NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: LET Mining launches smart cloud mining to easily earn passive income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the rapid development of digital assets, more and more people are looking for ways to participate in the cryptocurrency market without frequent operations, lower risks and more stable returns. To meet this demand, LET Mining officially launched a new generation of smart cloud mining services, allowing users to start a stable and efficient passive income path with just one click.

    What is smart cloud mining?
    Smart cloud mining is a computing power leasing method based on cloud technology and artificial intelligence. Users do not need to buy mining machines, do not need technical experience, and do not need to bear equipment operation and maintenance and high electricity costs. They only need to choose a computing power package, and the system will automatically deploy it to global data centers for mining operations.

    LET Mining‘s “Smart Cloud Mining” system further optimizes the efficiency and experience of traditional cloud mining-introducing AI computing power scheduling, green energy mining and revenue prediction models to make the revenue more stable and controllable, and truly realize “easy participation and automatic revenue”.

    How to start LET Mining?
    1. Log in and quickly register an account to get a free $12 reward
    2. Use $12 to buy a cloud mining contract, or buy a cloud mining contract that suits your investment strategy

    contract Investment Amount Contract duration Total income
    Experience Contract $100 2 days $100 + $8
    BTC Classic Hash Power $500 5 days $500 + $30
    BTC Classic Hash Power $1,400 12 days $1,400 + $216.72
    DOGE Classic Hash Power $3,000 22 days $3,000 + $904.2
    BTC Advanced Hash Power $8,000 37 days $8,000 + $4736

    (Click to view more high-yield cloud mining contracts)
    Get income every day, and you can continue to buy contracts or withdraw funds

    What are the advantages of LET Mining?
    ✅ One-click start, no equipment required
    Users do not need to download software or configure hardware, just select the computing power package on the platform to start the mining process with one click.

    ✅ Support multiple currencies
    The platform supports a variety of mainstream crypto assets, including:
    Bitcoin (BTC): the representative of digital gold;
    Ripple (XRP): extremely fast settlement speed, suitable for quick remote mining;
    Dogecoin (DOGE): active community, large fluctuations but great potential.

    ✅ Stable passive income arrives daily
    The system settles mining income daily and automatically distributes it to the user account, so that daily passive income can be achieved without any operation.

    ✅ AI intelligent computing power scheduling
    Through the background algorithm system, the platform will automatically switch to the optimal mining mode according to the real-time difficulty, computing power market supply and demand and currency market dynamics to improve the overall profit performance.

    ✅ Green and environmentally friendly, low-carbon mines 
    LET Mining is committed to sustainable development. Its mines are located in areas rich in green energy such as Iceland, Canada, and Northern Europe. It fully adopts clean energy such as hydropower and wind power, taking into account both income and environmental protection.

    Passive income is no longer out of reach
    Whether you are a cryptocurrency novice or a long-term holder who hopes to increase the value of your assets, LET Mining provides you with a convenient, safe, and low-threshold mining solution. Especially for those who don’t have time to watch the market, are not good at trading, but want to participate in the blockchain economy, smart cloud mining is undoubtedly an ideal way to passive income.

    Conclusion
    With the launch of LET Mining smart cloud mining, “let your assets work for you” is no longer just a slogan, but a real and feasible path. No matter where you are, you can join the global digital mining network and achieve stable daily income in just a few steps. Sign up for LET Mining now and start a new chapter in your crypto passive income.
    (Click to download the APP)

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    LETMining
    info@letmining.com
    21 Mansell Street, London, U.K.
    https://letmining.com/

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Westport to Issue Q2 2025 Financial Results on August 11, 2025 and Provides an Update on the Divestment of the Light-Duty Segment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (TSX: WPRT / Nasdaq: WPRT) (“Westport” or “The Company”) announces that the Company will release Q2 2025 financial results on Monday, August 11, 2025, after market close. A conference call and webcast to discuss the financial results and other corporate developments will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

    Time: 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
    Call Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI842f3b76bd5b44c7aee3e609a6cc77b3
    Webcast: https://investors.westport.com

    Participants may register up to 60 minutes before the event by clicking on the call link and completing the online registration form. Upon registration, the user will receive dial-in info and a unique PIN, along with an email confirming the details.

    The webcast will be archived on Westport’s website and a replay will be available at https://investors.westport.com

    Light-Duty Divestment Transaction Update

    Westport today reaffirms its commitment to the pending sale of its Light-Duty Segment to a wholly-owned investment vehicle of Heliaca Investments Coöperatief U.A. (“Heliaca Investments”), a Netherlands based investment firm supported by Ramphastos Investments Management B.V. a prominent Dutch venture capital and private equity firm (the “Transaction”), first announced in March 2025. The closing of the Transaction is now expected to occur in July 2025, slightly later than originally anticipated. The revised timeline reflects an updated regulatory review process. The Company continues to work closely with all parties as the remaining conditions to close are finalized.

    About Westport Fuel Systems

    At Westport Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, we serve our customers in approximately 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.westport.com.

    Investor Inquiries:
    Investor Relations
    T: +1 604-718-2046
    E: invest@westport.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Announces Results of Special Meetings of Securityholders and Implementation of Certain Fund Changes Approved by Securityholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following special meetings of securityholders held on June 26, 2025, AGF Investments Inc. (AGF Investments) today announced that securityholders approved the proposed changes to the investment objectives of AGF Short-Term Income Class and AGF Global Sustainable Growth Equity Fund (each a “Fund”, and collectively, the “Funds”), as follows:

    Fund Current Investment Objective Proposed Investment Objective
    AGF Short-Term Income Class The Fund’s objective is to provide maximum income while preserving capital and liquidity. It invests primarily in short-term instruments, government guaranteed securities and corporate paper with a minimum A credit rating. The Fund’s objective is to provide maximum income, while preserving capital and liquidity. It invests primarily in Canadian money market instruments, such as Canadian treasury bills.
    AGF Global Sustainable Growth Equity Fund The Fund’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities, globally, which fit the Fund’s concept of sustainable development. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies that are delivering a positive sustainability impact by providing solutions to the key challenges in sustainable development.
         

    The new investment objectives will be implemented by AGF Investments by an amendment to the simplified prospectus of the Funds, on or about July 15, 2025. In connection with the investment objective changes, the following changes will also be made to the Funds on or about July 15:

    • Strategy Changes: The investment strategies of the Funds will be amended to align with the new investment objectives of the Funds, as further detailed in the management information circular referenced below.
    • Name Change: AGF Short-Term Income Class will change its name to AGF Canadian Money Market Class.

    At the meetings, securityholders also approved changes to the capital structure of AGF All World Tax Advantage Group Limited, as per disclosure included in the management information circular.

    Additional information regarding the changes in investment objective, and other associated changes, is provided in the Funds’ management information circular, which is available on www.AGF.com and www.sedarplus.ca.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual fund securities are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurances the fund will be able to obtain its net asset value at a constant amount or that the full amount of your investment in the fund will be returned to you. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $53 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs.

    AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    AGF Investments Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Management Limited and conducts the management and advisory of mutual funds in Canada.

    Media Contact

    Amanda Marchment
    Director, Corporate Communications
    416-865-4160
    amanda.marchment@agf.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Remarks on Ending the COLA Freeze for Members of Congress During Appropriations Markup

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered remarks in response in support of an amendment to bring an end to the freeze of Cost-Of-Living-Adjustments (COLA) for Members of Congress at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the FY26 Legislative Branch Bill markup. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:

    Click here to watch a full video of his remarks:

    “I generally try to support righteous amendments, and so I compelled to support this amendment. Mr. Clyde, I’ve always impressed how much research you do – you with me? I’m complimenting you. (laughter erupts across the room) I know, Ms. Wasserman-Schultz is distracting, I understand that (more laughter), but the fact of the matter is, you always do your research and I wish the research would make the difference, but we know it doesn’t.

    “This is about politics. This is about fear of the public thinking that we have our hand in the cookie jar. Let me suggest to you, the more times we – and this will be the 16th time – we stop putting the hand in the cookie jar, the [objective] of the reform in 1989 was to make sure that members weren’t doing that, because you’re absolutely right. I never took payment for speeches. I thought that was a not too well-designed bribe, but I have always supported making sure that at least we stayed even. That’s all this COLA is, this is not a raise. Your purchasing power if you were here as long as the distinguished gentleman, former Chairman, Mr. Rogers and I have been here, has been reduced about 45% since 2009. Now you’ve noticed your grocery prices haven’t been frozen, your rent hasn’t been frozen here or at home – now maybe your mortgage has been frozen because you’ve had it for a long time. 

    “But the fact of the matter is two things are going to occur, first of all, people won’t be able to run for Congress. Now, I want to tell the public, who presumably may be watching this, that I believe a large number of Members on the other side of the aisle from me support this COLA adjustment. Why? Because they’ve told me so. Now I was the number two leader for 20 years, and I have not kept track of the number of Members from across the aisle who came to me and said, ‘You’re going to be able to take care of this this year?’ And very frankly, for a lot of years I did, not unilaterally, however, with Mr. Blunt, Mr. Delay, with Mr. Cantor, with other leaders in your party.

    “We agreed that not having a COLA, making Members lose purchasing power, frankly, was not a good thing for us to do so that Members could stay as the ’89 reform meant them to be: independent and not required to seek other forms of income, legally or illegally. And I am so pleased that Mr. Clyde, I have an amendment to do the same thing.

    “I’m not going to offer it because we’re going to resolve it on this issue. Now, Mr. Valadao, I understand your problem. So we understand one another. I’m going to be honest. I tell people on my side, ‘If you’ve got a tough race, don’t vote for this.’ And the reason we’ve been able to do it, both sides did that. Mr. Cantor, Mr. Blunt, you had 40-30% of your people who didn’t ever vote for this. Why? Because we know it can be demagogued and we know it is demagogued. So, I tell people on my side, do not vote for this, because it will be a big issue in your campaign.

    “But there are a majority on both sides whom that will not affect, not because we don’t stand for election, because I’ve been for this since the day I got here, and I’m here now in my 23rd term so what we’re going to decide is a political question of whether we have the courage and the honesty, the intellectual honesty not to come to Hoyer or any other leader in the House and say, ‘boy, I hope you can get this done. I can’t vote for it, of course, but –’ that’s what this issue is about, and I understand some of you have tough issues.

    “Frankly, both sides go after the moderates every year. It’s why we have become more and more polarized. But this is something that we ought to do if we have self-respect for ourselves, for our institution and respect for our voters who themselves want a COLA. And if they’re retired, you damn well know you better have that COLA for Social Security or you’re in trouble. Why? Because they know if they don’t get that COLA adjustment, they lose standard of living. Why? Because prices go up. But if you are on a fixed income, and I know I’ve run out of time again. Now I will tell you, I hope I take my side. I can support this, but we’re not going to go empty into this dark night if you’re not there with us, I yield back.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HILL, GOTTHEIMER, KEAN JR., LAWLER, AND MOSKOWITZ INTRODUCE BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON COUNTRIES THAT WRONGFULLY DETAIN AMERICANS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hill (AR-02), Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Kean Jr. (NJ-07), Rep. Lawler (NY-17), and Rep. Moskowitz (FL-23) introduced the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, which would create a designation for countries or nonstate actors that engage in the unlawful or wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, empowering the Secretary of State and Congress to hold them accountable.

    Rep. Hill said, “When Americans are wrongfully detained abroad, it’s not just a personal tragedy — it’s a direct attack on the United States. Those who wrongfully detain Americans must know that there will be real consequences for using U.S. citizens as political pawns. That’s why our bill gives the State Department the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable while keeping Congress firmly engaged in the process. This bipartisan bill is a strong step toward protecting Americans by deterring and punishing them.”

    Rep. Gottheimer said, “As the United States faces increasing threats from foreign adversaries, protecting Americans abroad must remain a top priority. I am proud to help introduce the bipartisan Countering Wrongful Detention Act alongside Congressman Hill to ensure the State Department has the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable.

    “This bipartisan bill will help bring home Americans wrongfully detained around the world and strengthen efforts to prevent future hostage taking. To those being held, and their families, our message is clear: we stand with you and we are fighting every day to bring you home.”

    Rep. Kean Jr. said, “My constituent, Sarah Moriarty, lost her fath

    er, Robert Levinson, after he was taken hostage by Iran in 2007. Her family spent years wondering where he was, not knowing if he was alive or if they would ever see him again. Sadly, far too many American families have lived through that same kind of fear and heartbreak.

    “Hostile regimes like Iran continue to use innocent Americans as bargaining chips, dehumanizing and mistreating them—and in some cases, even taking their lives. The Countering Wrongful Detention Act makes it clear that there will be consequences for this kind of behavior, and the United States will always go to great lengths to protect its citizens.”

    Rep. Lawler said, “As a co-lead on the Countering Wrongful Detention Act, I’m proud to be joining a bipartisan group of colleagues working to protect Americans held hostage by rogue nations as political pawns. This legislation will provide the State Department with the necessary tools to exert pressure while ensuring that Congress maintains accountability. American families deserve nothing less.”

    Rep. Moskowitz said, “For years, my constituent Bob Levinson was illegally, unjustly, and unacceptably held by the Iranian regime. Bad actors like these can’t detain Americans without cause and think they can get away with it. I’m helping lead the Countering Wrongful Detention Act because this bipartisan bill puts real tools in place that’ll crack down on this practice and send a strong, bipartisan signal that our government will hold accountable any state or nonstate actors who threaten Americans in this way.”

    Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty, Co-Founder of R. A. Levinson & Associates and Fellow, New America Future Security Program, said, “Since the introduction of PPD30 ten years ago, and the Robert A. Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act in 2019, we have seen marked improvement in how our government handles the cases of American nationals held hostage by state and nonstate actors.

    “This important bipartisan legislation, coming at such a critical time when Americans continue to be taken on a weekly basis as political bargaining chips, is a giant leap forward in creating tangible deterrence that stops bad actors from continuing this horrific practice. Thank you to Representatives Hill, Gottheimer, Kean Jr., Lawler, and Moskowitz for their leadership on this issue.

    “We hope to see this legislation passed by Congress and swiftly signed into law, as we know it will help prevent so many Americans from falling victim to the suffering that my father, my family, my friends in the hostage community, and far too many others have experienced.”

    “The Foley Foundation supports the bipartisan introduction of this bill in the House of Representatives by Reps. Hill, Kean Jr, Lawler, Gottheimer, and Moskowitz to ensure hostile regimes that take American nationals for political leverage face greater and targeted consequences. We welcome oversight provisions to require public testimony or public reporting that will allow the American people to better understand the threat of international hostage-taking.” 

    Background:

    The bipartisan legislation creates a new authority for the Secretary of State to formally designate countries or nonstate actors as state sponsors of unlawful or wrongful detention, creating a deterrent framework similar to the existing state sponsors of terrorism designation. Once designated, the Secretary may impose a range of penalties on those governments, including diplomatic and economic consequences.

    The bill provides congressional oversight by requiring that all state sponsors of unlawful or wrongful detention designations expire unless Congress passes a joint resolution to approve them within six months. Congress would also have the authority to terminate a designation through a joint resolution, ensuring these decisions reflect the interests of the American people and are subject to public accountability.

    This legislation further directs the Secretary of State to brief Congress on whether the following countries should be designated under this new authority:

    • China
    • Russia
    • Iran
    • Afghanistan
    • Eritrea
    • Nicaragua
    • Syria
    • Venezuela
    • Belarus

    A one-pager on the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025 is available HERE.

    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Investigating Potential Seabed Minerals in the Aleutian Arc

    Source: US Geological Survey

    A USGS-led expedition in the Aleutian Arc off Alaska will provide critical information on energy resources, underwater earthquakes and other hazards, seafloor habitats, and biological resources, including key fisheries, as well as potential seabed minerals. Scientists are investigating potential hydrothermal mineral specimens on the seafloor. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Yorkville Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $150,000,000 Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mountainside, NJ, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Yorkville Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 15,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and trade under the ticker symbol “YORKU” beginning June 27, 2025. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “YORK” and “YORKW”, respectively. The underwriter has been granted a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on June 30, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    Clear Street is acting as the sole book-running manager in the offering. D. Boral Capital LLC is acting as co-manager of the offering. DLA Piper LLP (US) is serving as legal counsel to the Company and Maples and Calder (Cayman LLP) is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Company. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as legal counsel to Clear Street.

    A registration statement on Form S-1 (333-286569) relating to these securities sold in the initial public offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and was declared effective on June 26, 2025. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, when available, from Clear Street, Attn: Syndicate Department, 150 Greenwich Street, 45th floor, New York, NY 10007, by email at ecm@clearstreet.io, or from the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Yorkville Acquisition Corp.

    The Company is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company has not selected any specific business combination target and has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination. While the Company may pursue a business combination target in any business or industry, it intends to focus its search for businesses at the intersection of media, technology, and entertainment.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the registration statement and related preliminary prospectus filed in connection with the initial public offering with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

    Contact Information

    Yorkville Acquisition Corp.
    1012 Springfield Avenue
    Mountainside, New Jersey 07092 

    Kevin McGurn
    Chief Executive Officer
    Email: kjmcgurn@gmail.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spare the Trees So Investors Can See the Forest: Remarks before the Executive Compensation Roundtable

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Good afternoon. Thank you to Chairman Atkins for convening today’s roundtable and thank you to the moderators and panelists for joining us to discuss this important topic. On a recent trip to Alaska, one of the most striking sights was the rich forests of Sitka spruces clustering on steep mountainsides climbing up from the sea. I quickly stowed my binoculars in favor of taking in the whole scene. Absent a distinguishing feature—a different tree type, an intriguing root system, a bald eagle perched on its branches, or a bear lurking in its shade—the grandeur of the forest is lost when focusing on any one tree. Trying not to lose sight of the forest for the trees in beautiful Alaska brings me back to the ugly reality of executive compensation disclosure. Over the years, executive compensation disclosure has become increasingly unwieldy and expensive and decreasingly useful. The SEC’s rules focus excessively on random trees rather than giving a realistic view of the forest. They direct readers’ attention to a set of executive compensation items that, largely, entertain the onlooker rather than educate the investor. Preparing the lengthy and complex disclosures eats up lots of resources—management time and attention, attorneys’ and accountants’ billable hours, and even trees as pages of disclosures pile up—and distort corporate decision-making.

    Done right, disclosure rules are one form of investor protection. Material information provided to prospective investors arms them with “a rational basis to evaluate [a company and] its securities.”[1] My primary question for today’s panels is whether our current disclosure rules on executive compensation accomplish that goal.

    Some executive compensation rules seem more responsive to the general public’s curiosity than a genuine investor need for material information. Painstakingly calculated tallies of perks, like rides on the corporate jet, housing allowances for overseas assignments, or car services give us a tiny window into executives’ lives, but do little to fill out an investor’s picture of the company. Lately, our rulemakings have taken a “more is better” approach to executive compensation disclosure. These tack-on rules to the growing alphabet of Item 402 of Reg S-K—we are almost all the way through the alphabet[2]—do not provide new information. Instead, these rules re-package and re-present data that investors mostly already have. Or they add details that are immaterial. Do investors even look at this “new” information? And if they do, are we confident it gives them a rational basis to evaluate a security’s price?

    Consider, for example, pay ratio disclosure and pay-versus-performance disclosure. In his statement of dissent on the pay ratio rule, then Commissioner Dan Gallagher noted that it could have been “marginally less useless” if it were limited to U.S. full-time employees.[3] While not a ringing endorsement of the rule or any of its possible permutations, his comment highlights that even with respect to a rule mandated by Congress as this rule was, the Commission retains some latitude to implement it in the best way possible. More recently, pursuant to another Dodd-Frank mandate, the Commission adopted the pay-versus-performance rule. The overarching feedback I hear on the rule is that it is a regulatory “tax” on public companies without a corresponding benefit for investors. Management, and the high-priced consultants and lawyers they hire, spend hours preparing the various narratives, tables, and graphs that produce nothing but yawns of disinterest from investors.

    More concerning than the direct costs of producing executive compensation disclosures are the costs that arise from the distortion of corporate behavior in response to executive compensation disclosure mandates. Perhaps a company opts for a compensation scheme that is less effective at aligning incentives because of the way such a scheme will be reflected under SEC disclosure rules that do not necessarily represent economic reality. Or perhaps a company opts not to provide security for its executives because it appears in a laundry list of examples of perks in a 2006 Commission release that incidentally declines to define what a perk is.[4] Now may be time for the Commission to return to a more nuanced approach to personal security disclosure that considers the context in which those measures are provided.[5] Some companies have even gone so far as to eliminate perks altogether while offsetting such “cost-saving” measures with increases to base salaries. Executive compensation disclosure, along with other disclosures, should reflect rather than direct corporate actions.

    The age-old philosophical question is whether a falling tree makes a sound when nobody is around to hear it. The more relevant and less philosophical question for today’s discussion is if the disclosures we are mandating do not provide investors a rational basis to assess a company, why mandate them at all? I look forward to hearing from today’s moderators and panelists about how we can improve our executive compensation mandates so that they serve investors.

     

    [1] Alan B. Levenson, The Role of the SEC as a Consumer Protection Agency, 27 Bus. Law. 61, 62  (1971) (“The economic justification for disclosure as the keystone of investor protection lies in the belief that material corporate and financial information disseminated to prospective investors provides a rational basis to evaluate securities and this is a necessary precondition to efficient markets.”).

    [2] Executive compensation disclosure mandates run from Regulation S-K 402(a) to 402(x).

    [5] Disclosure of Management Remuneration, 43 Fed. Reg. 6,060, 6,063 (Feb. 13, 1978) (“The taking of various security measures for the protection of executives may not result in any remuneration to such executive if the individual’s life has been threatened because of his position in the company or if the company reasonably believes that the individual’s safety is in jeopardy.”), https://archives.federalregister.gov/issue_slice/1978/2/13/6057-6065.pdf#page=4.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Applauds Judiciary Committee for Approving Missouri District Judge Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, June 26, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) applauded the Judiciary Committee approving the nominations of four Missourians President Trump has tapped to serve as district judges for Missouri. 
    “This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent four outstanding Missourians—whom President Trump tapped as his first judicial nominees—to the Senate floor for a final vote. My state has waited four long years for these judges, and I look forward to them serving Missouri with the highest distinction. To Josh Divine, Maria Lanahan, Zachary Bluestone, and Cris Stevens—congratulations are in order,” said Senator Hawley.
    The nominees are:
    Joshua M. Divine, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
    Maria A. Lanahan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
    Zachary M. Bluestone, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
    Cristian M. Stevens, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
    These judicial positions had been vacant throughout the Biden Administration. Senator Hawley worked with President Trump and the White House to make sure the Missouri appointments were prioritized.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Congressional Delegation Announces $5.8 Million Investment to Modernize Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), announced a $5.8 million grant from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will assist with expansion and modernization improvements to the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV). The funds are made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The award will support the reconstruction of the airport’s second-floor corridor and the replacement of four jet bridges to increase accessibility and safety for passengers. 
    “This federal investment in infrastructure enhances the travel experience for both Vermonters and visitors alike and is vital to supporting our state’s economy and vibrant tourism industry. This funding will provide important modernization improvements at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to improve the traveler experience and safety for everyone traveling to and from the Green Mountain State,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We’re proud that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to boost economic growth and generate good-paying jobs in Vermont.” 
    “Thanks to the continued support of our federal delegation, we are able to meet the moment for our passengers and our region. As we approach potential record-breaking passenger numbers, the most direct flights in our history, and growing demand for safe, modern airport travel experiences, these federal investments are absolutely critical to the continued success of Leahy BTV. This funding ensures we can keep pace with that demand and deliver the world-class airport experience Vermonters and visitors deserve,” said Nic Longo, C.M., Director of Aviation, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Raskin Introduce Bicameral Bill to Cut Off Federal Contracts to Gun Dealers Whose Firearms Are Consistently Linked to Violent Crime

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Raskin Introduce Bicameral Bill to Cut Off Federal Contracts to Gun Dealers Whose Firearms Are Consistently Linked to Violent Crime

    Legislation would bar government contracts with bad-apple dealers whose guns are overrepresented in violent crime data
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a bicameral bill to prevent the federal government from contracting with federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) that have a documented history of selling guns that are frequently used to commit violent crimes.
    Existing federal law requires FFLs that have sold 25 or more guns over the course of a single year that are subsequently traced to violent crimes within three years of their sale to report additional information on their sales practices under ATF’s Demand 2 program to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act would leverage this ATF data to identify the small number of FFLs that are consistently and dramatically overrepresented in criminal activity and render them ineligible for federal contracts.
    “Far too often, lucrative federal contracts are inexplicably awarded to firearm dealers who have been linked to dangerous crime,” said Senator Padilla. “The federal government should not be doing business with repeat offenders who are fueling our national gun violence epidemic. Our commonsense legislation aims to combat senseless and preventable gun violence by ensuring that gun dealers keep guns from falling into the wrong hands.”
    “The federal government should not be rewarding gun dealers whose inventory keeps ending up at crime scenes,” said Ranking Member Raskin. “The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act prevents federal agencies from contracting with firearm dealers who have a documented history of selling guns that are used in violent crimes. I’m proud to team up with Senator Padilla on this bicameral, commonsense bill to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t supporting bad-apple gun dealers.”
    “Year after year, a small percentage of firearms dealers are the source of the vast majority of guns quickly diverted to crimes, yet some are awarded federal contracts. The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act will ensure that dealers that supply large numbers of crime guns do not have the privilege of doing business with the federal government, and that only responsible actors in the gun industry receive coveted federal procurement contracts. Brady thanks Representative Raskin and Senator Padilla for introducing this important legislation and for their continued commitment to ending the American gun violence epidemic,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy for Brady.
    The ATF established the Demand 2 Program over two decades ago to improve its clearance rate for tracing firearms used in crimes. Crime gun tracing, administered by the National Tracing Center, establishes the chain of custody of firearms recovered by law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations, from their importer or manufacturer to their first retail purchase at an FFL, creating critical investigative links between a suspect and a recovered firearm.
    The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act is endorsed by the following groups: Brady, Community Justice Action Fund, Everytown, GIFFORDS, Jewish Democratic Council of America, and the National Council of Jewish Women.
    The bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
    Senator Padilla is a strong advocate for commonsense, lifesaving gun safety reforms. Earlier this year, Padilla co-led the bicameral reintroduction of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, legislation to reinstate a nationwide ban on military-style assault weapons. He also led 18 Senators in introducing the Age 21 Act, legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to purchasing handguns from federally licensed dealers. In June 2022, Padilla voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun safety legislation in almost 30 years. In 2023, Padilla joined 27 of his Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Keep Americans Safe Act, renewing efforts to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer, or possession of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Colleagues Slam Republicans Over Gutting Tribal Energy Program and Energy Tax Credits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 26, 2025
    More than 100 tribes have signed onto letters calling for the Senate to protect the tribal energy programs and clean energy tax credits
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Brian Schatz, D-Hawai’i, today released the following statement on Republicans’ reconciliation bill that harms Tribal communities in Oregon and nationwide:
    “As extreme heat strains the grid and leaves thousands without power, Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that would hike costs and worsen energy shortages. Their plan slashes investments in the new energy sources we need to meet demand and keep prices down.”
    “The bill is particularly harmful to Tribal Nations, pulling the rug out from under projects that would strengthen their energy sovereignty and power local communities. Together, the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and our Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits have cleared pathways and removed significant barriers for Tribes to finance and build their own resilient energy infrastructure. More than 100 Tribes have advocated to protect these programs, which are already creating high-quality jobs, increasing energy security, and building economic opportunity in Indian Country and across the nation. We are also committed to taking additional steps to level the playing field for Tribal communities and cut the red tape that has limited their access to these energy programs.”
    “The Big, Beautiful Betrayal isn’t about energy dominance or making life affordable for working families. It’s about cutting essential programs that benefit people from all walks of life to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
    More than 100 Tribes have signed onto letters to Wyden, Heinrich, and Schatz expressing the importance of the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act to continue empoweringTribal energy development.
    The Tribal letters are here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Presses OMB Director Vought on Importance of Public Broadcasting for Alaska

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.26.25
    Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), senior member of the Appropriations Committee, spoke with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought. The Director appeared before the committee that was tasked with considering the rescissions package championed by President Trump, which rescinds $9.4 billion in funding previously appropriated by Congress. Senator Murkowski pressed Vought on the importance of public broadcasting in rural Alaska.
    Watch the Senator’s full remarks here.
    The full transcript of the interaction is below.
    TRANSCRIPT
    Murkowski: Thank you for appearing today to answer our questions, whether it’s on the specifics of this rescission package, to where this all might be headed with the Impoundment Control Act.
    I think probably to a number, every one of us is supportive of PEPFAR and the intent of that program. I think we all recognize that most of everything we do around here isn’t entirely perfect, and we try to do as good as we can and improve it every single opportunity that we have.
    I’m going to ask you some questions with regards to Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but just kind of from a more general perspective, it is absolutely the administration’s right to send us rescissions. It’s our right as a Congress to then figure out whether or not we’re going to support them.
    But, I am going to strongly, strongly push back against my colleague here on this side of the aisle, Senator Kennedy in his comments, basically saying that all we have anymore when it comes to appropriations are CRs (Continuing Resolutions), which are a miserable option, and rescissions. I refuse that. I reject that. And I think that not only we as appropriators on this committee should reject that, but we as members of the Senate, members of the Congress, should reject that.
    It’s pretty clear in Article One (of the U.S. Constitution) what it is that we’re supposed to be doing when it comes to the power of the purse, appropriations. We have a responsibility. And administrator, you have aptly pointed out that maybe in some of these areas, we have failed, because I think many of the initiatives that you have specifically cited to our constituents would probably say that’s not what was intended. But, this is our role here in the Congress and as appropriators, to again, assert our role and our responsibility.
    I don’t object to the fact that you have come to this hearing today to present your review. That’s absolutely fair and legitimate. But I want us as senators, I want us as members of the Legislative Branch to make sure that we are being faithful and have fidelity to our requirements under the Constitution as well.
    So, I want to ask about public broadcasting in the time that I have here. You have said that, and it’s more specific to NPR, I think, but you said that basically it’s all political. I am going to give you a little bit of a bird’s eye view of what I consider to be not political when it comes to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the role that they play in my state. I’ve got kind of a memo here from CoastAlaska, which is our Alaska Public Media, outlining the various public media stations around the state of Alaska. I would like for permission that they be included as part of the record.
    Chair Collins: Without objection.
    Murkowski: But there’s 22 different stations that are listed here, and they’re everywhere from 24% of their annual budget to 70% in Sand Point, in communities that are relatively small but have extraordinary reach. In Barrow, the station up there covers some 95,000 miles when the fiber optic cable was severed by ice about six or seven months ago. That has still not been repaired. It’s public broadcasting that is beaming out to the communities out there to keep those people connected. Right now, we’ve got wildfires that are raging in the Interior part of the state, and so at Fort Yukon and McGrath, it is just our public radio stations that are providing the updates to get people into safe areas.
    Senator Rounds mentioned the very important role that we see with regards to our Tribes. We have more than 60 Tribal stations that [are] served out of KNBA that would be disproportionately impacted, where they offer emergency alerts, vital community connections.
    So I’m going through their concerns because, almost to a number, they’re saying that they will go under if [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting funds are no longer available to them. And you’ve indicated that, well, they’re going to have time to readjust their budget, because it’s not going to be this fiscal year, that’s going to be impacted. When you have a community like Sand Point out in the Aleutian Islands, where 70% of their budget comes from [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting, or in, let’s just say, Wrangell, because I’m going to be going there in a few days, 50% of their budget comes from [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting. There’s no way to recalibrate, there is no safety valve for them.
    So, Administrator, I’ve run out of time to ask my question, but I hope you feel the urgency that I’m trying to express on the on behalf of the people in rural Alaska, and I think in many parts of rural America, where this is their lifeline. This is where they get the updates on that landslide, this is where they get the updates on the wildfires that are coming their way. And so, how they will be able to not only get the emergency alerts that they need, but also the weather reporting to make sure that that fisherman out in Unalaska can go out safely, so that these communities can be connected when the deadly landslide has come through.
    I know Senator Rounds has asked for specific help with regards to the Tribes, but mine is much bigger, and I think we’re not necessarily alone, we’re just a little more extreme in the ask.
    Vought: Senator, thanks for the comment, and we’ll definitely work with you throughout the process if it’s not in Fiscal Year [20]26. I think we’re to the point for decades we’ve had concerns with the extent to which [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting was funding content that was run contrary to the American people, and we’ve got to get to the point where we can finally deal with that. And we believe we put forward a proposal that gives a run rate to be able to deal with that. But I certainly want to work with you throughout the various opportunities that we have moving forward.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Calls on White House to Reverse Reported Hiring of Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theorist Lyn Redwood to CDC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray Calls for Kennedy to Reinstate Fired ACIP Members or Delay Meeting Until New Members Appropriately Vetted; Calls Out Elevation of Conspiracy Theorist like Redwood
    ICYMI: At HELP Hearing, Senator Murray Presses CDC Nominee on Commitment to Scientific Integrity, Vaccine Access, as RFK Jr. Fires ACIP Members, Pushes Vaccine Conspiracies
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior Member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to news reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) planned to hired notorious anti-vaccine extremist Lyn Redwood, former longtime President of RFK Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense, to help oversee vaccine safety.
    “Republicans and Democrats should both be deeply disturbed by the news that our government plans to appoint another anti-vax extremist to allegedly help oversee vaccine safety at our nation’s premier public health agency. This is as disturbing as it gets, and we cannot become numb to it. I’m calling on the White House to immediately reverse this decision. This White House must not give more conspiracy theorists like Redwood a platform to disseminate even more dangerous lies about vaccines—she’s going to get kids killed because their parents will be too afraid to protect their children against preventable diseases like Measles.
    “Vaccines work—they are safe, effective, and lifesaving. We cannot allow a few truly deranged individuals to distort the plain truth and facts around vaccines so badly. I know that my Republican colleagues know this is wrong—now is not the time to be silent. Kids’ lives are on the line. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Lyn Redwood has no place serving as a health advisor at CDC—or anywhere in the Department.” 
    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Against Planned Parenthood in Medina v. PPSAT

