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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Kevin Greenidge: Unbreakable, unmovable, unstoppable

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good evening.

    As the stars in the life insurance business gather tonight, I am delighted to address you on the occasion of your 36th Annual Caribbean Sales Congress. It is both an honour and a privilege to engage with such a distinguished gathering of professionals who shape the financial security of our Caribbean nations.

    From the start of this Congress yesterday evening, tonight, and over the coming days, we reflect on industry trends, celebrate regulatory progress, forge new connections, and honour your exceptional achievers. Your congress theme – “Unbreakable, Unmovable, Unstoppable” – resonates deeply with me. These powerful words capture the very essence of what it means to thrive in today’s ever-evolving world, including within the life insurance and financial advisory sector. They speak to the resilience, steadfast determination, and unwavering commitment that define your work, day after day.

    Over the next few minutes, I invite you to join me on a journey exploring the vital importance of your sector and discovering what you must collectively do to remain truly unbreakable, unmovable, and unstoppable in an ever-changing world. 

    The Cornerstone of Caribbean Financial Stability

    The life insurance sector stands as an indispensable pillar supporting our Caribbean economic landscape. The numbers tell a compelling story: ordinary life plans continue to dominate market share across Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and Trinidad and Tobago, while group health plans remain the cornerstone in Jamaica and beyond.

    Yet despite these encouraging trends, our region’s insurance penetration rate of 2.18 percent trails significantly behind the OECD average of 4.6 percent. This gap represents not just a statistical shortfall, but a pressing opportunity for expanded financial education and awareness throughout our communities.

    But let us remember – insurance transcends mere policies and premiums; it embodies security, stability, and the safeguarding of our collective future. In a Caribbean increasingly vulnerable to economic disruptions, brought on by the climate crisis, and shifting demographics with aging populations and declining birth rates, your profession serves as a bedrock of financial protection. Whether securing a family’s stability after losing a breadwinner, or guaranteeing a child’s education, or creating pathways to dignified retirement, you provide the foundation of financial resilience upon which our communities build their dreams.

    Transforming Regional Economies Through Strategic Investment

    Our regional economies also stand at a critical crossroad, poised for strategic restructuring that will create sustainable growth platforms for generations to come. Take Barbados, for example – our economy has undergone remarkable transformation since 2018, evolving from a stagnating system burdened by debt into one characterised by sustained economic expansion and consistent debt reduction.

    We’ve made tremendous strides in enhancing our competitiveness, while simultaneously addressing both external and internal macroeconomic imbalances. The revitalisation of our formerly dormant capital market, through new treasury bill offerings and our recent long-term 20-year debenture, marks a significant milestone. With increasingly positive reviews from regional and international credit rating agencies, as evidenced by four upgrades in the last eight months, these financial products have attracted substantial interest.

    I encourage you, my regional colleagues, to reconsider your exposure to Barbadian government securities as you seek safe, secure investments from a nation firmly recommitted to fiscal prudence and sustainable, inclusive growth.

    Yet our journey has only begun, and the investment decisions made by life insurance companies like yours will prove instrumental in driving Caribbean economic growth forward. No economy can fully address its citizens’ long-term needs through fiscal measures alone. Instead, we must harness our people’s collective savings through strategic investments that accelerate sustainable growth.

    Consider this striking reality: approximately US$5.4 billion in excess cash currently sits idle in central banks across our region – low or non-earning investments that could instead fuel transformative growth. Imagine these resources channelled into developing tourism, renewable energy, and addressing the climate crisis – a fight that the Prime Minister of Barbados is leading – and innovative industries that sustainably leverage our vast marine resources and technological capabilities. How about harnessing some of this excess liquidity through a regional bond for economic development? 

    Life insurance products are uniquely designed to manage longevity risk, making your industry perfectly positioned to drive investment in crucial long-term infrastructure and both private and public securities that meet appropriate criteria. Tonight, I challenge us all to reimagine how these investments can reshape our Caribbean destiny.

    Celebrating Excellence: The Monica Robotham Story

    Now, we are gathered here tonight to celebrate a woman whose career and life is a testament to perseverance, excellence, and a profound commitment to service – Monica Robotham. Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honoured to join you in celebrating Monica’s extraordinary journey – a path that truly embodies what it means to be unbreakable, unstoppable, and unmoveable in your industry. Her story resonates profoundly with me because it demonstrates how dedication and service can transform not just a career but an entire community.

    From her humble beginnings at Life of Jamaica in 1987, Monica pursued excellence through prestigious designations and shattered barriers to join the industry’s elite. Her transformative leadership as President of the Jamaica Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors demonstrated unwavering commitment, breathing new life into the organisation when others might have faltered. Perhaps most inspiring was her remarkable service to vulnerable populations during the darkest days of COVID.

    Monica’s guiding principle – “You are remembered not by what you gathered, but by what you scattered” – offers us a profound model for success that transcends personal achievement. Tonight, I invite each of you to follow Monica’s example: become unbreakable through continuous professional growth, become unstoppable through selfless service to others, and become unmovable in your commitment to excellence. Her remarkable legacy highlights the truth that when we embrace these principles, we too can create lasting impact that ripples through both our profession and our communities.

    Personal and Professional Growth: Your Path to Becoming Unstoppable

    Success in this field demands more than knowledge and expertise – it requires a mindset of resilience, adaptability, and above all, continuous learning. To truly embody being unbreakable, unmovable, and unstoppable like Monica, I invite you to embrace these transformative principles in your own development journey:

    First, commit yourself to lifelong learning. The financial services landscape, like most industries today, is evolving at breath-taking speed. Regulatory shifts, technological revolutions, and emerging risks make staying informed and continuously honing your skills absolutely essential. Embrace professional development opportunities, earn new certifications, and position yourself as a trusted expert whose knowledge illuminates the path forward. The Central Bank I lead maintains an enduring tradition of training and development, and we encourage all financial services professionals to invest in their growth.

    Second, build meaningful client relationships that transcend transactions. In this era of technological convenience, the human touch remains your most precious asset. Your ability to genuinely connect with clients, deeply understand their unique needs, and provide thoughtfully tailored financial solutions, sets you apart in a crowded marketplace. Remember – a truly effective financial advisor is far more than a salesperson; you are a strategic partner guiding your clients’ financial journeys. Don’t simply sell products – ensure they meet each client’s unique circumstances and aspirations. We’ve witnessed too many instances of product mis-selling globally, and I recognise that we as Caribbean people sometimes approach long-term investing with understandable caution.

    Third, strengthen the ethical foundations upon which everything else rests. Trust must remain the fundamental currency of your industry. The financial advisory profession stands or falls on transparency, integrity, and unwavering ethical responsibility. CARAIFA’s mission to uphold rigorous industry standards testifies to the critical importance of maintaining credibility and trustworthiness in every client interaction.

    Fourth, embrace technological innovation as your ally rather than your adversary. Digital transformation is reshaping financial services in ways we could scarcely imagine a decade ago. Whether leveraging data analytics to gain deeper client insights or utilising digital platforms for enhanced service delivery, technology should be viewed as a powerful enabler rather than a disruptive force. The more effectively you harness its capabilities, the more efficient and impactful your practice becomes. Now is the perfect moment to explore artificial intelligence and understand how it can dramatically enhance efficiency, productivity, and results, throughout the insurance industry.

    Fifth, adapt nimbly to our region’s changing economic environment. The Caribbean’s economic landscape continues to evolve rapidly. The average growth in Gross Written Premiums across various markets has been modest – 2 percent in Barbados, 3 percent in Belize, and 4 percent in the Eastern Caribbean – reflecting the persistent challenges we face in achieving robust economic expansion. As financial professionals, you must anticipate market shifts, develop sophisticated understanding of economic trends, and provide solutions that are not merely relevant but genuinely sustainable over time.

    Finally, and perhaps most importantly, bring others along on your journey to success. To borrow Monica’s profound personal motto, “You are remembered not by what you gathered, but by what you scattered.” Her wisdom embodies an essential truth. In the realm of insurance and financial services, success is often measured by metrics – policies written, revenue generated, profits earned. But the true measure of your legacy lies not in what you accumulate for yourself, but in the lasting impact you create in others’ lives. And impacting others’ lives positively is at the core of your business.

    Like the parable of the mustard seed – the smallest of all seeds that grows into a mighty tree providing shelter for many – each small act of service contains within it the potential for tremendous growth and impact. Every day presents opportunities to scatter seeds of service, to scatter seeds of mentorship, and to scatter seeds of kindness – seeds that, when nurtured, blossom into lasting relationships, thriving careers, and stronger communities.

    Just as the mustard seed’s greatness lies not in its size, but in its immense potential, your most significant contributions often begin as simple gestures of support. Whether providing mentorship to emerging professionals, engaging in community outreach, or leading by example, when you climb the ladder of success like Monica, you must extend a hand to pull others up alongside you. Remember always – from the smallest seeds come the most abundant harvests.

    Embracing Monica’s Legacy of Impact

    As I close and you reflect on the profound work you do, carry Monica’s powerful words in your heart: “You are remembered not by what you gathered, but by what you scattered.” Like her, your career represents far more than a job – it embodies a life-calling. Monica has shown us that true success lies in the lives you touch, in the colleagues you mentor, and in the communities you strengthen.

    You, like Monica, possess the power to transform countless lives by ensuring families remain financially secure, businesses continue to thrive, and communities build upon foundations of economic strength.

    You are unbreakable in your commitment to serving others, mirroring Monica’s steadfast resilience through challenges, from her humble beginnings to her emergence as an industry leader.

    You are unmovable in your dedication to financial empowerment, demonstrating the same resolve Monica showed when revitalising JAIFA’s headquarters and supporting seniors during the pandemic’s darkest hours.

    You are unstoppable in your pursuit of excellence, following Monica’s inspiring example of continuous growth from her early days at Life of Jamaica through earning prestigious designations and establishing new standards of achievement.

    As you move forward into tomorrow, know that, like Monica, the seeds you scatter today will grow into the forests of tomorrow. Let her extraordinary journey inspire you to see beyond numbers, beyond commissions, to the true, transformative impact of your work. May this congress serve as a catalyst igniting renewed passion, deeper knowledge, and even greater commitment to your noble profession – a commitment to being remembered not by what you gather, but by what you scatter.

    Together, embracing Monica’s spirit of service and excellence, and guided by the wisdom of the mustard seed parable, let us continue building a Caribbean that stands financially resilient, well-insured, and confidently prepared for whatever the future may bring.

    Thank you, and may this evening’s stars light your path forward.

    Enjoy your 36th congress.

    I thank you!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From sovereignty to sustainability: a brief history of ocean governance

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Kevin Parthenay, Professeur des Universités en science politique, membre de l’Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Université de Tours

    The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) will open in Nice, France, on June 9, 2025. It is the third conference of its kind, following events in New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference will bring together 150 countries and nearly 30,000 individuals to discuss the sustainable management of our planet’s oceans.

    This event is presented as a pivotal moment, but it is actually part of a significant shift in marine governance that has been going on for decades. While ocean governance was once designed to protect the marine interests of states, nowadays it must also address the numerous climate and environmental challenges facing the oceans.

    Media coverage of this “political moment” however should not overshadow the urgent need to reform the international law applicable to the oceans. Failing that, this summit will risk being nothing more than another platform for vacuous rhetoric.

    To understand what is at stake, it is helpful to begin with a brief historical overview of marine governance.

    The meaning of ocean governance

    Ocean governance changed radically over the past few decades. The focus shifted from the interests of states and the corresponding body of international law, solidified in the 1980s, to a multilateral approach initiated at the end of the Cold War, involving a wide range of actors (international organizations, NGOs, businesses, etc.).

    This governance has gradually moved from a system of obligations pertaining to different marine areas and regimes of sovereignty associated to them (territorial seas, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the high seas) to a system that takes into consideration the “health of the oceans.” The aim of this new system is to manage the oceans in line with the sustainable development goals.

    Understanding how this shift occurred can help us grasp what is at stake in Nice. The 1990s were marked by declarations, summits and other global initiatives. However, as evidenced below, the success of these numerous initiatives has so far been limited. This explains why we are now seeing a return to an approach more firmly rooted in international law, as evidenced by the negotiations on the international treaty on plastic pollution, for example.

    The “Constitution of the Seas”

    The law of the sea emerged from the Hague Conference in 1930. However, the structure of marine governance gradually came to be defined in the 1980s, with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.

    UNOC 3 is a direct offshoot of this convention: discussions on sustainable ocean management stem from the limitations of this founding text, often referred to as the “Constitution of the Seas”.

    UNCLOS was adopted in December 1982 at the Montego Bay Convention in Jamaica and came into force in November 1994, following a lengthy process of international negotiations that resulted in 60 states ratifying the text. At the outset, the discussions focused on the interests of developing countries, especially those located along the coast, in the midst of a crisis in multilateralism. The United States managed to exert its influence in this arena without ever officially adopting the Convention. Since then, the convention has been a pillar of marine governance.

    It established new institutions, including the International Seabed Authority, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating the exploitation of mineral resources on the seabed in areas that fall outside the scope of national jurisdiction. UNCLOS is the source of nearly all international case law on the subject.

    Although the convention did define maritime areas and regulate their exploitation, new challenges quickly emerged: on the one hand, the Convention was essentially rendered meaningless by the eleven-year delay between its adoption and implementation. On the other hand, the text also became obsolete due to new developments in the use of the seas, particularly technological advances in fishing and seabed exploitation.

    The early 1990s marked a turning point in the traditional maritime legal order. The management of the seas and oceans came to be viewed within an environmental perspective, a process that was driven by major international conferences and declarations such as the Rio Declaration (1992), the Millennium Declaration (2005), and the Rio+20 Summit (2012). These resulted in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN’s 17 goals aimed at protecting the planet (with SDG 14, “Life Below Water”, directly addressing issues related to the oceans) and the world’s population by 2030.


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    The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, ushered in the era of “sustainable development” and, thanks to scientific discoveries made in the previous decade, helped link environmental and maritime issues.

    From 2008 to 2015, environmental issues became more important as evidenced by the regular adoption of environmental and climate resolutions.

    A shift in UN language

    Biodiversity and the sustainable use of the oceans (SDG 14) are the two core themes that became recurring topics in the international agenda since 2015, with ocean-related issues now including items like acidification, plastic pollution and the decline of marine biodiversity.

    The United Nations General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the seas (LOS is a particularly useful tool to acknowledge this evolution: drafted annually since 1984, the resolution has covered all aspects of the United Nations maritime regime while reflecting new issues and concerns.

    Some environmental terms were initially absent from the text but have become more prevalent since the 2000s.

    This evolution is also reflected in the choice of words.

    While LOS resolutions from 1984 to 1995 focused mainly on the implementation of the treaty and the economic exploitation of marine resources, more recent resolutions have used terms related to sustainability, ecosystems, and maritime issues.

    Toward a new law of the oceans?

    As awareness of the issues surrounding the oceans and their link to climate change has grown, the oceans gradually became a global “final frontier” in terms of knowledge.

    The types of stakeholders involved in ocean issues have also changed. The expansion of the ocean agenda has been driven by a more “environmentalist” orientation, with scientific communities and environmental NGOs standing at the forefront of this battle. This approach, which represents a shift away from a monopoly held by international law and legal practitioners, clearly is a positive development.

    However, marine governance has so far relied mainly on non-binding declaratory measures (such as the SDGs) and remains ineffective. A cycle of legal consolidation toward a “new law of the oceans” therefore appears to be underway and the challenge is now to supplement international maritime law with a new set of measures. These include:

    Of these agreements, the BBNJ is arguably the most ambitious: since 2004, negotiators have been working toward filling the gaps of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by creating an instrument on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

    The agreement addresses two major concerns for states: sovereignty and the equitable distribution of resources.

    Adopted in 2023, this historic agreement has yet to enter into force. For this to happen, sixty ratifications are required and to date, only 29 states have ratified the treaty (including France in February 2025, editor’s note).

    The BBNJ process is therefore at a crossroads and the priority today is not to make new commitments or waste time on complicated high-level declarations, but to address concrete and urgent issues of ocean management, such as the frantic quest for critical minerals launched in the context of the Sino-American rivalry, and exemplified by Donald Trump’s signing of a presidential decree in April 2025 allowing seabed mining – a decision that violates the International Seabed Authority’s well established rules on the exploitation of these deep-sea resources.

    At a time when U.S. unilateralism is leading to a policy of fait accompli, the UNOC 3 should, more than anything and within the framework of multilateralism, consolidate the existing obligations regarding the protection and sustainability of the oceans.

    Kevin Parthenay is a member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF).

    Rafael Mesquita ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. From sovereignty to sustainability: a brief history of ocean governance – https://theconversation.com/from-sovereignty-to-sustainability-a-brief-history-of-ocean-governance-258200

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Rosanna Costa: The power of data for a smart world

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

    It is an honor and a privilege to welcome you to the Sixth Statistics Conference of the Central Bank of Chile, which we are hosting in a particularly meaningful year for our institution as we celebrate its centennial. Over the past 100 years, the evolution of the economy-and of statistics in particular-has been closely interlocked with dynamic and ever-changing environments and faced with a future that is advancing rapidly and full of promising and challenging changes.

    This sixth edition of the Statistics Conference, whose title – “The Power of Data for a Smart World”- resonates strongly in this moment of our history. If there is one lesson the past century has taught us, it is that knowledge, grounded in solid information and rigorous analysis, guides the path to progress and stability. We are also opening the window to new developments that offer us opportunities and challenges, because they provide tools, but at the same time demand more information, of better quality and greater timeliness.

    In recognition of these one hundred years, I would like to revisit them through the lens of statistics-and from there, open the door to the next century.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Kevin Greenidge: Strong regulation is the foundation for financial stability

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Distinguished representatives from the Association of Supervisors of Banks of the Americas (ASBA), esteemed participants from regional supervisory authorities, valued colleagues from the Central Bank of Barbados, good morning.

    It is a pleasure for the Central Bank of Barbados to host this Bank Analysis and Examination Course in collaboration with ASBA.  And I am delighted to chat with such a highly experienced group of professionals, all committed to enhancing our collective expertise in bank supervision with a shared goal of preserving financial stability across our respective jurisdictions.

    I thank ASBA for its invaluable support and dedication in organising this training. And I commend your continued commitment to strengthening financial supervision. This training ensures that the knowledge and skills of our member jurisdictions remain relevant, dynamic, and world-class. Your contributions align with our common objective as regulators to foster a stable and sustainable financial sector. I am confident that I echo the sentiments of many in expressing our deep appreciation for this enduring partnership and the opportunities it provides.

    ASBA’s work has helped us maintain international excellence in our regulatory standards. As an associate member for over 20 years, the Central Bank of Barbados has actively engaged in ASBA’s initiatives such as training programmes, policy discussions, and knowledge sharing, all aimed at enhancing regulation and supervision across the Americas, the Caribbean, and Spain.

    In 2002 and 2011, the Central Bank of Barbados proudly hosted Bank Analysis and Examination courses, as well as a course on Consolidated Supervision in 2014, amongst others. Over the years, our officers have also participated in a range of training courses. This continued engagement has enabled our supervisory teams to sharpen their skills and ensure that our risk-based supervision techniques remain aligned with the evolving financial landscape.

    Regulation in Barbados

    Strong regulation is the foundation for financial stability. It provides the framework through which supervisory authorities can identify, assess, and contain the risks facing the financial sector. This stability is essential to ensuring that institutions continue to provide the financial services that underpin economic activity.

    As the principal financial regulator in Barbados, the Central Bank plays a central role in upholding financial stability. The Bank Supervision Department was established in 1974 in accordance with the statutory mandate given by the Central Bank Act to supervise the operations of commercial banks and other financial institutions. The department seeks to ensure that licensed institutions function in a safe and sound manner, and in so doing to contribute to a sound economic and financial environment. We’ve built our regulatory approach on a solid foundation of legislation, supervisory frameworks, and guidelines, which are supported by a diverse and capable team that is further strengthened by developmental opportunities such as this course. 

    Risk-Based Supervision

    We’ve grounded our supervisory practices in the principles established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. These core principles inform our Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) approach – a methodology that evaluates financial institutions based on the key inherent risks within their activities, and the quality of their risk management in response to those threats. Risk-based supervision enables us to prioritise our resources effectively by focusing on the areas that matter most.

    Purpose of the Course

    Foundational training such as this is critical, especially since bank examination is a multifaceted and dynamic discipline that demands strong analytical grounding, sound judgement and the ability to adapt with the evolving risk landscape. This course aligns seamlessly with the core principles of bank supervision, which emphasises the need for forward-looking risk-based supervision, robust supervisory frameworks and continuous capacity building. These principles are refined from time to time to accommodate emerging risks and ultimately strengthening supervisory effectiveness. 

    We welcome the timely and essential integration of key financial assessment characteristics into this training, specifically through ASBA’s CAMELS rating system – a proven benchmark for evaluating the health and stability of financial institutions.

    It will equip participants with tools and techniques to conduct in-depth analyses of financial institutions, identify vulnerabilities, and assess their resilience leading to stronger and more informed supervisory decisions. 

    I note that the administration of the course will be two-fold consisting of a theoretical foundation followed by a practical simulation of a bank inspection to reinforce the concepts through real-world application. 

    Concluding Remarks

    Over the coming days, you will explore the methodology behind the CAMELS framework as applied by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The insights gained will serve to enhance your ability to conduct risk-based assessments, contributing to more prudent and forward-looking supervisory practices.

    I encourage all participants to actively engage in the discussions, share experiences, and make full use of the expertise in the room. Your dedication to strengthening financial oversight is critical to the continued resilience of our financial systems.

    Thank you once again to ASBA, our organisers, and to each of you for your commitment and participation. I wish you all a productive and rewarding training experience.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Racist incident helpline making a difference

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    One year after its launch on May 30, 2024, the Province’s racist incident helpline is making a difference for people in B.C. experiencing racism, with approximately 94% of callers reporting their needs were met.

    “Racism has no place in B.C., but we know it exists, and we are determined to continue to fight it in all its forms, through all the tools available at our disposal,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “As part of that work, we are proud to provide this resource that is connecting so many people in need with services that can help them heal and reclaim their sense of safety and belonging. We will continue to strengthen and grow the helpline’s network so that nobody ever has to navigate the impact of a racist incident on their own.”

    The racist incident helpline is a toll-free, multilingual service for people who have been subjected to discrimination based on the colour of their skin, culture, ethnicity or place of origin. Callers receive support, guidance and referrals to local community-support services. One year after its launch, the helpline has received calls from 807 people seeking help dealing with racism, and has made more than 2,329 referrals to support services. This call volume is more than double that reported by the state of California for the first year its hate helpline was operational (2023-24), despite California’s population being seven times the size of B.C.’s.

    “I know this is a long process, but it makes me feel better to talk about everything,” said one caller to the helpline, whose family was experiencing harassment, racism, aggression, micro-aggressions and intimidation from their neighbour on a shared yard. “Thank you for your time and for listening to me. I feel less pressured now. This has been really helpful.”

    This caller accepted referrals to resources for tenant rights, legal assistance and mental-health supports.

    On average, each caller was directed to three support services, indicating people coping with racism require help on multiple fronts, such as legal advice, peer support and mental-health resources. To help strengthen the efficacy of these support networks, the Province invested $2.2 million in 32 community organizations in the 2023-24 fiscal year, for enhanced services and to better meet the urgent and diverse needs of those affected by racism in their communities.

    “The racist incident helpline is a core pillar of government’s efforts to counter racism and discrimination in B.C.,” said Jessie Sunner, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives. “It bridges a gap between people dealing with the trauma of racism and the essential services they need to heal. We are committed to continuing to empower local advocates, communities and organizations so that we can together create a province where everyone feels safe, supported and valued.”

    The toll-free helpline is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, at 1 833 457-5463 (1 833 HLP-LINE). Service is offered in more than 240 languages, and after-hours callers can request a call back during regular hours. For immediate assistance or in the case of an emergency, people should call 911.

    Quotes:

    Helpline staff member –

    “As a racialized person with lived experience myself, for me this extends beyond just a job – it is an honour to do this work. Getting to support and hold space for members of racialized communities who have experienced or witnessed a racist encounter brings me a sense of fulfilment and purpose. Amidst the daily landscape of race- and hate-motivated harms that can feel all-consuming, divisive, isolating and othering, each person I am able to support and each conversation I have is an act of solidarity.”

    Saša Loggin, executive director, Skeena Diversity Society –

    “This funding has provided us with an invaluable opportunity to dedicate staff not only to respond to incidents of racism but also to develop workshops and resources. Through this, we have deepened our connections to organizations and resources across the northern region, honouring the unique characteristics of different communities while also turning our shared humanity into a source of strength.”

    Boma Brown, executive director, Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour –

    “Our clients, who are racialized women, often experience racism at any point in their day, making culturally informed counselling an essential resource that we are able to provide thanks to this grant. This support is vital for empowering women and fostering healing in our communities.”

    Penny Bradley, executive director, Alex House, of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of B.C. –

    “As a neighbourhood house in South Surrey and White Rock, we know that when people feel a strong sense of belonging, they thrive. Our approach is to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to learn from each other, because we believe that when we learn together, we grow together. This grant allows us to widen our reach and deepen our connections with the community. That is how we can create a community of allies that believe strongly in anti-racism.”

    Learn More:

    View the full list of racist incident helpline grant recipients here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/RacistIncidentHelplinegrantrecipients.pdf

    For more about the racist incident helpline, visit: https://racistincidenthelpline.ca/

    For more about the Anti-Racism Act, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/30655

    For more about the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network, visit: https://www.resiliencebc.ca/

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Change in Measles Immunization Recommendations for Infants with a High Risk of Exposure

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 4, 2025

    Saskatchewan is making the measles vaccine available to younger children in areas with measles cases and high chance of exposure. 

    Infants ages six months to 11 months who live in, are traveling to, or have contact with individuals in areas where there is a high risk of measles exposure can now receive an early dose of measles vaccine.

    “Our government wants to make sure that those who are most vulnerable and at high risk of exposure have the best protection possible,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Providing parents with the option for an additional dose of measles vaccine for infants, helps to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

    Immunization is the single most effective way to protect against measles. 

    Routine measles vaccination is still needed at 12 and 18 months to provide lifelong protection. 

    “Most children in Saskatchewan should follow the regular schedule for measles immunization, however, in outbreak situations infants six to 11 months can be offered an earlier dose,” Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “This is similar to what is already being offered to some infants travelling internationally or to other parts of Canada with higher measles case numbers.”

    Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily to others through open air. Symptoms can include fever, cough, red eyes and a blotchy red rash. Severe complications of measles may include pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death.

    Individuals with symptoms of measles should stay home and call HealthLine 811 for instructions. Do not go to a clinic, health care facility or hospital in person without calling ahead.

    The measles vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is free in Saskatchewan at public health offices. 

    “As we move into the summer months, measles continues to pose a risk for people in Saskatchewan,” SHA Senior Medical Health Officer Dr. Julie Kryzanowski said. “Please check your measles vaccination records and ensure you are up to date.”

    For a current list of areas with a high risk of exposure and more information on measles, please visit: saskatchewan.ca/measles.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    Media Desk
    Health
    Regina
    Phone: 306-787-4083
    Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca

    Media Relations
    Saskatchewan Health Authority
    Regina
    Phone: 1-833-766-4392
    Email: media@saskhealthauthority.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Removing Trade Barriers With Other Provinces, Federal Government

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Trade barriers between Nova Scotia, several provinces and the federal government will soon be removed.

    Nova Scotia, along with Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island have taken action to remove barriers and red tape that will open up new trade and investment opportunities. It is also anticipated that the federal government will do the same.

    “Removing these barriers will open up new opportunities for Nova Scotian businesses and help grow our economy – that means more jobs for Nova Scotians,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This is how Nova Scotia and Canada can be more economically secure.”

    The barriers being removed by Nova Scotia focus on three key areas:

    • ending Canadian Free Trade Agreement exemptions that limit interprovincial trade with Nova Scotia
    • allowing goods or services that are legally sold, used or provided in another province to automatically be able to be sold/used/provided in Nova Scotia without having to meet Nova Scotia’s specific labelling, packaging, certification or inspection requirements
    • removing labour mobility barriers by requiring regulators to process equivalent licences within 10 business days and restricting application requirements to evidence of good standing and liability insurance.

    The Province introduced the Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act in February 2025 to help create mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility between Nova Scotia and other jurisdictions in Canada. The act allows the Province to remove barriers to trade and investment with others that will do the same for Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia’s removal of trade barriers with Alberta and P.E.I. comes into effect immediately, while barriers with the other provinces and federal government will be removed upon proclamation of their equivalent legislation.

    Quotes:

    “Alberta is proud to stand alongside Nova Scotia in advancing a more open and co-operative Canadian economy. I commend Premier Tim Houston and the Nova Scotia government for taking meaningful action to support freer trade within Canada. By recognizing Alberta-approved goods without additional red tape, Nova Scotia is showing leadership that supports businesses, strengthens interprovincial ties and moves us closer to the internal trade framework Canadians expect and deserve.”
    — Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

    “With tariffs and tariff threats taking aim at Canada’s workers and businesses, it’s never been more important for us to work together from coast to coast to tear down internal trade barriers so we can make Canada stronger and more united than ever before. We’re going to keep working with our federal, provincial and territorial partners to unlock economic opportunity and build a more competitive, resilient and prosperous country that can stand up to tariffs and anything else that comes our way.”
    — Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

    “This announcement is one of the first tangible steps in adopting mutual recognition policy and breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, showing that the Premier and his government are serious about free trade within Canada. Simply put, this is good news for small businesses in our province. Now, eight in 10 small businesses across Canada are looking to their provinces to take the necessary steps to follow Nova Scotia’s lead.”
    — Duncan Robertson, Director of Legislative Affairs (Nova Scotia), Canadian Federation of Independent Business

    Quick Facts:

    • interprovincial exports contribute about 17 per cent of Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product
    • interprovincial exports make up about half of Nova Scotia’s total exports (about 48 per cent of all goods and services)
    • in 2023, the value of Nova Scotia’s interprovincial exports was nearly $29 billion
    • one-third of Canadian businesses participated in internal trade by buying or selling goods across provincial or territorial borders
    • more than $530 billion worth of goods and services moves across provincial and territorial borders every year – equal to 20 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product

    Additional Resources:

    Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/free%20trade%20and%20mobility%20within%20canada.pdf

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republicans Receive Official Request to Codify DOGE Cuts

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

    House Republicans Receive Official Request to Codify DOGE Cuts

    Washington, June 3, 2025

    WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement to confirm the House received the Trump Administration’s rescissions request to cut $9.4 billion in wasteful spending identified by DOGE.

    “House Republicans will continue delivering on our mandate from the American people: to restore efficiency and accountability to the federal government. Today, we have officially received the rescissions request from the White House to eliminate $9.4 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending at State and USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. The House will act quickly on this request.
     
    “Under President Trump, every federal taxpayer dollar is actually being used to serve the American people, not to fund a bloated bureaucracy or purely partisan pet projects. We thank Elon Musk and his DOGE team for identifying a wide range of wasteful, duplicative, and outdated programs, and House Republicans are eager to eliminate them.
     
    “This rescissions package reflects many of DOGE’s findings and is one of the many legislative tools Republicans are using to restore fiscal sanity. Congress will continue working closely with the White House to codify these recommendations, and the House will bring the package to the floor as quickly as possible.
     
    “Democrats continue to wail and complain – NOT at the fraud, waste, and abuse – but at the Trump Administration simply for exposing it. In fact, Democrats are the only ones in Washington who do not want to stop the egregious misspending of the people’s tax dollars. Democrats continue to defend corruption, while Republicans are delivering real accountability and real savings the American people demanded in November.”

    Background:

    • The Trump Administration has assembled a package that totals $9.4 billion in wasteful or unnecessary spending identified by DOGE.
    • This package will codify DOGE cuts which include $8.3 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending and a $1.1 billion recission of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funds to NPR and PBS.

    Process:

    • Under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA), the Administration may transmit a request to Congress to rescind previously appropriated funds through a rescissions package. Such a package only requires a simple majority vote in the Senate to be enacted.
    • Transmittal of a package triggers a 45-day clock, during which funds in accounts included in the rescissions package are withheld from obligation pending congressional action.   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republican Leadership Statement on Rescissions

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

    WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, and Chairwoman McClain released the following joint statement after Congress officially received the Trump Administration’s rescissions request:

    “Today, the House has officially received the rescissions request from the White House to eliminate $9.4 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending at the State Department and USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. 

    “Now that this wasteful spending by the federal government has been identified by DOGE, quantified by the Administration, and sent to Congress, House Republicans will fulfill our mandate and continue codifying into law a more efficient federal government. This is exactly what the American people deserve.

    “Next week, we will put the rescissions bill on the floor of the House and encourage all our Members to support this commonsense measure.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Joins Meet the Press

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

    WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press to further dispel myths about the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    “The One Big Beautiful Bill is a big first step to provide relief for the American people, to give everybody more take home pay, more money in their pocket, and to change the trajectory of the country,” Speaker Johnson said. “And again, it’s the first of a number of steps. And President Trump is committed to doing this.”

    Watch the full interview here

    On the CBO discounting economic growth:

    The CBO sometimes gets projections correct, but they’re always off every single time when they project economic growth. They always underestimate the growth that will be brought about by tax cuts and reduction in regulations. When we did this in 2017, the first two years of the Trump administration, we literally brought about the greatest economy in the history of the world, not just the US. Because we got the government off the backs of the people who create the jobs. And we’ve allowed hardworking Americans to have more money in their pocket that they could take home. We’re doing that again. Remember in this big beautiful bill, the reason we call it that is because there’s benefits for everybody. It’s geared for hardworking Americans, lower and middle income Americans. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on interest on car loans if you buy products made in the USA.

    We’re going to give relief to seniors on social security. There’s so many benefits and features in this bill, and it’s going to allow everybody to do better. And at the same time, projecting and ensuring the largest amount of savings literally in history. There’s no government on planet Earth that’s ever saved over $1.6 trillion in a piece of legislation. This one does. And so when you reduce government spending and you allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money, the economy grows. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen here.

    On Republican efforts to strengthen Medicaid:

    There are no Medicaid cuts in the big beautiful bill. We we’re not cutting Medicaid. What we’re doing is strengthening the program. We’re reducing fraud, waste, and abuse that is rampant in Medicaid to ensure that program, which is essential for so many people, ensure that it’s available for the most vulnerable. It’s intended for young, single pregnant women and the disabled and the elderly. But what’s happening right now is you have a lot of people, for example, young men, able-bodied workers who are on Medicaid. They’re not working when they can; that drains resources from the people that need it most. And so, what we’re doing here is an important and frankly, heroic thing to preserve the program so that it doesn’t become insolvent. This is not going to hurt rural hospitals. There’s a lot of flex flexibility built into this.

    They keep saying that, you know, 7.6 million people is the figure that are supposedly going to be affected by this. But when you look at those numbers and you break them down, this is high on public opinion polling, you’re talking about 1.4 million illegal aliens that are receiving Medicaid right now. They’re not entitled to that. This is for US citizens in those vulnerable populations. There’s about 4.8 million people that they’re referring to that are able-bodied workers. If you are able to work and you’re not, and you are riding on the public wagon, you need to help pull it. And by the way, Kristen, this is no draconian requirement. All we are requiring in the legislation is 20 hours a week. You can volunteer in your community. You can be in a job training program or you can get to work.

    On Democrat lies about “millionaire” tax cuts:

    That’s a Democrat talking point. This is not giving tax cuts to millionaires. It’s the opposite. The people in the tax bracket that you’re referring to, many of them are small business owners. They are the people that provide the jobs in every community in America. They use pass through taxation. And, we don’t want to to get in the weeds, we don’t have time to get into the complications of it, but we are the party that reduces taxes for all Americans. And I’m telling you, the one big beautiful bill is geared for hardworking Americans. The biggest beneficiaries of this will be low and middle income Americans. That’s what we did in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That’s what we’ll do again, by extending those tax cuts in perpetuity and making them permanent. That was a major promise of the president on the campaign trail. It’s a major promise of ours and we are going to fulfill it. The Republican Party is doing right by the American people and they’re going to feel the effects of that soon.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Data Confirms: Medicaid Beneficiaries Who Can Work but Refuse to, Spend Much of Their Time Playing Video Games & Watching TV

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

    WASHINGTON — In February, Speaker Johnson said that Medicaid coverage should not be going to “29-year-old males sitting on their couches playing video games.”

    He was correct — about Medicaid priorities and how Medicaid recipients who can work but refuse to are spending their time. 

    According to a new analysis by the American Enterprise Institute: “For Medicaid recipients who do not report working, the most common activity after sleeping is watching television and playing video games.”

    Here’s more from the report on Medicaid recipients who do not work:

    “….They spend 4.2 hours per day watching television and playing video games, or 125 hours during a 30-day month. That is more than 50 percent higher than the 80 hours they would be required to work or otherwise engage with the community during at least some months under the reconciliation bill.”

    Source: American Enterprise Institute

    These able-bodied individuals who CHOOSE not to work are receiving the same coverage as America’s most vulnerable, like single mothers, disabled individuals, and low-income seniors. 

    That’s why Republicans are protecting and strengthening Medicaid for American citizens who need and deserve it by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and implementing common sense work requirements, which 78% of Americans support.

    The next time a Democrat makes false claims about “Medicaid cuts,” just remember that what they’re really saying is they want illegal aliens and able-bodied adults playing video games at home to continue stealing resources from those who need it.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republicans Introduce Partisan Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Funding Bill that Fails Our Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

    When lowering costs for Americans should drive every decision we make, this bill needlessly fixates on keeping guns in the hands of those who are potentially a danger to themselves or others and restricts reproductive rights and other cruel and pointless policy restrictions.

    Funding Proposal Raises the Costs of Veterans Health Care, Hurts Military Readiness, and Worsens Quality of Life for Servicemembers and Their Families

    WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Republicans released the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which will be considered in the subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation fails to fully meet veterans’ needs and falls short of adequately funding military construction projects.

    This bill:

    • Worsens the quality of life for servicemembers and their families and hurts military readiness by funding military construction $904 million below what is needed.
    • Enacts the Project 2025 goal to privatize medical care for veterans by transferring billions to private hospitals and clinics which will only lead to higher costs, longer wait times, poor communication and coordination, and diminished quality of care.
    • Further limits women’s access to abortion, harming women veterans’ health.
    • Leaves military installations, servicemembers, and their families vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and worsening natural disasters by failing to include dedicated funding to strength military installations against these threats.
    • Does not fulfill the United States’ commitments to our allies by providing $188 million less than what is needed on NATO infrastructure.
    • Undermines the ability to keep guns out of the hands of those prohibited under Federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms.
    • Repeats the same extreme House Republican tactics attempted last year by including partisan changes to existing law, known as “riders,” that hurt Americans and create chaos. Once again, Republicans are disenfranchising veterans rather than making VA a welcoming and inclusive place for all those who volunteer to serve our country.

    “This Republican bill would push our Veterans who sacrificed so much, towards Project 2025 privatized health care schemes and critically break with past PACT Act guaranteed funding commitments in the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) funding levels. When lowering costs for Americans should drive every decision we make, this bill needlessly fixates on keeping guns in the hands of those who are potentially a danger to themselves or others and restricts reproductive rights and other cruel and pointless policy restrictions. I cannot tell those currently serving and those who defended our nation that this is the best we can do, and therefore, I cannot support this bill,” Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) said. “While it avoids deep, across the board cuts, it steers far too many resources into the privatized medical care account and away from vital, VA-based care and it leaves out guaranteed PACT Act funding for the TEF in FY2027, unlike past precedent. We can do far better, and Democrats are ready to do that. But this bill falls short of what our Veterans deserve.”


    “While President Trump fires veterans and dismantles the services and programs across the federal government that they depend on, House Republicans have decided to proceed—business as usual—with 2026 funding bills. They have introduced a funding bill that does nothing to remedy the chaos and pain this administration has caused thousands of veterans and instead pushes extreme, partisan Project 2025 goals of privatizing veterans health services, only raising the costs of critical care. Once again, instead of being laser focused on the cost-of-living crisis, President Trump and House Republicans are actually making it worse,”     Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “This bill falls short of honoring our commitment to veterans, servicemembers, and their families by underfunding military construction and leaving our military installations vulnerable to the impact of worsening natural disasters. Just like last year, this bill is built on a framework that harms veterans. Veterans rely on programs across the entire federal government. House Republicans’ proposal to slash critical domestic investments in other funding bills will strip away education, job opportunities, housing, and food assistance that veterans and their families depend on. House Republicans cannot claim to support veterans while making it harder for them to find jobs, feed their families, and keep roofs over their heads.”


     A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill is here. A fact sheet of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here. The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked on the House Committee on Appropriations website.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: “Most Essential Piece of Legislation” in the Western World

    Source: US Whitehouse

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: UN – Election of new non-permanent Security Council members (4 Jun. 2025)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    France congratulates Bahrain, Colombia, Latvia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on their June 3rd election as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.

    The Security Council’s main responsibility under the UN Charter is maintaining international peace and security. France will work closely with each of these partners, whose two-year terms will begin on January 1, 2026, so that the Council can fulfill its mandate of conflict resolution and peacekeeping.

    As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter this month, France reaffirms its commitment to a rules-based international system and to a Security Council that guarantees our collective security. As a Permanent Member of the Security Council, we advocate open, more effective multilateralism.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Blasts Trump-Musk Plan That Endangers U.S. Security, Trusted Media

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

    Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration submitted a plan to Congress that guts U.S. foreign assistance and eliminates funding for NPR and PBS.

    “President Trump’s move to isolate the United States from the rest of the world will cost us vital trading partners, invite conflict and terrorism worldwide, and leave us more susceptible to disease. It leaves the door wide open for China, Russia, and our other adversaries to fill the void,” said Rep. Frankel.

    “By eliminating funding for NPR and PBS, President Trump is attacking the very institutions that keep Americans informed, educated, and connected. These trusted, nonpartisan outlets provide everything from in-depth news and investigative journalism to children’s education, science, culture, and the arts. For many communities—especially in rural and underserved areas—this is more than just programming; it’s a lifeline.”

    “These funding cuts represent only a tiny fraction of our federal budget but threaten severe consequences for our country. Peace and stability are in the interest of the American taxpayer, not misinformation, culture wars, and the sidelining of people’s elected representatives.”   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Calls Out Secretary McMahon For Eliminating Support For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 03, 2025
    As Secretary McMahon attempted to deflect Durbin’s questions, Durbin asserted that the Trump Administration is eliminating critical student protections
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Education (ED).  During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about how ED is supporting students defrauded by for-profit colleges.
    Durbin began by underscoring the harm done by for-profit colleges, reminding Secretary McMahon that while for-profit colleges enroll only eight percent of American college students, those students account for 30 percent of all student loan defaults. 
    “The problem is the difficulty students face [after attending a for-profit college] becomes a lifetime problem.  Imagine a first-generation college student trying to pick a place to go to school, inundated in high school with glossy brochures from for-profit colleges and universities, which promise the sun, the moon, and the stars,” Durbin said.  “The student goes and learns there are Pell grants available through for-profit colleges and universities.  They hear the promises that if they just attend this school and graduate, there’s going to be a good paying job at the end of the rainbow, and it turns out, it’s all phony.”
    “They are being deluded and deceived. There is much more scam than there is scholarship… So most of them, or at least 30 percent of them, end up with loans they can’t pay back.  They never see that job that was promised to them.  But they’ve got one last place [ED] to turn to and try to get their lives back on track,” Durbin said.  “I have heard their stories from them.”
    Durbin then asked Secretary McMahon about ED’s efforts to support students defrauded by for-profit colleges by allowing students to file borrower defense claims.
    “You have a department within the Department of Education for borrower defense.  Are you familiar with that?… Can you tell me what you understand the borrower defense law to promise?”Durbin asked Secretary McMahon.
    Rather than answer Durbin’s question, Secretary McMahon deflected by arguing that many non-profit universities and colleges also promise to help students secure a job after graduation.  Secretary McMahon did acknowledge that college affordability is a major obstacle for students, forcing them to take on significant student debt despite President Trump’s budget request asking to slash Pell grants by nearly $1,700 and gutting programs like TRIO and Gear Up that help first-generation and low-income college students enroll and complete their college degree.
    However, as Durbin said in pushing back against Secretary McMahon’s indirect answer, for-profit colleges rarely deliver respected or marketable degrees to students, giving them little chance to secure a job as they attempt to pay off their mountain of student debt.
    “The point that I’m making is there is one brand of college and university that is particularly egregious when it comes to deceiving these students.  It’s for-profit colleges and universities.  Eight percent of [American college students], 30 percent of student loan defaults… It stands out from all the rest,” Durbin said.
    “The point I’m getting to is you’re hollowing out the borrower defense agency within your own department.  This is supposed to be the rescue for these students to finally get back on track and maybe go to a good school.  Why would you hollow out the resources there and the people that are enforcing the borrower defense rule when we have these terrible numbers of exploitation of students?” Durbin asked Secretary McMahon.
    Secretary McMahon replied, “we shouldn’t just focus on those [for-profit] schools.  I totally agree with you, there are some scam universities out there.”
    “Why would you hollow out the people who are supposed to enforce it?” Durbin countered.  “Give me an idea of what you’re putting in place that’s better than the borrower defense rule.”
    As Secretary McMahon ineffectively argued that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) would help students understand the threat of for-profit colleges, Durbin pushed for answers about how ED is supporting students who have already become victims of for-profit colleges.
    “I’m talking about the victims.  The ones who are already victims.  They’re in debt by tens of thousands of dollars,” Durbin said.  “They have no place to turn, and you’re telling me the FAFSA form is going to help them?  How can it help them?”
    Secretary McMahon replied, “that’s not in place yet, but I think that’s going to be very, very helpful.  Here’s the other thing.  Where are guidance counselors in high schools?”
    “Good question!” Durbin replied.  “You’re cutting the number of counselors in these schools at the same time.”
    “The counselors that are doing their jobs can provide information to these students,” Secretary McMahon said.
    “There aren’t enough of them.  That’s the point I’m making.  The situation is terrible for these students.  First generation students are being exploited by these schools.  They need your protection.  They need our protection.  They deserve it,” Durbin said.  “Unfortunately, you’re reducing the number of people to enforce the law.”
    The Trump Administration has made moves to dismantle ED, firing more than 1,300 staff and signing an Executive Order to demolish ED.  Last month, House Republicans included a provision in the reconciliation bill to roll back the Biden-era borrower defense rule that allowed for full debt relief, addressing a wider range of school misconduct, and allowing group claims rather than individual applications.  If passed by the Senate, the reconciliation bill will replace the Biden-era borrower defense rule with the rule instituted under the first Trump Administration, requiring borrowers to meet a higher bar to receive relief by showing they suffered financial harm from their college’s misconduct and that the college knowingly made deceptive or false statements.
    For 11 years, Durbin has written to high school guidance counselors, teachers, and principals, urging them to warn students of the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges.
    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s question in Committee is available here for TV stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin’s Protecting Children With Food Allergies Bill Adopted As Amendment In Senate Agriculture Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 03, 2025
    The legislation, which was added as an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, would train school food service staff to prevent and respond to food-related allergic reactions
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, was adopted unanimously as an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  Durbin’s amendment would ensure school food service staff receive essential training about food allergies, so that they are better equipped to prevent, recognize, and respond to food allergic reactions, which can save lives.
    “When parents drop their kids off at school, they should have peace of mind knowing that their children are safe with personnel who are trained to look out for their children’s food allergies,”said Durbin.  “Peanuts, eggs, soy, and milk are nutritious, and may be in school lunches or brought by classmates.  But for some kids, they are allergens that can be deadly.  Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee adopted my bipartisan Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act as an amendment to a larger bill, ensuring that kids will be safe in the event of an allergic reaction.”
    Food allergies are a growing public health concern.  Over the past two decades, the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. has more than doubled.  Approximately six million children are estimated to have food allergies, about two students per classroom.  Further, 20 percent of all epinephrine shots administered in schools are given to children who have undiagnosed food allergies—which makes it even more important for school food personnel to understand how to recognize and respond to an allergic reaction.
    USDA requires annual trainings to school food personnel who work under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).  Required trainings include modules in nutrition, health, and food safety standards.  USDA also makes available trainings that address food allergies, but those are not required as part of these annual trainings.  The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act would add “food allergies” to the existing list of trainings to ensure that school food personnel receive essential information about food allergies. 
    The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act has endorsements from: Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), and School Nutrition Association (SNA).
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Senators Demand Explanation After Trump Admin Greenlights Giant Rocket-Redfin Merger, Warn of Potential Price Hikes for American Homebuyers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 04, 2025
    Rocket has a history of anticompetitive behavior in the housing industry
    “At a time when families already face a housing affordability crisis, these deals…may reduce choice and raise prices for American families in the housing market.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) wrote to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeking an explanation for the agencies’ failure to challenge Rocket Companies’ (Rocket) recent acquisition of Redfin, which creates a massive housing company that threatens to reduce choice and raise prices for American families in the housing market. 
    This merger allows Rocket, an online mortgage lending and real estate platform, to exert even greater control over each step of the homebuying process by taking over Redfin, a popular real estate search platform, and Mr. Cooper, the nation’s largest mortgage servicing firm. On May 8, 2025, the Trump Administration allowed the merger waiting period to expire without taking action to block or review the transaction. 
    After the Rocket-Redfin merger is completed, Rocket will have the power to steer Redfin users to Rocket’s real estate agents, limiting business for local, independent agents and brokerages. Rocket could also discourage Redfin users from comparison shopping for better mortgage offers by steering homebuyers to Rocket’s mortgages. Comparison shopping has been shown to save homebuyers an average of $76,410 over a 30-year mortgage.
    In addition, Rocket’s acquisition of Mr. Cooper will create a mortgage finance behemoth. By acquiring seven million mortgage servicing clients, Rocket would have a reduced need to compete for new customers. Altogether, with these acquisitions, Rocket would triple its current client base and control one in six mortgages in the United States. Rocket’s efforts to consolidate and control the homebuying market onto a single online platform sets a dangerous precedent for consumers, the industry, and the U.S. housing market as a whole at a time when house prices and mortgage rates continue to rise.
    Rocket has a history of anticompetitive efforts to steer homebuyers to its products. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Rocket in 2024 for allegedly steering homebuyers into purchasing Rocket mortgages and charging higher rates and fees. The CFPB dropped the lawsuit just three weeks after President Trump installed new leadership at the agency. 
    Under the DOJ and FTC’s merger enforcement guidelines, the acquisitions raise multiple concerns, including: 
    Under Guideline 6, which warns that “mergers can violate the law when they entrench or extend a dominant position”; 
    Under Guideline 7, which directs the DOJ and FTC to “examine whether a trend toward consolidation in an industry would heighten … competition concerns”; 
    Under Guideline 8, which clarifies that “when a merger is part of a series of multiple acquisitions, the agencies may examine the whole series”; and 
    Under Guideline 9, which warns that “mergers involving platforms can threaten competition.” 
    “Rocket’s proposed acquisitions…create the potential for Rocket to steer homebuyers to its own products, hike prices based on private data, and block competition. We ask that you provide an explanation for your agencies’ failure to challenge the Rocket-Redfin merger during the premerger review period,” wrote the senators. 
    The lawmakers asked the two agencies to provide clarity on why they declined to challenge the merger by June 17, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: At Hearing, Trump Treasury Nominee Refuses to Say Whether Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Should Strip Away Health Care from American Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 04, 2025
    Trump Treasury Department created a $50 billion loophole for giant banks after 2017 tax bill passed, while Morrissey was deputy general counsel
    Paying for another $50 billion loophole would mean taking away Medicaid from approximately 700,000 Americans 
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. — At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Brian Morrissey, nominee for general counsel of the Department of the Treasury, about the cost of tax giveaways to major corporations for American families. 
    After the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, lobbyists for foreign banks like Credit Suisse and Barclays lobbied to minimize the effects of new taxes on their profits, eventually securing $50 billion in additional giveaways to foreign banks and their subsidiaries. At the time, Mr. Morrissey was deputy general counsel at the Treasury Department.
    Senator Warren pressed Mr. Morrissey on what further tax giveaways, including ones in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” would mean for American families. Mr. Morrissey repeatedly declined to answer how many people would have to lose Medicaid coverage to free up another $50 billion for giveaways to the wealthy. 
    “It’s 700,000 people to make up for a $50 billion loophole. It’s like cutting off every single Medicaid recipient in the state of Nevada just to fund another $50 billion loophole like the ones you all managed to do last time around when you gave foreign banks this special loophole,” said Senator Warren. 
    Mr. Morrissey also declined to answer whether Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” should take away money from working-class Americans. Independent analysts have found that the bottom 40% of households in the U.S. would see their incomes fall next year if this bill is passed, while households in the top .1% will get nearly $400,000 in tax breaks. 
    “That’s what this bill is all about: taking from struggling families to give handouts to billionaires and big corporations…I think it’s obscene,” said Senator Warren. 
    Transcript: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Brian Morrissey, Jr., of Virginia, to be General Counsel for the Department of the TreasurySenate Finance CommitteeJune 3, 2025 
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So Donald Trump ran for President on the promise to lower costs – a promise that he abandoned almost as soon as he got elected. He also promised his “rich as hell” donors that he would deliver big tax breaks. So right now, Senate Republicans are working overtime to pass billionaire tax giveaways – partly paid for by kicking 14 million people off their health care and partly paid for by using magic math to pretend that those tax giveaways don’t cost as much as they actually cost. 
    Now, we’ve seen this play before. In 2017, President Trump’s first tax giveaway to the wealthy was supposed to cost just $1.5 trillion, and that was after there were a bunch of budget gimmicks to keep the total down. But even that wasn’t a big enough giveaway. After the bill passed, the Trump Treasury Department drafted regulations to implement the new law, and corporations sent armies of lobbyists in to write even more loopholes into the tax laws. 
    Now, Mr. Morrissey, you were deputy general counsel at Treasury at this time. So you may remember: lobbyists from foreign banks like Credit Suisse and Barclays won a big new international tax loophole for loans they make to U.S. subsidiaries. Do you know how much they pocketed from that extra giveaway engineered in the Treasury Department?
    Mr. Brian Morrisey, nominee for General Counsel of the Treasury Department: Senator, I’m familiar with many of the regulations under TCJA, but not the answer to your specific question. 
    Senator Warren: Not that one? Well, then I will tell you. It was $50 billion, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
    Now, today, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are working to pass a new set of tax cuts for billionaires, millionaires, and giant corporations. This one, the price tag is around $4 trillion. And this time, they are planning to pay for it – in part – by slashing Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by nearly $1 trillion and kicking 14 million Americans off their health care. It is handout time for billionaires and austerity for everyone else. 
    Mr. Morrisey, you’re nominated to be general counsel at Treasury, meaning you would help in the drafting and implementation of this bill – if it passed – maybe adding another $50 billion tax loophole here, another $50 billion tax loophole there.
    So, Mr. Morrissey, I just want to make sure that you think through what this means. Do you know how many people will have to lose their Medicaid coverage just to pay for one of those $50 billion tax loopholes out of a $4 trillion Trump tax giveaway?
    Mr. Morrisey: Senator, if I were to be confirmed, I would be committed to making sure that folks working at Treasury on tax issues are clear that the policy judgments in this space belong to the Congress. 
    Senator Warren: That’s not the question I’m asking here, Mr. Morrissey. I know you’d like to duck this one. My question is: when you create a $50 billion tax giveaway, do you know how many Americans lose Medicaid coverage to make up $50 billion? Do you know what those numbers are? These are just numbers.  
    Mr. Morrissey: Senator, again, the policy judgement is with the Congress and Treasury would be — 
    Senator Warren: No, it’s not a policy question I’m asking you. If you are going to be over at the Treasury Department and you’re talking about being in a position where you can actually create a $50 billion loophole—and I know you could do that because you’ve done it in the past—I just want to make sure when you’re doing the pluses and minuses of doing this, that you have some idea how many Americans will lose their Medicaid coverage in order to make up for a $50 billion loophole. Do you have any idea how many people have to lose Medicaid coverage to create $50 billion?
    Mr. Morrissey: Senator, whatever judgements this Congress makes in the statute—
    Senator Warren: Ten? A thousand? A million? Do you have any idea what that number is? 
    Mr. Morrissey: Senator, if I am confirmed, I am committed to making sure we are implementing—
    Senator Warren: Do you not have any idea what that number is, or do you just not want to say it?
    Mr. Morrissey: Senator, my role would be on the legal side. The policy side, the weighing of these important issues—
    Senator Warren: I’ll take that as you just don’t want to have to admit it. It’s 700,000 people to make up for a $50 billion loophole. It’s like cutting off every single Medicaid recipient in the state of Nevada just to fund another $50 billion loophole like the ones you all managed to do last time around when you gave foreign banks this special loophole. 
    And that’s what this bill is all about: taking from struggling families to give handouts to billionaires and big corporations. In fact, according to independent experts, Trump’s big, beautiful bill will take money away from the bottom 40% of families and turn around and shovel nearly $400,000 to everyone who’s in the top one-tenth of one percent. 
    So let me just ask you one last question and we’ll finish this up. At a time when families are struggling with higher costs under President Trump, do you really think that Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” should take away money from working-class Americans, Mr. Morrissey?
    Mr. Morrissey: Senator, I think the tax legislation that this Congress passed in 2017 raised living standards and helped Americans across the spectrum and if Congress decides to take new action I am committed to working with Treasury to make sure we implement that.
    Senator Warren: You know, I’ve just got to say: tax cuts for the wealthiest, a $50 billion loophole here, another one there, and so what if hundreds of thousands of people lose their Medicaid and access to health care? That’s what this bill is all about, and I think it’s obscene.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Expands Holds on EPA Nominees After Republicans Overrule Parliamentarian to Gut California’s Clean Air Authority

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Expands Holds on EPA Nominees After Republicans Overrule Parliamentarian to Gut California’s Clean Air Authority

    Senator Padilla: “The Trump Administration and the Republican majority plowed ahead with an unprecedented power grab at the expense of the health of millions of children and families in California and many other states”
    Padilla releases memo outlining how Senate Republicans went nuclear on Senate rules, warns of future implications
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — After Republicans shortsightedly revoked California’s clean air waivers, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced his intent to place a blanket hold on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominations, including proceeding with his objections to the four EPA nominations currently pending on the Senate’s Executive Calendar and holding three additional EPA nominations. In his Congressional Record Statement, Padilla stated he will maintain these seven holds until Republicans make appropriate accommodations so that California can protect its own environment and the health of its residents.
    Padilla’s objections come in response to Republicans overruling the nonpartisan Senate Parliamentarian’s decision and going nuclear on the Senate rulebook in order to rescind California’s clean air waivers that allow the state to implement more protective air quality standards. The Senate Parliamentarian determined that any resolutions aimed at overturning California waivers would not be entitled to the Congressional Review Act’s (CRA) expedited procedures and would therefore require 60 votes to secure Senate passage. However, Senate Republicans bypassed the filibuster to rescind these waivers by overruling the Parliamentarian.
    “The Senate’s constitutional role to Advise and Consent regarding executive branch nominations is an important check on agency leadership’s abuse and overreach, and raising these objections regarding EPA nominations is my duty on behalf of the people of the State of California,” wrote Senator Padilla. “I am objecting to expedited consideration of EPA nominees in response to the Trump Administration EPA’s abuse of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) by submitting three waivers issued to the State of California to Congress and claiming they are ‘rules’ under the CRA despite the Government Accountability Office’s clear determination they are not.”
    Padilla stressed that revoking California’s waivers will cause disastrous public health and environmental impacts, highlighting California’s unique air quality challenges and critical efforts to reduce harmful emissions. He also emphasized that EPA’s reckless actions by abusing the CRA fly in the face of longstanding Senate procedures to target California’s waiver authority.
    “The Trump Administration and the Republican majority plowed ahead with an unprecedented power grab at the expense of the health of millions of children and families in California and many other states,” continued Senator Padilla. “They took advantage of EPA’s abuse of the CRA to throw out the rulebook, first by overriding the procedural limits in the text of the CRA itself and then by overturning the Parliamentarian’s decision, all in their quest to take away California’s authority under the Clean Air Act.”
    “This is unacceptable,” added Senator Padilla. “California has done nearly all it can do to reduce emissions from stationary sources of air pollution within its jurisdiction. Given our unique air quality challenges and the worsening impacts of climate change, it is essential for our state to reduce pollution from mobile sources such as cars and trucks if the federal government will not do so itself. That is why Congress has provided this waiver authority to our state for decades and it has been used over 100 times. But now, as a result of the Trump EPA and Senate Republicans’ abuse of the CRA, the people of California will be forced to breathe more toxic air pollution and suffer increasingly devastating impacts of climate change.”
    The seven Senate-confirmable nominations Padilla is holding include four pending on the Senate floor and three working their way through the committee process.
    Senator Padilla also circulated a memo to his Senate colleagues outlining the broad implications of Republicans going nuclear on the Senate rules, detailing that the Senate majority went nuclear by:
    Overriding the text of the CRA, which bars points of order (which they then raised) and
    Overruling the Parliamentarian’s determination by ignoring her and “submitting the question” to the Senate as opposed to overruling the Chair.
    The memo makes clear that by defying their previous commitments and breaking 30 years of CRA precedent with the first successful use of the nuclear option on the legislative filibuster, the CRA is now open to being applied to any agency action that is submitted to Congress going back to 1996, opening up a large new window to force votes in the Senate. In addition, Senate Republicans have now permanently undermined the legislative filibuster that they have claimed to defend on the eve of budget reconciliation, where they are under pressure to overrule the Parliamentarian yet again to avoid a filibuster on legislation that would eliminate health care and nutrition assistance for millions of Americans to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy.
    Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in pushing back against Republican attacks on California’s Clean Air Act waivers. Over the last month, Padilla has spoken on the Senate floor repeatedly to sound the alarm on Senate Republicans’ revocations of these critical waivers. Padilla, along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), also led Democratic Ranking Members in strongly warning Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) of the dangerous and irreparable consequences if Senate Republicans overrule the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision on California’s waivers. Many of his Democratic colleagues voiced similar opposition to Republicans’ unprecedented dismissal of the Senate rulebook.
    In April, Padilla, Whitehouse, and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) welcomed the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision that the waivers are not subject to the CRA. Padilla also joined Whitehouse and Schiff in blasting Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s weaponization of the EPA after the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) similar finding. Padilla and Schiff previously slammed the Trump Administration’s intent to roll back dozens of the EPA’s regulations that protect California’s air and water.
    Full text of Senator Padilla’s hold statement is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: A Milestone in Realizing a Vision for Canadian Leadership in Arctic Science: New exhibition about Indigenous Knowledge App opens at Canadian High Arctic Research Station

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 4, 2025-Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

    Today, a vision for Arctic science realizes a major milestone. Polar Knowledge Canada marks 10 years since its creation through a knowledge-sharing collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Arctic Eider Society.

    On display at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, is a new exhibition co-developed by the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Arctic Eider Society with support from Polar Knowledge Canada. The exhibition showcases SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge App, as a practical application of Indigenous Knowledge taking a leading role in science.

    SIKU is the Inuktitut word for sea ice. SIKU, the mobile and online technology platform created by and for Indigenous communities provides a platform for communities to manage their own programs for harvesting, guardians and community-driven research and monitoring.

    The exhibition at CHARS, which is open to the public and will be on view until the end of 2025, tells the story of how SIKU was developed on a framework of self-determination and data sovereignty piloted by the Arctic Eider Society. With stunning imagery and interactive displays, visitors can learn how individual harvesters, as well as communities, use their own language and knowledge systems to document environmental changes and observations in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

    The exhibition is a symbol of the vision that began almost 20 years ago to establish a world-class research facility in the Canadian high Arctic. Polar Knowledge Canada was created in June of 2015 with the Royal Assent of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act. CHARS was built over the first five years and is now fully operational, hosting and collaborating with researchers from across Canada and around the world.

    The scientific program strives to advance knowledge of ecosystems in the North – terrestrial, freshwater, marine and air – to monitor and understand the effects of changes to the climate in the Arctic, where the earth is warming at a rate four times faster than the rest of the planet. To examine and test sustainable energy technologies and infrastructure solutions and how they work in the extreme Northern environment, in an effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the North and the impacts it has on communities and the environment. And to understand the connection between community wellness and environmental health, such as the impact of diseases in animals that are traditionally harvested, as well as to communicate to Northern communities about how to protect themselves when consuming country food with the changes the mammal, fish and bird populations are experiencing.

    More about the exhibition: SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge APP

    Divided into five sections, the exhibition, includes information panels and testimonials, as well as three videos, two activities for children and a feature presentation of the film People of a Feather.

    The first section introduces SIKU including a video The second and third sections delve into the importance of SIKU as a tool for Indigenous self-determination and for sharing Indigenous knowledge. Five project case studies from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut, Nitassinan and Eyou Itshee are featured in more detail. There are also videos about the SIKU Ice Watch and Goose Watch campaigns, which engage users in sharing knowledge about ice conditions and the spring goose migration.

    The fourth section zeroes in on projects around Cambridge Bay that use SIKU. One monitors the prevalence of biting insects, and the other is SmartICE, a well-established ice-monitoring program across the Arctic.

    The final section delves into the creation of SIKU by the Arctic Eider Society, an Inuit organization in Sanikiluaq, including its use as part of the Qikiqtait Protected Area initiative for the Belcher Islands Archipelago. Visitors can then grab a seat in the Knowledge Centre at CHARS and enjoy the award-winning feature film, People of a Feather, which portrays the unique relationship between Sanikiluaq Inuit and eider ducks.

    A comprehensive exhibition about the Inuit of Sanikiluaq, the Arctic Eider Society and the Qikiqtait Protected Area (including the SIKU App) will open September 26 in the Northern Voices Gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. This exhibition is also presented with the support of Polar Knowledge Canada.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ground Beef Products Recalled

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers that a recall has been issued for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

    The recalled product is in a 1-lb. vacuum-packed package labeled “ORGANIC RANCHER ORGANIC GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN 15% FAT” with “Use or Freeze By 06-19-25” and “Use or Freeze By 06-20-25” (see link before for labels). The raw ground beef item was produced on May 22, 2025, and May 23, 2025. The product bears establishment number “EST. 4027” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This item was shipped to Whole Foods Market retail locations nationwide.

    There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare professional.

    E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 2�8 days (3�4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

    Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

    Media and consumers with questions can contact Danny Desautels, NPC Processing, Inc., President, at 802-660-0496; 802-310-7644; or ddesautels@npcprocessing.com.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. CBO has not reviewed the legislation for effects on spending subject to appropriation. CBO has not yet completed an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of H.R. 1 or their additional budgetary effects. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Jury Convicts Michigan Man on Charges of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Possessing a Destructive Device

    Source: US State of California

    A Michigan man was convicted yesterday by a jury on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ICE Lodges Detainer for Illegal Alien Charged with Child Rape in Massachusetts

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Despite his past criminal history in the U.S., this illegal alien and child pedophile was released into the country by the Biden Administration

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer for Lorenzo Lopez Alcario, a criminal illegal alien, who has been charged with rape of a child with force. According to local reports, the brutal sexual assault was captured on video and the child’s mother testified in court.

    This criminal illegal alien from Guatemala first entered the country illegally at an unknown date and location. On July 30, 2017, Lopez was arrested by the Arlington Police Department, Arlington, VA for the Possession of Schedule I/II Controlled Substance. 

    On July 31, 2017, ICE arrested Lopez after he was released from the Arlington County Jail in Virginia. On September 13, 2017, an immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States. On September 28, 2017, ICE removed Lopez from the United States. 

    Under President Biden, this criminal illegal alien re-entered the country illegally on June 17, 2022. Despite his previous criminal arrests in the U.S. and first deportation, he was still RELEASED into the country.  

    “Lorenzo Lopez Alcario is a pedophile illegal alien from Guatemala who should’ve never been in the U.S. in the first place. He is being charged with committing a heinous crime—the rape of a child,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Despite his previous criminal charges and deportation, President Biden released this barbaric criminal into American communities in 2022. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE lodged a detainer to ensure this criminal illegal alien will not be allowed to terrorize American citizens and will deport this child predator to prevent further victims.” 

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER APPLAUDS GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ NEW $3 BILLION ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT SPURRED BY HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW, BRINGING TOTAL TO $16 BILLION FOR CAPITAL REGION PROJECT TO BECOME EPICENTER OF AMERICA’S…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Schumer Has Fought For Years To Get GlobalFoundries To Expand Current Fab & Build New, State-Of-The-Art Second Manufacturing Facility In Malta, Delivering Whopping $1.5B Award From His Bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law Last Year To Finally Make Project A Reality
    Now GlobalFoundries Is Investing $3B More In The Project, Further Expanding Advanced Packaging And R&D, Because Of The Foundation Schumer Laid To Strengthen American Semiconductor Leadership
    Schumer: GlobalFoundries Is Doubling Down On The Capital Region With $3B More To Make Upstate NY America’s Semiconductor Epicenter
    A longtime advocate for GlobalFoundries’ growth in the Capital Region, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today applauded GlobalFoundries’ announcement that it will invest an additional $3 billion to expand its first-of-its-kind chip packaging facility at its Saratoga County location, bringing its total investment to $16 billion in the Capital Region and the country thanks to his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law.
    “GlobalFoundries is writing the future of American chipmaking right here in the Capital Region. With this additional $3 billion investment, GlobalFoundries is making a whopping $16 billion investment spurred by my CHIPS & Science Law, and is doubling down on Upstate New York as America’s semiconductor epicenter,” said Senator Schumer. “Soon, America’s AI future, and the next generation of the top chips that power everything from cell phones to cars will be made in Upstate New York from start to finish! I worked for years to pass the CHIPS & Science Law, to deliver more than $1.5 billion in federal CHIPS investment for GlobalFoundries’ growth in Saratoga County, and continued announcements like this show that bet is paying off bigger than most thought possible. This is a win-win-win for GlobalFoundries, Upstate NY’s chip supply chain, and our national & economic security.”
    “Today we continue to show our commitment to U.S. manufacturing by partnering with our customers to onshore critical components of the supply chain needed for datacenters, communications infrastructure, AI edge devices and more,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, Executive Chairman of GlobalFoundries. “Thanks to the leadership of Senator Schumer and the New York Delegation, New York has become a world class ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing and R&D. Today’s investment will reestablish secure, domestic supply chains for critical technologies and continue to bring high-paying manufacturing jobs to Upstate New York.”
    GlobalFoundries is committing an additional $3 billion on advanced research and development initiatives focused on packaging innovation, silicon photonics, and next-generation GaN technologies. With the $16 billion total investment now being made, GlobalFoundries aims to collaborate with major tech companies like Apple, AMD, and General Motors to strengthen American semiconductor leadership by producing American-made chips and advancing AI, aerospace, automotive, and high-performance communication innovation.
    Schumer has worked for years to help GlobalFoundries expand and delivered historic investments from his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law for GlobalFoundries and the Capital Region. Last year, Schumer secured $1.5 billion in CHIPS funding to support the expansion of GlobalFoundries’ existing fab in Malta, NY, and the construction of a second, state-of-the-art fab at the same site. Schumer later secured an additional $75 million in CHIPS funding for GlobalFoundries to create a first-of-its-kind advanced chips packaging and testing center. The new center will help GlobalFoundries increase production while bolstering national security by creating a secure facility to package, test, and manufacture semiconductors to support defense applications, AI, and high-performance computing, among other key industries. Together, these investments are expected to create thousands of good-paying manufacturing and union construction jobs in the Capital Region.
    On top of the investments Schumer has secured for GlobalFoundries, the senator additionally delivered a historic $825 million in CHIPS funding to make Albany NanoTech the first flagship facility of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The NSTC is a critical part of Schumer’s mission of re-establishing America’s leadership in the semiconductor industry and will bring together industry leaders, researchers from the nation’s top universities, innovators, workers, and entrepreneurs in the Capital Region to give them access to the most advanced chip making machinery in the world and drive the next frontier of chip innovation and manufacturing.
    Currently, there are only four companies outside of China that provide current and mature foundry capabilities at the scale of GlobalFoundries, and GlobalFoundries is the only one of those companies that is headquartered in the United States. GlobalFoundries, a Trusted Foundry for the Department of Defense, is a key supplier of chips for America’s national defense, with strong partnerships with major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin. GlobalFoundries also supplies chips to America’s auto industry with partnerships in place with companies like General Motors, which saw severe shortages of chips during the pandemic, leading to increased prices for cars. Thanks to the investment Schumer has secured, GlobalFoundries is expanding its current fab focused on automotive chips to help meet soaring demand for chips in cars and get ahead of future supply chain challenges.
    GlobalFoundries is a leading producer of essential chips that are critical across industries, from mobile phones and artificial intelligence to automobiles and defense technologies. Growth in AI is driving demand for the chips GlobalFoundries produces. The silicon photonics chips this new Center will produce are also in demand in the automotive, communications, radar, and other critical industries. The New York Advanced Packaging and Photonics Center will offer advanced packaging, assembly, and testing, allowing the company to more easily transform chips into individual packages ready for end-product use entirely in the United States. The Center’s new production capabilities will help onshore advanced packaging, which mostly takes place in Asia today, while further boosting GlobalFoundries’ production capacity.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: DIMO Partners with Grupo Kaufmann to Power the Future of Connected Cars in Latin America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and SANTIAGO, Chile, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DIMO, a leading connected vehicle platform, today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership with Grupo Kaufmann, one of Latin America’s largest automotive dealership networks. With headquarters in Chile and operations spanning six countries, the company is renowned for its commitment to innovation in the automotive industry. Through this partnership, DIMO and Kaufmann are working to redefine the connected car experience for auto dealerships throughout Latin America.

    In 2024, an estimated 1.7 million connected cars were projected to be sold across Latin America—a relatively small share of the region’s total annual vehicle sales. This gap reflects limited connectivity adoption, driven by the historically high cost of building top-down infrastructure, which has caused many automakers to deprioritize the region. Kaufmann aims to close this gap by leveraging DIMO’s standardized connectivity infrastructure to develop interoperable apps and services across automakers. This will bring scalable, affordable innovation to the Latin American market.

    Initially, Kaufmann will deploy DIMO LTE devices for data collection and product development. After integration, it will offer customers a unique set of connected services, such as real-time diagnostics, customized maintenance alerts and rewards-based loyalty programs, further raising the standard of expertise and service excellence.

    At the core of this partnership is DIMO’s transformative data model. Built with a privacy-first approach, the DIMO protocol streamlines vehicle data connectivity with user consent, enabling Kaufmann to deliver data-driven services far more cost-effectively than developing these systems in-house. With the driver’s consent, Kaufmann will gain access to real-time vehicle data. This data unlocks performance insights, personalized service recommendations, and timely outreach – laying the foundation for a proactive customer-first dealership experience. The DIMO protocol ensures drivers maintain full control over their data – fostering trust while delivering mutual value to both consumers and dealerships.

    “Grupo Kaufmann recognizes that the future of connected vehicle services will be shaped by a new generation of apps and services designed for a digitally native audience,” said Alex Rawitz, Co-founder of DIMO. “The world’s new car owners want more than utilities — they want games, social experiences, rewards, and more we’ve yet to imagine. With DIMO’s infrastructure, Kaufmann can serve as the conduit for this creative energy, delivering next-generation experiences to drivers across Latin America.”

    As the global automotive industry accelerates toward connected, digital-first experiences, Kaufmann is taking the lead in Latin America. Its partnership with DIMO reflects a long-term strategy to lead through innovation and sustainability, while transforming the dealership into a hub for lifelong mobility services.

    “At Grupo Kaufmann, we believe the future of the automotive industry in Latin America will be defined by the ability to turn data into meaningful experiences for our customers. Our partnership with DIMO accelerates this vision by enabling efficient, secure, and scalable vehicle connectivity. It’s a key step in our digitalization strategy to position Kaufmann as a regional leader in smart mobility solutions,” said Carlos De Martini, Corporate Digital Business Manager, Grupo Kaufmann.

    About DIMO

    DIMO is the next-generation connected vehicle platform. Its privacy-first and AI integrated infrastructure connects drivers, automakers and developers to expedite connected vehicle application development while retaining full data ownership by drivers. Through the DIMO Mobile app, drivers gain real-time insights to improve vehicle performance, maximize savings on maintenance, and access a growing suite of marketplace applications while earning rewards in DIMO tokens. It was founded in 2021 by a team with decades of experience across automotive and fintech— including roles at ConsenSys, Vroom, GM, Volkswagen, and Chainalysis.

    About Kaufmann

    With more than 70 years of history, Kaufmann has established itself as one of the most influential companies in the automotive sector in Latin America. Present in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, it represents leading brands such as Mercedes-Benz, FUSO and Freightliner, and from 2025, it will promote electromobility with the arrival of smart and its 100% electric vehicles. Its commercial network, which in Chile spans from Arica to Punta Arenas, combines a comprehensive offer of cars, buses, trucks and vans with a robust ecosystem of after-sales services, advanced technology and personalized attention.

    Kaufmann’s vision is focused on leading sustainable mobility in the region, maintaining a firm commitment to innovation, operational excellence and customer experience. Its team of more than 2,500 professionals drives a culture focused on the responsible transformation of transportation.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4 June 2025 Departmental update Neglected tropical diseases further neglected due to ODA cuts

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions1 that still affect 1 billion people, mainly vulnerable populations in underserved regions of the world. Nevertheless, they are preventable, treatable and can be eliminated. As of May 2025, 56 countries have successfully eliminated at least one NTD – demonstrating significant progress towards WHO’s global target of 100 countries reaching elimination by 2030.

    This hard-won progress is now at risk. The dismantling of official development assistance (ODA) for global health, and particularly for NTD programmes, threatens to stall or reverse gains and negatively impact lives of vulnerable communities.

    Threat to NTD gains

    The recent withdrawal of funding by the United States from NTD projects jeopardizes the success of 19 years of investment in the global effort to eliminate NTDs.

    Early reports shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that the immediate impact of the funding withdrawal has delayed 47 campaigns in which mass treatment was warranted to free 143 million people from the burden of NTDs. In 2020, WHO Member States set targets for 2030 by endorsing the Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 through World Health Assembly decision WHA73(33). Missing the planned campaigns and impact surveys in 2025 will postpone the achievement of targets in at least 10 additional countries. The abrupt cuts also halted critical research to validate new treatments, diagnostics and surveillance platforms to ensure these diseases no longer pose a threat globally.

    On 10 April 2025, WHO issued a warning on the impact caused by sudden suspensions and reductions in ODA for health, indicating that health service disruptions had been reported by over 70% of its surveyed country offices and that NTD programmes were among the most severely affected. In some settings, the nature and scale of service disruptions are comparable to those observed during the peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Critical shortages in medicines and health products are leaving one third of responding countries without essential commodities for major health services. At the same time, the suspension of funding has triggered job losses among health and care workers in over half of those countries.

    Furthermore, if alternative mechanisms for service delivery are not urgently secured, suspensions and reductions in ODA for health could lead to expiration of over 55 million NTD tablets by the end of 2025, in Africa alone. In response, countries are working to identify local opportunities to sustain treatment activities, including integrated campaigns within broader health initiatives and mobilization of national resources to protect people’s health, prevent medicine wastage and sustain progress.

    Incredible past achievements at risk

    Over the past two decades, the Government of the United States of America, through USAID, supported the delivery of 3.3 billion treatments to more than 1.7 billion people in 26 countries, clearing infections, stopping transmission and reducing the burden of lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases (intestinal worm infections) and trachoma in several areas. This cumulative support of US$ 1.4 billion significantly advanced public health outcomes and enabled 14 countries (Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Niger, Togo and Viet Nam) to achieve elimination of at least one NTD.

    NTD programmes have continued delivering impressive results despite fierce challenges: in 2023 alone, more than 860 million people received treatment for NTDs through mass drug administration or individual case management; and between January 2023 and May 2025, 17 countries were officially acknowledged by WHO for eliminating one NTD. Today, the halt in drug distribution and the layoff of frontline health workers threaten to reverse this progress – raising serious concerns about the resurgence of NTDs in the most affected regions.

    Funding challenges and implications for NTDs

    The withdrawal of United States funding to NTD programmes is not an isolated event. The last few years have witnessed a deprioritization of financial investments in support of NTDs, which accelerated during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in 2021, another key stakeholder, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ended its flagship NTD initiative, the Ascend programme. Nevertheless, recent pledges such as those made in December 2023 during the Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) Forum had raised hopes of reversing this trend.

    Decreased funding places a heavy strain on NTD programmes at a time when they are called to face unprecedented challenges, including the impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases. Notably, WHO declared dengue a grade 3 emergency in 2024, when over 14 million cases and 10 000 deaths were reported in 107 countries. The current global risk of dengue is assessed as high, and the disease remains a global health threat, while lack of resources continues to hamper prevention and control efforts, and the disease has spread to newer areas and countries in recent years.

    NTD programmes are recognized among the most cost-effective initiatives in global health, also thanks to effective public-private partnerships. Generous donations from pharmaceutical companies including Bayer AG, Chemo Group, Eisai Co. Ltd, EMS SA Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Inc., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Novartis, Pfizer and Sanofi – cumulatively valued at over US$ 12 billion between 2011 and today –make life-changing treatments available to those in need at minimal cost.

    Defunding NTD programmes threatens a proven public health success, potentially reversing hard-earned progress, exacerbating the cycle of disease and poverty, leaving vulnerable populations further marginalized and deepening inequality.

    Moving forward

    During the most recent Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, NTDs were centre-stage, with a number of events held on the margins of the Assembly. Notably, two NTD-related resolutions, on eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) and on skin diseases, were unanimously adopted by Member States.

    At this critical juncture, it is imperative to build on such renewed consensus and strengthen the global commitment to eliminating NTDs. This requires fostering nationally owned, sustainable programmes complemented by catalytic external support. Together, we must work towards the complete elimination of NTDs and release communities from the heavy burden of suffering these diseases cause.

    Notes

    1. Buruli ulcer; Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; leprosy; lymphatic filariasis; mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses; noma; onchocerciasis; rabies; scabies and other ectoparasitoses; schistosomiasis; snakebite envenoming; soil-transmitted helminthiases; taeniasis and cysticercosis; trachoma; yaws.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Kean Visits Northeast Carpenters Training Center with Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer

    Source: US Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)

    Contact: Riley Pingree

    (June 4, 2025) NEW JERSEY — Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) joined U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer at the Northeast Carpenters Training Center as part of the Secretary’s America at Work listening tour.

    The visit highlighted the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America’s state-of-the-art facility and its hands-on training programs in skilled trades including carpentry, HVAC, and electrical work. Congressman Kean and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer met with New Jersey labor leaders to discuss the critical need for continued federal investment in workforce development, expanded apprenticeship opportunities, and the role of unions in driving economic growth across the state.

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s nationwide America at Work tour is focused on hearing directly from workers, union members, employers, and community leaders to inform and modernize federal labor policy.

    “From construction and manufacturing to transportation infrastructure, everything built in New Jersey is built by the hands of dedicated tradesmen and women,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “Today’s visit to the Northeast Carpenters Training Center, alongside Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was an incredible opportunity to see the next generation of skilled laborers in action. The center’s workforce development programs show how strong partnerships between labor, industry, and educators equip students with the skills, leadership, and safety training they need to succeed on the job and return home safely to their families each night. As we invest in infrastructure, innovation, and nationwide projects, New Jersey will continue to lead the way due to its strong and skilled workforce. I want to thank Secretary Chavez-DeRemer for her continued leadership and for visiting the great Garden State.”

    “Today’s visit to the Northeast Carpenters Training Center in Edison showcased the very best of America’s skilled workforce,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “This state-of-the-art facility equips apprentices and journeymen with the skillset they need to excel in today’s dynamic construction industry. These innovative, hands-on training facilities will help fuel our economic comeback and empower workers to thrive under President Trump’s leadership. I want to thank Congressman Kean for hosting me on this tour and for his commitment to investing in our workforce.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Becca Balint Calls Out DHS Lack of Accountability for Mahdawi Kidnapping

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    “We need answers and accountability for the illegal kidnappings, disappearances and intimidation carried out by Noem and the Trump administration. While not surprising, I’m deeply disturbed that Secretary Noem not only takes no responsibility for these illegal kidnappings, she continues to take pride in them.”

    Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) reacts to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) response to her inquiry on Mohsen Mahdawi’s arrest and detention. Last Friday, Rep. Balint’s office received the following response from Secretary Noem: 

    “Thank you for your April 16, 2025, letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

    “The information requested in your letter is currently the subject of active litigation. Accordingly, DHS declines to comment on such matters.” 

    In April, in response to Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest, Rep. Balint and 67 other House Democrats demanded the Administration’s alleged reason for his arrest from Secretaries Rubio and Noem and received no response. On April 30th, Mr. Mahdawi was released on bail following a decision from Judge Geoffrey Crawford. 

    “We need answers and accountability for the illegal kidnappings, disappearances and intimidation carried out by Noem and the Trump administration,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “While not surprising, I’m deeply disturbed that Secretary Noem not only takes no responsibility for these illegal kidnappings, she continues to take pride in them. The fear of being ripped off the streets by masked agents when you show up to work or a citizenship appointment does not make our communities safer. I’m relieved that Mr. Mahdawi has been released and was able to graduate college, but his arrest should terrify us all. Under Trump, ICE and DHS have become a means to carry out political arrests and silence those who disagree with his authoritarian agenda. I’ll continue to demand accountability and justice for everyone in this country, including Mahmoud Khalil and others still being held unjustly.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –