NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads the Nation With 21,100 Jobs Added in April and Lowest Unemployment Rate in Canada

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 9, 2025

    Statistics Canada’s latest labour force numbers show that the labour market in Saskatchewan remains strong with 21,100 jobs added year-over-year in April, an increase of 3.6 per cent, the highest in Canada. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the nation at 4.3 per cent, well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. 

    “Saskatchewan is an economic leader in Canada, demonstrated by the 21,000 jobs we added in April and the lowest unemployment rate in the nation,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jim Reiter said. “Our government is ensuring that our labour market remains strong, our economy continues to grow and that Saskatchewan remains the best and most affordable place to live, work and raise a family in Canada.” 

    Year-over-year, full-time employment in Saskatchewan increased by 14,800, an increase of 3.1 per cent. Part-time employment increased by 6,300, an increase of 5.9 per cent. 

    Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities also saw year-over-year growth. Compared to April 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 6,600, an increase of 3.4 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 4,600, an increase of 3.2 per cent.

    Major year-over-year gains were also reported for health care and social assistance, up 8,900, an increase of 9.8 per cent. Construction is up 4,900, an increase of 12.6 per cent, and public administration is up 6,600, an increase of 19.2 per cent. 

    Saskatchewan continues to show economic strength in other areas. Recent figures from Statistics Canada show that Saskatchewan is second among provinces for GDP growth in 2024. Real GDP rose by 3.4 per cent from 2023 to 2024, well over the national average of 1.6 per cent. The province’s real GDP value remains at an all-time high of $80.5 billion, the second highest per capita among provinces, beating 2023’s record of $77.9 billion. Year-over-year Saskatchewan also ranked second among the provinces for growth in new motor vehicle sales and third for growth in urban housing starts.

    This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    Media Relations
    Immigration and Career Training
    Regina
    Phone: 306-798-2369
    Email: media.ict@gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tŝilhqot’in Nation signs historic Coordination Agreement with Canada and British Columbia towards First Nations-led child and family services

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 9, 2025 — Williams Lake, British Columbia — Tŝilhqot’in Nation, Indigenous Services Canada and the government of British Columbia

    “Tŝilhqot’in Nidlin” – “We are Tŝilhqot’in”

    The Tŝilhqot’in Nation has always asserted its inherent right to self-government, including jurisdiction, over its children and families – a right affirmed with the signing of a historic Coordination Agreement between the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, Canada and the Province of British Columbia using the framework provided by An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

    Together, the Nitsilʔin-Qi (Council of Chiefs) for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and the Honourable Jodie Wickens, B.C. Minister of Children and Family Development signed a Coordination Agreement; a key milestone on the path of transforming the lives of the Tŝilhqot’in people and the relationship with the Crown.

    The agreement establishes responsibilities and processes for providing the coordination services to Tŝilhqot’in children and young adults. It outlines a way forward that honours past, present, and future generations of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for whom raising healthy and thriving children is a fundamental right and core to their identity, responsibilities, and law as Tŝilhqot’in people.

    This year, Canada will provide $35.2 million toward, amongst other things, the delivery of prevention, governance, dispute resolution, community navigator and post majority support services in the initial phase of Tŝilhqot’in jurisdiction. The Province of British Columbia will provide $766,222 to support Tŝilhqot’in jurisdiction.

    Through this transition there will be strong collaboration with  Denisiqi Services Society, and the province, to continue to deliver protection services under provincial law to all Tŝilhqot’in on and off reserve as the Tŝilhqot’in Nation builds capacity to exercise full jurisdiction under the Tŝilhqot’in law.

    On April 1, 2025, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation enacted their children and families law – Tŝilhqot’in ʔEsqax Sutsel Jeniyax (Tŝilhqot’in children growing up in a good way) as the foundation for exercising its inherent jurisdiction and to establish a new model of care for Tŝilhqot’in children, youth and families grounded in Tŝilhqot’in teachings and values.

    For the Tŝilhqot’in People, the Coordination Agreement is formal recognition of their right to protect and care for their children based on traditional teachings and values.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oregon Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Oregon of the June 9 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Aug. 13, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Baker, Grant, Harney and Malheur as well as the Idaho counties of Canyon, Owyhee, Payette and Washington, and in Nevada the county of Humboldt.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 9.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oklahoma Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Oklahoma of the June 9 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Oct. 1, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Oklahoma counties of Atoka, Bryan, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Jefferson, Johnston, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, Noble, Nowata, Oklahoma, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Stephens, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington as well as the Kansas counties of Cherokee, Labette and Montgomery, and in Texas the counties of Clay, Fannin, Grayson, Lamar and Montague.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 9.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to North Dakota Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in North Dakota of the June 9 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Oct. 1, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the North Dakota counties of Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burke, Divide, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, McKenzie, Mountrail, Sioux, Slope, Stark and Williams as well as the Montana counties of Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt and Sheridan, and the South Dakota counties of Corson, Harding and Perkins.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 9.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Idaho Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Idaho of the June 9 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Aug. 13, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Idaho counties of Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison and Teton as well as the Wyoming counties of Lincoln and Teton.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 9.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Four in the Western District of New York

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    BUFFALO, NY – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “These arrests should send a clear message that, together with our law enforcement partners at all levels, we will track down and prosecute those who target our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Our office will never stop doing all that we can to protect children from these harmful predators.”

    “Operation Restore Justice’ sends a powerful message: the FBI is unwavering and united in its fight to protect our children,” said Matthew Miraglia, the Special Agent-in- Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “These arrests demonstrate the unwavering dedication of the FBI and our law enforcement partners. Our work does not stop here. The FBI is committed to holding predators accountable and pursuing justice for victims.”

    Arrested in the Western District of New York and charged with possession of child pornography are:

    Brian Keith, 68, of Niagara Falls, NY. During the execution of a search warrant on March 13, 2025, at Keith’s residence, Niagara Falls Police officers seized a DVR, laptop, five hard drives and two tablets. A review of the electronic devices recovered images of child pornography. Keith is a registered Level 3 sex offender.

    Matthew Kowalski, 25, of Kenmore, NY. In October 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On April 11, 2025, during an unannounced home visit by Erie County Probation Officers, a cellular phone with an SD card was found, which Kowalski was not permitted to possess. A search of the phone and SD card recovered multiple images and videos of suspected child pornography.

    Samari Thompson, 20, of Buffalo, NY. On November 4, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence, seizing electronic devices, including a cellular telephone. A search of the cell phone recovered 48 images and 16 videos of suspected child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted infants.

    Jamie R. Anderson, 25, of Buffalo, NY. In January 2022, Anderson was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On July 3, 2024, the social media application Kik reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that 13 video and image files of apparent child pornography were uploaded to their server. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Anderson. The investigation also determined that Anderson was the subject of two other tipline reports.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    Arrests in the Western District of New York are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Probation Department, and the Niagara Falls Police Department.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

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

               LITTLE ROCK—Demarius Chamon Johnson, a felon who possessed a firearm located next to a three-year old child, will spend the next 17 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 204-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

               A federal grand jury indicted Johnson, 35, of Jacksonville, in a superseding indictment on May 3, 2023. On January 24, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

               On September 17, 2021, officers with the North Little Rock Police Department located a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of El Dorado parked at the Fairview Inn in North Little Rock. The hotel’s surveillance footage showed that an individual had parked the stolen vehicle and entered one of the rooms on the second floor. Officers went to the room, noted the door was open, and saw Johnson by the doorway. When officers entered the room, they noticed a firearm next to a three-year old child who was lying on one of the beds. Johnson was initially detained in relation to the stolen car. While being placed in handcuffs, Johnson stated, “that gun’s mine, it belongs to me.” The Colt Commander, .45 caliber pistol that was located on the bed had one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Little Rock.

               Johnson has at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, and felony drug possession and distribution. 

               Judge Miller also sentenced Johnson to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

               This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Jegley.

    # # #

    This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

     

    http://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Algona Meatpacking Plant Worker Convicted in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former Algona, Iowa, meatpacking plant worker who obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans and recruited others into the scheme was convicted by a jury on May 8, 2025, after a four-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

    Yovany Ciero, age 48, from Mason City, Iowa, formerly of Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of money laundering, one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from a specified unlawful activity, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.  The verdict was returned following about three and a half hours of jury deliberations.

    The evidence at trial showed that Ciero is a former Sergeant in the Cuban military who crossed the Mexican border nearly twenty years ago after his request for a visa to enter the United States was denied.  In 2020, Ciero was working at an Algona meatpacking plant when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  Beginning in July 2020, Ciero, and over one hundred other immigrants from Cuba, obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on the false and fraudulent pretenses that they were self-employed businesspeople who earned approximately $100,000 in gross income in 2019 when they actually worked at the meatpacking plant or elsewhere in 2019.         

    Ciero was one of six “bundlers” in the fraudulent PPP loan scheme.  Ciero’s role was to recruit individuals into the scheme, obtain their personal identifying information for the fraudulent loan applications, and then pass that information to others who submitted the fraudulent loan applications to lenders who were participating in the PPP.  The evidence established that over $4 million in fraudulent loan PPP applications were submitted, and the government lost over $2.4 million as a result.

    Once the individuals received their fraudulent PPP loan funds, typically $20,000 each, Ciero served as a “funnel” in a money laundering conspiracy.  Ciero collected fees that the organizers of the scheme charged the applicants, typically $3,000 per $20,000 fraudulent loan.

    Ciero also obtained two fraudulent PPP loans for himself and his paramour.  Ciero used most of this PPP loan money to purchase a semi-truck.  Ciero is the sixth former Iowa meatpacking plant worker convicted in the PPP scheme.

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Ciero remains free on bond pending sentencing.  Ciero faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, over $10,000,000 in fines, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Daniel A. Chatham and was investigated by the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Storm Lake Police Department.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

    The case file number is 24-CR-3013.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, Professor of Hispanic Theology and Ministry, Catholic Theological Union

    Players observe a minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis before the Spanish league soccer match between Real Madrid and RC Celta de Vigo at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2025. Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images

    The world of sport is “a constellation of many stars,” Pope Francis told La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian daily sports newspaper, during a wide-ranging interview in January 2021.

    On April 21, 2025, that world lost, if not one of its brightest stars, then certainly one of its highest-placed advocates in Francis. In his youth, Francis was only ever a street athlete, but he was an avid and lifelong sports fan, especially when it came to soccer. In fact, Francis incorporated his love of the beautiful game into his outlook as pope – for him, sport was a way to communicate with people from all backgrounds and all corners of the globe.

    With Leo XIV now installed as Francis’ successor, that sporting theme could continue in the Vatican, though the center of gravity may migrate from soccer to baseball. As befitting a U.S. pope, Leo is known to be a fan of the national pastime, in particular his native Chicago White Sox.

    Always ‘un cuervo!’

    Long before the papacy, even before his first steps toward priesthood, for Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the boy who would go on to become Pope Francis – there was his hometown sports club, Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo de Almagro.

    It was “part of my cultural identity,” Francis later said, so much so that he maintained his club membership throughout his life.

    That became news upon his death, when a photo of his club card went viral. Argentine sports fans noted that his membership card number, 88235, coincided with his age, 88, and the moment of his death in Argentina time: 2:35 AM.

    Francis’ relationship with San Lorenzo de Almagro was marked by mutual affection. The team memorialized him in various ways. They noted how he continues to accompany them by emblazoning on their jerseys his image and the words “juntos por la eternidad” or “together forever.”

    In a touching video tribute posted on social media following Francis’ death, the club affirmed his belonging, from his childhood through his papacy, as “un cuervo” – or “crow,” a nod to the nickname for the team and its fans rooted in the club’s founding by a Catholic priest. In Lunfardo, a dialect in Buenos Aires, “cuervo” is also slang for priest. For his team, “Papa Cuervo” was “never just one more fan, he was always one of us.”

    A sporting world pays tribute

    And it wasn’t just his home team that mourned Francis’ death.

    On the day of his passing, moments of silence preceded play from Citi Field, the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the temporary soccer venue of Spanish soccer giant Barcelona.

    In Italy, soccer matches were rescheduled to honor the national period of mourning, and players and coaches from AS Roma filed into St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects.

    Pope Francis holds a tennis racket presented to him by the Italian Tennis Federation in 2015.
    AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

    Across social media platforms, the sporting world responded to the loss of one they considered their own. Spanish tennis champ Rafael Nadal tweeted his condolences and observed that the day was indeed “un día triste,” or “sad day.”

    The NFL’s New Orleans Saints expressed condolences and commemorated their relationship with the pope, a connection born of a digital anomaly. Each time Francis posted #Saints on his X – formerly Twitter – account, it automatically tagged the NFL team, which did not mind the accidental blessings.

    When global attention turned to speculating about the next pope, the soccer world continued to mourn and honor their star. From April 29 to May 1, each Champions League semifinal match – youth, women’s and men’s alike – was preceded by a moment of silence.

    In the words of world soccer body UEFA’s president Aleksander Čeferin: “Pope Francis was a beacon of hope for… (a) humanity that will now remain orphaned of that voice – tireless and powerful – that always rose in defense of the poor, the humble, and the vulnerable to call for respect, acceptance, and equality and to implore a peace that always seemed distant …”

    Pope Francis is given a San Lorenzo’s shirt as he greets the faithful prior to his first ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013.
    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

    Sport as language of life

    For Francis, sport was more than a game or a pastime.

    It was a vernacular, and soccer was his dialect. He was fluent and it showed. He recognized in sport the potential to communicate in what he called a universal language that “extends across borders, language, race, religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people, together, by fostering dialogue and acceptance.”

    The online archive of his pontificate contains well over 60 sport-related audiences, messages and letters, including video greetings on occasions such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LI in 2017.

    The significance of sport as a distinctive body of his papal teaching is also indicated by the Spanish release in 2024 of “Más Allá De Los Límites: El Deporte Según El Papa Francisco,” or “Beyond the Limits: Sports According to Pope Francis.” The book came with a forward by Carlo Ancelotti, the storied manager of a litany of soccer greats, including Real Madrid.

    Sport emerged early as one of Jorge Bergoglio’s native tongues, bound intimately to memory, family, identity and belonging – threads also evident in his canon of teachings on sport. In “Hope,” his 2024 autobiography, Francis dedicates a chapter to sport and weaves stories of his beloved soccer throughout the book in a manner that reveals how “the experience of the people and their passions” became for him a source and site for his theology of encounter.

    A commitment to inclusivity is a constitutive element in his teaching on both sport and encounter. Among those who paid tribute on Francis’ passing were the organizers of the Paralympic Games, who posted: “Today humanity lost a great man … passionate about sport and passionate about inclusion, which epitomizes everything the Paralympic Movement stands for.”

    ‘Getting in the game’

    Francis urged, “‘Get in the game’ not only in sports … but also in life, in the search for the good, without fear but with courage and enthusiasm. Get in the game with others and with God … Place your talents at the service of the encounter among people, of friendship and of inclusion.”

    Pope Francis salutes the cricket team of the Vatican.
    AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

    He put this into practice with the launch and sponsorship in 2019 of Athletica Vaticana, a dedicated sports body for the city-state. He also gave his blessing and backing to St. Peter’s Cricket Club, the first-ever Vatican women’s soccer team, and Sport at the Service of Humanity, a collaborative global movement that seeks to “leverage the power of Faith and Sport as a platform for good.”

    “Get in the game” was a call intended not only for athletes – amateur, collegiate, Special Olympian, professional – but for street-ballers, schoolyard players, fans and gamers of all kinds. In sports and play, Francis found the potential for a “school of peace” because they provided opportunities “to go outside of our own walls and learn how to participate, to overcome, to struggle together,” charting ways forward for church and society “to overcome all forms of discrimination and exclusion.”

    Francis never forgot the joys or even the sorrows of sports as a player or as a fan. “Playing is a right,” he wrote in his memoir, “and there’s also the hallowed right not to be a champion.”

    Behind every ball, he saw a kid with a dream and aspirations, and he recognized himself on the soccer field – a “pata dura,” the kid with two left feet, “sleeves rolled up, and often with grazed knees.” On the sports field, like elsewhere, he recognized and took delight in the beauty of God.

    The link between the papacy and the sporting world looks set to continue under Pope Leo XIV.

    The media quickly noted that soccer aficionado Francis had been succeeded by an amateur tennis player and fan.

    The new pope’s brother had to resolve an online dispute by affirming Leo is a fan of the South Side’s Chicago White Sox and not the North Side’s Cubs.

    Regardless, the city’s two baseball franchises responded with dueling stadium signs claiming the pope as their own. Meanwhile, ESPN reported that NBA teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, former Villanova Wildcats-turned-New York Knicks chatted about a possible alumni reunion with the newest rising star in the constellation of sports: Pope Leo XIV.

    Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV – https://theconversation.com/from-pulpit-to-pitch-pope-francis-used-sport-to-get-his-message-to-a-wider-world-that-could-continue-with-baseball-loving-leo-xiv-255493

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS STATEMENT ON ACQUITTALS IN TYRE NICHOLS CASE

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    May 9, 2025

    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

    c: 202.913.0126

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

    “Mr. Tyre Nichols was a beloved father, son, and friend who should still be alive today. Our hearts are with his parents, Ms. RowVaughn Wells and Mr. Rodney Wells, who are still grieving the loss of their son. Time and again, they have been forced to relive Tyre’s brutal assault and murder but have remarkably found the strength to continue fighting for justice for their son and the many others that have been killed by police officers who are sworn to protect and serve. The Congressional Black Caucus was honored to welcome Mr. Nichols’ parents as our guests for President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address.

    “It is unfortunate that Mr. Nichols’ loved ones must today bear the news that three of the officers involved in the attack were found not guilty on all counts in the state’s case. This decision is a shock to our collective conscience as a nation and falls woefully short of true accountability. It is past time that the U.S. Congress pass legislation to address the systemic issues in law enforcement agencies across the country. It is clear to us that the institution of policing is broken. The time to rectify these gaps in responsibility, accountability, and discrimination in our criminal justice system is now. We cannot afford to wait for another loss of innocent Black life. The cycles of violence against our community must end. The time to act is upon us.

    “The CBC will continue fighting alongside Mr. Nichols’ parents and others for police reform to ensure that our legal system holds accountable police officers who violate the law and the public trust until no family or community has to face a tragedy like this again.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Signs FY 2026 Budget into Law

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Hochul signed the FY 2026 Budget into law.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will have photos of the event here.

    B-ROLL of the Governor’s visit to Johnson City Middle School stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     You’re getting a real lesson in government. You are the first students, I’m going to guess in the history of the state, to ever be there for the signing of the New York State Budget. And I wanted you here because this Budget is about you and your parents. And when I proposed my Budget back in January, I said, “Your family is my fight.” And I wanted to make sure I could fight for your moms and dads to have more money back in their pockets.

    Everything’s getting so much more expensive — your sneakers, your, your clothes, your backpacks, and it’s been hard. It’s hard for them to pay the bills, so I knew that if I could focus on families, help your parents out — the inflation rebate will help thousands of families here in this area. Every child that’s under the age of four. Anybody have little siblings under the age of four? Anybody? Okay, that’s $1,000 for your family. Anybody over age four here? Yes, you all are. That’s $500 for your parents, for each one of you and your siblings. Okay. Add it up. That’s money back for your parents, but also covers the complete cost of school breakfast and lunches, so mom and dad don’t have to pay for that. And also a tax cut for your parents. So it’s all going to add up to about $5,000.

    So when you go home today, as part of the Mother’s Day present, say, “Mom, I just heard from the Governor say, ‘We’re gonna get $5,000 back in our pockets.’” Does that sound like a nice gift? Yeah. All right. All right. You can help take credit for it because you’re here to witness this signing.

    But also this cell phone ban is so important for your health. The health of all the students that are coming behind you who should never even know you could have a cell phone in school. You are the first. You are the ones that went ahead of everybody else, and I want to thank your leadership for that as well. But every student in the state of New York, starting in September, will have the opportunity of having a distraction free school experience where they can learn and study instead of looking at memes, look at their math, and get things done in school and be more productive and it’ll benefit them overall.

    So I wanted to say I delivered on my promise. I’m going to continue keeping my promises. And you are here to witness this. So what we do is we have the bill that was passed by the Legislature late last night, says Senate, the Assembly, and now what is it looking for? The Governor’s signature. And here we have the bill, and now is when you get to applaud the signing of the bill you’re here to watch.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Laws Help Consumers Save Money and Spend It Wisely

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will protect consumers across New York and fight back against scams or exploitative practices. From simplifying the process of canceling recurring online subscriptions to cracking down on overdraft fees that target low-income consumers, these new laws will help New Yorkers fight back against unfair corporate practices.

    “This budget is all about affordability – lowering costs and helping New Yorkers with the rising cost of living,” Governor Hochul said. “But our tax cuts, credits and rebates won’t be much help if bad actors are able to scam or mislead New Yorkers. These new laws are about fairness, transparency, and accountability and will help consumers save money and spend it wisely.”

    Easier Cancellation For Online Subscriptions
    Subscription services are a part of daily life but canceling them is often needlessly complicated. The FY26 budget includes legislation requiring businesses to notify consumers of upcoming renewals and price changes as well as provide clear instructions on how to cancel subscriptions. Under this legislation, cancellation processes must be simple, transparent, and fair – ensuring that it is just as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up.

    Standardized Online Retail Returns and Refunds
    Consumers are increasingly shopping online and navigating a sea of varying return windows, restocking fees, refund formats, shipping practices and more. New Yorkers, particularly during the holiday season, know how hard it is to juggle various return policies that affect when they can send back a gift or exchange clothing that didn’t fit.

    With e-commerce sales rising and returns accounting for billions of dollars annually, New Yorkers deserve stronger consumer protections. The FY26 Budget includes legislation to require online retail sellers to post return and refund policies in a way that is easily accessible for consumers.

    Oversight Over “Buy Now, Pay Later” Loans
    “Buy Now, Pay Later” loans are increasingly popular but pose risks to consumers, including overextension, inconsistent credit reporting, data exploitation, and excessive fees. These concerns highlight the need for stronger oversight in this rapidly growing financial sector.

    The FY26 Budget includes legislation to establish a licensing and supervision framework for Buy Now Pay Later providers. This legislation will introduce safeguards, such as disclosure requirements, dispute resolution standards, limits on all charges and fees, and data privacy protections to ensure consumers are better protected when using these financial products.

    Shed Light on “Surveillance Pricing”
    As consumers spend more of their time and money online, they’re also sharing more information like browsing behavior, location, and purchase history with the companies they interact with. Today’s technology means corporations are able to collect mountains of personal data, feed it into algorithms, and generate a price that’s individual to a consumer. This practice, which the FTC has dubbed surveillance pricing, means a company could be charging you and your neighbor different prices for the same product, based on your individual willingness to pay. This practice is opaque and strips consumers of their ability to comparison shop and plan for the price of goods and services.

    The FY26 Budget includes first-in-the-nation legislation that requires businesses to disclose clearly to consumers when a price was set by an algorithm using their personal data, subject to certain exceptions.

    Stronger Protections Against Unfair Overdraft Fees
    Overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees disproportionately harm low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. In January 2025, Governor Hochul announced the Department of Financial Services proposed regulations to eliminate the most exploitative and deceptive banking fees, cap overdraft fees, strengthen customer communications, and establish stricter transaction processing requirements. These regulations will protect consumers and foster accessible and affordable banking services for all New Yorkers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Creating Jobs and Opportunity Across the Empire State

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will support small businesses and grow New York’s economy. Governor Hochul’s economic development initiatives include helping small businesses grow through access to capital, new contracting opportunities, and disaster recovery support; doubling down on semiconductors and advanced manufacturing; supporting transformative, community-driven projects, and boosting the state’s creative economy.

    “We’re making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation, creating jobs and economic opportunity in every corner of the Empire State,” Governor Hochul said. “By providing access to low-interest capital and investing in innovative industries like semiconductor manufacturing, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re positioning New York as a leader in the industries of tomorrow. These investments will ensure our businesses can thrive, attract new industries, and help communities grow across the state.”

    Helping Small Business Thrive in New York

    Support Small Businesses With Low Interest Capital
    High interest rates can incapacitate small businesses—which often pay higher borrowing rates due to their reduced collateral and higher risk profiles as compared to larger firms—preventing them from investing in expansion and creating new jobs. The successful Linked Deposit Program, which helps small businesses borrow at more affordable rates, has lowered the interest rate for nearly 6,000 businesses, resulting in $2 billion in bank lending, and leveraging over $4 billion in new capital investments by New York State businesses.

    In response to demand that far exceeds supply, Governor Hochul will launch the Low Interest Capital program (LINC), an expansion of the Linked Deposit Program, to help support hundreds of additional small businesses across the state. LINC will nearly double the funding available for linked deposits from $560 million to $1.1 billion.

    Increase Opportunities for MWBEs in State Procurement
    The FY26 Enacted Budget will eliminate barriers for minority and women-owned businesses to contract with state agencies and authorities by increasing the discretionary purchasing threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million when buying from NYS Certified MWBEs. This builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding opportunities for MWBE firms while bringing the State’s threshold into alignment with those of the MTA and New York City.

    Help Small Businesses Recover After Natural Disasters
    As extreme weather events become more common, Governor Hochul is modernizing the Empire State Jobs Retention Program to provide a lifeline for businesses impacted by a natural disaster. The overhaul will allow small businesses to receive financial incentives through the Jobs Retention Program for the first time, while streamlining burdensome eligibility criteria and focusing assistance on the immediate aftermath of natural disasters when it is most impactful.

    Doubling Down on Semiconductors and Advanced Manufacturing

    Grow the Semiconductor Industry and Build the Semiconductor Supply Chain
    New York has emerged as a leader in the semiconductor industry through the Green CHIPS program, attracting over $120 billion in private sector investment. Much of that success is owed to New York’s Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program, which encourages businesses to locate or expand in New York by providing Excelsior tax credits after meeting job creation and investment thresholds. While New York State continues to lead in bringing semiconductor manufacturing home to our state, multiple states are vying to attract the related supply-chain companies that are looking to do business with those manufacturers.

    The FY26 Enacted Budget doubles down on Excelsior with a new, enhanced benefit tier for semiconductor supply chain companies; a new program to provide tax credits for large-scale semiconductor R&D investments of $100 million or more in qualified expenditures; a new semiconductor manufacturing workforce training incentive; and an overall 5-year extension of the Excelsior program.

    Promote Opportunity With Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties
    New York State is attracting investment in new manufacturing and high-tech development faster than existing energy system planning and funding mechanisms can accommodate, and we need more power-ready sites — a key factor in where companies decide to locate. Indeed, lack of speedy connection to reliable power is often cited as a primary reason for advanced manufacturers taking their business, and jobs, towards other states or opportunities.

    Locating at a power-ready site can shave years off the timeline between site selection and a plant’s opening day. Extending transmission and electrical infrastructure to more sites around the State will help unlock equitable economic growth and supercharge our ability to connect New Yorkers with the advanced manufacturing jobs of the future.

    To help land more business and jobs in New York, Governor Hochul will launch a new $300 million program — Promote Opportunity with Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties (POWER UP) — to fund the proactive development of electric capacity to create power-ready sites and attract new businesses to the state. Governor Hochul is seeding the fund with $100 million this year, which will allow for the proactive development of dozens of sites.

    POWER UP will not only alleviate bottlenecks to connect businesses to power but will help defray electrical costs for regional consumers, who under our current regulatory structure are often left to foot the bill for grid improvements prompted by one particular project within their region. POWER UP will defray those costs by interjecting state capital dollars into projects that provide overwhelming public and economic benefits.

    Empire State Development (ESD) will provide economic development expertise to ensure the fund helps prepare sites that are strongly positioned to host manufacturing operations that will create jobs in New York State.

    The Department of Public Service will provide expertise in utility capital planning and will identify opportunities for project sites that bundle clean energy resources together.

    Double Down on Shovel-Ready Sites for Modern Manufacturing
    While New York State is a leader in business attraction, large scale manufacturing and industrial firms can only continue to locate and expand here if sufficient shovel-ready space is available.

    Governor Hochul established the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) program to build shovel-ready sites across New York and ensure the State is prepared to capitalize on high-value opportunities. Since its launch in 2022, FAST NY has committed over $175 million to 20 projects, transforming nearly 3,000 acres of previously underutilized land into future economic engines of the State.

    This year’s Enacted Budget includes $100 million to launch a new round of FAST NY that prioritizes semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain projects as well as cleantech and green economy projects. This new round of funding will include a focus on equipping sites with utility access, including renewable and clean energy.

    Strengthening Communities and Promoting Economic Growth

    Transform Regional Economic Development With High-Impact Projects
    The Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) have driven significant progress across New York, but their current funding limits make it difficult to support large-scale, game-changing projects. To address this, Governor Hochul will refocus the REDC initiative on transformative projects that serve as high-impact economic anchors such as cultural venues, waterfront revitalization efforts, and mixed-use development projects. This new approach will maximize the benefits that REDC awards deliver for local communities and regional economies, driving growth and revitalization in every corner of the state. Governor Hochul’s FY26 Enacted Budget includes $150 million to support the REDCs.

    Continue To Revitalize Our Downtowns and Rural Communities
    Governor Hochul is committed to supporting New York State’s downtowns, large and small, and recognizes that the strength of the State lies in its partnerships with local governments. By working together to create economically, socially, and environmentally healthy community centers through downtown revitalization, the State and local governments can make life better for New Yorkers and help secure the long-term well-being of the state. To further revitalize our communities, the Enacted Budget provides $100 million for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which has been transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work, and raise families. Participating communities are nominated by the State’s 10 REDCs based on the downtown’s potential for transformation. Each winning community is awarded funding to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.

    To support New York’s rural communities, the State will continue its investment in the NY Forward program, designed to advance the renaissance of our smaller downtowns. New York’s hamlets and villages serve as commercial and social centers, and support our agricultural, recreational, and tourism economies. Recognizing the distinct needs of smaller communities and their niche historical and cultural assets, the Enacted Budget includes another round of $100 million in funding for rural and smaller communities. Like the DRI program, NY Forward communities are selected in partnership with the REDCs, and the Department of State (DOS) will lead the community through an abbreviated planning process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects. The State’s investment in projects that demonstrate their ability to accelerate revitalization will strengthen the competitiveness and improve the future trajectory of New York State’s small communities and larger urban centers.

    Renew Our Commitment to Our State’s Capital City
    This year’s Executive Budget launches the Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) Initiative, an inclusive, State-led effort to invest $400 million to revitalize the downtown core of Albany—in partnership with local stakeholders and backed by significant State resources to catalyze change. The CAP Initiative includes $200 million to make real investments into tangible strategies and projects to revitalize Albany, such as: targeted strategies that address public safety and quality of life; revitalizing vacant or dated anchor institutions; reinvigorating commercial corridors; repurposing vacant and underutilized commercial buildings for housing and other new uses; leveraging open spaces and key public assets; coordinating with ongoing planning efforts related to the redevelopment of I-787 and the Livingston Avenue rail bridge; and creating new reasons to work, visit, or live in downtown Albany. This historic investment also includes up to $150 million to renovate the New York State Museum and upgrade the exhibits to be more inviting to visitors, including families, as well as funding for the State to temporarily supplement Albany’s public safety efforts by offering enhanced State Police resources to reduce crime and increase community policing in key corridors.

    Informed by conversations with local stakeholders, the CAP Initiative will play out through a comprehensive community engagement process with the public, elected representatives, and community leaders to identify key opportunities to promote business development, bolster public safety, build out community anchors, encourage housing, and enhance affordability.

    Fueling New York’s Creative Economy

    Investments in Arts and Culture
    The FY26 Enacted Budget builds on Governor Hochul’s record investments in the New York State Council on the Arts, which provides critical support for New York’s robust nonprofit creative sector. This includes more than $80 million in general operating support grants for nonprofit arts and culture organizations and individual artists; $80 million in capital funding to support critical renovation and expansion projects; and continued funding for two new programs established in the FY25 Budget to empower artists to take stage in the State’s continued economic growth – Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM NY), which will fund the design and installation of public murals in communities across New York; and the “State of the Arts” Fellowship Program, which will place artist fellows at State agencies to advance public policy goals through creative approaches.

    Cement New York’s Status as a Global Capital for Media Production
    The FY26 Enacted Budget strengthens and modernizes a range of programs to ensure that New York remains the premier destination for both traditional and new media production. This includes:

    • Enhancing the New York State Film Tax Credit Program to attract more high-value productions that create good paying jobs and inject millions of dollars into local communities. Modifications include a two-year extension, a new $100 million incentive track for independent studios, a new Production Plus benefit for studios that make significant long-term investments in New York, and other tweaks to speed up payments and bring more post-production and musical scoring work in-state.
    • Amending the Digital Gaming Media Production Tax Credit to align with new industry trends and strengthen the growth of this growing industry.
    • Extending the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit for two years to ensure the industry returns to pre-COVID levels and continues to drive the State’s $137+ billion tourism sector.
    • Amending the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program to allow affiliate companies to apply individually and therefore support a wider range of print and broadcast outlets across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Waller, Thank You, John

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Volker, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.1
    John Taylor is deservedly well known for his work on monetary policy rules, the best known of which bear his name. But in the early 1980s, John was part of a broader discussion about rules versus discretion in the setting of monetary policy.
    The traditional argument for discretionary monetary policy was that any policy choice that a rule would recommend could be replicated by discretion, especially when policymakers are aware of the rule, but not vice versa. Discretion allowed more flexibility than a rule and thus was the dominant strategy for setting monetary policy.
    Then, in 1977, Finn Kydland and Ed Prescott published their paper “Rules Rather than Discretion: The Inconsistency of Optimal Plans,” which argued that policy promises made today may not be carried out in the future if there are advantages to reneging on those promises.2 Reneging on promises made by discretionary policymakers, they argued, is much easier than reneging on a policy rule, which is a way to commit to future actions.
    Kydland and Prescott provided a simple and appealing model at the end of their paper. The model had an incentive for the central bank to renege on its promise to keep inflation low, since doing so would expand the economy and lower unemployment. If rational agents knew of this incentive, they would not find the promise of low inflation credible and would therefore raise their expectations for future inflation. The central bank would then have to validate those expectations with higher inflation to avoid a recession. In the end, the economy ends up in a high-inflation equilibrium with no gains from higher output or lower unemployment.
    Kydland and Prescott then showed that if, on the other hand, the central bank could commit to following a rule to set policy, then it could not renege on its promises. As a result, inflation would stay low while yielding the same outcomes for output and employment. In this case, rules beat discretion. This was pathbreaking research, and it came to influence both the theory and practice of central banking. It was also part of the basis for Kydland and Prescott’s Nobel Prize in Economics in 2004.
    But commitment to most things in life is easier said than done. Even rules can be abandoned if it is optimal to do so. In the absence of commitment, can the central bank do anything to enhance the credibility of its promise to keep inflation low?
    In 1983, Robert Barro and David Gordon used the Kydland–Prescott example to study reputation building by the central bank.3 The basic idea is to establish a reputation for fulfilling promises. But what promises can be made in a discretionary world that the public would find credible? They showed that promising the low-inflation outcome wasn’t credible. However, the central bank could promise an inflation rate that was between the low-inflation equilibrium and the high-inflation equilibrium. If private individuals expected this intermediate inflation rate, then the gains from reneging would be reduced just enough to dissuade the central bank from breaking its promise. Consequently, promises to deliver this intermediate inflation rate were credible, and society was better off than it would be in the high-inflation world, showing that credibility really mattered in a world in which commitment was not feasible.
    I now introduce John Taylor and his work into the story, which coincided with the beginning of my own research career.
    In 1983, having read the Barro and Gordon paper, I started working on reputation-building strategies as part of my Ph.D. dissertation research. In the process, I was struck by the thought that the building of credibility and reputation hinges on the person setting monetary policy at the time: If that person leaves, does the central bank have to start over to rebuild its credibility? At the time, I had in mind Paul Volcker, whose personal credibility seemed so crucial in the Federal Reserve’s campaign to vanquish high inflation. Relying on the credibility of individual policymakers seemed like a weak foundation for sustaining the credibility of policy promises.
    That is when I went back and read John Taylor’s discussion of the Barro and Gordon paper in the Journal of Monetary Economics.4 John applauded the analytical contribution that Barro and Gordon—as well as Kydland and Prescott—had made, but he was skeptical about the practical applicability of their story. In his critique, John said, “In other well-recognized time inconsistency situations, society seems to have found ways to institute the optimal (cooperative) policy.”5
    As I read that sentence, I thought, “How does society build credibility into the institution instead of relying on the credibility of an individual?” That one sentence that John wrote in 1983 set me off on a 20-year journey studying central bank design.
    So where did it lead me?
    Around that time, Ken Rogoff published his paper on what he referred to as “conservative” central bankers.6 In his terminology, a conservative central banker was someone who disliked inflation more than the rest of society did. Rogoff showed that a conservative central banker would choose a lower rate of inflation than the average citizen but at the cost of greater instability of output and employment. This tradeoff improved social well-being, but there was one catch to this solution—there had to be safeguards to guarantee that the conservative central banker could not be fired for this policy decision, ensuring that these promises to control inflation were credible. In short, the central bank had to be independent and protected from the threats to its independence.
    This type of institutional design issue was one that I was interested in researching.
    Up until Rogoff’s work, the underlying assumption had been that the central bank was trying to maximize social welfare and that its preferences were aligned with those of society. Think of it as a “representative agent” economy. But as I read Rogoff’s work, it suggested that society consisted of people who had a variety of views about inflation, meaning that they would also have different views on the tradeoff between inflation and output stability. Consequently, members of society may have different views on how conservative the central banker should be. But where are these views coming from?
    So I tried to endogenize the heterogeneity in preferences. I had the idea that individuals all had the same fundamental preferences for inflation and output stability but that they varied if they worked in different sectors of the economy. In one sector, wages and employment were determined in a standard competitive fashion. In the other sector, wages were determined by wage contracts, and employment was determined by demand. Thus, when a negative shock hit the economy, the wage contract workers suffered a bigger reduction in employment because wages couldn’t adjust, whereas in the competitive sector, wages would adjust to soften the blow to employment—implying that if the wage contract sector got to choose a conservative central banker, they would want a more dovish central banker who would accept higher inflation in return for greater employment stability. The flexible wage workers wanted the opposite: They were more hawkish on inflation because they didn’t bear the same employment volatility. The punchline was that if political parties formed around workers from different sectors, then they would install central bankers with different policy preferences if they won the election.
    It was around that time that I read Alberto Alesina’s paper on “partisan business cycles.”7 In that paper, he assumed there were different political parties, each having different preferences about inflation and unemployment. One party was more concerned with price stability and less concerned about output stability than the other. Monetary policy and inflation outcomes were determined by the party that won a national election. As power changed hands after an election, monetary policy would differ from expected policy depending on who won the election. These election surprises would create volatility in monetary policy and thus inflation and output. In other words, elections would lead to partisan business cycles. In Alesina’s model, monetary policy was fully accountable to the electorate, which is desirable, but it came at the cost of causing greater economic instability.
    This was a brilliant paper, but, again, it raised a serious question for me: Why would society choose full electoral accountability and maximum volatility in monetary policy? Economists usually think there are tradeoffs on the margin such that “corner solutions” like these aren’t optimal. It seemed to me that there could be a welfare-improving institutional design for the central bank. I looked at the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors structure, and I felt that electoral accountability could be achieved through the appointment process, but economic instability would be reduced by having a monetary policy board composed of current and past appointees who set policy according to majority rule. This thinking led me to taking a variant of Alesina’s model and studying how a policy board would change his results.
    I assumed that board members were appointed by the winning party of an election to serve for multiple periods. This appointment process provided accountability to the electorate via the nomination and confirmation process. To ensure that economic stability would be improved, I assumed these members served staggered and long (relative to the election cycle) terms in office.8 Furthermore, as in Rogoff’s model, board members could not be removed from office. This feature of the model captured the idea that the central bank board would be independent.
    My research showed that by having an independent policy board set monetary policy, social well-being was improved relative to Alesina’s results. Accountability to the electorate could be achieved through the nomination and confirmation process, and economic stability was enhanced by having a group of individuals set policy who could not be removed from office. This structure is the one that we have in place today at the Federal Reserve. I would argue that it has stood the test of time, and I hope that it continues to be in place for years to come.
    To conclude, I have come full circle in my professional life—from first reading that sentence that John wrote in 1983 to researching central bank independence and central bank boards for 20 years to then becoming a central bank board member, which led me here today. So, I can finally thank John for sending me on a wonderful journey that he had no idea he launched me on.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Finn E. Kydland and Edward C. Prescott (1977), “Rules Rather than Discretion: The Inconsistency of Optimal Plans,” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 85 (June), pp. 473–92. Return to text
    3. See Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon (1983), “Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 12 (1), pp. 101–21. Return to text
    4. See John B. Taylor (1983), “‘Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy’ by Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 12 (1), pp. 123–25. Return to text
    5. See Taylor, ‘”Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy’ by Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon” in note 4. Return to text
    6. See Kenneth Rogoff (1985), “The Optimal Degree of Commitment to an Intermediate Monetary Target,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 100 (November), pp. 1169–89. Return to text
    7. See Alberto Alesina (1987), “Macroeconomic Policy in a Two-Party System as a Repeated Game,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 102 (August), pp. 651–78. Return to text
    8. See Christopher J. Waller (1989), “Monetary Policy Games and Central Bank Politics,” Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, vol. 21 (November), pp. 422–31; Christopher J. Waller (1992), “A Bargaining Model of Partisan Appointments to the Central Bank,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 29 (June), pp. 411–28; and Christopher J. Waller (2000), “Policy Boards and Policy Smoothing,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 115 (February), pp. 305–39. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Announces DOJ Investigation into EPIC City

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opening an investigation into the East Plano Islamic Center’s (EPIC) proposed Muslim community, EPIC City, in Josephine, Texas, in response to concerns he expressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon last month:
    “I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation into the proposed EPIC City development in North Texas,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no place in the Lone Star State. Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under the Trump administration, they will be.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Introduces Bill to Address Staffing Shortages at Ports of Entry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which would strengthen border security, address personnel shortages at ports of entry, and ensure America’s airports, seaports, and land ports of entry are fully staffed by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire no fewer than 1,000 additional officers annually until the agency’s staffing needs are met:
    “When ports of entry aren’t sufficiently staffed, we run the risk of legitimate trade and travel grinding to a halt,”said Sen. Cornyn. “Nowhere do we feel this more acutely than in Texas where we have more ports of entry than any other state, which is why I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to ensure our ports have the personnel needed to handle the safe and legal flow of people and goods into our nation.”
    Background:
    Texas is home to some of the nation’s busiest border crossings, including ports of entry in Laredo, Brownsville, and El Paso. CBP continues to face an ongoing shortage of officers. In addition to requiring more CBP officers, the bill also authorizes the annual hiring of mission support staff and technicians to perform non-law enforcement functions in support of CBP. These professionals will allow CBP officers to focus their efforts on law enforcement priorities, such as preventing drug trafficking, while supporting lawful international commerce through the nation’s ports of entry. According to CBP, 86% of the fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2024 was interdicted at ports of entry.
    The bill also requires reporting on infrastructure improvements at ports of entry that would enhance drug interdiction, information on detection equipment that would help officers better identify drugs, and safety equipment to protect officers from accidental exposure to dangerous toxins. Addressing a shortage of CBP officers would also help to reduce waiting times for travelers and critical cargo coming through our ports of entry. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Menendez, Senator Luján, Senator Bennet Lead Democrats in Calling on Trump Administration to Crack Down on U.S. Firearms Flowing to Latin American Drug Cartels

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Administration’s Designation of 8 Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations Unlocks New Tools to Crack Down on Southbound Arms Trafficking  

     

    Over 200,000 American Firearms Flow into Mexico Every Year, Fueling Gang Violence and Drug and Human Trafficking 

     

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today led 10 of their colleagues in urging the Trump administration to use its recent designation of Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) to take aggressive action to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms south across the Southern Border. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers called for a coordinated federal response to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of American firearms that arm violent drug cartels, fuel lawlessness along the Southern Border, and bring drugs into communities across the United States. 

    “We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels,” the Members wrote. 

    Anywhere between 200,000 and 500,000 American firearms are smuggled across U.S. borders into Mexico every year, arming Latin American criminal organizations that have used them to undermine domestic law enforcement and assert control over fentanyl and human trafficking operations back into the United States. 

    “The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years,” the Members continued. 

    The members urged the administration to effectively and strategically employ the full suite of legal options this new designation enables and offered their assistance to empower it to specifically address the “Iron River” of American firearms that are fueling violence and destruction in communities across the United States and Mexico. 

    “We hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue,” the Members concluded. 

    Read the letter here or below: 

    Dear Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Attorney General Bondi: 

    We write to you today regarding the Trump Administration’s recent designation of eight Latin American cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), a move aimed at addressing the growing harms these organizations are causing in the United States. As you know, the primary source of strength and control that these criminal organizations exert over the U.S./Mexico border stems from one source: American firearms. We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels.  

    It is a well-established fact that the overwhelming majority of the weapons used by Latin American cartels are manufactured in the United States. In fact, anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 are smuggled into Mexico every single year and a whopping 70 percent of firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico are traced to the U.S. Alarmingly, although Mexico has just a single gun store in the entire country, it still endures approximately 30,000 firearm related deaths every year. This steady supply of weapons coming in from the north has allowed these criminal organizations to gain control over fentanyl and human trafficking across the border and undermine Mexican law enforcement. 

    Put simply, if we do not stop the flow of American-made guns across the southern border to Mexico, we cannot stop the flow of fentanyl into our country over that same border.  

    The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years. Individuals and entities that provide weapons, funds, equipment, or other tangible support to designated terrorist organizations can face serious federal prosecution if found liable.   

    To leverage this designation most effectively, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of State (DOS) must take immediate steps to crack down on the “Iron River” of illegal arms flowing into Mexico by taking the following actions: 

    Increasing interagency cooperation to track, target, and dismantle smuggling rings that facilitate weapons trafficking across the Mexican border.  

    Expanding inspections at border crossings to intercept vehicles carrying firearms, related munitions, and other contraband into Mexico.  

    Increasing law enforcement efforts against straw purchasers and firearm dealers that knowingly provide material support to smugglers.  

    Strengthening our intelligence-sharing with Mexican authorities and trusted partners to target and disrupt arms traffickers and their networks. 

    Given that this issue has been a key topic of discussion between President Trump and President Sheinbaum of Mexico – which has resulted in the U.S. government agreeing to work together to stop the flow of firearms into Mexico – we hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue.  

    Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to continuing to work with you on this issue. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Foster Youth Caucus Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Recognize Foster Care Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Foster Youth Caucus Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Recognize Foster Care Month

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, on National Foster Care Day, Foster Youth Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Don Bacon (R, NE-02)introduced a resolution to recognize the month of May as National Foster Care Month alongside fellow Co-Chairs Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D, CA-37), Erin Houchin (R, IN-09), Gwen Moore (D, WI-04), Zach Nunn (R, IA-03), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D, PA-05). The bipartisan resolution encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the child welfare system and honors foster families, social workers, and advocates for the essential role that they play in the lives of foster youth.

    “As co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus and a foster-to-adopt parent myself, I know that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home, and this resolution not only recognizes the challenges faced by foster youth but honors the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to support them,” said Rep. Bacon. “Having witnessed the transformative power of foster care and adoption, I’m committed to implementing policies that improve the lives of every child in the foster care system.”

    “All children deserve stable environments where they can learn, grow, and thrive,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to re-introduce this bipartisan resolution alongside the Foster Youth Caucus to recognize the resilience of our foster youth, honor those who make a difference in their lives, and recommit to passing policies that help ensure all children have a safe and loving home. As a Representative of Los Angeles County—home to over 30,000 foster youth—I will always champion our most vulnerable children through my work in Congress.”

    “National Foster Care Month is an opportunity to lift up the young people in the child welfare system and continue pushing for proposals that improve outcomes and enhance the wellbeing of children and youth in care,” said Rep. Moore. “Serving as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am deeply committed to that work every day.”

    “Every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home. As a dad to six kids, including two Kelly and I were blessed to adopt, this resolution is personal to me,” said Rep. Nunn. “This month and every month, we honor the foster parents, the parents who choose to adopt, and the social workers who step up for kids with nowhere else to turn. I will keep working to build a system that helps more families who are ready to open their homes and their hearts to foster, adopt, and change a child’s life.”

    “Before coming to Congress, I spent decades working as a child advocate, seeing firsthand the challenges that young people and those who serve them face in finding permanent homes and connections,” said Rep. Scanlon. “It’s why one of my top priorities in Congress is to confront the challenges of our foster care system, support the more than 369,000 children it serves, and provide the resources that those dedicated to serving them need to ensure their bright futures. Raising awareness about the need to invest in the lives of children and youth in foster care is an important part of building support and driving change–that’s why I’m proud to join my co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth in recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.”

    According to the most recent data from the US Children’s Bureau, 369,000 children are living in foster care nationwide. Our nation’s foster youth face significant challenges, including disparities in positive outcomes in health, education, employment, and involvement with the justice system. National Foster Care Month was established in the United States in 1988 to recognize foster youth, foster parents, and all those who support children in the foster care system. 

    The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth provides a forum for Members of Congress to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall well-being of youth and families. The Foster Youth Caucus is committed to ensuring that our nation’s vulnerable, yet resilient, youth are provided with the opportunities and support necessary to succeed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, McClellan, Hyde-Smith, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Address Mental Health Treatment Shortages

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, McClellan, Hyde-Smith, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Address Mental Health Treatment Shortages

    Washington, D.C. –     Today, Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced legislation to address mental health and substance use disorder facility shortages during a growing mental health crisis.

    About one in five American adults live with mental illness, and over 75 percent of adults who needed substance use treatment in the past year did not receive that care. From shortages in inpatient beds to intensive outpatient programs to behavioral health providers, treatment availability has not kept up with growing demand. As a consequence, many patients go without care or are boarded in emergency departments for days to weeks until psychiatric beds become available, which can have deeply harmful impacts on patient well-being. 

    H.R. 3266, the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act would:

    • Establish a new loan and loan guarantee program within the Department of Health and Human Services to build or renovate mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities.
    • Reserve at least a quarter of the funding for pediatric- and adolescent-serving facilities.
    • Prioritize facilities located in high need, underserved or rural areas and able to provide integrated care for patients with complex needs.

    “At a time when one in every five U.S. adults report experiencing mental illness, we need to be investing in mental health care,” said Rep. Bacon. “The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act will expand mental health infrastructure and ensure we have the capability to treat those experiencing a mental healthcrisis. There is a significant shortage of available treatment, and it is crucial that we address this gap.”

    “We face a mental health crisis in this country, but have yet to meet that crisis with the necessary avenues of support that our neighbors, friends, and family members need to battle a mental health or substance use disorder,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Those bravely seeking support shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get it, and addressing these facility shortages now will help ensure that care is there when patients need it. I urge my colleagues to support the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act to invest in our nation’s well-being and ensure every American, especially our nation’s youth and underserved communities, get the care they need.”

    “This legislation recognizes that our nation faces a growing crisis in not having enough infrastructure and workforce to treat people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.  We struggle with this in Mississippi,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.  “Our goal is to use loans and loan guarantees to increase the number of facilities to provide quality mental health and substance abuse care, while lessening the burdens now placed on law enforcement and local hospitals.”

    “Mental health care is essential health care,” said Senator Merkley. “This legislation is about ensuring that communities in Oregon and across the nation have the infrastructure they need to provide critical mentalhealth and substance use disorder services. By investing in mental health care facilities, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the mental health crisis affecting so many of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”

    This legislation is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, Children’s Hospital Association, Clinical Social Work Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, National Association of Social Workers, National Rural HealthAssociation, The Trevor Project, and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
     
    Read the full bill text here. Read the one-pager here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Gottheimer Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Gottheimer Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel

    Washington, DC — Today, May 9, 2025, U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-2) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio demanding clarity on the May 6 agreement with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces. 

    The deal made with the Houthis would halt all U.S. strikes against the terrorist group without addressing the ongoing threat to Israel, our key democratic ally. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the U.S. agreement.

    “On May 4 — just two days before this deal was struck — a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States,” the Members of Congress wrote in a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio. 

    The letter continues, “We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.”

    “The Houthi threat to global shipping cannot be separated from the danger this terrorist group continues to pose to U.S. forces in the region as well as to our allies like Israel. Ultimately, Iran is at the heart of this threat,” said Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action. “Iran’s financial assistance and transfers of advanced weapons to the Houthis must be addressed and until they are, any agreement with this terrorist group will achieve only temporary calm. The Trump administration must develop and work with Congress to implement a long-term strategy to degrade the Houthi threat and hold Iran accountable for its continued support to this terrorist group.”

    In addition to Bacon and Gottheimer, Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Greg Stanton (AZ-4) also signed the letter. 

    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

    Dear President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio,

    We are writing to express our serious concern over the agreement reached on May 6 with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which halts U.S. strikes against Houthi targets without addressing the threat to Israel. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the agreement with the United States. This decision leaves Israel dangerously vulnerable and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iran’s proxy network. 

    After months of sustained operations—including more than 800 U.S. and coalition air and missile strikes—the Houthis remain not only operational, but increasingly emboldened, regularly launching ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory. This is unacceptable. The fact that such a deal was made despite the Houthis’ continued aggression underscores a troubling lack of strategic coherence. 

    Since Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Houthis have openly declared their unwavering support for Hamas and Iran’s broader proxy network, launching missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and global shipping in the Red Sea. These operations have not only endangered Israeli civilians, but have also raised prices globally by disrupting one of the busiest global shipping routes in the world. 

    Notably, on May 4—just two days before this deal was struck—a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States.

    Moreover, this ceasefire fails to address the root of the problem: Iran’s supply of advanced weapons, intelligence, and training to the Houthis. Without a strategy that targets Tehran’s supply lines, any agreement with the Houthis is merely a tactical pause and leaves Israel exposed.

    Given these serious concerns, we are requesting a briefing to Congress by no later than May 19 that includes:

    • The full details of the May 6 agreement, including a strategy for how Israel will be engaged throughout its implementation;
    • An assessment of the Houthis long-range missile capabilities, specifically their ability to target Israeli territory;
    • An examination of Iran’s supply of weapons systems to the Houthis, including how these supply routes have evaded U.S. forces;

    We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Congratulates Ninth District Winner of 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced that Kasey Walden of Bristol’s Virginia High School won the 2025 Congressional Art Competition in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District. Her artwork is entitled George Washington, Virginian and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

    “Congratulations to Kasey Walden on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition in the Ninth District,” said Griffith. “Her work is a marvelous display of this year’s theme, ‘Commemorating Virginia’s Contribution to the American Revolution,’ and has earned a spot in the U.S. Capitol for all to see.

    “Virginia High School is a great reflection of student artistic achievements in the Ninth District. Kasey joins a list of creative talents from Virginia High whose works earned recognition in previous Congressional art competitions.

    “The Ninth District is home to many students with artistic talents and gifts. The Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity for these talents to be on full display.”

    Pictured from left to right: Kindle Conkin of Eastman Credit Union, Kasey Walden of Virginia High School, Congressman Morgan Griffith. 

    Pictured: Kasey Walden’s parents with Kasey and Congressman Griffith.

    Pictured: Congressman Griffith addresses students and faculty at Virginia High School to recognize Kasey Walden for winning the 2025 Congressional Art Competition in Virginia’s Ninth District.

    George Washington, Virginian

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman: President Trump’s Memorandum a Big Win for the Great Lakes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, as first reported in the Detroit News, President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign a memorandum directing his Administration to “expeditiously implement the most effective mechanisms, barriers, and other measures to prevent the migration and expansion of invasive carp in the Great Lakes Basin and surrounding region.”  Less than one month ago, Rep. Jack Bergman, joined by Michigan GOP colleagues Rep. John Moolenaar, Rep. Tim Walberg, and Rep. John James sent a scathing letter to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calling for him to reverse course on a recent politically charged decision that would jeopardize efforts to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes after he halted the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.

    Rep. Bergman stated, “I once again commend President Trump for delivering on his promises to Michigan. By advancing the long-overdue construction of a new Soo Lock, accelerating the Line 5 tunnel project, securing a critical new fighter mission at Selfridge, and taking decisive action to prevent the spread of invasive Asian Carp in our Great Lakes, President Trump has proven his unwavering commitment to Michigan’s infrastructure, economy, and environment.”

    You can read Rep. Bergman’s full letter to Gov. Pritzker here.

    Read the full Detroit News article here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wasserman Schultz Statement on Negotiations to End Iranian Nuclear Threat

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

    “In his first term, President Trump recklessly withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) without a replacement, or even a concept of a plan of how he would secure a more favorable deal. Now, as he attempts to negotiate an end to the Iranian nuclear threat, I am deeply concerned by Trump’s own contradictory statements indicating that he would accept some level of uranium enrichment, allow Iran to maintain a stockpile of nuclear material in the country, or ignore Iran’s rampant sponsorship of global terrorism.

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s negotiations over Iran’s nuclear capabilities:

    “In his first term, President Trump recklessly withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) without a replacement, or even a concept of a plan of how he would secure a more favorable deal. Now, as he attempts to negotiate an end to the Iranian nuclear threat, I am deeply concerned by Trump’s own contradictory statements indicating that he would accept some level of uranium enrichment, allow Iran to maintain a stockpile of nuclear material in the country, or ignore Iran’s rampant sponsorship of global terrorism. 

    “President Biden left Iran at its weakest point in decades. If President Trump truly intends to negotiate a better deal than the JCPOA, there has never been a better opportunity to do so from a position of strength—so long as the terms of the deal ensure our security and that of our regional allies.

    “Any acceptable agreement with the Iranian regime must at minimum:

    • Ensure that Iran is never permitted to, or capable of, producing a nuclear weapon
    • Prohibit enrichment or storage of uranium in Iran, or elsewhere on behalf of Iran
    • Require Iran to end its support for terrorism and regional proxies including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Yemeni Houthis 
    • Provide for supervised inspection, dismantling, and removal of all Iranian nuclear material and production facilities

    “These conditions must be subject to continuous U.S., European, and international monitoring with zero-trust verification and accompanied with public reporting. No sanctions relief should be granted to the Iranian regime until this dismantling process is underway and verified.

    “Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and promised a superior option. Anything less than the standards laid out here simply means that his negligence is responsible for putting the terrorist state of Iran eight years closer to a nuclear weapon.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Mann Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Air Safety

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) alongside Reps. Nick Begich (AK-AL), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) introduced the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to tackle the nation’s air traffic controller staffing shortage and invest in the future of American aviation.

    The legislation codifies and expands FAA’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), improves recruitment and retention incentives, funds tower simulator systems, and supports mental health services for air traffic controllers, which addresses one of the most serious safety risks currently facing U.S. airspace.

    “Workforce limitations have led to a widening skills gap across all industries, including for our nation’s air traffic controllers,” said Rep. Mann. “Failure to support a robust talent pipeline to protect our skies puts the future of aviation reliability and the passenger experience at risk. Our bill seeks to ensure that we can prepare and equip the next generation of capable, qualified air traffic controllers to protect the future safety of our skies and maintain the American gold standard of aviation.”

    “Safe, reliable air travel is core to life in Alaska. Whether it’s delivering food and supplies to remote villages or ensuring medevac services reach those in need, air traffic controllers are essential to our state,” said Rep. Begich. “The Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025 is a commonsense solution to a national challenge. It strengthens the safety of our skies by making forward-looking investments to ensure we train and support highly skilled professionals. By training the next generation of controllers now, we’re building a safer, more connected future for every American.”

    “Our air traffic controllers are the best in the world, and they work hard to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all travelers. But controllers in Arizona and nationally have sounded the alarm for years about staffing shortages that have left them overworked and undersupported,” said Rep. Stanton. “The bipartisan Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act is an overdue investment in the recruitment and retention of highly-qualified controllers—their training, professional development and well-being.”

    “We put our faith in America’s air traffic controllers to keep us safe and protect our nation’s airways. I’ve seen firsthand how our air traffic controllers work tirelessly to fulfill their truly difficult and absolutely critical mission. They cannot do their jobs without our support,” said Rep. Goodlander. “I’m proud to help lead the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025, commonsense legislation to help recruit and retain air traffic controllers, improve working conditions, and equip our aviation workforce with the equipment and facilities they need to keep our skies safe.”

    The FAA currently employs 2,300 fewer Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs) than needed and continues to fall below its hiring and certification targets. The shortage has forced many controllers to work mandatory overtime, leading to fatigue and increasing the risk of errors. This bipartisan bill will help reverse that trend by expanding workforce pipelines, improving equipment, and placing high-fidelity simulators across the country to accelerate instruction timelines.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Obernolte, Stevens, Weber, Hudson introduce new legislation to expedite quantum computing applications in USA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia)

    U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act alongside co-leads Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). The bill aims to increase quantum technology commercial advancement through the creation of a quantum sandbox program. This program allows government and industry partners to come together to develop and deploy quantum and quantum-hybrid applications for near-term use.

    U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act alongside co-leads Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). The bill aims to increase quantum technology commercial advancement through the creation of a quantum sandbox program. This program allows government and industry partners to come together to develop and deploy quantum and quantum-hybrid applications for near-term use. 

    “Quantum computing is a game-changing advancement in technology. It will dramatically increase the speed at which computers can run algorithms and solve problems, enabling new opportunities to improve our supply chains, transportation networks, electrical grid, and our communication resilience,” said Rep. Obernolte. “The Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act will help to ensure the United States remains a global leader in not only the development but also the deployment of new quantum technologies by providing a cloud-based venue for developers to produce quantum-enabled software tools from a variety of different systems for use in sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, healthcare and defense.” 

    “The application of quantum technologies in manufacturing is vital to the future competitiveness of Michigan manufacturers. The bipartisan Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act will create testbeds to allow innovators to test quantum discoveries in real-world applications, like advanced manufacturing,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “This legislation will ensure businesses and researchers here at home can apply this emerging technology and help Michigan businesses continue to grow and innovate.” 

    Unlike traditional computers which store and analyze data as either zeros or ones, quantum computers operate with quantum bits, known as qubits, which are complex dual systems of both zero and one simultaneously, a concept derived from quantum physics. Although fully developed commercial quantum computing remains years away, finding new ways to tackle critical challenges is a key objective of a quantum sandbox program. Once use cases are identified, the sandbox program can provide an expedited pathway to develop targeted applications through public-private partnerships. 

    The quantum sandbox program will drive U.S. innovation toward solving critical real-world challenges impacting American society and will augment the long-term basic research currently being conducted through the National Quantum Initiative.  

    What they’re saying: 

    D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz: “We commend Representatives Obernolte, Stevens, Hudson and Weber for their continued leadership on advancing near-term applications of emerging technologies like quantum and AI. We’re already seeing meaningful progress where quantum computing is providing computational advantages. For example, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center recently developed a quantum application for wildfire management. A dedicated program to accelerate near-term quantum applications is essential to incorporating hardware and software advancements, and the quantum sandbox legislation would do just that by enabling public-private partnerships to safely test and validate applications within a 24-month timeframe. This effort is key to demonstrating the real-world viability of quantum technologies. We strongly urge its enactment this Congress.” 

    Strangeworks Founder and CEO whurley: “As a nation, our leadership in quantum technology depends on bold, forward-thinking initiatives and the Quantum Sandbox Act is a perfect example. At Strangeworks, we strongly support this legislation, which expands access to quantum computing and accelerates the development of real-world, near-term applications. With continued investment and public-private collaboration, quantum technology holds the promise to transform entire industries—advancing medical breakthroughs, driving sustainability, strengthening national security, and redefining artificial intelligence. This bill represents a pivotal step in shaping a more innovative, resilient future, and we are proud to stand behind it.” 

    Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director, QED-C: “The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C®) seeks to grow the quantum economy through the development of quantum technologies for applications in sensing, communication, and computing. As documented in various QED-C reports, there are many use cases that experts believe are highly feasible and within grasp. The Quantum Sandbox act will accelerate the discovery and development of near-term applications and in the process will build the capacity for longer term innovation as well.” 

    Alliance for Digital Innovation Executive Director Ross Nodurft: “We commend Reps. Obernolte Stevens, Weber, and Hudson for their commitment to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and the Quantum Sandbox bill is another step in the right direction. A quantum sandbox program is a critical program to provide rapid development of new and innovative cloud-based solutions to solve public-sector challenges, and we support enactment of this legislation.” 

    Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO of Quantinuum: “As the world’s largest integrated quantum computing company, Quantinuum strongly supports the bipartisan Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act. This legislation is essential to ensure the continued leadership of the U.S. in this critical emerging technology. By fostering application development and accelerating commercialization, the Act will help unlock solutions to some of today’s most complex challenges across a range of critical sectors—including healthcare, energy, national security and beyond.”

    Jitesh Lalwani, CEO Artificial Brain: “Artificial Brain warmly welcomes and urges the expeditious passage of the Quantum Sandbox Act. Our company is already developing and deploying our quantum software and hybrid QML solutions on quantum hardware through the cloud, achieving huge successes across all of our use cases, including in defense and energy. Artificial Brain has been a leading industry voice on the quantum computing advantages that are already here. Now is the moment for the U.S. to act boldly. The Congressional findings agree with our own clear message: Quantum innovation is critical and foundational to the United States and that quantum and hybrid applications can provide innovative near term solutions across the public and private sector. This is why it is imperative that our country shifts our focus to developing and deploying near-term applications. We must be positioned to develop an unrivaled quantum workforce and near-term application development or risk losing behind allies and adversaries alike. This shift will take total commitment, and we are pleased to see both the Congress and Administration as supportive champions so we can seize on these near-term, value-creating opportunities. This legislation might be one of the most consequential and bipartisan achievements for U.S. innovation of this congressional term.” 

    Paul Stimers, Executive Director of the Quantum Industry Coalition: “As the US quantum industry advances the commercialization of quantum technologies, it is increasingly important for the National Quantum Initiative to include a focus on near-term applications. The Quantum Industry Coalition commends Rep. Obernolte for addressing this issue, and looks forward to incorporating it into the National Quantum Initiative reauthorization process this year.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement announcing the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for high school students in California’s 22nd Congressional District.

    “Congratulations to Lauren Newkirk of East Bakersfield High School on her winning entry, and thank you to all the talented students throughout California’s 22nd Congressional District who submitted their art,” said Congressman Valadao. “Lauren’s impressive depiction of the Fox Theater is a great representation of our region’s character, and I look forward to seeing it every time I walk through the Capitol.”

    The winning entry, Free Tickets, by Lauren Newkirk of East Bakersfield High School, is a painting of Fox Theater in downtown Bakersfield. The piece uses single point perspective to draw the viewer’s attention to an asymmetrically balanced composition. Lauren used her personal photograph, which she shot during an evening concert, as a reference image.

    This piece will be hung in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning entries from congressional districts across the country for one year. The winner will also be invited to visit Washington, D.C. to attend a reception sponsored by the Congressional Institute, which hosts the annual competition.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Advances Key Trump Border Security Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05), member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Committee approved its portion of the budget reconciliation package. The package provides $69 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security’s border security mission.  

    “The American people are safer today because Donald Trump is president. He wasted no time restarting construction of the border wall and reinstating effective immigration enforcement policies. His decisive action is protecting North Alabama by curbing illegal immigration, stopping drug trafficking, and dismantling dangerous criminal networks.” 

    “Now, Congress must provide the necessary resources to fund President Trump’s agenda. This is a once-in-a-generation border security overhaul that includes funding for a state-of-the-art border barrier system, investments in border personnel and fleet vehicles, and border surveillance technology,” said Representative Dale Strong. 

    Specifically, the budget includes funding for: 

    • Additional frontline personnel to accomplish their vital homeland security missions in the field, including additional Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, and Air and Marine operations personnel and equipment 

    • Technology to close exploitable gaps and enhance interdictions, including drone-mitigation, surveillance equipment and towers, and technology to assist frontline officers in detecting deadly illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, at ports of entry 

    Read the full text of the recommendations here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Xinhua | 09. 05. 2025

    Keywords: Xi Jinping, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Canelem, Diaz, met, urgently, in the fields of celebrations, anniversary of victory, union, occasion, Friday, war

    Moscow, May 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met here on Friday with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Breaking: Xi Jinping Meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Progressive Caucus Leaders Issue Statement on Acquittals in Tyre Nichols Case

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

    Washington, D.C. — Congressional Progressive Caucus Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force Chair Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Chair Emerita Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) issued the following statement on acquittals in the Tyre Nichols case:

    “Two years ago, we were horrified by the video that was released of the savage beating of Memphis resident Tyre Nichols. The brutality on display in body cam footage shocked the nation.

    “Today, the country was again shocked to learn that three of the officers involved in Nichols’ killing were acquitted of charges. The lack of justice puts on display for all to see the continuing failure of our justice system to value the lives of Black men and women. 

    “The decision to move the jury pool from the majority Black city of Memphis to the majority white city of Chattanooga raised concerns that the judicial system would fail the family of Mr. Nichols. Sadly, these fears appear to have been justified.

    “Our hearts go out to Mr. Nichols’ family, especially his young child who was robbed of their father, and his parents who were denied justice for their son. Our country has a long way to go to achieve an equitable, color-blind justice system. The Congressional Progressive Caucus remains committed to a future free of police brutality and bias.” 

    Issues: Public Safety & Criminal Justice

    MIL OSI USA News –