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray, Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Supporting Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in Medina v. PPSAT
    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Ruling that Republicans Can’t Block Marketplace Plans from Covering Abortion Care in Budget Reconciliation Bill
    In Murray-led forum for Dobbs anniversary this week, Senator Murray laid out how defunding Planned Parenthood is part of Republicans’ strategy for a Backdoor Nationwide Abortion Ban
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. The Court found there is no private right of action for people to challenge South Carolina’s decision to end Planned Parenthood’s participation in South Carolina’s Medicaid program:
    “The Supreme Court just gave the green light for Republican-led states to defund Planned Parenthood, which will have disastrous consequences for women across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood centers for basic health care—often in areas where there is no other place to receive care they can afford.
    “This decision is devastating for millions of low-income women whose access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other essential health care they receive at Planned Parenthood is now in jeopardy. It is a tremendous blow to women who rely on Medicaid and their ability to see the health care provider of their choosing.
    “Make no mistake: this attack on Planned Parenthood is happening for no other reason than because Republican anti-abortion extremists are foaming at the mouth to shut down access to abortion care any way they can, no matter the consequences.
    “Republicans are full steam ahead on ripping away women’s health care, whether it’s through the courts or through legislation like their Big Ugly Reconciliation Bill seeking to block Planned Parenthood from receiving federal Medicaid funding. The Republican agenda is to force women to stay pregnant no matter what and to make health care more expensive and less accessible for working people. I’ll keep fighting every way I can to defend Planned Parenthood and the health care women across this country depend on.”
    Senator Murray led Congressional Democrats in an amicus brief in March supporting Planned Parenthood and urging the Supreme Court to affirm the Fourth Circuit’s decision that Medicaid beneficiaries have the right to choose among qualified health care providers, including Planned Parenthood. Senator Murray has been a leading voice raising the alarm over Republicans’ efforts to defund Planned Parenthood as part of their reconciliation bill (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), organizing press conferences and speaking out repeatedly about the widespread harm the provision would cause. The provision to defund Planned Parenthood in Republicans’ legislation would threaten the closure of 200 health centers across the country and rip away care from 1.1 million patients—and cost an estimated $261 million over the next decade.
    Senator Murray is a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Last January, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a “State of Abortion Rights” briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans, and last June, she chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.” Recently, Murray helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice), and she led her colleagues in raising the alarm about the threat a second Trump administration poses to reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Presses Air Force Secretary on Servicemembers’ Access to Child Care, Discrimination Against Women Servicemembers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Secretary Meink***
    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing to review the Air Force budget request–Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin on the future of tanking missions within the Air Force and at Fairchild Airforce Base in Washington state, the reversal of policies aimed at increasing child care services across the Air Force and the reversal of a policy that allowed women aircrew members to fly during early stages of pregnancy.
    [KC-46As]
    Senator Murray began by asking about the potential of the Fairchild Air Base receiving Boeing KC-46A, the Air Force’s newest aerial refueling tanker produced in Everett, Washington. “Mr. Secretary, as I’m sure you are aware as a former KC-135 navigator yourself, our Air Force currently does not have the refueling capacity it needs to sustain operations in important strategic theaters. Fairchild Air Force Base in my home state of Washington is home to one of the Air Force’s largest air refueling wings, and its proximity to the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific makes it a very key strategic launching point.”
    “Now, the existing KC-46A contract only has a few years remaining. When does the Air Force plan to award the next tanker production contract?” Senator Murray asked.
    “I’ll take for the record and get back to you on the date when we were planning on awarding. But we are, it is definitely a focus of ours. We agree we have to maintain and continue to build out the tanker fleet to maintain the capability, as just demonstrated over the weekend. It’s a critical part of our architecture,” responded Secretary Meink.
    “And you can’t even give me an approximate—within a year, within months, within days?” Senator Murray pressed.
    General Allvin responded, “I would have to yield to the acquisition folks to figure out when that decision is going to be made. We understand that we’re on the cusp of the end of the contract—existing contract 183—for the for the current KC-46. That evaluation is on undergoing. I would say within months, we’ll be able to understand when that date would be—it’s exact date.”
    “All right. And what remains to be done to address the remaining category I deficiencies in the KC-46A contract?” asked Senator Murray.
    “They are working very hard. They’re drawing those down to a few. Obviously, we still have a couple with the remote visualization system. The 2.0 version of that—that should be completed. That’s really the long pole of intent for all of them. That should be done by the fourth quarter of 27’. We also have a crimp drain valve issue that’s being worked. We also have one where they call it the ‘stuck-boom,’ where it can only refuel—there’s one aircraft that can’t refuel, and that’s the A-10. But largely, those are—they keep it from being full capability, but they’re refueling just about everything. Including several of the capabilities that happened last weekend. So, it’s still a capable aircraft, we just need to keep working,” replied General Allvin.
    Senator Murray responded, “Okay, and if you could just stay in touch with my office as you get closer on those details.”
    [CHILD CARE COVERAGE]
    Senator Murray turned her questioning to the Trump Administration’s abrupt changes to policies aimed at recruiting and increasing wages for childcare workers in the Department of Defense’s Child Development Centers (CDC): “Over the past few years, policies to help recruit staff for child development centers on military bases have led to lower wait times, especially in the Air Force. In fact, in 2024, the Air Force wait list dropped below 3,000 children—we worked really hard to get it there, and that was the lowest since the Air Force began tracking it back in 2018. But after Trump’s hiring freeze on civilian employees at DOD, several Air Force Bases have been forced to reduce their child care services, and the child care wait list has now ballooned to over 4,000 kids. That is really unacceptable to me. That would leave our military families—and parents who are putting their lives on the line for our country—really scrambling to find child care. And in many places, CDCs are their only real option for child care.”
    Senator Murray asked, “So, Mr. Secretary, what is the Air Force doing to make up for the CDC staff shortages?”
    “We’re very aware of the issue, Senator. And it is a priority for us to fix, and we are looking at that. Talked about it just yesterday with the team. I think there is a plan to start addressing the shortfall in staffing. General Allvin do you have any more details that?” Secretary Meink turned the question to General Alvin.
    “Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Senator, what I would add to that is—your point is exactly right. We worked very hard, and we got the critical caregivers at the level. During this initial deferred resignation program, we kept all the providers, they were not authorized to go. But some of the back staff, the support staff, was authorized to go. And so, because of that we were we had to close a couple classrooms here and there and reduce that. I believe that is going to be faster to rehire than it would be to get the care provider. So, I think that’s where—” said General Allvin.
    Senator Murray replied, “If you can stay in touch with my office on how you’re progressing, on that—what you’re doing—I would appreciate it.”
    [DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AIRCREW MEMBERS]
    Senator Murraymoved on to address the reversal of an Air Force policy allowing pregnant aircrew members to fly early in their pregnancy, stripping pregnant aircrew members from moving forward in their careers. “Over the past few months, we’ve seen the Trump administration start to systematically dismantle DOD’s ability to welcome all who wish to serve. And I am particularly concerned about attacks on women servicemembers—from health care to firing senior leadership. And in April, the Air Force suddenly reversed its policy allowing women aircrew members to fly during early stages of pregnancy. That policy aligned with FAA pregnancy guidelines, was widely applauded when it was made in 2022, and then the Trump administration eliminated it without any explanation. That reversal really forces women to choose between advancing their careers and starting their families, and it drastically reduces women’s opportunities to develop expertise in really highly technical roles for our Air Force.” 
    “I want to ask, what data supported the Trump administration’s decision to prohibit women from flying in non-combat environments during early stages?” asked Senator Murray.
    General Allvin responded, “That was an Air Force policy change. So that would be on us in the Air Force. And the difference is that even though you talk about the alignment with FAA, the change was to high-G, high-performance aircraft. That was the change in 2022—to enable them to pursue waivers to fly for those for those high-G and high-performance aircraft. And the idea was to increase readiness. Because increasing readiness, having more opportunities for everyone to fly in those high-performance aircraft. What we did, we looked at the data from 2019 to 2022 and saw how many waivers were being pursued, how many waivers were being granted between that time, and then between 2022 and 2025. So two, three-year periods, and saw no real difference in the amount of time being requested or given for those in high performance aircraft. So, because of that—there was no real increase in waivers from those two periods and the risk was still there. It was an unknown risk that we just reverted to, really closer to what the other services have been.”
    Senator Murray pressed, “Well, that’s not the same as the FAA guidelines. Were there any specific cases or incidences that raised this medical concern?”
    “It was just the lack of increased readiness without the ability to fully understand the risk. And that was not FAA. That was for the high-G, high-performing aircraft. Which the FAA does not really have those guidelines specific to,” General Allvin replied.
    Senator Murray responded, “Well, I just have to say that—what’s a woman supposed to do? Do a pregnancy test before she takes a flight?”
    General Allvin said, “We can give you the full paper. This is not just totally restrictive. It’s more aligned with the other services as well.”
    Senator Murray responded, “Well, I have looked at the policy, and I am concerned. I haven’t seen the data. You have some, give it to me. If there are specific examples, give it to me. But I do not think that we should discriminate against women service members. And I would really ask you to consider reversing this.”
    General Allvin replied, “We’ll provide you all the data behind it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Cheers Senate Passage of Bipartisan Colorado River Conservation Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Program supports Colorado River water users as they explore innovative strategies to conserve water
    Bipartisan bill extends Conservation Pilot Program through 2026
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper cheered Senate passage of his bipartisan Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act. The bill extends the System Conservation Pilot Program, which supports voluntary water conservation projects to manage drought on the Colorado River. U.S. Senators John Barrasso, Michael Bennet, Cynthia Lummis, and John Curtis are cosponsors of the bill. Representative Harriet Hageman leads the House version of the bill. 
    The bill now needs to pass the House before it gets signed into law. 
    “We don’t need to sit around waiting for a silver bullet while the Colorado River runs dry,” said Hickenlooper. “It will take every tool at our disposal to keep water flowing to all seven basin states. Voluntary conservation is a big part of that. We’re committed to getting this bill across the finish line.”
    This legislation extends the pilot program through 2026 as Colorado River Basin states, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other stakeholders continue discussions on potential long-term water management once current operational rules expire in 2026. The pilot program will help the Upper Basin examine water management strategies that can help water users manage prolonged and severe drought.
    Hickenlooper and Barrasso’s bipartisan Colorado River Basin Conservation Act,which reauthorized the System Conservation Pilot Program through 2024, was signed into law in the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus government funding bill. In 2023, the System Conservation Pilot Program received $125 million, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, to enable the Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the Upper Colorado River Commission, to implement the System Conservation Pilot Program.
    The Bureau of Reclamation’s authorization to spend SCPP funds expired in December 2024. In 2024, the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act passed the Senate, but stalled in the House. Funding for the program must be renewed in 2025 for it to continue. 
    As governor, Hickenlooper helped negotiate the 2019 Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan, which helped protect critical levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead and ensured continued compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact. 
    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Public awareness campaign targets extortion threats

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    In response to a rise in extortion threats against members of the South Asian community, BC Crime Stoppers is launching a digital media campaign to raise awareness and encourage reporting of extortion activity.

    “The recent surge in extortion threats targeting members of the South Asian community is very concerning, and we are doing everything we can to support police efforts in investigating these crimes,” said Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Reporting is the most important step in stopping extortion and keeping people safe, so if you are a victim of extortion, or have any information that could help solve a crime, I urge you to contact Crime Stoppers.”

    With support from the federal government’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund, the B.C. government has provided $100,000 to help BC Crime Stoppers run a 60-day extortion awareness campaign. The campaign is launching Thursday, June 26, 2025, and shares important information about recognizing and reporting extortion threats, helping individuals, business owners and families stay safe and informed.

    The campaign was developed in consultation with individuals with deep knowledge of extortion, experience in policing and lived experience within the South Asian community. The goal is encouraging people to report extortion threats to help police stop those responsible. The campaign will be available in English and Punjabi, and will include advertisements on radio, podcasts, Spotify, social media and television.

    “Since 1982, BC Crime Stoppers and its local programs have offered the community an anonymous way to report criminal activity,” said Gillian Millam, executive director, BC Crime Stoppers. “In partnership with the provincial government, BC Crime Stoppers aims to educate the community on how to recognize and report cases of extortion. The primary goal of this campaign is to inform the public and help solve crime.”

    The Province continues to take action to combat serious and organized crime with more than $100 million invested annually to bolster provincial firearm forensic capabilities, strengthen gang enforcement and suppression initiatives, and support community-based prevention and intervention programs.

    Provincial efforts are supported by the federal government’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund, with the B.C. government receiving nearly $11 million from Public Safety Canada for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The funding will go toward anti-gang and crime initiatives throughout the province, including the Organized Crime Agency of BC, and police departments to support operations in dismantling serious and organized crime.

    Quotes:

    Chief Const. Colin Watson, Abbotsford Police Department –

    “The Abbotsford Police Department remains dedicated to safeguarding our community and local businesses from the threat of extortion. Through focused investigations, strong partnerships with other agencies, and proactive community engagement, we strive to prevent further harm and ensure those responsible are held accountable. We continue to support affected individuals and urge anyone with information related to extortion to contact their local police department.” 

    Chief Const. Harj Sidhu, Delta Police Department –

    “I want to thank the Province and BC Crime Stoppers for raising awareness about the growing issue of extortion, which has impacted the South Asian community and others. These cases are often linked to organized crime and have created real fear. Early reporting is critical. Delta Police are committed to supporting victims, working with partners, and keeping our community safe. If you receive a threat or have information, please report it. We are here to help.”

    Chief Const. Norm Lipinski, Surrey Police Service –

    “Surrey Police Service’s dedicated Extortion Investigations Team is actively working with our policing partners to identify and arrest those engaged in extortion so we can relieve victims and residents of the understandable fear that these crimes create. We remind individuals who are victims of an extortion attempt to report it to your local police as soon as possible. Every detail can help police unravel these highly complex and sophisticated investigations.”

    Chief Supt. Duncan Pound, BC RCMP Lower Mainland District –

    “The RCMP Lower Mainland District is working with municipal, provincial and federal partners to investigate and disrupt organized crime groups engaged in extortion across the region. The number of victims or complaints have spanned multiple jurisdictions and communities and therefore our investigative approach has been cross jurisdictional and collaborative, to determine any connections or similarities. While progress is being made, police continue to stress the importance of anyone impacted to come forward. The public is urged to report any instances of extortion or suspicious activity to the police, as unreported incidents can enable organized crime to continue operating.”

    Quick Facts:

    • BC Crime Stoppers is a non-profit society and registered charity that receives anonymous tip information about criminal activity and provides it to investigators.
    • Anonymous tips may be provided by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 or online at bccrimestoppers.com or https://solvecrime.ca/index.php/en/
    • BC Crime Stoppers accepts tips in a variety of languages and will pay a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest, a charge, recovery of stolen property, seizure of illegal drugs or guns or denial of a fraudulent insurance claim.

    Learn More:

    To view the campaign webpage, visit: https://bccrimestoppers.com/extortion/

    Watch the 30-second campaign in English here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xOhv77PTJqpHJBu1C8xbV9K0t4oQY5BG/view

    Watch the 30-second campaign in Punjabi here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PCzPvE801NE1utwarto7y2etxtojVAdG/view

    To learn more about government’s action to combat serious and organized crime, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024PSSG0040-000714

    Victims and their immediate family members may be eligible for benefits to support in their recovery through the Ministry’s Crime Victim Assistance Program: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits

    To locate a victim service program in your community, contact VictimLinkBC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/victims-of-crime/victimlinkbc

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE executes federal search warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations special agents, in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, executed a federal search warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company June 25 as part of an active, ongoing criminal investigation. This operation specifically focused on serious allegations of aggravated identity theft and potential federal crimes.

    As a result of the initial investigation, 30 people were arrested onsite.

    “This operation underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s financial and identification systems. Identity fraud is not a victimless crime — it fuels a range of criminal activity and puts innocent people at risk,” said HSI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant, who also oversees North and South Carolina. “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, HSI will continue to pursue those who exploit these systems for personal gain and hold them accountable under federal law.”

    The following agencies participated in the operation: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP’s Air and Marine Operations, IRS Criminal Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the North Carolina National Guard, the DEA, the ATF, King’s Mountain Police, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department and the Gaston County Police Department.

    If you or someone you know has information related to financial crimes, contact law enforcement using the online tip form. Your cooperation is vital in helping protect vulnerable individuals and ensuring accountability.

    For more information about HSI’s work, follow us on X at @HSI_Charlotte.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Announces Plan to Introduce Bill Authorizing Trade Agreement Negotiations With the Middle East

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    06.26.25

    Cantwell Announces Plan to Introduce Bill Authorizing Trade Agreement Negotiations With the Middle East

    ‘I believe we need more diplomatic solutions for the region, and I think trade could be a part of that,’ says Cantwell during Washington (DC) International Trade Association roundtable; Under bill from top Dem on the Commerce Committee, partner countries would need to join the Abraham Accords, support nuclear nonproliferation, and coordinate export controls

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced a plan to introduce legislation to authorize the administration to pursue negotiations of a trade agreement with the Middle East during a roundtable forum hosted by the Washington International Trade Association (WITA). The agreement would be focused on the information communications technology supply chain.

    “This week, obviously, the U.S. engaged in strikes on Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, and the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains tenuous.

    “I believe we need more diplomatic solutions for the region, and I think trade could be a part of that,” Sen. Cantwell said.

    “Many countries in the Middle East want to diversify their economies and are interested in developing artificial intelligence. I will be introducing legislation to authorize the negotiations of a Middle East trade agreement, an agreement focused on information communication technology. It was built upon what Senators McCain and Baucus introduced 22 years ago to create a Middle East trade preference program in support of the U.S.-Middle East free trade area. I happened to travel to that area with them to talk about this.

    “The legislation that I’m considering would have requirements that partner countries join the Abraham Accords, normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, support reconstruction of Gaza, join in the efforts to support nuclear nonproliferation, and coordinate strong export controls.

    “I think these are the approaches that we should be taking in alliance-building.”

    Sen. Cantwell announced the details of her proposed legislation during a WITA-hosted forum at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., alongside former U.S. Trade Representatives Carla Hills (served under President George H.W. Bush) and Susan Schwab (served under President George W. Bush). Nasim Fussell, VP of Trade and International Policy at Business Roundtable, served as moderator.

    Video of the hourlong roundtable is HERE; a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening remarks is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell is a longtime champion of free trade and opening up new global markets. In April, she introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs. Her bill has since picked up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National Retail Federation, which is the largest retail trade association in the world. House members also introduced a bipartisan companion bill, which is also cosponsored by an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Commends Air Force and Space Force Leaders on Successful Iran Strikes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions. 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, questioned Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General David Allvin, and Chief of Space Operations, General B. Chance Saltzman during a hearing to review the president’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. 

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    ON AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS IN WEST VIRGINIA:

    SENATOR CAPITO: “We do have some great units [in West Virginia], Airlift Wings, the 130th and the 167th that have been called on numerous times throughout my years of service [in Congress]. I’m very grateful to them and for the role that they play.” 

    ON THE SUCCESSFUL STRIKES IN IRAN: 

    SENATOR CAPITO: “General Caine just gave a press conference right before we came and really methodically worked through the preparation and the talent that we needed to do that. I want to give you a chance to give your version…on where you see that and what kind of training was necessary.” 

    GENERAL ALLVIN: “Every one of those people, every one of those airmen that was a part of that mission, they may not have fully understood the geostrategic impact it had, but they knew that was their job to do and they knew that the mission depended on them…So what this was was a fantastic success…Military primacy does not happen overnight. This is one of those where we’re so proud of all the work we put in ahead of time. And this manifestation is another demonstration that the Air Force makes the ridiculously complex look routine, but that doesn’t come without effort. Thank you for letting me expound on that.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bipartisan Leadership Statement on Member Security

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    Bipartisan Leadership Statement on Member Security

    Washington, June 26, 2025

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following joint statement:

    “We had a very productive meeting and recognize the urgency of acting quickly, decisively, and in a bipartisan manner to ensure the safety and security of all Members and their families.

    “Chairman Bryan Steil and Ranking Member Joe Morelle of the Committee on House Administration will convene immediately with the leadership of the relevant committees of jurisdiction to aggressively chart the path forward and implement change.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Highway Speed Cameras leave roadways after pilot program completed in Spokane, Skagit counties

    Source: Washington State News 2

    OLYMPIA – A pilot program to encourage drivers to slow down concludes this week as two Highway Speed Cameras leave Interstate 90 and I-5 after more than two months on the roadway.

    The cameras gathered speed data and generated courtesy notices, not fines, which were mailed to the registered owners of vehicles that were photographed driving over the speed limit.

    Earlier this week, cameras in eastern and western Washington were picked up from the following locations:

    • Southbound I-5 between Cook and Bow Hill roads in Skagit County.
    • Eastbound I-90 near Liberty Lake between the Liberty Lake and State Line interchanges in Spokane County.

    Since the safety program’s start on April 10, more than 16,000 notices were mailed encouraging drivers to reduce speeds. As required by the Legislature, the letters also shared information about the cost of a potential speeding ticket.

    A safety tool

    The Washington State Department of Transportation partnered with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington State Patrol for the program. The goal is to reduce the number of crashes by encouraging drivers to slow down. 

    In 2024, 728 people were killed on Washington roadways. While that number dropped slightly from 2023, it’s still far above pre-pandemic averages. 

    The cameras identified several instances of excessive speeds, with 277 notices for vehicles averaging 100 mph or more through the three-mile monitoring areas. On state highways alone, there were 368 fatal or serious injury collisions in 2024 where speeding was cited as a factor, and that does not include local roadway crashes. 

    Last year speeding was a factor in 34% of fatal crashes, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. 

    “When you drive at safe speeds, you’re protecting families, neighbors and the people working to maintain our roads,” said Washington Traffic Safety Commission Program Manager Dr. Janine Koffel. 

    The program was paid for with $1 million from the Legislature. People can learn more about the cameras at an online open house and share feedback. WSDOT will now analyze the data from the cameras, review public feedback and report back to the Legislature. A preliminary report will be ready in early July and a final report this fall.

    Work Zone Speed Camera Program

    The Highway Speed Camera program differs from the Work Zone Speed Camera Program, which continues enforcement in active road construction work zones throughout the state. The Work Zone Speed Camera Program uses mobile cameras that rotate to various road construction zones around the state, capturing images of speeding vehicles. 

    Three cameras are currently rotating through multiple construction zones. Six cameras are expected to be operating later this summer. Currently, the first Work Zone Speed Camera infraction is $0, but beginning in July 2026, the Legislature increased that to $125. The second and subsequent infractions are and will remain $248.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Stifel Reports May 2025 Operating Data

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. LOUIS, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today reported selected operating results for May 31, 2025, in an effort to provide timely information to investors on certain key performance metrics. Due to the limited nature of this data, a consistent correlation to earnings should not be assumed.

    Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “In May, recruiting and market appreciation drove a 3% increase in total client assets and a 4% increase in fee-based assets. Client money market and insured product levels decreased less than 1% during the month primarily due to lower Smart Rate balances as Sweep balances experienced a slight decline. Investment banking activity was negatively impacted by increased market volatility in April, but we have seen momentum increase and our pipelines build throughout the quarter as markets have stabilized. As a result, we anticipate investment banking revenue in the quarter to be down approximately 10% from the second quarter of 2024 but we remain cautiously optimistic for the full year 2025.”

    Selected Operating Data (Unaudited)
      As of   % Change
    (millions) 5/31/2025 5/31/2024 4/30/2025   5/31/2024 4/30/2025
    Total client assets $501,357 $465,959 $485,551   8% 3%
    Fee-based client assets $199,078 $176,461 $190,545   13% 4%
    Private Client Group fee-based client assets $173,557 $154,544 $166,029   12% 5%
    Bank loans, net (includes loans held for sale) $21,204 $19,822 $21,536   7% (2)%
    Client money market and insured product (1) $25,827 $26,230 $26,073   (2)% (1)%

    (1) Includes Sweep deposits, Smart Rate deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash.

    Company Information

    Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners and Miller Buckfire business divisions; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC; in Canada through Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc.; and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A., and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A., offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

    Media Contact: Neil Shapiro (212) 271-3447 | Investor Contact: Joel Jeffrey (212) 271- 3610 | www.stifel.com/investor-relations

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trupanion to Host 2025 Annual Investor Day on September 17

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, will host its Annual Investor Day on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. This annual event is designed to be the best opportunity for Trupanion shareholders and guests to understand Trupanion’s achievements and challenges over the past year and its strategic vision going forward.

    Management remarks are expected to commence shortly after 9:00 am Pacific Time. The event will feature presentations and extensive Q&A with the teams responsible for leading the execution of the Company’s strategic growth plan.

    Registration can be found here or on the events portion of Trupanion’s investor relations website found here.

    About Trupanion

    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Continental Europe with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada or GPIC Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Contacts

    Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
    Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
    Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Introduces Bill to Prevent Trump from Misusing Our Military to Police Their Fellow Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 26, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation that aims to curb Donald Trump’s egregious misuse of the military in civilian law enforcement capacities and keep our nation’s servicemembers focused on their core mission of protecting and defending Americans from foreign threats abroad. The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act would reform gray areas in laws that Trump is exploiting to deploy members of our military to police their fellow Americans, diverting taxpayer dollars and attention away from the military’s core mission and undermining the Administration’s own stated goal to focus our military on warfighting. Along with Duckworth, this legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
    “The unjustified, un-American deployment of our military into our cities is pulling resources and attention away from our Armed Forces’ core missions to the detriment of our national security,” said Senator Duckworth. “This egregious abuse of our military did not start in California—it’s been a plan since Trump’s first day in office. And with every executive order he’s signed to ‘use national security assets for law and order,’ the Administration continues to blur the lines between our military and law enforcement. Enough is enough—my legislation would curb the misuse of our military for civilian law enforcement, help protect and restore public trust in our Armed Forces and preserve Americans’ civil rights.”
    The Trump Administration’s deployment of American servicemembers to California is just the latest in a deliberate, systematic and dangerous politicized campaign to reorient our military away from warfighting and toward intimidating Americans in their own communities. Beginning on his first day in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders redirecting the Defense Department’s priorities toward supporting domestic law enforcement, including one in April that tells the Department to “use national security assets for law and order.” The legislation introduced today would have made it harder for the Trump Administration to argue that it is legal on Title 10 orders for the military to operate in American neighborhoods because they are only in support roles to law enforcement.
    Senator Duckworth’s Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act would draw a brighter line between the military and civilian law enforcement in the United States by:
    Restricting and Enhancing Oversight over Indirect Military Support to Civilian Law Enforcement: Reforming sections of Title 10 Chapter 15 to prohibit indirect military support to civilian law enforcement except in specific emergency circumstances and requiring Congressional approval for any dedication of military or defense assets for that purpose when it lasts longer than 14 days. This reform limits permissible indirect support to only the following scenarios: humanitarian crises; natural disasters; public health emergencies; attacks on critical infrastructure; nuclear attacks; domestic terrorist incidents and preparations for a major U.S. event, in which the domestic response needs are expected to exceed the capacity of civilian law enforcement.
    Prohibiting Dual-Hat Roles between Defense and Civilian Law Enforcement: Prohibiting individuals from simultaneously holding any position in the Department of Defense and in any civilian law enforcement entity, except if they are members of the Reserves and National Guard and hold law enforcement roles in their civilian capacities only.
    Strengthening Requirements for Self-Identification of Armed Forces or Federal Law Enforcement within the United States: Changing 10 USC 723 to expand the conditions under which members of the Armed Forces or Federal law enforcement are required to visibly display their identifier and name of their organization to include all scenarios involving support to civil authorities, not just under “civil disturbances” only.
    Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. And, while questioning the Commandant of the Marine Corps during a hearing this month, Duckworth slammed the Trump Administration’s deployment of 700 Marines into Los Angeles. The Senator said, “I don’t condone violence or property destruction, but using active-duty Marines this way sets a dangerous precedent that risks damaging public trust in our military and politicizing a military force that must remain mission-focused. President Trump is asking Marines to be away from their families for a situation that the President himself said was ‘simmering, but not very much.’”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Recently-Retired Veterans Crisis Line Responder Tells Duckworth How Veterans’ Services Were Hurt by Trump Administration’s Mass Layoffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 26, 2025
    Former VCL responder called the firings of VCL employees a “failure of leadership”
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week questioned a recently-retired Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) responder about her experiences working at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following the Trump Administration’s wrongful termination of VCL workers as part of their purge of the federal workforce. During the hearing, the former VCL responder shared that the Administration’s mass firings caused delayed services to Veterans, directly contradicting VA Secretary Doug Collins’ repeated claims that the VCL’s services to our nation’s heroes were not affected by the mass layoffs. Video of the Q&A exchange can be found on Duckworth’s YouTube.
    “It was extremely troubling to hear testimony that not only verifies Veterans Crisis Line services were, in fact, delayed by the Administration’s indiscriminate mass firings—but also that VCL employees did not receive proper guidance to ensure services weren’t diminished for our Veterans after the reduction in force,” said Senator Duckworth. “Secretary Collins has been evasive and misleading about the quality of the VCL’s services in the wake of the VA’s layoffs. Let’s be clear: all VCL employees are mission critical. We need to be hiring and training more people to work on the VCL—not firing them and then lying about it.”
    During her questioning, Duckworth explained to the VCL responder how she heard directly from VCL employees who were fired that their supervisors were not aware of their terminations until after they were final. Upon hearing this, the VCL responder replied, “That is a failure of leadership.”
    “To strengthen suicide prevention services for Veterans—especially this critical hotline—Congress needs honest and transparent feedback from VA leadership, including a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data analysis of VCL performance and operations in the wake of the indiscriminate mass terminations,” continued Senator Duckworth. “We have yet to see this Administration, which claims that addressing Veteran suicide is a top priority, take accountability. The only way to end Veteran suicide is to work together, and I implore Secretary Collins to provide the long-awaited information that Congress needs to do its job and remedy this failure of leadership.”
    Duckworth has repeatedly called out Secretary Collins for denying the Trump Administration inflicted any damage on the VCL. In March, Duckworth led her fellow Democratic colleagues in demanding answers from President Donald Trump and VA Secretary Collins on their indiscriminate purge of VA workers, including VCL staff. The group of lawmakers called on Trump and Secretary Collins to immediately outline how many Veterans and VA employees have been fired since the start of this Administration and to tell the truth about how the VCL has been impacted by these terminations.
    In April, Duckworth slammed a senior official from the VA after he failed to publicly commit to rehiring VCL workers who were wrongfully fired in Trump-Musk layoffs. After the first VA purge laid off workers with the VCL—including several Veterans—Duckworth successfully pushed the Trump Administration to reinstate these devoted public servants that work to support our Veterans in their darkest moments.
    Last month, Duckworth introduced the Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act to help safeguard the VCL for the brave Veterans who depend on it by increasing transparency and strengthening Congress’s oversight of this lifeline.
    Additionally, Duckworth and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) are leading the push for the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, legislation that would reinstate the thousands of Veterans who were fired in the Trump-Musk layoffs. Duckworth and Kim subsequently introduced their legislation as an amendment to Republicans’ slush fund continuing resolution. Republicans shamefully blocked it from passing.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Statement on Vote Against H.R. 875

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 26, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued the following statement on his vote against H.R. 875, the Protect Our Communities From DUI Act.

    “I have and will continue to support effective, bipartisan ways to secure our border,” said Vasquez. “But I will not support stunts that undermine our democracy. Today, American citizens are being wrongly deported, and this bill will lead to the haphazard deportation of more legal residents and citizens, workers, and parents across this country.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Votes to Deport Illegal Immigrants Convicted of Driving while Drunk

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act to bar illegal immigrants from entering the United States if they have committed or been convicted of a drunk driving offense and makes a DUI a deportable offense.

    “According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, 35% of Iowa’s fatal car accidents involved an impaired driver in 2022,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I voted to deport illegal immigrants convicted of driving while drunk so that we keep our kids, law enforcement officers, and communities safe. Back in 2016, the illegal immigrant who killed 21-year-old Iowan, Sarah Root, was driving drunk, and should have never been in our country. Drunk driving is already a serious issue that claims too many lives; there is no need to exacerbate the situation.”

    In January, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which includes Feenstra’s bill – Sarah’s Law – to detain without bail and punish illegal immigrants who harm or kill American citizens.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Commends President Trump’s Effort to Secure Peace Through Strength

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    [embedded content]

    CLICK HERE to download Rep. Mann’s remarks.

    CLICK HERE to watch Rep. Mann’s remarks on YouTube.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to commend President Trump’s efforts in maintaining peace through strength in the Middle East. Over the weekend, President Trump and the U.S. military successfully conducted targeted strikes against Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities while keeping the safety of Americans and U.S. troops at the forefront of the mission. President Trump successfully brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel in the days following the strikes.

    Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:

    Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of President Trump, America and the world are safer today than we were a week ago. Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, is no longer on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon and now they have agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to make America safe again. Promises made, promises kept.

    Americans want peace through strength, and that is what President Trump is committed to. For far too long, administrations in Washington, D.C. have created red lines that were crossed without consequence, agreed to deals with Iran that the regime disregarded, and concerned themselves more with appeasement than protecting American interests. President Trump took a different approach.

    For months, President Trump has urged Iran to make a deal. He has been clear—there is no world where Iran, whose leadership chants, “Death to America, Death to Israel,” will be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Ever. That is not up for debate. President Trump is restoring America’s leadership

    on the world stage and fighting tirelessly to keep Americans safe both at home and abroad.

    This past week, President Trump showed that he is not willing to let America be strung along or taken advantage of. After Iran refused to accept a deal and continued to wreak havoc in the region through its proxy organizations, President Trump carried out targeted, strategic strikes to prevent the pending threat of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. He was also clear: attacks on U.S. forces will not be tolerated, and there will be grave consequences for such action. That is what leadership looks like, and I applaud President Trump for putting America first.

    Audrey and I are grateful that our brave servicemen and women were not harmed in the strikes and continue to pray for the safety of our troops and Americans in the region. The world is safer today because of President Trump, and we pray that the Lord would continue to give him wisdom and discernment as he leads our nation and continues to work on bringing down tensions in the Middle East. God bless President Trump, God bless our troops, and God bless America.

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    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –