedstock used in the United States to make the fuel. They pointed out that a detailed understanding about the properties of biodiesel blended at levels above 20% is lacking.

    Heavy-duty long-haul trucks and off-road equipment, marine shipping, and commercial aircraft are expected to continue requiring liquid fuels even as electrification of smaller vehicles ramps up. These fuels will need to be low-net greenhouse gas emissions—such as biodiesel and renewable diesel—and compatible with existing engines. The use of biodiesel and renewable diesel is forecast to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions from 40% to 86% compared to petroleum diesel, depending upon the feedstock used. 

    McCormick said with a biodiesel blend greater than about 50%, “you start to have property differences with petroleum that that could be problematic.” At less than 50%, the differences do not pose much of a challenge. 

    Challenges with biodiesel blends greater than 50% can be mitigated, however. For example, diesel fuels must be reformulated in winter months to ensure that the cloud point—the temperature where wax begins to form—is below the expected ambient temperature. Wax can cause fuel filter clogging such that the engine cannot operate. Biodiesel cloud point can be as low as 20°F but for soy biodiesel is around 32°F, making the use of 100% biodiesel problematic in areas with colder winters.  

    “This issue can be managed by reducing the blend level or by blending the biodiesel into different hydrocarbon blendstocks with a lower cloud point during the winter months—as is commonly done today for B20 [a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel],” McCormick said. “A similar strategy could be used to mitigate the high boiling point of biodiesel, which is near the top of the diesel boiling range.” 

    A hydrocarbon blendstock with a lower boiling point, such as kerosene, could be used for biodiesel blends over 50%, alleviating challenges in cold starting the engine, accumulation of fuel in the engine lubricant, and potentially failure of emission control catalysts to “light-off” or achieve high enough temperature.

    The research, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, also examined other fuel properties such as density, oxidation stability, and water content to determine whether these might limit the blending of biodiesel. Oxidation stability, for example, may be reduced as more biodiesel is blended, but the problem can be overcome by using higher levels of antioxidant additives.

    Significant future research is needed to address the challenges of high level biodiesel blends, particularly on how they impact diesel engine emission control systems. The NREL paper serves as a research road map for addressing these challenges.

    Learn more about NREL’s sustainable transportation and mobility research. Sign up for NREL’s quarterly transportation and mobility research newsletter, Sustainable Mobility Matters, to stay current on the latest news.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: September 20th, 2024 Heinrich, Luján Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month – which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. Led by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Senate passed the resolution on Wednesday. 

    “During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the remarkable accomplishments and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in shaping the economic, social, and cultural landscape of our state and the nation. In New Mexico, Hispanic heritage is as much about lifting up leaders like Senator Dennis Chávez and educator Dolores Gonzáles as it is about our way of life — from the food eaten and the art created, to the close familial ties, to the way querencia infuses our approach to public lands,” said Heinrich. “This month and every month, I remain committed to celebrating Hispanic heritage and addressing the issues that matter most to all New Mexicans, expanding opportunities for a brighter future.” 

    “Hispanic Heritage Month offers us a chance to recognize and celebrate the profound impact of Hispanic Americans in New Mexico and across the nation. As the first Hispanic to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate in more than 40 years, I feel deeply blessed to come from such a strong and resilient community. New Mexico, with the largest percentage of Hispanics of any state in the country, has long contributed to the fabric of America,” said Luján. 

    The full text of the resolution is available HERE. 

    This month, Heinrich and Luján also introduced a resolution to designate the week starting on September 9, 2024 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, and celebrate the vast contributions of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)— including New Mexico’s 24 HSIs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Government Official Arrested for Acting as Unregistered Agent of South Korean Government

    Source: US State of California

    Sue Mi Terry Provided South Korean Intelligence Officers Access, Information and Advocacy in Exchange for Luxury Goods and Funding

    Note: View the indictment here.

    Sue Mi Terry, 54, of New York, New York, was arrested yesterday and presented on criminal charges related to offenses under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

    According to court documents, after leaving U.S. government service and for more than a decade, Terry worked as an agent of the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly known as South Korea, without registering as a foreign agent with the Attorney General, as required by law. As covertly directed by ROK government officials, Terry publicly advocated ROK policy positions, disclosed non-public U.S. government information to ROK intelligence officers and enabled ROK officials to gain access to U.S. government officials. In exchange for these actions, ROK intelligence officers provided Terry with luxury goods, expensive dinners and more than $37,000 in funding for a public policy program focusing on Korean affairs that Terry controlled.

    From in or about 2001 to in or about 2011, Terry served in a series of positions in the U.S. government, including as an analyst on East Asian issues for the Central Intelligence Agency, as the Director for Korea, Japan and Oceanic Affairs for the White House National Security Council and as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council. Since leaving government service in or about 2011, Terry has worked at academic institutions and think tanks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Terry has made media appearances, published articles and hosted conferences as a policy expert specializing in, among other things, South Korea, North Korea and various regional issues impacting Asia. Terry has also testified before Congress on at least three occasions regarding the U.S. government’s policy toward Korea.

    As she admitted in a voluntary interview with the FBI in 2023, Terry served as a valuable “source” of information for the ROK National Intelligence Service (ROK NIS), the primary intelligence agency for the ROK. For example, in or about June 2022, Terry participated in a private, off-the-record group meeting with a U.S. Secretary level official regarding the U.S. Government’s policy toward North Korea. Immediately after the meeting, Terry’s primary ROK NIS point of contact, or handler, picked up Terry in a car with ROK Embassy diplomatic plates. While in the car, Terry passed her handler detailed handwritten notes of her meeting, which were written on the letterhead of a think tank where Terry had recently worked. Terry’s handler then photographed the notes while still sitting in the car with Terry.

    Weeks later, at the request of her ROK NIS handler, Terry hosted a happy hour for Congressional staff. Although the happy hour was ostensibly on behalf of the think tank where Terry worked, the ROK NIS paid for it with Terry’s knowledge. Terry’s handler attended the event and posed as a diplomat, mingling with Congressional staff without disclosing that he was, in fact, an ROK intelligence officer. 

    ROK government rewarded Terry for her services. For example, Terry’s ROK NIS handlers gifted her a $2,950 Bottega Veneta handbag and a $3,450 Louis Vuitton handbag, both of which Terry selected during shopping trips with her handlers. One of Terry’s ROK NIS handlers also gifted her a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat. In addition to luxury goods, Terry’s ROK NIS handlers provided her expensive meals, including at Michelin-starred restaurants. Terry’s ROK NIS handlers also deposited approximately $37,000 into an unrestricted “gift” account that Terry controlled at the think tank where she worked. In addition, ROK government officials paid Terry to write articles in both the U.S. and Korean press conveying positions and phrases dictated by the ROK government.

    Terry is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate FARA and one count of failure to register under FARA. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York and Executive Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement. 

    The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division and New York Field Office are investigating the case with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle A. Wirshba, Alexander Li and Sam Adelsberg for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher M. Rigali of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –