Category: Americas

MIL-OSI Canada: New Mapping Tool Supports Aquaculture Growth
Source: Government of Canada regional news

A new mapping tool that helps identify the suitability of coastal areas for aquaculture development is now available.

“Aquaculture is a key economic growth opportunity for Nova Scotia,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Access to scientific data provides the aquaculture industry greater confidence in choosing suitable areas for aquaculture development, supporting responsible growth and contributing to coastal communities.”

The Coastal Classification System is a provincewide mapping tool that includes data related to conditions such as water depth and temperature, distance from protected areas and navigation routes. It helps show where coastal conditions may present more or fewer challenges for aquaculture development in Nova Scotia.

The publicly available information tool rates suitability for oysters, mussels, salmon and trout aquaculture. It supports early planning but does not replace the aquaculture licensing process, which would include public input.

Information on the coastal classification tool is available at: https://novascotia.ca/aquaculture-coastal-classification-system/

Quotes:

“Data sets and information resources are key for decision making in business – and the aquaculture business is no different. This new coastal classification tool pulls together a number of these technical resources – and starts to inform someone looking to start or expand an existing aquaculture business in Nova Scotia. Choosing the best accessible, growing areas for our farms is part of responsible, sustainable growth in aquaculture. And it means putting meals on the tables of Nova Scotians for years to come.”
— Jeff Bishop, Executive Director, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:
- the aquaculture industry employs almost 800 people and generates about $120 million every year for Nova Scotia’s economy
- in February, the Province sought feedback from Nova Scotians on the development of the tool
- it was developed in partnership with the Centre for Marine Applied Research, a division of Perennia
- it is in response to a recommendation from the 2015 Doelle-Lahey Report, which called for more transparent, science-based planning tools to support responsible aquaculture development in Nova Scotia
- its development was supported by federal and provincial agencies, project-specific committees and the Nova Scotia aquaculture science advisory committee
Additional Resources:

News release – Province Seeks Feedback on New Online Mapping Tool for Developing Aquaculture: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/02/28/province-seeks-feedback-new-online-mapping-tool-developing-aquaculture

Centre for Marine Applied Research: https://cmar.ca/

Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia: https://seafarmers.ca/

Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to make important announcement about high-speed Internet in Saskatchewan

Source: Government of Canada News

July 3, 2025 – Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development), will make an announcement about improving high-speed Internet access in rural Saskatchewan.

A media availability will follow.

Date: Friday, July 4, 2025

Time: 11 am (CT)

Location:
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Office Complex – Main Floor Foyer
Cottage #13 – 2300 10th Avenue West
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Members of the media are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca to confirm their attendance.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: USNS Comfort Departs Colón, Panama

Source: United States Navy

COLÓN, Panama – The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed from Colón, Panama, after spending five days providing medical and dental care, veterinary care, subject matter exchanges, and community relations event in Panama City, Veracruz, and Colón, Panama, for Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25).

MIL Security OSI –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Vasquez Secures Key CHC Endorsement for Immigration Oversight Bill
Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) announced the endorsement of H.R. 3473, the Humane Accountability Act, by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), strengthening support for legislation that aims to bring transparency, oversight, and accountability to the U.S. immigration system.

“I’m proud to have the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus behind this important legislation,” said Vasquez. “For families in southern New Mexico, immigration isn’t a talking point — it’s personal. Our communities believe in safety, fairness, and treating every person with dignity. The Humane Accountability Act ensures no one, especially not the American government, can operate in the shadows, and it holds those in power accountable when immigrant detainees’ basic rights are violated.”

Vasquez re-introduced the bill, which was previously introduced in the 118th Congress, earlier this year with key updates. The new version of the bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as well as the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and garnered broad support from leading New Mexico-based civil rights and immigration organizations, including the Center for Civic Policy, El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos, and NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fe.

The legislation includes three new provisions to address growing immigration concerns:
- Transparency on Detention and Removal: DHS would be required to provide Congress with specific data on all encounters, detentions, and removals that have occurred since January, including the legal authority for removals and any transfers to detention centers located outside the territorial U.S.
- Oversight of Detention Conditions: The bill mandates comprehensive reporting on abuses, deaths, injuries, lack of legal access, enforcement in sensitive locations, and the whereabouts of individuals in custody.
- Notification for Non-Traditional Detention Sites: DHS would be required to notify Congress before using any non-traditional site, such as military installations, Tribal lands, or locations outside the territorial lands, for immigrant detention.
As an advocate for border security and immigration policy that respects constitutional rights and reflects the values of border communities, Vasquez reaffirmed his commitment to working with federal and local officials to increase transparency, ensure humane treatment in detention, and protect due process for all individuals regardless of immigration status.

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Helping manufacturers thrive in Alberta
Alberta’s government is focused on growing the economy by creating a business-friendly climate where companies want to invest. This focus has led to more jobs and economic prosperity, making Alberta the best place in Canada to do business. Alberta is already home to one of Canada’s largest manufacturing industries, and with low corporate taxes and regulatory burden, Alberta’s government is helping more businesses succeed.

In collaboration with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Alberta’s government is investing more than $4 million to support small- and medium-sized manufacturing businesses through the Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant. This two-year pilot program offers businesses access to advice, expertise and up to $30,000 in matching funding for technology upgrades along with new machinery and equipment. The pilot program is expected to support approximately 130 small- and medium-sized businesses.

“Alberta’s government is committed to making sure small- and medium-sized businesses have the resources they need to grow. The Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant is empowering local business owners to invest in new technologies, machinery and equipment that will allow them to take their business to the next level – while also driving job creation and growth in Alberta’s manufacturing sector.”

Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration

Manufacturing companies from any sector are eligible to apply to the pilot program if they have a physical location in Alberta which makes, refines, refurbishes or processes a product or material, uses the equipment or technology from the grant in Alberta and employs between five and 750 employees.

“As a measure we’ve strongly advocated for, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters applauds the Government of Alberta for this measure that will help derisk investment for small- and medium-sized manufacturers during uncertain economic times. This program will be pivotal in supporting Alberta manufacturers to make investments that will help them grow.”

Dennis Darby, president and chief executive officer, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

Manufacturing plays a vital role in driving Alberta’s economic strength and supporting its diverse industries. As of May 2025, the sector employed 144,800 people – 5.6 per cent of the province’s total workforce. In 2024, Alberta’s manufacturing GDP reached $25 billion, and investment in the sector totalled $4.8 billion, marking a 41.9 per cent increase over 2023. The manufacturing sector has impacts across the economy, in areas including wood product manufacturing, machinery and equipment manufacturing, food processing, chemical production and fabricated metal production.

“Manufacturing is a critical link in Canada’s energy supply chain – from precision components to large-scale equipment, every piece matters. This support for technology and equipment upgrades will directly enhance the productivity and competitiveness of Alberta’s energy manufacturers, who are essential to meeting growing energy demands at this pivotal moment for the Canadian economy.”

Gurpreet Lail, president and chief executive officer, Enserva

“Technology drives innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness in the chemistry and plastics sector. Support for investment in advanced technologies will help companies decarbonize, reduce waste and deliver the next generation of low-carbon, high-performance materials. This is why the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada is proud to support the Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant, which is providing over $4 million to help small- and medium-sized enterprises across the province – of particular importance to the plastics industry – modernize their equipment, enhance operational efficiency and advance sustainability.”

Christa Seaman, vice-president, plastics division, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada

“The Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant is a strategic investment in the future of Alberta’s economy. By helping manufacturers upgrade technology and equipment, this initiative empowers businesses to enhance productivity, drive innovation and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.”

Shauna Feth, president and chief executive officer, Alberta Chambers of Commerce

Amid ongoing economic uncertainty around the world, investments aimed at improving productivity have never been more important. The Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant will help build manufacturing capacity and efficiency, enhancing the province’s manufacturing competitiveness while also making Alberta’s manufacturing sector more resilient to future external shocks.

Quick facts
- The manufacturing sector spans different industries, including the production of chemical, food, beverage, wood, machinery and petroleum products.
  - In 2024, the top six manufacturing subsectors (chemical manufacturing, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, food manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing and wood product manufacturing) made up about four-fifths of Alberta’s manufacturing GDP.
- Manufacturing is an integral part of Alberta’s economic prosperity.
  - In 2024, manufacturing contributed seven per cent to Alberta’s GDP, the fourth-largest sector contribution.
  - In 2024, manufacturing accounted for 24 per cent of Alberta’s exports, at $43 billion.
  - In May 2025, manufacturing employed 144,800 people in Alberta, representing 5.6 per cent of total Alberta employment.
    
    Three subsectors (food manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing and machinery manufacturing) account for roughly half of Alberta’s manufacturing jobs.
- Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) represents more than 10,000 companies nationwide and works closely with various governments to promote growth within Canada’s manufacturing sector. CME also provides industry intelligence on the opportunities and challenges faced by manufacturers in Alberta and across Canada.
Related information

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Province Invests in Capital Upgrades at Yorkton Health Facilities

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 3, 2025

Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr is visiting the City of Yorkton today, with stops at Yorkton Regional Health Centre (YRHC) and the Yorkton & District Nursing Home.

“Our government’s commitment to health care in Saskatchewan includes ensuring residents have timely access to high quality care in safe and suitable facilities,” Carr said. “Meeting with local health care professionals is important to understand their perspectives from the front line. I want to acknowledge their dedication to patient care and commitment in their demanding roles.”

As part of government’s capital funding plan, more than $4 million has been invested in Yorkton health facilities over the past three years. In addition to the intensive care unit (ICU) expansion from six to seven beds, infrastructure improvements to the Yorkton Regional Health Centre included new roofing, two new chillers, new sewer and exhaust systems, new flooring and the initiation of upgraded Wi-Fi service for patients and their families to be completed by early 2026. New boilers, an air conditioning compressor, roofing on two wings, flooring, sidewalks and a new nurse call system were installed at the nursing home. Yorkton Public Health received a new sidewalk, windows and security system. An additional $680,000 in government funding is planned this year for further roofing repairs at the health centre.

Last year, the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan provided funding for advanced equipment at YRHC including a chemistry analyzer with interface for lab testing, a specialized Cardiac ECHO ultrasound and a general ultrasound machine for a total cost of $432,000.

“I want to thank the foundation for their generosity in providing this important equipment that will help with more timely assessment and treatment of patients,” Carr said. “Our mission to improve health care services for the residents of Saskatchewan would not be possible without the immense efforts of the health foundations across the province and their support is appreciated.”

The Yorkton Regional Health Centre project is moving to the business case phase with $1 million earmarked in the 2025-26 Budget to advance this work.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World Refugee Day 2025: Joint Statement to the OSCE

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

World Refugee Day 2025: Joint Statement to the OSCE

Canada delivers a joint statement on behalf of the UK and other OSCE participating States to mark World Refugee Day.

Madame Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom and my own country, Canada.

In marking World Refugee Day, we stand in solidarity with millions of refugees and renew our commitment to addressing their humanitarian needs, addressing the root causes of forced displacement and finding lasting solutions.

According to UNHCR’s Global Trends report, global displacement has nearly doubled over the past decade. Persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and natural disasters have forcibly displaced more than 123 million people. Within the OSCE region alone, nearly 25 million people are either forcibly displaced or stateless.

The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine remains the main driver of mass displacement in the OSCE region, resulting in the largest cross-border movement of people in Europe since the Second World War. UNHCR’s May report notes that nearly 5.6 million individuals have fled Ukraine, with over 3.7 million internally displaced. Continued large-scale attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure and continued aerial assaults on residential areas are fuelling urgent humanitarian needs and preventing Ukrainians from returning to their homes and families. Women and children make up the majority of the refugee population who have fled the conflict, with 63 per cent being women and girls, and 33 per cent being children. This demographic profile raises specific protection concerns, particularly around gender-based violence, trafficking, and exploitation.

In the 1999 Istanbul Document, participating States reaffirmed our commitment to respect the right to seek asylum and to ensure the international protection of refugees as set out in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as to facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons in dignity and safety.

In times of uncertainty, we must continue to uphold these commitments.

In addressing forcible displacement, we must strive to reach the most in need and the most vulnerable, including women and girls, LGBTQI+ people, religious minorities and others directly affected by conflict or displacement. We must also confront parallel risks and challenges, including trafficking, exploitation, discrimination, and intolerance.

We must also remember that inclusive societies are secure societies and recognize the positive impact that newcomers have on our societies and economies.

As we mark World Refugee Day, we honour the strength and resilience of refugees and we recognize their valuable contributions to the communities that welcome them.

Updates to this page

Published 3 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf to Hold Sixty-Fourth Session at Headquarters, from 7 July to 8 August

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

NEW YORK, 3 July (United Nations, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Office of Legal Affairs) ― The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf will hold its sixty-fourth session from 7 July to 8 August at United Nations Headquarters in New York. During the session, plenary meetings will be held from 14 to 18 July and from 28 July to 1 August. The remainder of the session will be devoted to the technical examination of submissions by subcommissions on the Division premises, including geographic information systems laboratories and other facilities.

Mr. Stig-Morten Knutsen, nominated by Norway, will attend for the first time the upcoming session of the Commission, following his election as a member of the Commission at the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 26 June, for the remainder of the term of office, until 15 June 2028.

During the session, eleven subcommissions will consider submissions made by: Mauritius in respect of the region of Rodrigues Island; Palau in respect of the North Area; Portugal; Spain in respect of the area of Galicia; Namibia; Mozambique; Madagascar; and Mexico in respect of the eastern polygon in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as revised submissions made by Brazil in respect of the Brazilian Oriental and Meridional Margin; Cook Islands concerning the Manihiki Plateau; and the Russian Federation in the area of the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean.

Coastal States that had not yet presented their submissions to the Commission were invited to present them at the plenary part of the session. To date, the following submitting States accepted the invitation: Denmark in respect of the Southern Continental Shelf of Greenland; and India (amended submission).

Given that pursuant to rule 13 (Term of office) of the rules of procedure of the Commission, the two-and-half-year term of office of the officers (Chair and Vice-Chairs) of the Commission will expire later in 2025, the plenary of the Commission will elect its officers for the second half of the current term of office. The Chairperson will also inform the Commission about the deliberations that took place at the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Background

Established pursuant to article 2 of annex II to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Commission makes recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, based on information submitted by those coastal States. The recommendations are based on the scientific data and other material provided by coastal States in relation to the implementation of article 76 of the Convention and do not prejudice matters relating to the delimitation of boundaries between States with opposite or adjacent coasts or prejudice the position of States that are parties to a land or maritime dispute, or application of other parts of the Convention or any other treaties. The limits of the continental shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of the recommendations are final and binding. In the case of disagreement by a coastal State with the recommendations of the Commission, the coastal State shall, within a reasonable time, make a revised or new submission to the Commission.

Under rule 23 of its rules of procedure (Public and private meetings), the meetings of the Commission, its subcommissions and subsidiary bodies are held in private, unless the Commission decides otherwise.

As required under the rules of procedure of the Commission, the executive summaries of all the submissions, including all charts and coordinates, have been made public by the Secretary-General through continental shelf notifications circulated to Member States of the United Nations, as well as States Parties to the Convention. The executive summaries are available on the Division’s website at: www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/clcs_home.htm. The summaries of recommendations adopted by the Commission are also available on the above-referenced website.

The Commission is a body of 21 experts in the field of geology, geophysics or hydrography serving in their personal capacities. Members of the Commission are elected for a term of five years by the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention having due regard to the need to ensure equitable geographical representation. Not fewer than three members shall be elected from each geographical region. Currently, one seat on the Commission is vacant resulting from a lack of nominations from the Group of Eastern European States.

The Convention provides that the State Party which submitted the nomination of a member of the Commission shall defray the expenses of that member while in performance of Commission duties. A voluntary trust fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing countries has been established. It has facilitated the participation of several members of the Commission from developing countries in the sessions of the Commission.

The convening by the Secretary-General of the sessions of the Commission, with full conference services, including documentation, for the plenary parts of these sessions, is subject to approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Assembly does so in its annual resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, which also address other matters relevant to the work of the Commission and the conditions of service of its members.

For additional information on the work of the Commission see the website of the Division at: www.un.org/depts/los/index.htm. In particular, the most recent Statements by the Chair on the progress in the work of the Commission are available at: www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/commission_documents.htm.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: San Antonio man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for transporting 25 illegal aliens inside tanker trailer following ICE Eagle Pass, federal partner investigation

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

DEL RIO, Texas — A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court to 10 years in prison for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol.

Richard Rindeikis, 44, was sentenced July 2 by a federal judge to 120 months for his role in a human smuggling event. Rindeikis was arrested Nov. 18, 2024. He pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to one count for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

“This sentencing is a grim reminder of the extreme measures smugglers will take for profit, endangering the lives of vulnerable individuals in the process,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Smuggling human beings inside a tanker trailer is not only illegal, but also inhumane. Thanks to the swift work of law enforcement, the victims were rescued before tragedy struck. HSI remains relentless in our mission to dismantle smuggling networks and protect human life at every turn.”

“This district has seen far too many instances of human smuggling like this one end in tragedy. If not for the excellent work by the U.S. Border Patrol in this case, we may have seen another,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “My office will continue to pursue, prosecute, and seek to punish those who selfishly value profit over human life.”

According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2024, Rindeikis was driving a truck connected to a tanker trailer when he was subjected to inspection at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Carrizo Springs. He claimed the tanker was empty and, when he couldn’t locate his driver’s license, was referred to secondary inspection. USBP agents observed that the hatches on top of the tanker trailer were closed and completely secured. When they opened the hatches, they discovered numerous people sitting inside the tanker. A total of 25 illegal aliens from Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, were removed and Rindeikis was placed under arrest. He was indicted for two counts and pleaded guilty to count one on Feb. 5, 2025.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Duarte II for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing the online tip form.

For more information about HSI San Antonio and its public safety efforts in Central and South Texas, follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Transformed $25M Lincoln Park Pool in Albany Completed

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today celebrated the completion of the $25 million rehabilitation of the historic Lincoln Park Pool in Albany, made possible through $10 million in support from the Governor’s innovative New York Statewide Investment In More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative that expands access to safe swimming, addresses equity gaps by providing recreational opportunities and supports communities across the state with resources to combat extreme heat. This newly transformed facility restores a vital community asset in Albany’s South End that has served families since 1930, bringing modern amenities and full accessibility to the neighborhood. Governor Hochul’s NY SWIMS initiative awarded $150 million in 2024 to 37 pool projects across New York State, including more than $28 million to five pools in the Capital Region. NY SWIMS is the largest investment in swimming infrastructure since the New Deal.

“For nearly a century, Lincoln Park Pool has been a cornerstone of summer in Albany’s South End and today, we are giving it new life for the next generation to enjoy,” Governor Hochul said. “Through our NY SWIMS initiative, we’re investing in accessible and affordable places where families and communities can beat the heat and come together. Our NY SWIMS program ensures that all New Yorkers can get offline, get outside and thrive.”

The Lincoln Park Pool rehabilitation represents a complete transformation of the nearly century-old facility, featuring a zero-entry pool for accessibility, a half Olympic-style lap pool for competitive swimming, a splash pad for family recreation, and upgraded restrooms with modern amenities. Through NY SWIMS the state is specifically targeting underserved communities that have long needed improved recreational facilities. This $10 million investment in Lincoln Park Pool builds on previous support, including a $262,500 Environmental Protection Fund grant awarded by New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation in 2018 for the planning and design of the project.

With today’s ribbon cutting, Albany celebrates the restoration of a beloved community gathering place that will serve families throughout the City. The Lincoln Park pool rehabilitation is among the projects specifically targeting underserved communities that lack access to safe swimming facilities. The project exemplifies the “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative’s mission to provide healthy outdoor recreation alternatives for young people and families. As communities nationwide grapple with the mental health impacts of excessive screen time, facilities like this rehabilitated pool offer safe spaces for physical activity and social connection.

Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, making facilities like Lincoln Park Pool crucial for water safety education. The pool will provide space for learn-to-swim programming, helping address swimming disparities while offering a safe place for families to cool off during increasingly hot summers due to climate change

The ribbon cutting comes as NY SWIMS continues to expand, with an additional $90 million allocated in 2025. The increased funding reflects strong legislative support for expanding swimming access across New York State and demonstrates bipartisan recognition of the program’s success and community impact.

The NY SWIMS Lifeguard Grant Program offers an additional $5 million for reimbursable grants from the Department of State to eligible municipalities to incentivize lifeguard recruitment and retention and is designed to help counties, cities, towns, and villages to increase swimming access through growing their ranks of lifeguards, providing additional opportunities, and expanding their open hours at municipal swimming locations. Albany is using $50,000 in grant funding to invest in training resources and hire three new lifeguard managers at a higher wage, who will oversee daily operations, manage schedules, and serve as direct mentors and additional support for the lifeguard team. These efforts are expected to help the City handle increased demand and extend the swimming season at Lincoln Park Pool.

Additional State support for projects improving overall Lincoln Park and Albany infrastructure include a $5 million Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) grant provided through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program to implement screening and disinfection of combined sewage from the Beaver Creek Sewer District. The project improved water quality by providing treatment for the Albany Pool’s largest combined sewer overflow and will serve to further reduce bacteria and improve water quality in the Hudson River. DEC also provided $1 million in funding through WQIP in 2021 to the Albany Water Board for the Lincoln Park Reflection and Learning Garden to construct green infrastructure elements in the park, diverse ecological and biohabitat, and implement native plantings to mitigate combined sewer surface discharges and odor issues within Lincoln Park.

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President & CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Governor Hochul’s NY SWIMS initiative exemplifies the power of state-local collaboration at its best. Albany’s significant local investment, combined with NY SWIMS funding, has transformed a nearly century-old facility into a modern, accessible community hub that honors its historic roots while meeting today’s needs. This partnership approach is how we maximize public resources and build on existing community assets to create even greater opportunities for families. When state and local governments work together with a shared vision, we can preserve what matters most to neighborhoods while ensuring these vital spaces serve New Yorkers for another generation.”

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “The Lincoln Park Pool has long been a cornerstone of summer in Albany, and thanks to Governor Hochul’s NY SWIMS grants, we’re thrilled to bring this vital resource back to life. This historic investment provides a modern, inclusive space for the community to cool off, swim safely, and gather with friends and family this summer. We’re excited to build off this pool’s cherished legacy and continue helping New Yorkers enjoy the outdoors and make lasting memories.”

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The revitalization of the Lincoln Park Pool through the NY SWIMS initiative is a powerful example of how strategic investment can restore cherished public spaces and ensure they serve the next generation. The Department of State is proud to support Governor Hochul’s vision by providing grants to help communities recruit and retain qualified lifeguards for these recreational facilities, an essential part of expanding access to safe swimming. By investing in this critical workforce, we are working to keep our state’s pools and kids safe.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “As summers continue to get hotter, and the impacts of climate change create ongoing threats to public health, it is important to ensure that critical community resources like the Lincoln Park Pool and surrounding park spaces are fully supported. DEC is proud to continue our partnership with the City of Albany to support Lincoln Park improvements and we thank Governor Hochul and our state agency partners for helping families cool off safely and keep kids offline to enjoy the outdoors this summer.”

State Senator Pat Fahy said, “Access to pools and swimming opportunities isn’t a luxury reserved for a few, it’s a lifelong skill that opens doors for our young people. That’s why the Lincoln Park Pool was built during the height of the Great Depression; to provide hope, opportunity, and a safe place to swim and recreate outdoors here in the City of Albany for families and New Yorkers. I’m proud to have been able to secure state funding to support the Lincoln Park Pool’s renovation, and I cannot wait to see our community take advantage of it this summer. I want to thank Mayor Sheehan, Governor Hochul, and so many more who made this project and today’s reopening a reality.”

Assemblymember Gabriella Romero said, “This aquatic center, located in our Lincoln Park community, is an incredible investment and provides state of the art facilities for our youth to enjoy throughout this summer. It is more important than ever for children to spend time outdoors and connect with their local community. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Mayor Sheehan and others who made this project possible.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, “The rehabilitation of Lincoln Park Pool is a perfect example of what happens when we invest in our communities. As a former Mayor, I know all too well the importance of having a safe and modernized space for New Yorkers, especially our youth, to not only cool off, but to learn the importance of water safety. I was proud to support funding for NY SWIMS in the Legislature, and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to expanding access to safe swimming and outdoor recreation across New York State.”

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “The Lincoln Park Pool has been part of our city’s fabric for almost 100 years, and today, it’s finally getting the second life it deserves. I’d like to thank Governor Hochul for her significant contribution to its restoration through the NY SWIMS grant program. This is a win for public health and equity and I can’t wait to see New Yorkers get back to enjoying the water.”

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “The new Lincoln Park Pool is yet another transformative investment in the South End. Since taking office, my administration has invested more than $65 million in our South End neighborhood. We are preventing raw sewage from percolating in Upper Lincoln Park while also cleaning the Hudson River. We renovated the Lincoln Park Basketball Courts, we revitalized the Lincoln Park Bowl, we built the South End Connector, and we are helping the Albany Housing Authority rebuild Steamboat Square. With the new Lincoln Park Pool, my administration continues to send a message to our South End neighbors that we are working tirelessly to reverse decades of historic disinvestment and we will continue to deliver on the promises we make to this community. I am so proud today has finally arrived, and I am so excited our residents have the opportunity to enjoy this state-of-the-art facility.”

NY SWIMS builds on Governor Hochul’s broader commitment to youth wellness, including the signing of first-in-the-nation legislation protecting children from addictive social media feeds and shielding their personal data from online platforms. The initiative is a key component of the “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign, which also includes the $56.5 million Summer Youth Employment Program supporting 21,000 young people from low-income families across the state.

The New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative represents New York’s largest investment in swimming infrastructure since the New Deal. The program provides grants between $50,000 and $10 million to help municipalities design, construct, rehabilitate, or modernize public swimming facilities, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged and underserved communities that lack access to safe swimming and outdoor recreation opportunities.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures Agreement Reforming Michigan School District’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices

Source: US State of Vermont

Today, the Justice Department announced that it reached an agreement with a Michigan school district to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the settlement agreement, the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District will end the use of seclusion, reform its restraint practices, and improve special education services for students with disabilities.

During the period covered by the investigation, with which the school district fully cooperated, students with disabilities were secluded and/or restrained on more than 2,400 occasions. The Department’s investigation also revealed that the district used seclusion and restraint improperly, including using emergency crisis responses as punishment for normal classroom discipline issues.

“Students with disabilities should never be discriminated against by experiencing the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Parents have the right to expect that the school systems they entrust with educating their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability.”

“This school district serves the most vulnerable Michigan students, young children with disabilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford for the Western District of Michigan. “I commend them for entering into this settlement agreement to provide their students with the care and services they need to get the education they deserve.”

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work to combat disability discrimination including by improper seclusion and restraint is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.

Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Announcing winners of The Equalizer Challenge
Source: United Nations Population Fund

UNFPA Announces Winners of the Equalizer Challenge to Scale Breakthrough Women’s Health Innovations. Winners include an AI health tracker for pregnant women, a digital menopause platform and a speculum that detects cervical cancer.

New York, 3 July 2025 – UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, today announced the six winners of the Equalizer Challenge: Scaling Women’s Health Innovations. The initiative supports women-led health enterprises in moving beyond the pilot stage and achieving transformative impact at scale.

Launched in collaboration with MIT Solve, IE University, and Women of Wearables, and enabled by generous support from the Governments of Luxembourg and Germany, the challenge seeks to close the gender health gap by investing in innovations that reach the most underserved.

The six winners were selected from 350 submissions across 72 countries, with entries spanning six global regions. Each will receive up to US$ 20,000 in catalytic equity-free funding, along with a six-month capacity development programme that includes biweekly mentorship, expert coaching, and strategic connections to global health and investment networks.

The selected innovations address a wide range of women’s health challenges, including cervical cancer, menopause, maternal mental health, and digital access to sexual and reproductive health care.

The six winning solutions are:
- GICMED (Cameroon) – A smart gynecological speculum device that enables early detection and remote diagnosis of cervical cancer and female genital schistosomiasis through telemedicine in low-resource settings.
- Take Care Mom (Kazakhstan) – An AI-powered platform providing pregnant women with continuous health tracking, early risk detection, and 24/7 expert support to improve maternal and neonatal health and well-being.
- Maisha Mothers (Kenya) – A mobile-based maternal health innovation by Thalia Psychotherapy that integrates mental health, family planning, and financial wellness into routine antenatal and postnatal care.
- OMGYNO (Lebanon) – A femtech platform offering anonymous at-home testing, telemedicine services, and sexual and reproductive health education for women in underserved communities across the Middle East and North Africa.
- SinReglas (Mexico) – A digital menopause platform, offering personalized care and workplace services responsive to the health needs of millions of women during all stages of their life cycle, including menopause.
- Smart Scope® CX (India) – An AI-powered portable device from Periwinkle Technologies that enables community health care workers to detect early-stage cervical cancer and certain benign conditions within 60 seconds without the need for electricity or internet, and facilitates remote triaging.
These women-led solutions were selected for their scale potential and demonstrated impact. The Equalizer Challenge shows UNFPA’s commitment to supporting women-centric health solutions by closing funding gaps, and helping them develop, gain visibility, and reach the market.Through targeted innovation challenges, UNFPA transforms community-led innovations into high-impact, investable solutions spearheaded by women and young people.

UNFPA Press Contact: media@unfpa.org

Disclaimer: UNFPA is providing support for the Equalizer Challenge with a view to furthering the development and availability of women’s health innovations. UNFPA has not or may not have evaluated, assessed, or tested the innovative solutions or products included or presented in this Challenge. In particular, the inclusion or presentation of any solution or product in this Challenge does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by UNFPA.

MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals Acceleration Depends on Space Technologies, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Committee

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the sixty-eighth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in Vienna today:

Let me begin with a simple truth: every phone call you made to get here, every global positioning system (GPS) route that guided your journey, every weather forecast that helped you pack — all of it depended on space.

Space is not the final frontier. It is the foundation of our present. Without satellites orbiting overhead right now, global food systems would collapse within weeks. Emergency responders would lose their lifelines. Climate scientists would be flying blind. And our hopes of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be out of reach.

This is why your work matters. This is why the work of this Committee — COPUOS — is not just important, but urgent. For over six decades, through shifting geopolitics and changing priorities, this Committee has consistently delivered.

Five space treaties. Space sustainability guidelines. The Space 2030 Agenda. You don’t just talk about space governance — you create it. But today, we need to shift our focus to scale.

The United Nations has identified six critical areas for SDG acceleration: food systems, energy transitions, digital connectivity, education and skills, environmental action, and jobs and social protection.

Every single one depends on space technologies. This is a paradox when you consider that less than half of UN Member States have a satellite in orbit, yet all 8 billion people on Earth benefit from space services daily.

Through your work, and through the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), we can close this divide — not by putting a satellite in every nation’s hands, but by ensuring that the benefits of space technologies reach every community on our planet.

I’m just coming from the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, where the message was crystal clear: in an era of constrained investment, we must align capital with high-impact solutions.

Space is one of them. But impact happens at every level — and I would like to share what I’ve seen.

At the local level, UNOOSA’s programs are building the next generation of inclusive space leaders. They’re ensuring equal access for youth and women in developing countries, where small investments create enormous change. Through these programs, we’re enabling the next Carmen Chaidez, the next Kitaw Ejigu.

At the national level, UNOOSA helps countries build their space capabilities from the ground up. Through space law workshops and direct support for emerging programs, nations develop the expertise they need to harness space for their own development priorities.

The United Nations Platform for Space‑based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) shows what this looks like in practice. In Tonga, Tobago, and Ghana, satellite data is being used to create detailed digital models of entire cities. When disaster strikes, these virtual twins allow Governments to see exactly where help is needed most, deploy resources much faster, and ultimately save more lives.

Through innovative partnerships, UNOOSA has helped Kenya, Guatemala, [Republic of] Moldova, and Mauritius launch their first satellites. Each event was a catalyst — for new space agencies, developing robust legislation, and promoting gender equality in the space sector.

Finally, at the international level, as reinforced by the Pact for the Future, we must work together to ensure COPUOS delivers the governance our rapidly evolving space environment demands of us.

Here’s what’s happening right now: low-Earth orbit satellites are multiplying exponentially. Humanity is preparing to return to the Moon. We’re exploring beyond like never before. And your work has never been more vital and urgent.

We stand at the threshold of potentially historic decision: the fourth United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE IV) in 2027. This isn’t just another conference. This could be the milestone that shapes the next sixty years of global space governance. And so I encourage us all to aim high. And aim even higher.

The pressing space issues before us — traffic, debris, resources — each present both risk and opportunity for achieving the SDGs. Each requires the kind of multilateral cooperation that this Committee has proven it can deliver. We need a strong UNOOSA and a strong COPUOS to lead us into UNISPACE IV and beyond.

But strength isn’t about institutions — it’s about the people within them and the systems that we run. As a practical next step, I encourage you to champion the implementation of the UNOOSA Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit for the Space Sector launched last year. Because when we leave talent on the sidelines, we will all lose.

Let me leave you with one final message. The view from space shows no countries, no borders — only one shared planet, our common home. Let that aspect guide you as you build the governance frameworks for space exploration and use. Let us ensure that outer space remains safe and sustainable for everyone. Let us make space a catalyst for achieving our 2030 Goals with 5 years to go. And let us build governance frameworks that serve not just us, but generations to come.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: New Funding to Support Dementia Care in Yorkton
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 3, 2025

The Government of Saskatchewan is announcing new funding to help support individuals with dementia in the Yorkton area.

SaskAbilities is receiving $200,000 annually to deliver its Dementia Friendly Life Enrichment Program. The program helps residents diagnosed with dementia remain in their homes and communities and supports their caregivers.

“I am proud that we can provide funding to support those living with dementia and their families in the Yorkton area,” Minister Responsible for Seniors Lori Carr said. “The Dementia Friendly Life Enrichment Program is a valuable service which addresses the specialized needs and challenges dementia presents for all affected.”

This new annualized funding from the province will support staffing, training, travel, supplies and materials so that in person programming can be delivered to residents within 150 kilometres of Yorkton.

The program:
- provides activities in an individual’s home in the Yorkton area;
- reduces caregiver burnout by providing indirect respite opportunities;
- connects clients and community organizations to resources within the community;
- helps people navigate the system to get support; and
- improves behaviour management that assists seniors living with dementia.
“We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Health for their generous support of our Dementia Friendly Life Enrichment Program,” SaskAbilities Yorkton Branch Regional Director Aleks Hoeber said. “This funding allows us to continue to serve individuals living with dementia and their care partners. We look forward to continuing to offer meaningful, person-centered supports that help individuals age at home and in their communities.”

Hoeber said the program has a positive impact on families by reducing their stress and improving overall wellbeing for those with dementia.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Construction Begins on Two New Group Homes in Biggar

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 3, 2025

Social Services Minister Terry Jenson joined representatives from Farm in the Dell and the Town of Biggar to announce the start of construction on two new five-space group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Farm in the Dell will also operate a day program that will serve up to 20 individuals.

“We are happy to see the start of this important project for Farm in the Dell,” Jenson said. “This project represents our government’s commitment to supporting initiatives which allow individuals with disabilities to live and participate in a supportive environment tailored to their needs.”

Announced in September 2024, the continued partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan and Farm in the Dell will expand access to a farm-like model of support for adults with intellectual disabilities. Capital construction will be supported by an investment of up to $2.1 million from the Ministry of Social Services, $500,000 provided by Farm in the Dell and $350,000 from the Town of Biggar.

Farm in the Dell is a non-profit organization that strives to enhance the emotional, physical, and spiritual lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through residential, vocational, recreational and community services within Saskatchewan. It currently operates two group homes, a supported living program and a farm-based vocational program on a farm property near Aberdeen.

“We are deeply grateful for the Government of Saskatchewan’s partnership and commitment to our Farm in the Dell expansion project in Biggar, Saskatchewan,” Farm in the Dell Executive Director Lynette Zacharias said. “We look forward to working together on this meaningful initiative to support individuals in our communities by providing a safe and caring home, purposeful work opportunities, and a vibrant social life within a rewarding farm environment.”

“The Town of Biggar’s commitment to this worthy project is not only from the heart, but it demonstrates a testament to what a community can achieve when welcoming those that may need a little extra in a familiar and supportive rural setting,” Town of Biggar Mayor Jim Rickwood said. “The joy we feel due to this accomplishment will be returned to us by that same group of people. Our horizons are great, our abilities are enormous, but the spirit we cultivate is Biggar. It is with great pride that the Town of Biggar welcomes Farm in the Dell to our community. We are honoured to be a partner in establishing and providing continued support for this glorious addition to our amazing prairie skyline we call Saskatchewan.”

Once completed, the Ministry of Social Services will provide annual operating funding for the group homes and day program in Biggar.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025

Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June 2025 jobs report:

“The President and Congressional Republicans are in the process of taking the final step to brazenly rigging the economy for those at the top. In their lockstep march to rob families and reward their billionaire friends, Republicans remain the greatest threat to the people’s health care, their livelihoods, and the resilient labor market that was rebuilt by Democrats, and not long ago was shattering every expectation.

“The American people cannot afford the full weight of a Republican trifecta in Washington. Hiring has frozen, GDP is shrinking, costs are rising, hospitals are already closing, and families have been left to wonder if they’ll keep their basic health and food needs. Republicans have assured that under their economy, families and working people bear the consequences.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025

Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June 2025 jobs report:

“The President and Congressional Republicans are in the process of taking the final step to brazenly rigging the economy for those at the top. In their lockstep march to rob families and reward their billionaire friends, Republicans remain the greatest threat to the people’s health care, their livelihoods, and the resilient labor market that was rebuilt by Democrats, and not long ago was shattering every expectation.

“The American people cannot afford the full weight of a Republican trifecta in Washington. Hiring has frozen, GDP is shrinking, costs are rising, hospitals are already closing, and families have been left to wonder if they’ll keep their basic health and food needs. Republicans have assured that under their economy, families and working people bear the consequences.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
Trinidad all set to welcome PM Modi as India eyes stronger Caribbean ties

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Accra on Thursday for Port of Spain, where he will seek to strengthen India’s historic ties with Trinidad and Tobago during the second leg of his five-nation tour.

“Leaving for Trinidad & Tobago. Later this evening, I look forward to attending a community programme in Port of Spain. Tomorrow, I will be addressing the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago. Looking forward to deepening ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share very old cultural linkages,” PM Modi said in a post on X after concluding his two-day visit to Ghana.

Trinidad and Tobago is PM Modi’s second stop and will be followed by visits to Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. This is his first visit to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister and the first bilateral Prime Ministerial visit to the country since 1999.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold talks with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who recently began a second term in office, and will address a joint session of Parliament on Friday. Kangaloo was Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, while Persad-Bissessar has visited India previously and received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the visit would provide fresh momentum to the longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries. “The visit comes at an opportune time, as this year, 2025, the country (Trinidad and Tobago) is commemorating 180 years of the arrival of Indian immigrants in T&T,” MEA Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra said at a briefing on Monday.

Trinidad and Tobago is home to an Indian diaspora that makes up about 40–45% of its 1.36 million people, descendants of immigrants who first arrived in 1845. The diaspora continues to maintain strong cultural and emotional ties with India.

The trip marks PM Modi’s second visit to the Caribbean in eight months. In November 2024, he travelled to Guyana for the India–CARICOM Summit, where he pledged support for Caribbean nations and met then Prime Minister Keith Rowley. PM Modi congratulated Rowley on Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of India’s UPI digital payment platform and promised further cooperation in digital transformation.

India and Trinidad and Tobago are seeking to expand cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, agriculture, disaster resilience and technology, as well as sports, academics and cultural exchanges.

Last year, the Prime Minister told Caribbean leaders that India stood firmly for giving voice to the concerns of the Global South, saying smaller nations were among the worst hit by global conflicts and crises.

PM Modi’s address to the joint session of Parliament is also symbolic of democratic ties between the two nations. “The Speaker’s chair in the Parliament has been a gift by India, which is again a symbolic reminder of the strong democratic and parliamentary traditions between our two countries,” Malhotra said.

This visit, she added, is also special for both the President and the Prime Minister of T&T, since they are of Indian origin and take pride in calling themselves “daughters of India.”

“The entire Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is very enthusiastic about PM Modi’s upcoming visit and a large diaspora interaction event is being planned during the visit. During the visit, the PM will hold high-level discussions with both the President and Prime Minister, and the leaders are expected to cover the entire gamut of our bilateral relations, as well as regional and multilateral aspects,” Malhotra said.

After Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister will travel to Argentina

IANS

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: UConn Hosts Sustainability Summit for Northeast Higher Education

Source: US State of Connecticut

Nearly all higher education institutions in the Northeast have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and most have an Office of Sustainability. While each university has its own unique challenges in pursuing environmental progress, many of these offices face similar issues – How do we get students prepared for green careers? What’s the most efficient way to run a move-out donation program?

UConn Office of Sustainability Director, Patrick McKee, welcomes guests to the NECSC Summit.

That’s where the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium (NECSC) comes in! The NECSC was established in 2004 to support sustainability officers in advancing progress on university campuses in the northeast and Canadian maritime region. The NECSC is an informal group, but commits to hosting an annual meeting to provide members close networking opportunities, professional development and access to the area’s vibrant sustainability practitioner community. Hosts of the annual gathering are leaders of sustainability in the region.

Following 2024’s annual summit at Southern New Hampshire University, UConn’s Office of Sustainability and Connecticut College agreed to co-host the event for 2025. The NECSC conference is also an opportunity to highlight the hosts’ sustainability progress and leadership regionally. UConn’s Avery Point Campus was the perfect location – not only is it a gorgeous waterfront campus, it also plays an outsize role in environmental progress for Connecticut.

In 2021, Avery Point upgraded 121 of their outdoor light fixtures with LED lights which saved 25 tons of carbon dioxide over the course of a year. The Student Center secured LEED Silver Certification in recognition of its energy efficiency in 2023. Avery Point is also home to the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) and Connecticut Sea Grant which act as research hubs for climate resilience, coastal ecosystems, and aquaculture within Long Island Sound. Faculty and students are collaborating with Eversource and Orsted on a $1.25m grant to understand the impact of offshore wind projects on marine habitats, including project Starboard Wind. EcoHusky is the student-run organization that organizes yearly sustainability events for faculty and students including the Earth Day Event, supported by the Office of Sustainability in 2025. EcoHusky was also a part of securing an Environmental and Sustainability Small Grant from the Office of Sustainability in 2022 to install a solar panel and wind turbine on the sailing shed to provide independent, renewable-energy sources for campus buildings. In December of 2024, UConn entered a historical memorandum with CT’s five recognized tribes to establish Avery Point as a Native-American Serving, Nontribal Intuition (NASNTI) to reach at least 10% Native American enrollment and supporting tribal education through academics and community engagement.

Nearly 100 higher education sustainability staff and faculty members attended the NECSC summit, held June 9-11, 2025. Ranging from Maryland to Maine, attendees hailed from Ivies, state universities and private liberal arts schools. The event kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Annemarie Seifert, Dean of UConn Avery Point, and was followed by engaging sessions on creating circular economies on campus, geothermal buildings, decarbonization communications and more.

Leaders of higher ed’s preeminent sustainability networks provided global perspectives on shifting political landscapes for sustainability. Megan Fay Zahniser, Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Tim Carter, President of Second Nature, urged attendees to work together and with their home communities to push for continued environmental progress.

Throughout the event, UConn Dining provided excellent food and low-waste catering. Mike White, Executive Director of UConn Dining Services, spoke about their team’s dedication to reducing food waste, using local and organic produce, and UConn’s partnership with Quantum Biopower which converts food scraps into energy. All attendees enjoyed menus featuring cheese from local farms like Cato Corner in Colchester, and greens from Full Moon Farm in Hampton.

Guests participated in marine research in Long Island Sound with Project Oceanology.

The NECSC summit concluded with a marine biology excursion on Long Island Sound. Project Oceanology, a nonprofit marine education and research facility, took guests out on a ship to catch, record, and measure sea life from the sound. They also took the crew up the Thames River for a closer look at the offshore wind assembly pier.

“It is always uplifting to network, share stories, insights, and best practices as we work to collectively make a larger impact on the planet and in the lives of students,” shares Patrick McKee, Director of the UConn Office of Sustainability. “It was a pleasure co-hosting the NECSC Summit at UConn Avery Point, and we look forward to visiting Rutgers in 2026.”

To learn more about NECSC and join the mailing list, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Former Air Force Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sexual Assault at Air Base in England

Source: US State of California

James Loubeau, a former U.S. Air Force member, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, in May 2019. In April 2025, Loubeau, 37, of Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact.

As part of his guilty plea, Loubeau admitted that, on May 4, 2019, he sexually assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Loubeau was later discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, persons who served with the armed forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution.

In May 2019, Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the Air Force base where the victim consumed several alcoholic beverages. Later, a friend of the victim accompanied the victim back to her on-base housing and helped her get ready for bed. The friend then left and the victim fell asleep alone. Around 2:30 a.m., the victim awoke to find Loubeau on top of her in her bed. The victim almost immediately called two friends to say she had been raped. Surveillance video captured Loubeau after he left the victim’s room to return to his dorm room. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing later linked Loubeau to the sexual assault.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: PANAMA CITY MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO POSSESSING FIGHTING DOGS AND FIREARMS CHARGE

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing fighting dogs, while White also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. The convictions were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

According to court records, White and Johnson entered into a conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act from 2018 through February 2024, by participating in organized dog fighting, to include breeding fighting dogs, participating in gambling involving illegal dog fights, and training dogs to participate in dog fights. White and Johnson were previously arrested in Georgia on state charges of participating in a dog fight in 2022. Federal arrest warrants in February 2024 for the Georgia dog fight led to the discovery of two rural Panama City area properties where White and Johnson had continued to keep, breed, and train fighting dogs. White’s residence was also searched, and three firearms were found. White was prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions in 2009 and 2012.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants engaged in cruel and continued mistreatment of animals, but now they will find themselves locked in a cell for their crimes. I deeply appreciate the dedicated work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle this heinous enterprise of animal cruelty, which unsurprisingly often increases violence in the community. My office is firmly committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals and ending the cruel infliction of pain on animals purely for sport and financial gain in the Northern District of Florida.”

The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and assisted by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Criminal Division of the Tallahassee office with assistance from the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

MIL Security OSI –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Integrates Katana Mainnet, Tapping 1 Billion KAT Incentives Amid DeFi Yield Revival

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, has integrated Katana mainnet, becoming one of the first wallets to support the newly launched DeFi-focused blockchain. The integration allows users to connect to the Katana chain directly within the wallet, enabling native token transfers, DApp interactions, and access to the $1 billion KAT liquidity incentive program.

With support for Katana now live, Bitget Wallet users can easily add the chain, manage assets, and connect to Katana-based applications to earn yield through liquidity provision and token staking. The update further expands Bitget Wallet’s multi-chain capabilities and comes as the platform accelerates its strategy to offer curated access to high-potential DeFi ecosystems. Additional Katana-related features, including analytics tools and asset discovery functions, are set to launch in the coming weeks.

Katana is a DeFi-optimized Layer 2 network on Ethereum built using Polygon’s Agglayer Chain Development Kit (CDK). Incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR, Katana is designed to address the inefficiencies of existing DeFi infrastructure, with a focus on enhancing real yield strategies and concentrating liquidity into a few core DeFi app primitives. The network aims to attract early users and liquidity through its KAT incentive program, which will distribute 1 billion KAT tokens to contributors across various ecosystem protocols.

For Bitget Wallet, the integration aligns with its broader effort to support onchain utility beyond asset storage, tapping into emerging chains that offer real-world financial applications. The wallet, which now serves over 80 million users and supports 130+ blockchains, has in recent months expanded its coverage of next‑generation Layer 2 networks as part of its “Crypto for Everyone” roadmap.

“Users are increasingly looking for new sources of real yield in a more modular and efficient DeFi landscape,” said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO of Bitget Wallet. “By integrating Katana at launch, we’re giving our users direct access to a purpose-built chain for high yield generation and deep liquidity without friction. This is part of our ongoing commitment to making the best of DeFi simple, secure, and accessible.”

For more information, visit the Bitget Wallet official channels.

About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.

For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e9d25e4-0499-4163-a841-155e94f4b3ca

The MIL Network –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Integrates Katana Mainnet, Tapping 1 Billion KAT Incentives Amid DeFi Yield Revival

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, has integrated Katana mainnet, becoming one of the first wallets to support the newly launched DeFi-focused blockchain. The integration allows users to connect to the Katana chain directly within the wallet, enabling native token transfers, DApp interactions, and access to the $1 billion KAT liquidity incentive program.

With support for Katana now live, Bitget Wallet users can easily add the chain, manage assets, and connect to Katana-based applications to earn yield through liquidity provision and token staking. The update further expands Bitget Wallet’s multi-chain capabilities and comes as the platform accelerates its strategy to offer curated access to high-potential DeFi ecosystems. Additional Katana-related features, including analytics tools and asset discovery functions, are set to launch in the coming weeks.

Katana is a DeFi-optimized Layer 2 network on Ethereum built using Polygon’s Agglayer Chain Development Kit (CDK). Incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR, Katana is designed to address the inefficiencies of existing DeFi infrastructure, with a focus on enhancing real yield strategies and concentrating liquidity into a few core DeFi app primitives. The network aims to attract early users and liquidity through its KAT incentive program, which will distribute 1 billion KAT tokens to contributors across various ecosystem protocols.

For Bitget Wallet, the integration aligns with its broader effort to support onchain utility beyond asset storage, tapping into emerging chains that offer real-world financial applications. The wallet, which now serves over 80 million users and supports 130+ blockchains, has in recent months expanded its coverage of next‑generation Layer 2 networks as part of its “Crypto for Everyone” roadmap.

“Users are increasingly looking for new sources of real yield in a more modular and efficient DeFi landscape,” said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO of Bitget Wallet. “By integrating Katana at launch, we’re giving our users direct access to a purpose-built chain for high yield generation and deep liquidity without friction. This is part of our ongoing commitment to making the best of DeFi simple, secure, and accessible.”

For more information, visit the Bitget Wallet official channels.

About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.

For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e9d25e4-0499-4163-a841-155e94f4b3ca

The MIL Network –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Booker, Duckworth Condemn Republican Cuts to Environmental Justice Grants, Slam GOP Weakening of Key Environmental Law

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Washington (July 2, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), co-chairs of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans rammed through Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which would rescind funds already appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act for environmental and climate justice block grants, and undermine the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The co-chairs filed two amendments that would have saved these funds and removed “pay-for-play” permits. Republicans blocked both amendments.
“Senate Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a direct attack on communities that have long been last in line for federal investments and is a part of a broader campaign to shield polluters from accountability,” said the co-chairs. “Cutting funds for projects that would deliver clean air, safe water, healthy land, and basic human dignity for all—along with efforts to defund air pollution monitoring and rubberstamp polluting infrastructure—will further harm communities already suffering devastating health consequences from living next door to our nation’s most polluting industries. As the House considers this Big Ugly Bill, we urge our colleagues to reject GOP efforts to claw back these funds and permit projects that jeopardize the health of millions of Americans. All Americans deserve a government that enacts—not eliminates—policies that protect public health, lower costs, and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable.”
The co-chairs were joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the environmental justice grants amendment.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Booker, Duckworth Condemn Republican Cuts to Environmental Justice Grants, Slam GOP Weakening of Key Environmental Law

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Washington (July 2, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), co-chairs of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans rammed through Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which would rescind funds already appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act for environmental and climate justice block grants, and undermine the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The co-chairs filed two amendments that would have saved these funds and removed “pay-for-play” permits. Republicans blocked both amendments.
“Senate Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a direct attack on communities that have long been last in line for federal investments and is a part of a broader campaign to shield polluters from accountability,” said the co-chairs. “Cutting funds for projects that would deliver clean air, safe water, healthy land, and basic human dignity for all—along with efforts to defund air pollution monitoring and rubberstamp polluting infrastructure—will further harm communities already suffering devastating health consequences from living next door to our nation’s most polluting industries. As the House considers this Big Ugly Bill, we urge our colleagues to reject GOP efforts to claw back these funds and permit projects that jeopardize the health of millions of Americans. All Americans deserve a government that enacts—not eliminates—policies that protect public health, lower costs, and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable.”
The co-chairs were joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the environmental justice grants amendment.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Crop Report for the Period June 24 to June 30, 2025

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 3, 2025

Growing conditions in Saskatchewan were variable this past week. Thunderstorms swept across parts of the province, bringing moisture to crops along with some hail. Producers in areas that received hail will be assessing crop damage over the next week to determine the impact on yields. Many areas in the southern regions of the province received limited rainfall which continues to stress crops and accelerate crop development.

However, some areas of the province received significant rainfall last week. The most rainfall recorded was 115 millimetres (mm) in the Archerwill area, followed closely by the Beatty area with 85 mm. There was also notable rainfall in the Kinistino and Middle Lake areas with 75 mm and 65 mm, respectively.

Despite rainfall in certain areas, provincial topsoil moisture conditions declined from last week. Provincial cropland topsoil moisture is rated at two per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and nine per cent very short. For hay crops, topsoil moisture levels are two per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture levels in the province currently sit at one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 23 per cent very short.

Crops developed swiftly over the last week. All crop types are further ahead of normal stages than they were last week. Fall cereal crops are the most advanced, followed closely by spring cereal and pulse crops. Oilseed and annual forage crops are the furthest behind their normal stages this year but are significantly further ahead than last year. In the southwest and northwest, crops are the most advanced in the province due to persistent hot and dry conditions this year. On the other hand, crops in the central regions are the furthest behind.

Crop conditions vary across the province, largely due to the amount and timing of rainfall so far this year. Approximately half of fall and spring cereal crops are in good condition, with most of the other half in fair to poor condition. For pulses, half to two-thirds of crops are in good condition, with most of the rest in fair condition. Finally, most oilseed crops are in fair to good condition at the end of June.

Most livestock producers have started their first cuts of hay this year. Currently, 10 per cent of hay crops in the province have been cut, 84 per cent are still standing and six per cent have been baled or silaged. Hay quality varies greatly throughout the province. Twelve per cent of hay is excellent quality, 43 per cent is good, 34 per cent is fair and 11 per cent is poor quality. Producers are hoping for timely rain in the coming weeks to produce good second cuts.

There were numerous sources of crop damage throughout the province last week. Producers are reporting that dry conditions combined with heat and wind are causing the most widespread damage to crops in the province. As an additional consequence of these conditions, grasshopper and flea beetle activity are causing minor damage in dry areas. In certain areas of the west-central, east-central and northeast regions, producers are reporting minor damage from excess moisture in low spots due to abundant rainfall over the past few weeks. Many regions experienced thunderstorms last week which brought varying levels of hail damage to crops in certain areas of the province.

With in-crop herbicide applications largely complete, producers are shifting their focus on scouting crops and spraying for insects and disease when necessary. Livestock producers are busy cutting hay crops and checking fences as livestock are in the pasture. More timely rain will be needed throughout July and August to sustain yield potential to harvest.

This can be a stressful time of year for producers as weather conditions can be unpredictable. The Farm Stress Line can help by providing support for producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442.

A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online: download Crop Report.

Follow the 2025 Crop Report on X/Twitter at @SKAgriculture.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Slams Republicans on House Floor: “This Is a Choice Between Your Career and Saving People’s Lives”

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

July 03, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, ahead of the final vote on Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to stand up for the dignity of the American people and call on House Republicans to vote against the bill.

Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor.

Congressman Castro’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

Three years ago today, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. That day, my youngest child, my daughter, turned 2 months old. There’s a drug I have to take every month, every 28 days. The first time I saw the bill for that, the list price on that drug was $24,000 per injection. For people that don’t have insurance or Medicaid or aren’t covered, they’re not getting that shot. They’re not going to survive, some of them.

This is a choice, for some of you, between your career and saving people’s lives. There are so many folks who have reached out over the last several months panicking about their disabled children, about their senior citizen parents who are in nursing homes, people struggling with cancer or Alzheimer’s, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes, all these illnesses.

You have the power today to make sure that they can live with dignity and stay alive or you can choose your career. That is your choice. We choose to keep people alive. We choose to have healthcare in this country. We refuse to cut healthcare for 17 million people and 1.6 million people in Texas because it’s wrong and it’s immoral and we can take a different course.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Slams Republicans on House Floor: “This Is a Choice Between Your Career and Saving People’s Lives”

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

July 03, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, ahead of the final vote on Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to stand up for the dignity of the American people and call on House Republicans to vote against the bill.

Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor.

Congressman Castro’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

Three years ago today, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. That day, my youngest child, my daughter, turned 2 months old. There’s a drug I have to take every month, every 28 days. The first time I saw the bill for that, the list price on that drug was $24,000 per injection. For people that don’t have insurance or Medicaid or aren’t covered, they’re not getting that shot. They’re not going to survive, some of them.

This is a choice, for some of you, between your career and saving people’s lives. There are so many folks who have reached out over the last several months panicking about their disabled children, about their senior citizen parents who are in nursing homes, people struggling with cancer or Alzheimer’s, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes, all these illnesses.

You have the power today to make sure that they can live with dignity and stay alive or you can choose your career. That is your choice. We choose to keep people alive. We choose to have healthcare in this country. We refuse to cut healthcare for 17 million people and 1.6 million people in Texas because it’s wrong and it’s immoral and we can take a different course.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Slams “Alligator Alcatraz” Prison Camp Stunt

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), released the following statement in advance of President Trump visiting the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.

“The proposed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center is an affront to our environment, our state’s resources, and basic human dignity,” said Rep. Frankel. “Turning our treasured Everglades into a prison camp, where migrants–most of whom live here peacefully and contribute to our economy–would be held in sweltering, inhumane conditions, is not who we are as Americans. And at $450 million a year, it’s a staggering waste of taxpayer resources. We need immigration reform, not political stunts.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Slams “Alligator Alcatraz” Prison Camp Stunt

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), released the following statement in advance of President Trump visiting the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.

“The proposed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center is an affront to our environment, our state’s resources, and basic human dignity,” said Rep. Frankel. “Turning our treasured Everglades into a prison camp, where migrants–most of whom live here peacefully and contribute to our economy–would be held in sweltering, inhumane conditions, is not who we are as Americans. And at $450 million a year, it’s a staggering waste of taxpayer resources. We need immigration reform, not political stunts.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 4, 2025