Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Pendleton County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Pendleton County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Pendleton County

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –A Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Pendleton County to offer in-person support to Kentucky survivors who experienced loss as the result of the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides

    The new Disaster Recovery Center in Pendleton County is located at: Pendleton County Emergency Operations Center, 2275 Highway 27 North, Falmouth, KY 41040 Working hours are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Monday through Saturday and 1 – 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Sunday

    Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from state, federal and community organizations

     You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance

    The U

    S

    Small Business Administration representatives and resources from the Commonwealth are also available at the Disaster Recovery Centers to assist you

    FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the April storms to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible

    The deadline to apply is June 25

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance

    No appointment is needed

    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362

     You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit  www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Thu, 05/29/2025 – 12:45

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Aptean Unveils Keynote Speakers for “UNITE 2025”: Futurist Erica Orange and Trailblazing Veteran Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, is excited to announce two distinguished keynote speakers for “UNITE 2025”, its flagship North American customer conference: renowned futurist and thought leader, Erica Orange, along with decorated veteran and trailblazer, Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.). Taking place in Orlando, Florida from October 6-9, 2025, this premier event will offer engaging sessions, cutting-edge insights and unparalleled networking opportunities.

    The theme of this year’s conference, “Elevate Your Game,” is designed to inspire businesses to push boundaries, embrace innovation and lead with confidence in an ever-evolving market. With two dynamic keynote speakers—each bringing distinct perspectives on transformation, leadership and forward-thinking strategy—Aptean reinforces its commitment to delivering a dynamic and empowering experience for attendees.

    Erica Orange, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters, is one of today’s foremost futurists and is renowned for her bold insights into emerging trends and disruptive technologies. At UNITE 2025, she will explore how AI is reshaping the business landscape and what it means for decision-makers looking to stay ahead. With a deep understanding of the intersection between AI, innovation and strategic foresight, she will inspire attendees to reimagine possibilities and explore how future-focused thinking can unlock next-level growth.

    Ms. Malachowski, the first woman pilot to join the elite U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, embodies perseverance, leadership and the ability to excel under pressure. A decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and passionate advocate for resilience and reinvention, Nicole will share inspiring personal stories and lessons in courageous leadership – offering a roadmap for navigating change with strength and clarity. Inspired by the metaphor of “pushing the envelope”, Nicole will challenge attendees to move beyond perceived limitations, foster deeper collaboration, drive accountability and unlock their full potential.

    “Our customers come to UNITE not just for product insights, but to be inspired and empowered,” said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. “Erica and Nicole truly exemplify the spirit of ‘Elevate Your Game.’ Through their powerful stories, deep expertise and visionary leadership, they will challenge our customers to think bigger, lead boldly and take decisive action that drives meaningful results.”

    Aptean UNITE 2025 will offer attendees a robust agenda of product deep dives, customer panels, industry networking and thought leadership sessions—all designed to help users maximize the value of their Aptean solutions and unlock new opportunities.

    To learn more about UNITE 2025, or to register for the event, visit our event website.

    About Aptean

    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

    Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

    MEDIA INQUIRIES

    MediaRelations@Aptean.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Beneath the Surface: How Panama City Keeps Military Divers on the Cutting Edge

    Source: United States Navy

    PANAMA CITY, Fla. – For the military diver, the unforgiving depths can be a perilous arena. Since August 1, 1882, U.S. Navy sailors have executed essential underwater operations around the globe, from special operations and reconnaissance to ship repair and force protection. Yet these military divers are also at the forefront of subsea and seabed warfare, wielding cutting-edge technology to enhance their safety and expand their capabilities. And for more than 75 years—with May being the Month of the Military Diver—one place has been synonymous with this mission: Panama City, Fla. – the Home of Military Diving.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Washington Farmers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently fix the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) and provide crucial support for Washington farmers and growers. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and John Moolenaar (MI-02) joined Congresswoman Schrier in introducing this bill. 

    “Washington farmers work tirelessly to provide our state and the entire world with high-quality produce. At a time when changes in the climate, input costs, tariffs, and the economy have taken their toll on Washington agriculture, we must ensure that farmers have the scientific research and expertise they need to feed the world,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “This bill will allow Washington State University and other agricultural research institutions access to federal specialty crop research funding without the sometimes impossible hurdle of matching federal funding dollar for dollar. Federal support should make it as easy as possible to pursue scientific endeavors, including research that will sustain our food system and family farms.”

    The SCRI finances research projects that directly benefit Washington farmers. SCRI has funded projects to combat fungicide resistance in wine grapes, prevent pestilence in onions, and improve precision irrigation for fruit growers. Before 2019, the Secretary of Agriculture was able to waive SCRI’s matching funds requirement when it was prohibitively expensive for research institutions, but the 2018 Farm Bill eliminated this authority.

    Congresswoman Schrier’s bill permanently fixes this issue by once again allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the matching requirement. Representative Schrier has long been focused on this issue, having previously introduced similar legislation in past Congresses, and currently leads a bipartisan funding letter to fix this problem on a temporary basis in annual appropriations legislation. 

    “In Northwest Washington, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative empowers farmers to foster innovation and feed the world,” said Congressman Larsen. “Research into berries, spinach, cabbage seed and other specialty crops is a critical part of our region’s economy and character.”

    “Specialty crops are the backbone of the agriculture industry in Central Washington, and our local research institutions play a key role in innovating industry practices,” said Congressman Newhouse. “Ensuring the Specialty Crop Research Initiative is equal access by waiving the matching funds requirement allows our research institutions to equally compete for funding and support a stronger, smarter specialty crop industry. I thank my colleagues for joining this effort as we work to ensure research institutions are equipped to meet the challenges facing the industry.”  

    “Farmers in Michigan’s Second District grow some of the most diverse specialty crops in the nation. Unfortunately, provisions left out of the last Farm Bill put specialty crop farmers at a disadvantage, limiting the availability of critical research to improve irrigation, and protect their harvests,” said Congressman Moolenaar. “Investing in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative is a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to ensure our farmers can continue to grow the apples, cherries, asparagus, and blueberries families enjoy every day.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: REP. French Hill Introduces Bipartisan Digital Asset Market Structure Legislation

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, which would establish a regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States.

    House Committee on Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI), House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Chairman Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) are all original co-sponsors.

    Chairman Hill said, “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan CLARITY Act with my colleagues. Our bill brings long-overdue clarity to the digital asset ecosystem, prioritizes consumer protection and American innovation, and builds off our work in the 118th Congress. I look forward to delivering our bill to President Trump’s desk and securing America’s position as the global leader in digital assets.”

    Chairman Thompson added, “I’m proud to join Chairman Hill, and bipartisan leaders from both our committees in introducing Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. Today’s introduction of CLARITY is an exciting step towards delivering the certainty and clarity digital asset entrepreneurs and markets need. This landmark legislation will protect consumers, unleash entrepreneurship, and ensure the United States sets the global standard for the future of innovation.”

    House Majority Whip Emmer stated, “This is an important moment for the United States. This bill is a bold step to ensuring that the next iteration of the internet is developed by Americans and driven by our values. I am grateful to my colleagues for all of their work to craft this thoughtful, globally competitive framework, and look forward to working with them to ensure this commonsense legislation is signed into law.”

    Subcommittee Chairman Steil said, “The golden age of digital assets is here. America won’t just participate in the Web3 revolution; we will win it. The CLARITY Act ensures that financial innovation and development of digital assets occurs here in the United States. Our bill secures American dominance, democratizes digital assets, unleashes innovation, and protects consumers from fraud. Thank you, Chairman Hill and Chairman Thompson, for leading this effort.” 

    Subcommittee Chairman Johnson added, “America should be the global leader in the digital assets marketplace – but we can’t do that without establishing a clear regulatory framework. This legislation gives our markets the clarity they need to thrive, protect consumers, and foster innovation. I’m grateful for the partnership of Chairmen Thompson, Hill, Steil, and Majority Whip Emmer thus far and I’m looking forward to working together to get this landmark legislation across the finish line.”

    Rep. Davidson said, “The CLARITY Act creates a clear and effective regulatory framework for digital assets. It protects the right to self-custody and the freedom to transact. These principles are essential for innovation, economic growth, and individual liberty. Since 2018, I’ve worked to bring legal clarity to digital assets. The CLARITY Act delivers on that goal. I applaud Chairman Hill for his leadership in solidifying the United States’ position as a global leader in digital assets.”

    Ranking Member Craig said, “Digital assets, including crypto currencies, are moving from a unique, novel financial product to becoming more and more integrated with our current financial architecture. I believe it is critical that Congress establish clear protections for consumers and retail investors as well as rules of the road for businesses dealing in digital assets. The bipartisan CLARITY Act will ensure oversight and regulation of digital assets in our financial system so that business owners, innovators and consumers can engage with in these markets knowing what is expected of them.”

    Rep. Torres said, “For too long, regulatory uncertainty has held back the full potential of digital innovation in the United States. The CLARITY Act will deliver clear rules of the road that entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers deserve. By protecting consumers, promoting transparency, and closing regulatory gaps, this legislation will ensure that America remains the global leader in digital asset innovation.”

    Rep. Davis said, “Families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across our country, including rural areas in eastern North Carolina, seek ways to engage in the modern economy. Digital assets present a chance for a more inclusive financial future, but we need clear rules and fair oversight for innovation to thrive. Congress must ensure that America shapes digital finance, creates opportunities, protects consumers, and supports overlooked communities.”

    Click here for the text of Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act.

    Click here for a section-by-section.

    Click here for a one-pager.

    Further Background on the Committee’s work on digital asset market structure legislation:

    • On May 22, 2024, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act passed the House of Representatives 279-136 with 71 Democrats supporting the bill in the 118th Congress.
    • On April 4, 2025, Chairman Hill and Chairman Thompson published an op-ed in CoinDesk outlining their vision for digital asset market structure legislation for the 119th Congress.
    • On April 9, 2025, the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence held its first digital asset market structure hearing of this Congress.
    • On May 5, 2025, Chairman Hill, Chairman Thompson, Subcommittee Chairman Steil, and Subcommittee Chairman Johnson released a digital asset market structure discussion draft to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States.
    • On May 6, 2025, the House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees held a public joint roundtable discussion on key concepts and principles for digital asset market structure legislation. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Minority Leader Harold Jones II Appointed Chairman of Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (May 29, 2025) — Last week, Lt. Governor Burt Jones appointed Minority Leader, Sen. Harold Jones II (D–Augusta), as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services.

    “I want to thank Lt. Governor Burt Jones for appointing me Chair of the Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services,” said Sen. Jones. “This issue is critically important to families across Georgia. Every day, people across our state bring a loved one home from the hospital and instantly find themselves in the role of a health care provider, often without the training or support they need. Our goal with this committee is to determine how the State can better assist families as they care for their loved ones at home. I look forward to hearing directly from people across Georgia as we work to address this pressing issue.”

    The Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services is tasked with determining policy goals and identifying legislative action to improve family caregiving. Additional Senate members appointed to the committee include Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R–Rome), Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry), Sen. Ben Watson (R–Savannah) and Sen. Kenya Wicks (D–Fayette).

    More information about Senate Study Committees can be found here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Harold V. Jones II serves as the Democratic Leader. He represents the 22nd Senate District, which includes portions of Richmond County. He may be reached at 404.656.0036 or via email at harold.jones@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Stage of New Midtown Bus Terminal Construction Marked

    Source: US State of New York

    The deck-overs represent the first step in the replacement of the existing 75-year-old, functionally obsolete bus terminal with a world-class facility. When complete, the project will include a new main terminal, a separate storage and staging building and new ramps leading directly into and out of the Lincoln Tunnel. The project plan — including the permanent closure of a portion of 41st Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, a central main entrance, more street-facing retail, a soaring multi-story indoor atrium and new public open space — will enhance the commuter experience at the world’s busiest bus terminal and become a centerpiece for the community. The project is expected to create approximately 6,000 good-paying union construction jobs.

    Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Kevin O’Toole said, “It is incredibly satisfying to break ground on the first stage of construction of a new Midtown Bus Terminal that will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of daily commuters between New Jersey and New York, and greatly improve the community hosting it. I’d like to thank Governor Murphy and Governor Hochul for their full support of a project that will bring economic growth and vitality to our bistate region for decades to come.”

    Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “Today’s groundbreaking for the first stage of a new Midtown Bus Terminal is a momentous accomplishment that moved forward after years of delay by focusing on two key propositions — improving the lives of tens of thousands of daily commuters and providing real benefits to a community burdened by an architectural eyesore and a deluge of bus traffic. By focusing on benefits both to commuters and the surrounding community, we are now moving forward with a project that enjoys unprecedented support at every level of government on both sides of the river. And at last, we are on our way to creating a gateway that our region deserves.”

    Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford said, “Today marks the start of a long-awaited transformation: replacing one of our region’s most notorious eyesores with a modern, best-in-class bus terminal. When complete, this new facility will not only improve commutes — it will also serve as a valuable neighborhood asset. This project is the result of over a decade of work, including hundreds of meetings with community leaders, transit advocates, and elected officials, as well as a rigorous environmental review led by the Federal Transit Administration. Thanks to that deep engagement, the project has earned broad support — from the local community to every level of government.”

    NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri said, “The new Midtown Bus Terminal represents a transformative investment in the future of regional mobility. For NJ TRANSIT, as the largest tenant, this project is more than just infrastructure — it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the commuting experience for the tens of thousands of New Jersey residents who depend on it every day. The new terminal will stand as a gateway to opportunity, and a powerful symbol of our shared commitment to a stronger, more connected region.”

    Reliable and efficient bus service between New York and New Jersey is critical to the interconnected economies of both states, as hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents work in New York City. The new terminal is designed to meet projected 2040-50 commuter growth, provide a best-in-class customer experience that serves the region’s 21st century public transportation needs, and enhance the surrounding community. The project does not include the taking of any private property as it will be built on existing Port Authority of New York and New Jersey property stretching as far west as 11th Avenue.

    The new bus terminal will be built for the future and designed to be net-zero emissions, accommodating all-electric bus fleets and implementing modern high technology innovations. The new ramp structure will provide a direct connection to the Lincoln Tunnel, with added queue space and bypass capability, thereby reducing congestion, bus circulation, idling and parking on local city streets. Community-friendly outward-facing local retail will benefit commuters and the community alike.

    The final plan for the Midtown Bus Terminal replacement project incorporates extensive public feedback from a broad community outreach effort, including input from New York City, New Jersey, commuters, local community boards and elected officials in both states. The total cost of the replacement project has been estimated at approximately $10 billion, with actual procurement for phase one of the project actively in progress. Construction of the Dyer Avenue deck-overs is now underway. The project has received unprecedented support from the community, the city, state and federal agencies.

    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s construction plan for the new bus terminal calls for it to be built in phases, with the deck-overs being built first followed by the storage and staging facility. The Dyer Avenue deck-overs project encompasses the construction of two decks over below-grade portions of Dyer Avenue and the Lincoln Tunnel Expressway between West 37th and West 38th streets and between West 38th and West 39th streets. The storage and staging facility can serve as a temporary terminal while the existing terminal is demolished and replaced.

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “The Midtown Bus Terminal is a relic of a bygone era and overdue for a much-needed upgrade. This first step makes it possible to rebuild the bus terminal with minimal interruptions for hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. This project will also represent a long-term investment in the city by creating 6,000 new jobs and 3.5 acres of much-needed open space in Midtown. I am grateful to the Port Authority for reaffirming its commitment to a world-class 21st century travel experience in New York.”

    Representative Jerry Nadler said, “Finally, after many years of discussion and hard-fought community negotiation, we are finally breaking ground on the first phase of a brand-new Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown, the Dyer Avenue deck-overs. The replacement bus terminal is long overdue and thankfully moving forward. A new bus terminal will improve air quality and make our streets safer for pedestrians by removing all commuter and inter-city buses from our streets. And it will replace the outdated and deteriorating bus terminal with a modern, efficient transportation hub that meets the needs of both commuters and residents while contributing to the continued growth and success of New York City. These new deck-overs will eventually lead to a new 3.5-acre publicly accessible open space on the West Side, something that is desperately needed in Hell’s Kitchen. I have been proud to support this project and helped it secure up to $1.9 billion in federal funding from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Loan Program championed by the Biden Administration’s Build America Program.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Hundreds of thousands of travelers from New York and New Jersey rely on this route and the Midtown Bus Terminal. This project will mean good-paying construction jobs, more efficient travel, and eventually new green spaces for the community to enjoy. I want to thank Governor Hochul and Governor Murphy for their dedication to making this project a reality and creating a more seamless transportation experience between our two states.”

    State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Construction on our new, state-of-the-art Midtown Bus Terminal is officially underway. The deck-overs, breaking ground today, will allow work on this project to begin without disrupting service at the busiest bus terminal in the world. It’s particularly exciting that when construction of the terminal is complete, not only will we have a bus terminal that will reduce congestion and accommodate more riders, we will also have new park land, as the deck-overs will be transformed into 3.5 acres of publicly accessible green space. I look forward to the day that the construction is completed and the Midtown Bus Terminal goes from ‘worst’ to ‘first’ in the eyes of the millions of New Yorkers who utilize or live near the terminal, including my constituents on the west side of Manhattan.”

    Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “The start of construction over Dyer Avenue marks the beginning of the total transformation of our outdated bus terminal into a world class transit hub. This massive investment by the Port Authority will not only get buses off our crowded streets, these deck overs will eventually be new green space for the west side. When complete, this neighborhood will be unrecognizable from its current state, becoming a place New Yorkers will want to spend in, all while drastically changing how millions move through our city and region.”

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Today marks a major milestone in building the future of public transit for our region. Breaking ground on the Dyer Avenue deck-overs is more than the start of construction — it’s the beginning of a transformative investment in sustainable infrastructure, improved air quality, and expanded public space. The new Midtown Bus Terminal will not only modernize a vital commuter hub, but will also reconnect our neighborhoods, support thousands of good-paying jobs, and create a greener, more accessible West Side for generations to come.”

    Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said, “Breaking ground on the Dyer Avenue deck-overs is an important first step in the replacement of the Midtown Terminal, which will be a transformational project for the west side. It is time for the busiest bus terminal in the world to become a world-class facility for commuters, visitors, and residents. I am excited for this project to become a reality and will continue to work with the Port Authority and the community to ensure the best outcomes during and after construction.”

    New York City Councilmember Erik Bottcher said, “Today’s groundbreaking marks a truly transformative moment for New York City — and especially for the West Side. After years of collaboration, planning, and deep community engagement, we are finally beginning the next chapter for the Midtown Bus Terminal. This project isn’t just about replacing a building — it’s about restoring a neighborhood. By removing buses from our streets and creating a network of vibrant green spaces, we are reconnecting Hell’s Kitchen, healing the urban fabric, and delivering the modern transit infrastructure New Yorkers deserve. This is a victory for the community, for sustainability, and for the future of our city. I’d like to thank the Port Authority, Manhattan Community Board 4 and my colleagues in government for all the work they have done to bring us to this point.”

    New York City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure “Reliable, accessible public transportation is essential to our region’s economic health and quality of life. The Midtown Bus Terminal is a critical link for commuters across the city and beyond, and this groundbreaking marks an important step toward delivering a modern, efficient facility that meets 21st-century needs. I look forward to continued engagement with the Port Authority to ensure that this project centers equity, sustainability, and community benefit at every phase.”

    New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball said, “With today’s groundbreaking on the Dyer Avenue deck-overs, the Midtown Bus Terminal vision moves one step closer to becoming reality and Midtown Manhattan gets a huge upgrade. The new terminal is more than just one of the busiest transit hubs in the country, it will bring new open space, reduce congestion, employing thousands of union workers during its construction, and bring massive quality of life upgrades to Midtown Manhattan.”

    New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, “It is welcome news to the city, to bus riders, and to the local communities on Manhattan’s west side that construction of the Dyer Avenue deck-overs is now underway. By reducing bus congestion and idling, easing the commuter experience, and creating new public space the midtown bus terminal replacement project will greatly enhance this area that New York City has outgrown. NYC DOT congratulates the Port Authority on breaking ground and we look forward to continuing to support them in this impactful initiative.”

    New York City Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick said, “It’s hard to overstate how vital the Midtown Bus Terminal is to New York City, the tri-state region, and the country. It’s one of the great front doors to our city. With today’s groundbreaking on the Dyer Avenue deck-overs, we’re taking the first step toward a modern, world-class transit hub that New Yorkers deserve. I look forward to seeing this transformation take shape and serve residents, commuters, and visitors for generations to come.”

    Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera said, “Today marks a crucial milestone for the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement Program, a key critical infrastructure project that will not only establish a modern and state-of-the-art transit hub for New Yorkers and visitors alike, but also generate thousands of family-sustaining union construction careers. We applaud Governor Hochul and Governor Murphy, along with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for pushing forward this major development that will serve as an economic boon for our city and surrounding communities. Our members look forward to playing a role in building this project and pursuing the paths to the middle class that it creates.”

    New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “The new Midtown Bus Terminal will be a game changer for commuters and neighborhood residents alike and a huge win for the environment. While serving hundreds of thousands of daily passengers, the new zero-emission, electric-bus friendly commuter hub will cut air pollution, ease the burden on neighborhood streets, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs in the process. Just as important, the addition of 3.5 acres of new public green space will deliver lasting environmental and public health benefits to the surrounding community. We commend Governors Hochul and Murphy and the Port Authority for prioritizing climate-smart design and investing in a healthier, more sustainable future.”

    New York Building Congress President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura said, “This groundbreaking is a landmark moment not just for the transformation of Manhattan’s West Side but the entire region. The Port Authority is advancing a bold vision for transit and public space that delivers real benefits and will create over 6,000 good-paying union jobs and 3.5 acres of public open space, all while providing long overdue infrastructure upgrades. The new Midtown Bus Terminal project is exactly the kind of investment New York needs, and we proudly stand alongside those who made it happen today – with special thanks to Rick Cotton for his leadership – as we break ground on this exciting and essential project.”

    Real Estate Board of New York President James Whelan said, “REBNY and its members are pleased to see the launch of this project. More than just supporting the growth of New York City’s diverse regional transit infrastructure, the project will energize our economy with thousands of new jobs and retail in Midtown.”

    Regional Plan Association President and CEO Tom Wright said, “Today’s groundbreaking is the result of years of thoughtful partnership to deliver a shared vision for a reimagined Midtown Bus Terminal that strengthens the local community and expands regional connectivity. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is one of the most high-traffic transportation hubs in the nation and is critical to the tri-state region’s continued economic vitality. This moment marks an important step towards the creation of a modern, expanded, best-in-class terminal that will not only serve the needs of commuters but create an amenity and attraction for the community.”

    Association for a Better New York CEO Emma Pfohman said, “As the gateway for millions of commuters and travelers each year, the revitalized Midtown Bus Terminal will not only improve the daily lives of New Yorkers but also fuel our city’s continued growth and resilience. The Association for a Better New York applauds Governor Hochul, Governor Murphy, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for leading this important investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure and in our city’s future.”

    Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris said, “The Midtown Bus Terminal is an extremely vital aspect of the commuter life of the hundreds of thousands of people who commute to Times Square every day. We applaud both governors for taking this first step toward the new world class terminal to come that will provide another reason why Times Square is one of the strongest transportation hubs in the city and beyond.”

    Bryant Park Corporation President Dan Biederman said, “We’ve seen an early version of the Port Authority’s plans for the bus terminal. They’re excellent, just what we’d expect from the agency that has had recent success with terminals at Newark and LaGuardia airports. We strongly endorse their interim steps to at long last make the PABT, which serves as a gateway for Bryant Park visitors, an attractive facility.”

    Manhattan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jessica Walker said, “This is an exciting day for all New Yorkers as well as employees and visitors coming here from the broader region. This forward-looking project is critical to New York’s preparation for future growth and demand. It is innovative and aspirational in nature, understanding that our city’s best days are ahead. Congratulations to the Port Authority and Governors Hochul and Murphy for bringing us to this point.”

    Manhattan Community Board 4 Chair Jessica Chait said, “Community Board 4 is proud to mark this milestone toward a cleaner, less congested, and more connected region. The Dyer Avenue deck-overs lay the literal groundwork for a modern, sustainable transit hub that reflects a welcoming and efficient gateway to New York City. We thank the Port Authority and our elected partners for centering community input in a project that will improve air quality, reduce street-level congestion, and bring vital open space to our neighborhood.”

    Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance President Robert J. Benfatto said, “The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance is looking forward to the completion of the construction of the Midtown Bus Terminal project, including the Dyer deck-overs, so that the neighborhood can begin using a new, first-in-class bus transit facility. We will continue to advocate for our community throughout this long process, as our mission states that we are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the diverse population who lives, works and visits within the district.

    About the Midtown Bus Terminal

    What is now the world’s busiest bus terminal opened in 1950, after the mayor of New York City requested the Port Authority to consolidate eight separate, smaller bus terminals throughout Midtown Manhattan in order to relieve street congestion. As the regional population grew and spread geographically, the Port Authority expanded the terminal’s capacity in 1963 by converting parking space to a fourth level of bus operations and adding three new levels of public parking for 1,000 cars. By 1966, the terminal served nearly 69 million passengers, once again requiring increased bus capacity. In 1970, the Port Authority created a 2-mile exclusive bus lane (XBL) on the New Jersey Route 495 approach to the Lincoln Tunnel, giving buses faster access directly to the bus terminal and saving commuters up to 20 minutes in travel time.

    In 1981, the Port Authority expanded the bus terminal’s capacity by 50 percent with a new North Wing extension to 42nd Street and the diagonal girder façade now familiar to bus riders. The current facility spans 1.9 million square feet as the nation’s largest bus terminal and the world’s busiest. Individual carriers, the largest of which is NJ Transit, serve routes for daily commuters throughout New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and the lower Hudson Valley, as well as provide intercity services to and from locations such as upstate New York, New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Canada. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bus terminal accommodated an estimated 260,000 passenger trips on an average weekday. As of 2024, the terminal served approximately 205,000 average weekday daily passengers.

    For more information on the replacement project, visit the Port Authority’s website on the Midtown Bus Terminal replacement.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Cathedral Park will partially reopen to hikers

    Cathedral Park will partially reopen for hiking and backcountry camping in selected areas on Friday, June 20, 2025, providing access to lakes located in the core area.

    Reservations have been added to the popular Quiniscoe Lake backcountry campground in the core area of the park, and will be required during the peak camping season from June 27 to Sept. 20, 2025. People can reserve one of the 30 tent pads at the lake starting at 7 a.m. (Pacific time) on Tuesday, June 3, online: https://bcparks.ca/reservations/

    Outside of peak season, people will need to register and pay online for camping at Quiniscoe Lake.

    Quiniscoe Lake is accessible only by hiking the 14-kilometre Lakeview Trail or the 20-km Centennial (Wall Creek) Trail. Other areas of the park that will open on June 20 include the vehicle-accessible Buckhorn and Lakeview campgrounds, along with five other trails: Scout Lake, Diamond, Glacier Lake, Ladyslipper and the Rim Trails. Reservations are not required for Buckhorn or Lakeview campgrounds.

    Located southwest of Keremeos, Cathedral Park is an approximately 33,3000-hectare (82,200 acres) wilderness area between the Cascade Mountains and the Okanagan Valley. The park has been closed since August 2023 due to the Crater Creek wildfire that caused significant damage to several trails and destroyed two other backcountry campgrounds in the core area of the park: Lake of the Woods and Pyramid campgrounds.

    The bridge that provided vehicle access to the core area of the park was destroyed by the fire and is scheduled to be replaced this summer. To ensure public safety, some trails in the park that were adversely affected by the fire will remain closed as restoration work continues.   

    Learn More:

    For more information about Cathedral Park and to view what areas are open for hiking and camping, visit:
    https://bcparks.ca/cathedral-park/

    For more information about backcountry reservations and permits, visit:
    https://bcparks.ca/reservations/backcountry-camping/permit-registration/

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1098, a bill to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 1098 would reauthorize the appropriation of $350,000 annually from 2025 through 2031 period for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to administer the Junior Duck Stamp program. The program supports conservation education and hosts an annual national art competition for high school students. The winning design is featured on the junior duck stamp sold by the Department of the Interior. Under current law, the authorized funding for the program expired in 2010 and no money has been provided for the program in recent years.

    Assuming appropriation of the specified amount each year, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1098 would cost $2 million over the 2025-2030 period.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 433, National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 433 would require the Department of Commerce to establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council to propose solutions to problems affecting U.S. manufacturing, provide advice about federal programs that affect manufacturing, and produce an annual strategic manufacturing plan. The bill also would transfer the functions of the U.S. Manufacturing Council at the department to the new advisory council. The new council would include members with manufacturing experience in private industry. The council would sunset between five and six years after its first meeting.

    Based on the cost of similar advisory committees, CBO estimates that operating the council would cost less than $500,000 for staff salaries, travel costs, and other expenses; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Zunara Naeem. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 748, a bill to reaffirm the applicability of the Indian Reorganization Act to the Lytton Rancheria of California, and for other purposes

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 748 would clarify that the Department of the Interior has the authority to take land into trust for the Lytton Rancheria of California under the Indian Reorganization Act. The bill also would deem lands that are taken into trust under that act to be part of the tribe’s reservation and administered accordingly.

    Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that the administrative costs to implement S. 748 would be insignificant; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Margot Berman. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers, 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisers consists of widely recognized experts in health policy and the health care sector. Members of the panel have a variety of backgrounds, areas of expertise, and experience. CBO hosts an annual meeting of the panel so that its members can discuss important issues in their areas of expertise and advise the agency on its analysis. In addition, CBO engages with members of the panel throughout the year. The agency may, for example, call on them for advice about how to address analytical questions that arise in the preparation of studies and cost estimates. Through that engagement, CBO and its analysis benefit from the advisers’ understanding of cutting-edge research and the latest real-world developments in health care delivery and financing. Although the advisers provide considerable assistance, they bear no responsibility for CBO’s work; that responsibility rests solely with the agency.

    Today, I would like to announce the members of the Panel of Health Advisers for the coming year:

    • Katherine Baicker
    • Michael Chernew
    • Jeffrey Clemens
    • Heather Dlugolenski
    • Marisa Domino
    • Erin Fraher
    • Craig Garthwaite
    • Darrell Gaskin
    • John Haupert
    • Anne Karl
    • Lisa Lee
    • Thomas Lee
    • Patricia MacTaggart
    • David Meltzer
    • Sergio Santiviago
    • Kosali Simon
    • Neeraj Sood
    • Cori Uccello
    • Melanie Whittington

    Members of CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers are selected to represent a variety of perspectives, enabling the agency to gather information and insights from experts with diverse views and from their interactions at periodic panel meetings. The panelists’ affiliations are shown on CBO’s website. CBO requires panelists to disclose to the agency any substantial political activity in which they may be involved and any significant financial interests that they may have.

    CBO also has a Panel of Economic Advisers.

    Phillip L. Swagel is CBO’s Director.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers, 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Congressional Budget Office relies on many outside experts. For example, the agency works with its Panel of Economic Advisers to learn about important analytical issues in the advisers’ areas of expertise and to obtain feedback about the agency’s economic forecast. In addition, from time to time during the year, CBO calls on members of the panel for advice about how to address analytical questions that arise when preparing studies and cost estimates. Although such experts provide considerable assistance, CBO is solely responsible for the accuracy of its work.

    Members of the panel generally serve two-year terms and can be reappointed. Today, I would like to announce the current members of the Panel of Economic Advisers:

    • Alan Auerbach
    • Markus Brunnermeier
    • Seth Carpenter
    • Kathryn Dominguez
    • Karen Dynan
    • Robert Hall
    • Glenn Hubbard
    • Donald Kohn
    • Gregory Mankiw
    • Giuseppe Moscarini
    • Emi Nakamura
    • Jonathan Parker
    • James Poterba
    • Valerie Ramey
    • Joshua Rauh
    • Brian Sack
    • Ayșegül Șahin
    • James Stock
    • Kevin Warsh
    • Mark Zandi

    Members of CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers are selected to represent a variety of perspectives, enabling the agency to gather information and insights from experts with diverse views and from their interactions at periodic panel meetings. The panelists’ affiliations are shown on CBO’s website. CBO requires panelists to disclose to the agency any substantial political activity in which they may be involved and any significant financial interests that they may have.

    CBO also has a Panel of Health Advisers.

    Phillip L. Swagel is CBO’s Director.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wildfire Management Balances Wildfire Prevention and Ponderosa Pine Regrowth

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Ponderosa pines are the most widely distributed pine species in North America. To lower wildfire risk in ponderosa pine forests, land managers in the region often thin small trees, clear out debris, and use controlled burns to reduce the forest’s understory. While these methods are effective for reducing wildfire risk, their impact on natural tree regrowth is less clear.  

    A team of scientists, funded in part by the Southwest CASC, examined 77 forest sites in the Southwestern U.S., each with different histories of forest management – from thinning and prescribed burns to no interventions at all. Working closely with local forest managers, the scientists combined field observations, meteorological estimates, and water balance modeling to evaluate how these management strategies and climate conditions shaped ponderosa pine regeneration in these forests over the past 20 years.  

    Their study found that, despite increasingly unfavorable climatic conditions, managed forests generally had stronger natural regeneration of ponderosa pine, usually occurring 5-10 years after treatment due to a reduction in competition between plant species, a changing forest structure and overall improved environmental conditions. However, not all outcomes were ideal. In 21% of the managed sites, trees regenerated too well, meaning they regenerated to excessively high densities that could increase future fire risk and may require follow-up treatments. Regeneration success was also influenced by temperature and soil moisture, the density of competing tree species, the amount of understory litter and debris cover, and cone production by mature trees.  

    The takeaway: forest management strategies like thinning and burning can support both wildfire prevention and forest regeneration. However, continued monitoring and modifications are needed to support effective management application. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: SIPP Americas LLC Secures Exclusive Canada, United States and Mexico Distribution Rights for Resiline® Spray-in-Place Pipe Rehabilitation Solutions from Resimac Ltd

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIPP Americas LLC, an infrastructure solutions company based in Dallas, is pleased to announce that it has secured exclusive distribution rights for the Resiline® product line in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Developed by Resimac Ltd., a company based in the United Kingdom, this agreement represents a significant advancement in expanding advanced Spray-in-Place Pipe (SIPP) pressure pipe rehabilitation technologies throughout North America.

    Resiline® products were created by industry-leading specialists and have undergone extensive testing to ensure fit for purpose for the SIPP rehabilitation of aging and deteriorating potable and non-potable pressure pipelines including potable water, force mains, fire mains, and industrial pipelines. These products are designed for quick curing, durability, efficiency, minimal service disruption, and compliance with stringent international standards.

    “We are excited to partner with Resimac Ltd to bring the Resiline® product line to the North American market,” said Giacomo (Jack) Conte, CEO of SIPP Americas LLC. “Municipalities, utilities, and facilities across North America are encountering increasing difficulties in maintaining aging and deteriorating critical pressure pipelines. Resiline® offers a high-performance, cost-effective trenchless pipeline rehabilitation solution that minimizes downtime and restores pipeline integrity with minimal impact on the public, businesses, and the environment.”

    Resimac Ltd, a global leader in high-performance polymeric coating technologies, has developed Resiline® to meet the increasing need for sustainable, non-invasive pressure pipe rehabilitation solutions. Under this exclusive partnership, SIPP Americas will oversee product distribution, certification, and support for utilities, engineers, and contractors implementing the Resiline® system.

    Andrew Donald, Global Business Development Manager at Resimac Ltd, stated, “The agreement with SIPP Americas LLC represents a strategic advancement in extending the global reach of the Resiline® product line. We are assured that the expertise and market presence of SIPP Americas will effectively deliver the Resiline® solution to a region where infrastructure renewal holds significant importance.”

    SIPP Americas will begin commercial operations of Resiline® distribution and support services in Q3 of 2025, with training and certification programs available for contractors, engineers and technicians.

    For more information about SIPP Americas LLC and the Resiline® product line, please visit www.sippamericas.com.

    Media Contact:
    Dr. Mark Knight
    Chief Technical Officer
    SIPP Americas LLC
    Email: Mark.Knight@sippamericas.com
    Phone: (519) 581-8835
    Website: www.sippamericas.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Surge of ICE agreements with local police aim to increase deportations, but many police forces have found they undermine public safety

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By W. Carsten Andresen, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, St. Edward’s University

    A Kinney County sheriff’s deputy arrests an undocumented immigrant who was pulled over in March 2023 in Brackettville, Texas. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    During his first few months in office, President Donald Trump has been establishing a framework for deporting undocumented immigrants en masse. It’s something he has previously vowed will be “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.”

    Part of that operation includes what’s known as the federal 287(g) program. Established in 1996, it allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose work is normally carried out by federal officials, to train state and local authorities to function as federal immigration officers.

    Under 287(g), for example, local police officers can interview people to determine their immigration status. They can also issue immigration detainers to jail people until agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement take custody.

    “Illegal immigration has wide-ranging consequences, including a troubling surge of dangerous drugs into our state,” T.K. Waters, sheriff of Jacksonville, Florida, said in a February 2025 statement to explain his office’s participation in 287(g). “We remain committed to partnering with President Trump’s administration and our federal counterparts to secure our borders, protect Floridians, and establish a framework for the rest of the nation to follow.”

    Local police authorities across the country – from Jackson County, Texas, to Frederick County, Maryland – are participating in 287(g) for similar reasons.

    Since Trump began his second term in January, ICE has increased 287(g) agreements from 135 in 25 states in December 2024 to 628 in 40 states as of May 28, 2025.

    As a criminal justice scholar, I believe the surge of 287(g) agreements sets a dangerous precedent for local policing, where forging relationships and building the trust of immigrants is a proven and effective tactic in combating crime. In my view, the expansion of 287(g) will erode that trust and makes entire communities – not just immigrants – less safe.

    Past federal-local cooperation

    There is a long history of federal authorities collaborating with local police to enforce immigration laws.

    During the Great Depression, federal officials blamed Latinos for taking American jobs, and local agencies helped them deport up to 1.8 million people to Mexico. It’s estimated that 60% of those deported were U.S. citizens.

    In the early 1930s, local police participated in immigration raids in California and other states. As author Adam Goodman details in his book “The Deportation Machine,” state and local government agencies, including social workers, welfare agencies and police, acted as “de facto immigration agents.”

    Trump’s mass deportation plan mirrors President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1954 federal immigration initiative, which resulted in 1.3 million deportations.

    As author Natalia Molina notes in her book “How Race is Made in America,” local police often served as “immigration cops” in Eisenhower’s program because the federal government “did not have enough agents to cover such a large territory” as the U.S.

    During his two terms, President Barack Obama deported over 5 million people and used the 287(g) program to help him do that, primarily to target jailed or recently arrived undocumented people. Obama’s use of 287(g) peaked at 76 agreements during his first term but dropped to 35 during his second term.

    A Justice Department investigation launched in 2008 found the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona engaged in unconstitutional law enforcement actions against Latinos. The Justice Department found that the sheriff’s office engaged in a pattern of “unlawful seizures, including unjustified stops, detentions, and arrests, of Latinos in violation of the Fourth Amendment.”

    Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio looks on as inmates are moved in Phoenix, Ariz., in April 2009.
    Joshua Lott/Getty Images

    Power of local policing

    Forty states have adopted 287(g) agreements as of May 2025.

    This could have effects outside of the immigration laws.

    In the past 45 years, many law enforcement professionals in urban areas have highlighted the importance of forging relationships and building trust with immigrant communities. That’s because the police depend on the participation of all citizens to prevent crime and solve criminal investigations.

    But police departments across the U.S. have found that 287(g) partnerships erode that trust.

    In 1979, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates created Special Order 40 that prohibited local officers from enforcing immigration laws in response to community complaints alleging discrimination against Latinos. Gates issued the order “to encourage immigrants to cooperate with police and build community trust.”

    Other large police departments followed. In places such as Chicago and San Francisco, they shifted focus from helping federal immigration officials to prioritizing community relationships.

    William Bratton, who led six police departments, including in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, criticized 287(g) in a 2009 op-ed. He said that deputizing local officers to enforce immigration laws immediately “undermines their core public safety mission.”

    Conservative police scholar George Kelling, co-author of the broken windows theory, which presumes that visible signs of disorder can lead to crime, also expressed support for local police agencies prioritizing their community relationships.

    In a 1999 study, Kelling highlighted a San Diego police memo announcing its refusal to enforce federal immigration laws. The San Diego Police Department, he wrote, “thought through its values, mission, and functions and elaborated a policy that put public safety and harmony above aggressive attempts to ferret out undocumented aliens.”

    During Trump’s first administration, some police chiefs echoed Bratton and Kelling. They warned that employing local officers to enforce immigration measures could spark fear and damage public safety.

    Former Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole stated in 2016 that Seattle police officers were prohibited from “inquiring about a person’s immigration status.”

    And former Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn announced in 2016 that his department does not enforce immigration law.

    He added, “It is our opinion, our strongly held belief that our responsibility is to protect the residents of our city. To protect them, they must trust us, they must be willing to report crimes, they must be willing to be witnesses.”

    A Cameron County sheriff’s officer puts handcuffs on a suspected undocumented immigrant detained during a traffic stop in South Texas.
    Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images

    Consequences of 287(g)

    President Trump has frequently linked immigrants with higher crime rates, calling them murderers and rapists.

    But multiple studies have found that undocumented people commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens.

    Although the Trump administration is expanding the use of local police in immigration enforcement, research casts doubt on using mass deportation as a crime reduction strategy.

    A 2018 study on 287(g) from the libertarian Cato Institute found no evidence that ICE-led partnerships with local police decreased crime rates.

    And a 2014 study on the Secure Communities Program, which calls for local police agencies to share arrestee information with federal immigration officials, found that this program has “no discernible impact” on crime in medium and large municipalities.

    The Trump administration’s expansion of 287(g) ignores the shift that some big city police departments have made away from immigration enforcement in favor of community policing. And I believe it threatens to undermine the relationship between local police and the increasingly diverse communities they serve.

    W. Carsten Andresen was employed in the past (2000-2003) at The Police Institute, a Rutger’s University Think Tank run by George L. Kelling.

    ref. Surge of ICE agreements with local police aim to increase deportations, but many police forces have found they undermine public safety – https://theconversation.com/surge-of-ice-agreements-with-local-police-aim-to-increase-deportations-but-many-police-forces-have-found-they-undermine-public-safety-255937

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: John James Introduces Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John James (Michigan 10th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John James (MI-10) introduced the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act to the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation redefines “critical energy resource” to empower the Department of Energy with a clear mandate: to secure the supply of minerals essential to our energy sector. The bill is being co-led by Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-IA).

    From manufacturing to AI, the demand for critical minerals is skyrocketing. Yet, for too long, misguided policies have left the United States reliant on foreign adversaries for these resources, jeopardizing our energy security and economic potential.

    Rep. James issued the following statement regarding his legislation:

    “This bill is a bold step toward ensuring the United States leads in energy innovation, security, and independence. We cannot be the ‘land of the free’ if we choose to rely on critical mineral supply chains that are dependent on child and slave labor. This is about unleashing American energy—powering our factories, fueling innovation, and securing our future. The Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act is a cornerstone for reshoring manufacturing, reducing dependence on foreign dictators and despots, and building an energy-independent America. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and unleash the full potential of American energy.”

    Specifically, the bill would:

    • Amend the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act to require the Secretary of Energy to conduct an ongoing assessment of the nation’s supply of critical energy resources, the vulnerability of the critical energy resource supply chains, and the energy security considerations of critical energy resources in the development of energy technologies.
    • Direct the Secretary to strengthen critical energy resource supply chains by diversifying sourcing and increasing domestic production, refining, and processing of resources.
    • Redefine the term “critical energy resource” to mean any energy resource that is essential to the energy sector and energy systems of the United States and the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Lawler, Riley Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to PFAS

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 5/29/25… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) introduced the VET PFAS Act today, bipartisan legislation that ensures veterans and their families exposed to toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at military installations receive the health care and disability benefits they have earned through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

    The VET PFAS Act will:

    • Designate PFAS exposure as a service-connected condition for affected veterans;

    • Require the VA to provide health care and benefits for medical conditions associated with PFAS exposure;

    • Ensure military families have access to the care and support they need.

    “Our veterans have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms. We must honor that sacrifice with concrete action to support them once they’ve come home,” said Congressman Lawler, a member of the Bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force. “Too many of our brave veterans were stationed at military facilities where they were unknowingly exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals. The VET PFAS Act will deliver long-overdue care to those who have already given this nation so much.”

    “In Upstate New York’s 19th District, we have over 30,000 veterans who answered the call to serve our nation, and we owe them more than just our thanks; we owe them the care they need,” said Congressman Josh Riley. “The VET PFAS Act is about stepping up and ensuring these servicemembers and veterans finally get the healthcare and benefits they’ve earned, without further delay.”

    Studies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health risks, including cancer, liver and kidney disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and other chronic conditions. With PFAS contamination documented at more than 700 military bases across the globe, the burden falls disproportionately on veterans and their families.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Housing targets deliver more than 16,000 homes, new priority communities added

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    More people are finding homes as the Province and municipalities boost housing delivery through targets, with new communities joining the program.

    Housing targets have delivered 16,130 net new homes, built across the first 30 priority municipalities. In 2023, the Province implemented the Housing Supply Act, which enabled government to establish housing targets for communities based on areas of greatest need and highest projected growth. Achieving the targets within five years will help communities address projected population growth and local housing demands.

    “I appreciate that these communities in the next group are already making progress in building more housing for people. Setting housing targets allows us to further align with our broader goals as a province,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “As we add new communities to the housing targets program to keep up with demand, we will continue to work together with municipalities to make sure more people can find homes that fit their needs and budgets. We’re also delivering real results – more than 16,000 homes have now been built through housing targets and thousands more are on the way.”

    A fourth group of priority communities will soon be given housing targets, after targets were announced in 2024 for the second and third sets of priority communities. Many in the fourth group are already leaders in building more homes. By joining the housing targets program, they will demonstrate that all communities, big and small, have a vital role to play in addressing the housing crisis.

    The group will include Burnaby, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Township of Langley, Langford, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Squamish and Vernon. Targets for these communities will be set following consultation and will reflect 75% of each municipality’s estimated housing need.

    “Burnaby has been proactive in delivering the housing our community needs,” said Mike Hurley, mayor of Burnaby. “By streamlining our planning process and reducing barriers, we’ve increased our housing starts. In 2024, we issued permits for more than 2,300 homes, and so far this year we have issued permits for more than 4,000 more.”

    In addition, to ensure people benefit from more homes being built faster, the Province is expanding the list of communities that may receive housing targets. Twelve communities with high demand, low vacancy rates and limited housing availability are being added to the list. Three of these communities are already included in the fourth set of priority communities receiving targets.

    The new communities joining the list are Coldstream, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Lake Country, Parksville, Peachland, Penticton, Qualicum Beach, Salmon Arm, Summerland, and Vernon. Many of these communities are already taking steps to increase housing supply. Joining the program will support them in accelerating homebuilding and meeting the needs of their growing populations.

    “Over the past two years, Penticton has advanced development by refining key policies and building strong partnerships with industry and community organizations,” said Julius Bloomfield, mayor of Penticton. “These efforts are delivering results, with many new housing units already approved and built. We welcome provincial support to help accelerate solutions that meet the urgent need for housing.”

    Building on the progress of the first 10 communities announced in 2024, which reported more than 8,300 homes built in their first year of targets, six-month progress reports from the second and third sets of priority communities show more than 7,800 net-new homes have been built. Many communities, including Central Saanich, Esquimalt, New Westminster and Kelowna, are trending toward exceeding their first-year housing targets. This shows strong local commitment to building the homes people need and planning for future growth aligned with the Province’s new housing policies.

    “Affordable housing is a top priority for our council, and locally we are taking action, already surpassing 38% of our five-year housing target in the first year,” said Tom Dyas, mayor of Kelowna. “As we increase housing options, we look forward to partnering with the Province to align infrastructure delivery with community growth.”

    Other communities are on track to meet their first-year targets with projects in the works. The Province will continue to support them as they accelerate approvals and meet the new provincial requirements, and will also monitor progress and consider next steps for municipalities that do not meet housing targets.

    The housing targets program is part of the Province’s Homes for People action plan to deliver more homes in B.C., building on its historic $19-billion housing investment. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 92,000 homes delivered or underway throughout B.C.

    Quotes:

    Nathan Pachal, mayor, City of Langley –

    “Langley City is proud to deliver a variety of housing for various needs. With an official community plan that aligns with provincial housing goals, we remain focused on getting homes built while preserving walkability and livability in our city. To support timely, high-quality housing delivery, we will continue to streamline our development processes, which remain among the most efficient in Metro Vancouver.”

    Patrick Johnstone, mayor, New Westminster –

    “Meeting the Province’s one-year housing target demonstrates New Westminster city council’s and staff’s commitment to addressing local needs across the housing spectrum. Staff’s work to streamline permitting, develop new funding tools and update zoning bylaws builds on our record of strong leadership in tackling the housing crisis.”

    Quick Facts:

    • To facilitate implementation of the housing targets and other initiatives, the Province has provided local governments with a range of resources and supports, such as:
      • the historic $1-billion Growing Communities Fund to help all 188 local governments address population growth;
      • $51 million in grant-based funding to support activities or projects, such as updating existing zoning bylaws, housing needs reports and official community plans; and
      • $10 million for a second intake of the Local Government Development Approvals Program administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about municipal housing targets, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/local-governments-and-housing/housing-targets

    To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for people in British Columbia, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Members of Washington Delegation Demand Answers regarding ICE Raid in Kent

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and IRS Acting Commissioner Michael Faulkender to express deep concern over the recent immigration enforcement raid in Kent, Washington and to demand immediate answers regarding the nature of the raid and individuals detained.

    The letter is copied in full below.

    Dear Secretary Noem, Acting Director Lyons, and Acting Commissioner Faulkender,

    We write to express our deep concern over the recent immigration enforcement raid in Kent, Washington and demand immediate answers regarding the nature of the raid and individuals detained.

    On May 20, officials from four federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Division, arrested 17 people at Eagle Beverage and Accessories Products in Kent. Notably, this appears to be one of the first immigration raids involving IRS personnel.

    The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to portray its immigration enforcement efforts as focused on deporting violent criminals. Yet federal authorities have not noted any sort of violent criminal connection serving as a motivating factor behind the raid. Raids like this which arbitrarily target hardworking community members only serve to tear families apart, stoke fear, and undermine trust in local law enforcement. These actions inevitably have ripple effects throughout our country, causing people to avoid going to work or school out of fear and crippling our local economies.

    We request that you immediately provide answers to the following questions:

    1. How many individuals were arrested as part of the May 20 raid in Kent? Please provide details on their gender, age, nationality, immigration status, and reason for their arrest.
    2. Were there any collateral arrests?
    3. Had any of the arrested individuals previously received a form of prosecutorial discretion?
    4. Did any of the arrested individuals have a pending asylum claim?
    5. Are the arrested individuals now in custody at Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC)? If not, where are they currently being held?
    6. Have the arrested individuals been given the opportunity to contact attorneys and family members?
    7. Have the arrested individuals been scheduled for a court date?
    8. Did ICE collaborate with state or local law enforcement agencies?
    9. What role did IRS personnel play in the raid?
    10. What training did IRS personnel receive to participate in the raid?
    11. Did the IRS share the taxpayer data of any of the individuals arrested with DHS prior to the arrests?
    12. How is the IRS’s participation in immigration raids impacting the agency’s ability to carry out its mission of investigating criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code?

    We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to receiving your response.

    Sincerely,

    Issues: Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: As GOP Tries to Gut Medicaid and Attack Reproductive Healthcare, Pressley Reintroduces Bill Affirming Equitable Access to Reproductive Healthcare for People with Disabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Resolution Designates “Disability Reproductive Equity Day” in May, Calls for Disability and Reproductive Justice Amid Trump’s Attacks on Healthcare

    This Month, Pressley Delivered Keynote at Center for American Progress’ Reproductive Equity Summit

    Resolution Text

    WASHINGTON – Today, as Republicans advance deep cuts to Medicaid and continued attacks on reproductive healthcare, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), in partnership with disability justice and reproductive justice advocates, reintroduced a resolution demanding equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.”

    With Donald Trump and Republicans attempting to rip away healthcare for millions through cuts to Medicaid – which would be devastating for people with disabilities – the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution presents an affirmative vision for healthcare equity and demands increased access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for those with disabilities.

    The resolution enumerates the unique, discriminatory barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing critical reproductive and sexual healthcare, and calls for equitable access to healthcare and the right to reproductive and sexual health, autonomy, and freedom.

    “Bodily autonomy should be a fundamental right. The paths to true reproductive justice and disability justice are inextricably linked, and together we are pressing for the reproductive and sexual healthcare needs of people with disabilities,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “While Donald Trump and Republicans push their Big, Ugly Bill that would strip healthcare from people with disabilities and those seeking reproductive healthcare, we are fighting back and recommitting ourselves to disability justice, to healthcare equity, and to reproductive freedom. I am proud to reintroduce the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution with disability justice and reproductive justice partners to demand a more just America.”

    The Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, Disability Culture Lab, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), New Disabled South, U.S. Gender and Disability Justice Alliance, The Reproductive Justice Collective at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ), Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Women’s Law Center, and the National Health Law Program.

    “Self-determination and bodily autonomy are core values of both the reproductive rights and disability rights movements, yet for too long, the discrimination and systemic barriers disabled people face when seeking sexual and reproductive health care have been ignored. People with disabilities have continually been denied the right of deciding if, when and how to start their families,” said Rolonda Donelson, Huber Reproductive Health Equity Legal Fellow for the National Partnership for Women & Families.

    The National Partnership for Women & Families is proud to endorse the resolution to support the second-ever Disability Reproductive Equity Day, and we’re grateful to Rep. Ayanna Pressley for continuing the fight for the reproductive health care and rights of disabled people.”

    “Disability reproductive equity isn’t a niche issue; it’s a fundamental matter of human rights and public health. Disabled folks must be able to make informed choices about our bodies,” said Keidra Chaney, Program Director at Disability Culture Lab. “We need access to comprehensive reproductive health care without barriers, and to be able to parent without fear of discrimination or state interference. The current rise in eugenic laws that make even these basic rights impossible are an attack on disabled lives and reproductive rights. Disability justice and reproductive justice are one fight: we demand policies that prioritize our lives, freedom, access, and bodily autonomy.”

    “For disabled people, as for all people, access to comprehensive and quality sexual and reproductive healthcare is essential for their autonomy, their health and well-being, and their capacity for self-determination. No lawmaker or politician should be able to substitute their personal opinion for medical facts or treatments,” said the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). “AAPD thanks Rep. Pressley for her leadership and joins her in calling on Congress to recognize Disability Reproductive Equity Day and to work to ensure that all people have the right to make the decisions that are best for them and their families.”

    New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising endorse the reintroduction of the resolution designating a day in May as Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Disabled people deserve reproductive health equity just like nondisabled people. Disability justice includes reproductive justice and reproductive justice must include disabled people along with all of their reproductive and sexual health needs. Disabled people should have full bodily autonomy and access to equitable reproductive healthcare. We call upon lawmakers to not only acknowledge the historic reproductive wrongs committed against disabled people in the name of eugenics, but to ensure that disabled people have access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services.”

    The US Gender & Disability Justice Alliance strongly supports the designation of Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Disabled people are whole people, with the right and the capacity to live full, self-determined lives that include love, family, pleasure, and parenting. Our bodies and choices have long been targeted by policies rooted in ableism, eugenics, and control. We call on Congress to recognize that disability is not a limitation of worth, but a powerful part of human diversity, and to honor our right to access reproductive and sexual health care with dignity and respect.”

    The Reproductive Justice Collective at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ) recognizes the critical importance of affirming reproductive autonomy, equity, and justice for disabled individuals, particularly in the context of historic and ongoing reproductive oppressions rooted in ableism, racism, and structural inequality. Our research, policy briefs, and Reproductive Justice Toolkit emphasize the urgent need to dismantle systemic barriers to reproductive health, which disproportionately impact disabled people of color, including: coerced sterilization, restricted parental rights, inaccessible reproductive health care, inadequate sexual education, increased surveillance and criminalization. The national designation of Disability Reproductive Equity Day is an essential step towards acknowledging and addressing these inequities, and it aligns deeply with our commitment to intersectional, community-led strategies that uplift dignity, autonomy, and justice for all disabled people.”

    The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network applauds the introduction of Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Autistic children become autistic adults and deserve the same rights to bodily, sexual, and reproductive freedom as anyone else. We urge lawmakers to recognize and honor our ability to make decisions for ourselves–especially these most personal and private decisions. Autistic people and all people with disabilities deserve the dignity and respect to make our own decisions, especially regarding sexual and reproductive health.”

    “Reproductive equity cannot exist without disability justice. Disabled people—especially those who are multiply marginalized—have long been excluded from conversations about reproductive health, rights, and autonomy. We applaud Representative Pressley’s leadership in recognizing that the reproductive freedom of disabled people is essential to a just and equitable future,” said Dr. Monika Mitra, Director, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis University.

    “People living with disabilities deserve inclusive, respectful, accessible care, including sexual and reproductive health care, but right now House Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid, threatening access to life-saving care. People with disabilities — especially those who are Black, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, or have low incomes — already face significant barriers to reproductive care, which are exacerbated by abortion and gender-affirming care bans and other restrictions.  In the face of these attacks, we thank Rep. Ayanna Pressley for reintroducing the vital Disability Reproductive Equity Act. Reproductive rights and disability rights are inextricably linked. Everyone deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, lives, and futures,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

    “We proudly support the resolution recognizing Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Today, disabled people are facing urgent threats to our access to sexual and reproductive health care, from a reconciliation bill that could kick millions of disabled people off of Medicaid to this administration’s ongoing attacks on reproductive rights. That makes it even more critical than ever that we reaffirm our vision: a future where disabled people are empowered to make decisions about our reproductive rights and care and live with dignity and self-determination,” said Ma’ayan Anafi, senior counsel for health equity and justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “This resolution celebrates disabled people and uplifts their leadership in the movement towards reproductive freedom. We thank Rep. Pressley for her continued commitment to advancing equity and justice for all.”

    “For too long, the United States has denied people with disabilities equitable access to affordable and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, subjecting us to coverage gaps, discrimination, coercion, and violence. Proposed Medicaid cuts such as work requirements in the reconciliation bill, as well as ongoing attacks on the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services mandate and health care nondiscrimination protections, threaten to intensify structural barriers. The National Health Law Program is grateful to Representative Pressley for her commitment to safeguarding current rights and forging a future in which all people with disabilities have access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care.”

    A copy of the resolution text can be found here.

    Earlier this month, at the Center for American Progress’ Disability Reproductive Equity Summit, Rep. Pressley spoke of the importance of intersectional policymaking and affirming disability rights and reproductive rights as the human rights that they are.

    Rep. Pressley has been a longtime advocate the disability community and has championed policies that promote disability justice. In addition to being an original co-lead of the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution, Rep. Pressley is a co-lead of the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation that would eliminate barriers and strengthen access to reproductive health care for people with disabilities.

    Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic of Republican’s harmful budget reconciliation bill, which would make harmful cuts to Medicaid and threaten the reproductive healthcare access for millions in America, including those with disabilities.

    • On May 6, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress in kicking off their Disability Reproductive Equity Summit to develop an agenda for disability reproductive justice.
    • On August 14, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding Biden-Harris Administration for finalizing its proposed rule to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities. The DOJ’s final rule followed an April letter by Rep. Pressley and 11 of her colleagues urging it to strengthen and finalize its proposed rule, and underscoring the need for health care facilities to have functional and accessible MDE for people with disabilities.
    • On May 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley held a press conference alongside colleagues and reproductive justice and disability justice advocates to unveil the Disability Reproductive Equity Day Resolution.
    • On May 2, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) finalized rule that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. 
    • On April 4, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen and quickly finalize its proposed rule to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities.
    • On December 12, 2023, Rep. Pressley wrote to the Biden-Harris Administration seeking data on the housing needs for aging adults, people with disabilities, and Medicaid beneficiaries.
    • On September 29, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Cori Bush introduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation that would eliminate barriers and strengthen access to reproductive health care for people with disabilities.
    • On June 25, 2022, Rep. Pressley applauded the passage of H.R. 2543, which included several key amendments championed by Rep. Pressley to advance disability and economic justice.
    • On May 24, 2022, in a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the crisis of Long COVID as a disability justice issue and outlined how the status quo has relegated disabled Americans—including those with Long COVID—to a second-class standard of living.
    • On April 14, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to rescind the Crisis of Care standards that have disproportionately harmed communities of color and the disability community in Massachusetts.
    • On March 29, 2022, in a historic committee hearing on Medicare for All, Rep. Pressley highlighted Medicare For All as a disability justice issue and questioned Ady Barkan, founder of Be A Hero and leading advocate for Medicare for All, about how tying health coverage to employment perpetuates deep inequities for people with disabilities.
    • On February 25, 2021, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Katie Porter, and their colleagues introduced the Mental Health Justice Act to reduce violence against individuals with mental illness and disabilities.
    • On March 30, 2021, she led her colleagues on a letter with 107 of their colleagues to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for an historic investment of $450 billion in home- and community-based services (HCBS) in the Build Back Better infrastructure package.
    • On September 18, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Dr. Subini Ancy Annamma, and Villissa Thompson published an op-ed in Teen Vogue in which they called for an end to the policies and systemic injustice that result in the overcriminalization of Black girls with disabilities in schools.
    • On July 29, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Senators Chris Murphy and Elizabeth Warren unveiled the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act to end the over-policing of K-12 schools and stop the criminalization of students, including those with disabilities.
    • In early 2020, she worked with advocates to challenge Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s crisis standards of care and release updated guidelines with input from the disability community.
    • On October 11, 2019, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues introduced the Improving Access to Higher Education Act to help improve college access and completion for students with disabilities.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Rep. Steube Introduces Make Autorail Great Again Act to Rebrand DC Metrorail as WMAGA and Trump Train)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    May 29, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Make Autorail Great Again Act to block all federal funding to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) until it officially changes its name to the “Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access” (WMAGA) and renames the Metrorail the “Trump Train.”
    “WMATA has received billions in federal assistance over the years and continues to face operational, safety, and fiscal challenges,” said Rep. Steube. “In the spirit of DOGE, this bill demands accountability by conditioning federal funding on reforms that signal a cultural shift away from bureaucratic stagnation toward public-facing excellence and patriotism.”
    Rebranding WMATA as WMAGA and the rail system as the Trump Train represents more than a name change; it is a mandate for performance and transformation. “Like any struggling institution, WMATA needs a fresh identity that aligns with efficiency, service quality, and renewed public trust. These new names serve as a bold rallying point for much-needed reform,” Steube added.
    “With Washington, D.C. preparing to host major global events such as the FIFA World Cup and the 2027 NFL Draft, our capital’s transit system must meet the highest standards,” Steube emphasized. “The American people expect modern, reliable, and well-managed public services in their nation’s capital. This bill leverages federal funding to ensure the transit system earns the right to represent the nation on the world stage.”
    Background:The Make Autorail Great Again Act prohibits federal funds from being provided to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact (approved by Congress under Public Law 89-774) is amended to officially change WMATA’s name to the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and rebrand the Metrorail as the Trump Train. Until these changes are enacted, WMATA will be ineligible for approximately $150 million in annual federal funding it currently receives through federal formula matching programs.
    Congress has long used its power of the purse to incentivize state and local reforms. This act applies those same principles to public transit, using funding conditions to demand governance reform, modernization, and improved service delivery.Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3490, Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Within one year of enactment, H.R. 3490 would direct the Government Accountability Office to report on esophageal cancer. The report would include an evaluation of the cost of health care spending related to esophageal cancer under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and the frequency with which people who are covered under that program and who have a high risk for esophageal cancer are screened according to established guidelines.

    Based on the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Rafferty. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1009, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 86 Main Street in Haverstraw, New York, as the “Paul Piperato Post Office Building”

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    On May 21, 2025, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered reported the following two bills that would name different post offices:

    H.R. 1008, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 298 Route 292 in Holmes, New York, as the “Sheriff Adrian ‘Butch’ Anderson Post Office Building”; and

    H.R. 1009, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 86 Main Street in Haverstraw, New York, as the “Paul Piperato Post Office Building.”

    Cash flows for the Postal Service are recorded in the federal budget in the Postal Service Fund and are classified as off-budget direct spending. CBO estimates that naming each facility would have no significant cost.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Rafferty. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kugler, Opening Remarks

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Olesya, and thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. It is such a pleasure to contribute to this conference.
    Our profession has increasingly recognized, especially after the Global Financial Crisis, that research in the interdisciplinary topics between macroeconomics and finance is indispensable both for monetary policy and for promoting financial stability. As a researcher myself, and having spent many years in academia, I place great value on the social contribution of research and its potential to improve policymaking.
    I want to express my appreciation for your efforts in using macro-financial data and theoretical models to enlighten us on several critical issues. For instance, let me cite a few topics of the conference that shed light on important issues:

    The work on the transmission of monetary policy to both households and firms provides insights into how policy decisions ripple through the economy, a topic I recently addressed in a speech at the University of Minnesota. In this speech, I discussed my approach to monitoring monetary policy transmission and highlighted some of its key elements, such as the long and variable lags associated with policy effects.
    The exploration of the neutral rate of interest—that which neither slows nor stimulates economic activity—provides another angle to this important concept. This is a topic I have addressed in previous remarks, and I am especially interested in the potential factors that can affect the neutral rate.
    The work on how and why financial conditions faced by firms and households change with data releases and underlying macroeconomic conditions also enhances our grasp of the complex interplay between economic indicators and real-world financial experiences.
    The research on the functioning of the Treasury securities market and how it is affected by regulatory constraints sheds light on a crucial aspect of our financial system.

    I commend you for pushing ahead with a research agenda that furthers our understanding of topics so relevant to our monetary policymaking.
    In the spirit of stimulating your research appetite, I’d like to mention some topics that have captured my attention recently. These represent emerging challenges and opportunities in the field, and I believe they warrant further investigation.
    First, recently, I have been paying attention to the possible interaction between the financial vulnerabilities of firms and their exposure to trade. As global economic tensions rise and supply chains evolve, understanding how a company’s financial health intersects with its international trade exposure becomes increasingly crucial. This research could provide valuable insights for both policymakers and business leaders navigating an uncertain global economic landscape.
    Second, lately, I have been monitoring the financial stability implications of the potential lower desirability of U.S. financial assets in flight-to-safety events. Traditionally, U.S. assets have been seen as a safe haven during times of global economic uncertainty. One notable example of this was during the Global Financial Crisis. However, we recently saw instances in which the VIX went up, stock prices went down, long-term yields from U.S. Treasury securities went up, and the U.S. dollar depreciated against the currencies of advanced foreign economies (AFEs), with a notable role for the euro. Importantly, the historical relationships and the observed moves in the VIX and interest rates of AFEs would have been associated with a decrease in long-term yields from U.S. Treasury securities and an appreciation of the dollar. As the global economic landscape shifts, it is crucial to examine how possible changes in the role of U.S. financial assets as a safe haven might affect financial stability both domestically and internationally.
    Lastly, I have been keenly interested, for some time now, in how stresses in the commercial real estate (CRE) sector could potentially spill over to the rest of the U.S. economy. The CRE sector continues to face challenges from low vacancy rates and valuation losses, especially in urban centers for the office sector. Another challenge is that some banks, insurers, and securitization vehicles continued to have concentrated exposures to CRE. As we have seen in past crises, such as the Global Financial Crisis, vulnerabilities in specific sectors can have far-reaching consequences for the financial system. Understanding potential vulnerabilities and potential domino effects are vital for maintaining overall economic stability and crafting preemptive policies.
    These, I believe, represent some of the most pressing questions facing our field today. They offer rich opportunities for groundbreaking research that could significantly influence future policy decisions.
    In conclusion, I want to reiterate my gratitude for the vital work you are all doing. Your research not only advances our understanding, but it also provides a solid foundation for informed policymaking. As we navigate the complex interplay of macroeconomics and finance in an ever-changing global landscape, the importance of your work cannot be overstated.
    I encourage you to continue pushing the boundaries of our knowledge, to ask the difficult questions, and to pursue the answers with rigor and dedication. Your efforts today will shape the policies of tomorrow, influencing the economic well-being of millions.
    Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to the insightful discussions and presentations that will unfold during this conference.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Travel with intention: Here’s a guide to ‘soft adventure’ experiences across Canada this summer

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Moira A. McDonald, Associate Professor, Director, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Royal Roads University

    A growing number of Canadian travellers are embracing “soft adventure” travel. This trend blends a desire for active engagements in nature and educational and culturally relevant experiences with the chance to reset and relax.

    Low-risk outdoor activities such as wine tasting, canoeing, fishing, whale-watching and cycling are all examples of this growing trend. This shift reflects a “growing desire for peace of mind and rejuvenation” among Canadians in their travel experiences.

    A recent survey found 61 per cent of Canadians plan to focus on “soft travel” or “calm-cations” in 2025. While this trend spans all age groups, it’s particularly strong among Gen Z, with 81 per cent showing a preference for it.

    At the same time, many Canadians are searching for travel opportunities closer to home amid tensions between the two countries.

    In these times of global uncertainty, soft adventure tourism offers affordable options for Canadians and international visitors to explore and experience all that Canada has to offer. As tourism experts, we have some suggestions for destinations that provide travellers with a chance to pause, breathe and recharge.

    The West Coast

    Along the coast of Vancouver Island, orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, seals and porpoises draw visitors each summer. Tourism operators offer whale-watching tours all over the island, giving travellers a chance to experience its marine life firsthand. Just a day trip from Victoria, the Kinsol Trestle is a chance to walk or cycle through nature.

    For a closer look at the region’s wildlife, travellers can join sea kayaking tours in Port McNeill on Vancouver Island with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures. Here, visitors might spot grizzly bears and they can hear stories from Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations guides and interpreters.

    British Columbia is home to more than 200 distinct Indigenous communities that offer tourism experiences ranging from pristine beaches to savouring cuisine in award-winning restaurants and more.

    On the mainland, Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. offers visitors the chance to relax in mineral hot springs for a nominal fee. Other soft adventure experiences include beach-front maintained trails for walking and hiking, as well as picnicking locations. Visitors can take the short drive to Rosedale, B.C., where a brief hike brings them to the base of Bridal Veil Falls Park.

    The Prairie provinces

    Alberta’s landscapes have served as the backdrop for many films and television series, including Brokeback Mountain, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and The Revenant. For film tourism enthusiasts, the province offers no shortage of iconic film locations to explore. Some scenes of Game of Thrones’ final season were shot in Banff National Park.

    In Saskatchewan, Lake Diefenbaker is known for golfing, boating and walleye fishing. It’s the largest body of water in the southwest of the province, and it offers an opportunity to traverse a picturesque parkland while witnessing wildlife like elk, caribou, cougar and lynx.

    In Manitoba, Churchill offers sightings of both beluga whales and polar bears. Each summer, hundreds of belugas enter the Churchill River, and the town offers kayaking, boat tours and paddleboarding to see them.

    While you’re in Churchill, you can also see the northern lights up to 300 nights a year, along with numerous historic sites like the Prince of Wales Fort.

    Central Canada

    With 250,000 freshwater lakes, remote canyons, more than 1,200 canoe routes and 22 diveable historic shipwrecks, Ontario is filled with soft adventure travel opportunities. Travellers have countless ways to connect with nature and history in the province.

    In Tobermory, a harbour village on the province’s Bruce Peninsula, travellers can take guided tours to explore underwater shipwrecks, as well as visit the region’s distinctive “flowerpot” rock formations and natural grottos.

    A diver swims near the City of Cleveland shipwreck in Tobermory, Ont. The City of Cleveland was a 255 foot long wooden steamer that was built in Cleveland in 1882 and sunk in 1901 near Fitzwilliam island.
    (Shutterstock)

    Québec offers an experience that at times feels distinctly European. In Old Montréal and the Old Port, cobblestone streets and artisan vendors make it feel like you’re stepping into the past. Both locations are steeped in history and culinary excellence.

    Atlantic Canada

    In New Brunswick, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, nestled along the Bay of Fundy, offers guided tours for travellers. Visitors are encouraged to check the tidal wave schedule to see the rock formations known as sea stacks, which are caused by tidal erosion.

    Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax, is a vibrant coastal city known for its lively nightlife and flourishing culinary scene. Across the harbour in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, visitors can go bird watching or take part in a cycling adventure on the easy-to-moderate Salt Marsh Trail. A visit to Peggy’s Cove is a must.

    The province is also home to tourism initiatives that reflect the region’s diverse cultural heritage. Among these is Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia, which is designed to enrich the travel experience for Black people visiting or living in the province.

    Over on Prince Edward Island, visitors can explore Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birthplace, the author of beloved childhood classic Anne of Green Gables, in Cavendish. Nearby at the museum, visitors can reimagine Anne Shirley’s iconic adventures in a return to the magic of storytelling and place, before making their way to Greenwich Beach via the boardwalk through P.E.I.’s largest sand dunes.

    In Newfoundland and Labrador, Gros Morne National Park offers visitors views of “soaring fjords and moody mountains” alongside the chance to spot puffins in their natural habitat. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park also provides opportunities for fishing.

    If closer to historical Gander, take a ferry excursion to Fogo Island, which offers bird watching and boat trips.

    The Northern Territories

    In the Yukon, travellers can engage with Indigenous tourism, arts and culture through experiences offered by the Yukon First Nation and Tourism Industry Association.

    Visitors to the Yukon can cool their feet in the cold mountain streams while trying their hand at gold panning in historic Dawson City. Once a hub of the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, it still features several preserved frontier-style buildings.

    In the Northwest Territories, travellers can witness the aurora borealis and take guided photography tours to see wildlife up close. Further east, Nunavut offers a range of adventure tourism opportunities, including sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing.

    Together, these northern destinations offer travellers a chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty, history and living cultures of Canada’s North while embracing the slower pace and meaningful experiences at the heart of soft adventure travel.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Travel with intention: Here’s a guide to ‘soft adventure’ experiences across Canada this summer – https://theconversation.com/travel-with-intention-heres-a-guide-to-soft-adventure-experiences-across-canada-this-summer-257190

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s military parade: A ‘big big celebration’ or an authoritarian ritual?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Irene Gammel, Professor & Director, Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre and Gallery, Toronto Metropolitan University

    U.S. Army soldiers march along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. during U.S. President Donald Trump’s Inaugural Parade in January 2017. (Kalie Jones)

    Born on June 14, 1946, United States President Donald Trump turns 79 in 2025 — the same day that the U.S. Army, founded in 1775, marks its 250th anniversary. To mark the anniversary, Trump proclaimed that “we’re gonna have a big, big celebration.”

    Plans drawn up by the army call for 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven military bands and thousands of civilians. The parade will also reportedly include 34 horses, two mules and a dog.

    Dismissed by many as a costly vanity project by some, the parade invites a deeper question: what kind of political work does a birthday celebration like this actually do?

    Far from trivial or benign, Trump’s spectacle draws on a long history of authoritarian leaders who use ritualized celebrations to bind personal power to national identity. The most notorious example, Adolf Hitler, turned his birthdays into massive national events with military parades, mass rallies and highly estheticized scenes of domestic cheer.

    These displays blurred dominance and intimacy, fatherliness and force — an approach revived today in the digital era, where curated imagery and social media entangle leadership with affective spectacle.

    Fascist birthday culture

    I was born and raised in Germany. I’m acutely aware that Hitler’s birthday still casts a shadow and that such dates continue to carry political weight, with the rituals involved doing long-term political work.

    During the Third Reich, the Führer’s birthday — modeLled on the Kaiser’s — became a mass propaganda event, blending public spectacle with personal attachment.

    As German philosopher Theodor Adorno noted, fascist rituals portrayed the authoritarian leader as both a “superman” and an ordinary, flawed “average person.” This duality encouraged intimate identification and awe, much like the dynamic between a patriarchal father and child.

    Trump echoes this dynamic through a mix of paternal posturing, hypermasculine bluster and expansive nationalism. Whereas Hitler relied on the latest photograph and film technology, today’s spectacles are amplified by digital media’s participatory culture.

    German leader Adolf Hitler reviewing a military parade held in celebration of his 47th birthday on April 20, 1936.
    (German Federal Archives), CC BY

    Neo-Nazi groups across North America and Europe still mark Hitler’s birthday with cakes, cookies, memes and tweets; often disarmingly “cute” images overlaid with disturbing swastikas and jokes. In his 2017 paper, sociologist Christian Fuchs shows that the most retweeted neo-Nazi post in his study was “Wake and bake #HitlersBirthday #420,” blending cannabis culture with fascist nostalgia to deflect horror through humour.

    The blurred boundaries between the national and the personal feed meme culture, where, as communications scholar Limor Shifman writes, “small units of culture” spread through imitation, often cloaked in play.

    Amid mounting pressure on various institutions in the U.S. — universities, courts and public discourse — the military/birthday parade is an extravaganza that fuses esthetics and propaganda to cement authority, suppress dissent and consolidate power.

    Power aesthetics of military pageantry

    By combining a military display with a personal celebration, Trump’s birthday parade stages a grand spectacle of power. Key here is the presence of thousands of soldiers in military uniform, which creates a “persona and a powerful collective presence,” as fashion scholar Jennifer Craik writes.

    Uniforms signal discipline and belonging, but also intimidate and threaten. Fashion writer Colin McDowell calls the uniform a “spectacle” steeped in associations with power and eroticism, a garment long linked to theatricality and role-playing.

    Nowhere was this more explicit than under European fascism and colonialism. Uniforms were engineered to seduce, often fetishized: streamlined silhouettes, tight jackets and black leather boots. As Craik notes, such imagery was not incidental; it was the visual grammar of domination. As sociologist Klaus Theweleit observes, fascist power had to be seen, desired and even fantasized.

    Trump’s parade is a show of force. Its sheer scale — bands, vehicles, helicopters — performs strength and legitimacy, marking who belongs and who does not. But the birthday celebration also turns attention back to the man himself, reminding us that authoritarianism is not only about intimidation but also about the persona of the autocrat.

    Parades staged for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday.

    Authoritarian scripts, then and now

    Autocratic regimes work hard to fashion the leader into a man of the people: familiar, relatable and someone to be admired. Think of Hitler in his motorcade, hands outstretched toward the crowd.

    My father, just 10 years old, was part of that spectacle at one of these parades on a mandatory school trip, lined up along the street. Yet as the motorcade neared, he was shoved aside in the crush. What stayed with him wasn’t Hitler — he never saw him — but the fanatical woman who pushed him to get closer.

    The point was the crowd itself, kept at a fever pitch with ever-new spectacles like Hitler’s 50th birthday on April 20, 1939, declared a national holiday. German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels staged it as what historian Ian Kershaw called “an astonishing extravaganza of the Führer cult;” a visual and military spectacle widely broadcast.

    One gift, a model of the FW 200 Condor, later became Hitler’s official plane. Trump’s new luxury Air Force One, “a gift” from Qatar, is also part of his visual narrative. The symbolism is eerie: once again, the personal cloaks itself in national power.

    The cult of MAGA

    In the end, Trump’s militarized birthday parade solicits not just admiration but political allegiance. Like past authoritarian rituals, it manipulates affect through military pageantry to elevate the leader as both a symbol and supreme commander.

    The spectacle demands emotional submission with the goal being identification with the leader. It exchanges democratic freedom for a vision of unity under a single figure. However wrapped in humour or patriotic kitsch, Trump’s parade rehearses an authoritarian script with disturbingly familiar cues.

    What appears as celebration is, in fact, a rehearsal. It signals a dangerous shift toward personal glorification and a political culture where pageantry replaces participation and adoration displaces dissent.

    As history warns, that is when democracy begins to give way.

    Irene Gammel receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    ref. Trump’s military parade: A ‘big big celebration’ or an authoritarian ritual? – https://theconversation.com/trumps-military-parade-a-big-big-celebration-or-an-authoritarian-ritual-257536

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Before the bump: Can pre-pregnancy planning affect child development?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sabrina Faleschini, Assistant Professor, Université Laval

    Enhancing physical and psychological health months or even weeks before conception may have powerful positive effects on offspring. (Shutterstock)

    Anticipating the conception of a child can be accompanied by a lot of uncertainty about how to plan for pregnancy and parenthood. But relatively few people are aware that the things they do months or years before conceiving can influence the development of their future children.

    The preconception period is often overlooked by prospective parents, but is crucial as it sets the foundation for healthy pregnancies and, ultimately, thriving children. Optimizing the physical and mental health of both parents during this time can help create an environment that gives their offspring the best possible start in life.

    While it’s well known that exposure to adverse physical or psychological conditions during pregnancy can powerfully affect child development, emerging evidence suggests that factors occurring before conception can also have lasting effects on offspring.

    As professors of child development and perinatal psychiatry, our work is aimed at identifying which preconception factors have the potential to influence offspring outcomes, and how to intervene to reduce their effects to give all children the best chance to succeed and thrive.

    Enhancing the physical and mental health of both parents during this time can help create an optimal environment.
    (Shutterstock)

    Impact of the pregnancy planning period

    The period of pregnancy planning represents a critical opportunity for future parents to optimize the lives of their children. While some physical and mental health factors shift over time, others are relatively stable. Regardless, enhancing physical and psychological health months or even weeks before conception may have powerful positive effects on offspring.

    For example, public health authorities recommend that women of childbearing age take a folic acid supplement, as this can prevent neural tube defects and enhance the long-term verbal and social skills of offspring.

    Maintaining a healthy diet (for example, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein) and a healthy weight before pregnancy is also associated with a lower risk of behavioural problems, improved motor and communication skills and better academic achievement.

    Ultimately, optimizing one’s physical health has many benefits for parents and their children and paves the way for improving their mental health as well.

    Mental health and pregnancy planning

    Even though planning a pregnancy may be stressful for some, optimizing one’s mental health has benefits not only for parents, but also for their future children.

    For example, children whose mothers experience a worsening of depression from preconception to postpartum were less able to control their behaviour and attention. Furthermore, high levels of stress in mothers pre-conceptually are linked to more negative emotionality and impulsivity in children.

    As a result, increasing the focus of public health efforts on the mental health of parents could be crucial to enhancing child development as well.

    Partners are important too

    Even though the health of mothers and birthing parents can have an important impact on the development of future offspring, healthy partners can also help promote positive long-term outcomes in children.

    Healthy partners can also help promote positive long-term outcomes in children.
    (Shutterstock)

    For example, paternal mental health problems present prior to pregnancy increase the risk of pre-term delivery, which is linked to a higher likelihood of behavioural problems and academic difficulties in children later in life.

    Partners can also provide support and motivation to improve and/or maintain the healthy habits of mothers and birthing parents, which can help optimize offspring development.

    Giving future children the best start in life

    A number of practical steps can be taken by parents when planning a pregnancy to help enhance child development.

    Eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can improve your physical health.

    Optimizing mental health through exercise, nurturing relationships, building social networks, managing stress and seeking counselling and other help when needed can promote well-being during this important time.

    We’re still learning about the preconception period

    Research aimed at understanding the long-term effects of preconception conditions on later child development is still relatively new. Our work is attempting to expand this knowledge base by developing a cohort study that begins in the preconception phase and follows parents throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period.

    So far, more than 500 women across Canada have joined the study, and we are continuing to enrol new participants until the end of August 2025. Please note that the web page is in French, but English speakers are welcome to join the study. However, since all research materials are in French, participants must be able to understand written French to take part in the study.

    Our work will examine how parents’ mental health evolves across the perinatal period. This study is intended to help us understand the transition to parenthood and how factors present before conception can influence children’s development.

    The pregnancy planning period is a time when parents can make positive changes in their lives that can benefit their health and the development of their future children. Investing in the physical and mental health of both parents is critical for preparing them to welcome a healthy child and can benefit both their family and society.

    Sabrina Faleschini receives funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture.

    Ryan Van Lieshout does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Before the bump: Can pre-pregnancy planning affect child development? – https://theconversation.com/before-the-bump-can-pre-pregnancy-planning-affect-child-development-250335

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.29.2025 Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill to Bolster Military Readiness and Improve Aviation Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Helicopter Operational Versatility and Enhanced Readiness (HOVER) Act. The bill invests in Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) conversion, enabling the Army to leverage proven technology that reduces pilot workload, mitigates human error, and enhances survivability in complex operational environments.
    Sen. Cruz said, “Peace through strength requires ensuring that our military has access to and is leveraging the best cutting-edge technology. The HOVER Act allows the U.S. Army to modernize its fleet with such technology, boosting military readiness and American national security. I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this bill to ensure our military remains the strongest and most effective in the world.”
    Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas-6).
    Rep. Ellzey said, “As a former helicopter pilot, I understand firsthand the demands and risks associated with complex missions in challenging environments. The HOVER Act is a step forward in aviation safety and mission effectiveness. By integrating Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) technology into Black Hawks, we will not only reduce pilot workload but also enhance situational awareness and increase survivability in high-risk conditions. This legislation is about giving our pilots the tools they need to be successful. It gives them the ability to execute their missions safely and effectively and come home to their families.”
    BACKGROUND
    This bill would:

    Authorize funds for the conversion of at least three Army Black Hawk helicopters into OPVs.  

    Direct the Secretary of the Army to conduct a two-year operational experimentation program to evaluate OPVs. 

    Require the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees within 12 months on the progress, findings, and recommendations for OPVs. 

     Click here to read the full bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News