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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Wasserman Schultz, Miller-Meeks, Castor, Fitzpatrick, and Harshbarger Introduce EARLY Act to Reauthorize Breast Cancer Awareness Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) introduced legislation to reauthorize and continue funding for the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (EARLY) Act.

    In the United States, the most common cancer diagnosed among women is breast cancer, where the average risk for developing it sometime in her life is about 1 in 8. More than 316,000 new diagnoses and 42,000 deaths expected from breast cancer in 2025. And with incidences rising in younger women each year, the earlier its caught, the better the chance to survive and overcome this devastating health challenge.  

    Key to early detection and treatment starts with education and awareness. This especially is true for younger women, and those at higher risk of death, like ethnic and racial populations who too often face an aggressive form of breast cancer and are not able to catch it till later.  

    “There’s no question that early diagnois saves lives, and th earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better for patient outcomes. With rates of breast cancer rising, especially among younger women, it’s critical we redouble our efforts to raise awareness about early screening and detection – and it’s critical these efforts focus on high-risk populations,” said Dingell.“I’m proud to co-lead this reauthorization and remain committed to ensuring we secure federal funding for continued cancer research and education.”

    “Like so many women in the United States, I heard those devastating words no one wants to hear: ‘you have breast cancer.’ My personal experience battling this terrible disease led to the creation of the EARLY Act, which was designed to help educate women and their health care providers about the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer in younger women that lead to early detection, diagnosis, and survival,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and do everything we can to save more lives.” 

    “As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating a breast cancer diagnosis can be, and I’ve also seen how early detection can save a life,” said Miller-Meeks. “Too many young women, especially those at higher risk, are being left in the dark. The EARLY Act changes that. It empowers women with the knowledge they need to detect cancer sooner, fight harder, and live longer. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to protect women, strengthen families, and save lives.”

    “Far too many young women face breast cancer without the knowledge or support they need to fight back,” said Castor. “For 15 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has used the EARLY Act to ensure these young women aren’t alone by supporting outreach and resources that meet them where they are. I’m proud to support this bipartisan reauthorization to ensure the continuation of these critical initiatives that empower women to understand their risks, advocate for their health and get the tools they need to fight the disease.”

    “In my work with hospitals and health leaders across PA-1, one fact remains clear: early detection is the most effective tool we have to reduce cancer mortality. As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I’ve worked to expand access to screening, education, and risk-based interventions. The EARLY Act is targeted, data-driven policy—built to close detection gaps, reach high-risk populations sooner, and reduce the number of women diagnosed too late. That’s how we save lives—and that’s the standard every public health initiative should meet,” said Fitzpatrick.

    “I’ve seen firsthand the power of early education and prevention in the fight against breast cancer. Too many women, especially those in high-risk and underserved communities, are still being diagnosed too late. The EARLY Act has proven effective in closing that gap by giving young women the tools and information they need to understand their risk, recognize early warning signs, and take action,” said Harshbarger. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reauthorizing this life-saving program that can save women’s lives.”

    The EARLY Act became law in 2010. Its success centers around authorizing three programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designed to empower young and high-risk women to better focus their attention on this deadly disease. 

    This includes the Bring Your Brave campaign, which amplifies stories of real women to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women between the ages 18-44, and encourages them to understand their risk and the signs and symptoms. It also funds the Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program, which provides grants to several non-profit organizations aimed at delivering supportive services and resources to increase patients’ survival and improve their quality of life. And it offers continuing medical education (CME) courses for health care providers about breast cancer. 

    After fifteen years of successful implementation, it is now time to again reauthorize the EARLY Act to ensure that it continues to reach even more young and higher risk women across the United States. Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is vital to continuing to save women’s lives.

    Click here to read the full bill.

    The EARLY Act is endorsed by:

    American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

    AdvaMed

    Axogen

    BRCAStrong

    Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition

    Breast Cancer Ruckus

    Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer

    Cancer Support Community

    DenseBreast-info, Inc 

    FORCE

    GE HealthCare

    Gilda’s Club South Florida

    Hologic

    Living Beyond Breast Cancer

    Prevent Cancer Foundation

    Sharsheret

    Susan G. Komen

    Tigerlily Foundation

    Women’s Health Advocates 

    Young Survival Coalition

    “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is critical to protecting the lives of young and high-risk women nationwide,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This legislation ensures that individuals and their health care providers have access to essential programs that offer the tools, education, and support needed to better understand breast health and detect cancer risks early—when it matters most. ACS CAN is grateful to Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) for their bipartisan leadership on this life-saving effort. Without swift action, we risk losing a vital resource in the fight against breast cancer.”

    “The Prevent Cancer Foundation proudly supports the reauthorization of the EARLY Act, which has been vital in helping young women — especially those at increased risk for breast cancer — and their health care providers understand the importance of breast health. We applaud Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Castor, Dingell, Miller-Meeks, Harshbarger and Fitzpatrick for championing this critical effort to advance awareness and early detection of breast cancer for better health outcomes.” Jody Hoyos, CEO Prevent Cancer Foundation

    “The evidence is clear – early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Over 95 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis can see high rates of survival with treatment. That number drops to 30 percent when breast cancer is caught at later stages. Yet, younger women – aged 25 to 40 – are diagnosed with more aggressive cancers at significantly higher percentages than women at average risk.  Brem Foundation applauds reintroduction of the EARLY Act, which educates young women, helps identify who is at higher risk for early breast cancers, and helps to drive self advocacy in breast health. Simply put, this bill will save lives.” Dr. Rachel Brem, Chief Medical Officer Brem Foundation & Professor and Vice-Chair, GW Cancer Center

    “This legislation plays a critical role in educating patients and healthcare professionals about breast cancer risks, early detection, and prevention—particularly among younger women and underserved populations,” said Emily Hansen, senior director of Resensation by Axogen. “Continued investment in awareness, education, and innovation is essential to ensuring more informed, empowered care decisions that will lead to better outcomes.”

    “The Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act is a critical step forward in empowering young and high-risk women with the knowledge they need to take control of their breast health. Early education saves lives by ensuring women and their healthcare providers are informed about risks, prevention, and proactive care options. At BRCAStrong, we believe knowledge is power and this legislation embodies that belief by helping to close gaps in awareness and ultimately reduce breast cancer’s impact on our community,” said Tracy Milgram, Founder of BRCAStrong.

    “When I promised my sister Suzy I would do everything in my power to end the devastation of breast cancer, we knew early detection would be the key. The EARLY Act has given thousands of young women a fighting chance through education, awareness, and action. I am proud to support its reauthorization, and the Promise Fund stands firmly behind this life-saving legislation,” said Nancy G. Brinker, Co-Founder, Promise Fund and Founder, Susan G. Komen

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Fitzpatrick Urge EPA to Uphold National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, today led 69 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to uphold the first-ever national primary drinking water regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) established last year. The letter follows the EPA’s announcement that it plans to reconsider key elements of the April 2024 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) rule establishing national, legally enforceable drinking water standards for several PFAS.

    “This decision threatens to undermine the Safe Drinking Water Act’s (SDWA) core purpose, which is to provide communities with clean and safe drinking water. Delaying or weakening the rule will prolong harmful exposure and exacerbate the damage caused by decades of PFAS pollution,” the lawmakers write. “As of 2025, EPA data indicates that approximately 165 million Americans have drinking water contaminated with PFAS, and recent CDC data confirms that almost all of the U.S. population have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood.

    “Every community across the country faces the real consequences of contamination. These forever chemicals persist in our environment and failing to act will only compound the public health crisis,” the lawmakers continue. “Rolling back MCLs and weakening the mixtures provision risk not only more exposure and illness but also increased legal and regulatory uncertainty, undermining confidence in EPA’s commitment to public health.”

    “EPA’s 2024 PFAS drinking water rule marked a historic step forward,” the lawmakers conclude. “Communities have waited decades for action. We urge EPA to stay the course, implement the existing enforceable limits for all six regulated PFAS, and maintain its commitment to safeguarding the health of every American.

    View the full text of the letter here.

    Last month, Dingell and Fitzpatrick introduced the PFAS National Drinking Water Standard Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would codify the EPA’s drinking water standard into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Latta, DeGette, Crenshaw Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Improved Access to Over-the-Counter Medicines

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), introduced the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments (OMFUA), a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph User Fee Act that has improved access to over-the-counter medicines.  

    “Nearly nine out of ten Americans regularly use over the counter medications to quickly, easily, and effectively manage a range of conditions. The Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act has been highly successful in improving OTC drug availability and safety. I’m leading this reauthorization with my bipartisan colleagues to ensure consumers continue to have safe access to the OTC products they depend on, and the U.S. remains a global leader in health and innovation,” Dingell said. 

    “The over-the-counter monograph drug user fee program (OMUFA) allows consumers to manage their own care safely and affordably. Five years ago, as an original sponsor of this legislation, my colleagues and I modernized how the FDA regulates most over-the-counter medicines by enacting OMUFA. These reforms transformed a 40-year-old system, making it more efficient, transparent, and open to innovation. I’m proud to lead the reauthorization of this critical program,” Latta said. 

    “Millions of Americans rely on over-the-counter medications every day, and FDA’s over-the-counter medicines program ensures those products are safe, effective, and accessible,” DeGette said. “I was proud to play a role in creating OMUFA and to see it through its first five years. Now, as we approach reauthorization, it’s time to build on that success and continue giving FDA the tools it needs to deliver trusted medicines to Americans’ shelves.”

    “This bipartisan bill empowers the FDA to review over-the-counter medicines quickly and efficiently — without compromising safety. It ensures Americans can trust that the products on their shelves are backed by the latest science, and spares the taxpayer a new obligation,” Crenshaw said.   

    The OMUFA bill is endorsed by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association: 

    “CHPA applauds Representatives Latta, DeGette, Crenshaw and Dingell for their leadership in introducing this important reauthorization and for their continued support of self-care,” said CHPA President & CEO Scott Melville. “As the industry works to deliver safe, effective, and innovative OTC products to consumers, we look forward to working with Congress on refinements to the bill to ensure the final legislation maximizes the potential of monograph reform and can continue to provide savings and innovation to consumers. That includes inserting provisions into OMUFA to clarify how FDA evaluates the Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective (GRASE) standard, creating a clearer path for early agreement on data needs, and improving the efficiency of making product improvements while maintaining strong safety standards.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Announces $500,000 for Upgrades to Ford Field Park in Northville

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced that the City of Northville will receive a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant through the Department of the Interior to improve Ford Field Park. 

    “Ford Field Park is an important community asset where families gather, children play, and neighbors connect,” said Dingell. “These improvements will ensure the park remains accessible, welcoming, and beautiful for generations to come. Investing in our green spaces not only promotes outdoor recreation but also strengthens our community.” 

    “We have gathered in this space for sporting and leisure events for close to 100 years now. Rep. Dingell’s contributions have assisted in finishing the project so both Wayne and Oakland County residents and other visitors can now have ADA bathrooms, accessible parking and walkways and park amenities to greatly enhance their experience at Ford Field. Thank you for being a stakeholder of our transformational Ford Field project,” said Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull.

    The grant will support upgrades including the construction of a new restroom, accessible parking spaces, improved walkways, a garden with native landscaping, and the installation of new park amenities.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Demands Answers from State Department Following Israel Strike on Catholic Church in Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing deep concern and urging further action to pursue a ceasefire following a strike by the Israeli military on the only Catholic Parish in Gaza.

    “This strike killed civilian Najwa Abu Daoud and led to the deaths of civilians Saad Salameh and Fumayya Ayyad. It also injured Gabriel Romanelli, who is the parish priest, who received daily calls from the late Pope Francis until he died,” Dingell wrote. “Incidents like this raise urgent and serious questions about the protection of places of worship in conflict zones, the role and effectiveness of humanitarian aid, and the pressing need to pursue a ceasefire to prevent further harm to civilians.”

    “This tragedy again reminds us of the dire need for humanitarian aid in Gaza. It is reported that Saad Salameh and Fumayya Ayyad, who initially survived the strike, succumbed to their injuries at Al-Mamadani hospital,” Dingell continued. “I am concerned deaths like these are being exacerbated by a lack of medical resources and blood units. In the last few months, little to no aid has entered the region due to Israel’s blockade. A ceasefire is critical not only to protect innocent lives but also to enable unimpeded humanitarian access and pave the way for long-term peace efforts in the region.”

    “In light of these developments, I request information on how the State Department is taking action to prevent places of worship from being targeted,” Dingell concluded. “Additionally, it is essential to clarify how the United States is monitoring and ensuring that military equipment supplied by the U.S. is not being used in ways that violate international humanitarian law, especially with regard to attacks on civilian or religious locations. Transparency and accountability in this regard are vital to upholding human rights and international norms.”

    Specifically, Dingell requested answers to the following questions:

    1. What has the State Department done to increase the flow of medical supplies within the Gaza Strip?
    2. What is the U.S doing to prevent civilian casualties and strikes on places of worship?
    3. Is there a discussion between the U.S and the Israeli government on protecting places of worship within the Gaza Strip?
    4. What is the administration doing to ensure U.S military aid to Israel is not being used to against civilians and places of worship, like the Holy Family Church?
    5. What initiatives is the United States undertaking to advocate for an immediate and lasting cessation of hostilities?

    View the full text of the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Justice Department Dismisses Failed Biden-Era Lawsuit Challenging Tennessee’s Law Protecting Minors from Experimental Sex-Change Medical Procedures

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: The Justice Department Dismisses Failed Biden-Era Lawsuit Challenging Tennessee’s Law Protecting Minors from Experimental Sex-Change Medical Procedures

    Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division dismissed with prejudice the ill-fated Biden-era challenge to Tennessee’s law protecting minors from horrific and experimental sex-change medical procedures. The Department dismissed its complaint in intervention because it does not believe challenging Tennessee’s law serves the public interest.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Scholten, Salazar, and Escobar Reintroduce Historic Bipartisan Immigration Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (D-MI), alongside U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), announced the reintroduction of the Dignity Act of 2025, a historic, bipartisan immigration reform bill. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Adam Grey (D-CA), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Andriano Espaillat (D-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Young Kim (R-CA) also co-sponsored the bill.

    This historic bipartisan legislation would address border security and infrastructure challenges, tackle critical workforce development issues, create legal status for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, establish new pathways for asylum seekers, and create new legal pathways for economic migrants and unaccompanied minors.

    “As an attorney who has worked on immigration issues, both at the nation’s top law enforcement agency and at a community legal aid organization, helping migrants in West Michigan, I know this system. I’ve seen firsthand what patchwork and reactionary immigration policies do to families and communities, and I remain committed to creating a system that is both fair and humane, balancing humanitarian concerns with law enforcement. Our broken immigration system is a national security threat, an economic and workforce emergency, and a humanitarian crisis. This is Congress’s issue to solve, and we’re here to solve it,” said Rep. Scholten. “Congress must act now to reform our immigration system. It’s time to allow hardworking families to move out of the shadows and into the full light of the American dream. This bipartisan bill will make our communities and our country safer, bring our workforce into the 21st century, and bring dignity to millions of hardworking families already living in the United States to make our country a better place.”

    This comprehensive bill makes meaningful reforms to several aspects of our immigration system: 

    • Provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers
    • It creates the Dignity Program to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants already living in the United States;
    • It establishes new pathways for asylum seekers and creates new regional processing centers;
    • Enhances border security while creating additional accountability for ICE.

    The last time Congress passed immigration reform was in 1996, and that was driven by Republicans and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. That bill eliminated several legal immigration pathways, essentially making fewer people eligible for legal status while making more people deportable. Congress has had many opportunities to address this crisis. Over the last 10 years, 8 major pushes for immigration reform have failed:  

    • In 2013, the Senate on a bipartisan basis passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, but House Republicans refused to take up the bill.
    • In 2018, a bipartisan group of Senators advanced the Uniting and Securing America Act to protect Dreamers and provide a pathway to citizenship, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • Again in 2018, the Senate tried to advance the United and Securing America Act “Common Sense” Proposal Amendment, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • Yet again in 2018, the Uniting and Securing America Act made it to the Senate floor but was blocked.
    • In 2019, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • In 2021, the House again passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans again blocked it.
    • In 2021 and 2022, the President proposed record funding for more border agents, more asylum officers, more immigration judges, more border technology, and more detention capacity. Republicans in Congress failed to fund both requests.
    • In 2024, the Senate failed to pass bipartisan immigration and border security bills after President Trump called on Senate Republicans to abandon the bill so Republicans could campaign on the issue.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Scholten, Salazar, and Escobar Reintroduce Historic Bipartisan Immigration Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (D-MI), alongside U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), announced the reintroduction of the Dignity Act of 2025, a historic, bipartisan immigration reform bill. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Adam Grey (D-CA), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Andriano Espaillat (D-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Young Kim (R-CA) also co-sponsored the bill.

    This historic bipartisan legislation would address border security and infrastructure challenges, tackle critical workforce development issues, create legal status for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, establish new pathways for asylum seekers, and create new legal pathways for economic migrants and unaccompanied minors.

    “As an attorney who has worked on immigration issues, both at the nation’s top law enforcement agency and at a community legal aid organization, helping migrants in West Michigan, I know this system. I’ve seen firsthand what patchwork and reactionary immigration policies do to families and communities, and I remain committed to creating a system that is both fair and humane, balancing humanitarian concerns with law enforcement. Our broken immigration system is a national security threat, an economic and workforce emergency, and a humanitarian crisis. This is Congress’s issue to solve, and we’re here to solve it,” said Rep. Scholten. “Congress must act now to reform our immigration system. It’s time to allow hardworking families to move out of the shadows and into the full light of the American dream. This bipartisan bill will make our communities and our country safer, bring our workforce into the 21st century, and bring dignity to millions of hardworking families already living in the United States to make our country a better place.”

    This comprehensive bill makes meaningful reforms to several aspects of our immigration system: 

    • Provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers
    • It creates the Dignity Program to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants already living in the United States;
    • It establishes new pathways for asylum seekers and creates new regional processing centers;
    • Enhances border security while creating additional accountability for ICE.

    The last time Congress passed immigration reform was in 1996, and that was driven by Republicans and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. That bill eliminated several legal immigration pathways, essentially making fewer people eligible for legal status while making more people deportable. Congress has had many opportunities to address this crisis. Over the last 10 years, 8 major pushes for immigration reform have failed:  

    • In 2013, the Senate on a bipartisan basis passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, but House Republicans refused to take up the bill.
    • In 2018, a bipartisan group of Senators advanced the Uniting and Securing America Act to protect Dreamers and provide a pathway to citizenship, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • Again in 2018, the Senate tried to advance the United and Securing America Act “Common Sense” Proposal Amendment, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • Yet again in 2018, the Uniting and Securing America Act made it to the Senate floor but was blocked.
    • In 2019, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
    • In 2021, the House again passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans again blocked it.
    • In 2021 and 2022, the President proposed record funding for more border agents, more asylum officers, more immigration judges, more border technology, and more detention capacity. Republicans in Congress failed to fund both requests.
    • In 2024, the Senate failed to pass bipartisan immigration and border security bills after President Trump called on Senate Republicans to abandon the bill so Republicans could campaign on the issue.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congressman Joe Neguse Reintroduce Bipartisan Supporting Military Voters Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL-15) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) announced the reintroduction of the Supporting Military Voters Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen oversight of the federal government’s efforts to support active-duty military members and their families in the voting process.

    The legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a comprehensive report evaluating the effectiveness of the federal government in carrying out its responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and recommending ways to improve access to voter registration information and assistance for military families.

    “The brave men and women who serve our country should never face unnecessary barriers when it comes to voting,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee. “This bill ensures Congress continues to exercise oversight of federal programs designed to serve military voters and gives us the information we need to improve the process. Every service member who wants to vote should be able to do so securely, and on time.”

    “The right to vote is sacrosanct, and those who bravely serve our country must have every opportunity to make their voices heard, including when serving overseas. That’s why I’m proud to team up with Rep. Laurel Lee in introducing the Supporting Military Voters Act. This bill would ensure that distance does not disenfranchise those protecting our country from voting,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

    “Institute for Responsive Government Action is pleased to endorse the Supporting Military Voters Act.” said Sam Oliker-Friedland, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsive Government Action. “This bipartisan legislation from Rep. Lee and Rep. Neguse is not only critical to ensuring access to the ballot box for military and overseas personnel and their families, but also holding the federal government accountable regarding its responsibilities to these voters. We will proudly continue to support any effort in reducing red tape that hinders election participation for Americans serving in the military or living abroad.”

    “Ensuring that our military voters can cast their ballots securely and without unnecessary barriers is a fundamental obligation of our democracy. By directing the GAO to study how effectively current systems are working, this bipartisan legislation takes a commonsense, evidence-based approach to oversight, laying the groundwork for future improvements while protecting the rights of those who serve,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

    “Evaluations as described by the Supporting Military Voters Act will help inform election officials to better understand what information gaps exists and what additional support is needed for our military servicemembers and their family members to achieve parity in voting rates with their contemporaries. We owe all of those who serve and protect our country a great debt. As they defend democracy and our way of life across the globe, the least we can do is give them the tools to participate in this great Republic,” said Paul Lux, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections. 

    “This bipartisan bill calls for a comprehensive study and analysis of all factors and data that impact the ability of our service members and their families to vote.The results of this study will help us better understand the factors that result in the very low voting rate of our uniformed service men and women. It will provide a basis of knowledge upon which we can improve the resources and outreach to our military voters, thus improving their ability to vote in a more hassle-free and seamless manner that is also secure and timely,” said Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections. 

    Background: 

    UOCAVA, first enacted in 1986, is the only federal law solely dedicated to protecting the voting rights of active-duty military members, their families, and overseas citizens. Under this law, states must provide an option for these voters to request and submit absentee ballots, often through the Federal Post Card Application. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is responsible for administering UOCAVA.

    Despite these protections, voting rates among active-duty military remain significantly lower than the general population. In the 2022 midterm elections, only 23 percent of active-duty military voters participated, compared to 52 percent of civilians. For military voters stationed overseas, the turnout dropped to just 15 percent.

    In June 2025, the House Administration Committee held the first congressional oversight hearing on FVAP in over a decade. FVAP Director Patrick Wiedmann highlighted the persistent challenges military voters face—such as time constraints, frequent relocations, and access to voter information.

    Supporting Organizations & Individuals: 

    • Issue One
    • Institute for Responsive Government Action
    • Bipartisan Policy Center Action
    • Concerned Veterans for America
    • Supervisor Paul Lux, Okaloosa County, FL
    • Supervisor Mark Earley, Leon County, FL

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congressman Joe Neguse Reintroduce Bipartisan Supporting Military Voters Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL-15) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) announced the reintroduction of the Supporting Military Voters Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen oversight of the federal government’s efforts to support active-duty military members and their families in the voting process.

    The legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a comprehensive report evaluating the effectiveness of the federal government in carrying out its responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and recommending ways to improve access to voter registration information and assistance for military families.

    “The brave men and women who serve our country should never face unnecessary barriers when it comes to voting,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee. “This bill ensures Congress continues to exercise oversight of federal programs designed to serve military voters and gives us the information we need to improve the process. Every service member who wants to vote should be able to do so securely, and on time.”

    “The right to vote is sacrosanct, and those who bravely serve our country must have every opportunity to make their voices heard, including when serving overseas. That’s why I’m proud to team up with Rep. Laurel Lee in introducing the Supporting Military Voters Act. This bill would ensure that distance does not disenfranchise those protecting our country from voting,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

    “Institute for Responsive Government Action is pleased to endorse the Supporting Military Voters Act.” said Sam Oliker-Friedland, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsive Government Action. “This bipartisan legislation from Rep. Lee and Rep. Neguse is not only critical to ensuring access to the ballot box for military and overseas personnel and their families, but also holding the federal government accountable regarding its responsibilities to these voters. We will proudly continue to support any effort in reducing red tape that hinders election participation for Americans serving in the military or living abroad.”

    “Ensuring that our military voters can cast their ballots securely and without unnecessary barriers is a fundamental obligation of our democracy. By directing the GAO to study how effectively current systems are working, this bipartisan legislation takes a commonsense, evidence-based approach to oversight, laying the groundwork for future improvements while protecting the rights of those who serve,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

    “Evaluations as described by the Supporting Military Voters Act will help inform election officials to better understand what information gaps exists and what additional support is needed for our military servicemembers and their family members to achieve parity in voting rates with their contemporaries. We owe all of those who serve and protect our country a great debt. As they defend democracy and our way of life across the globe, the least we can do is give them the tools to participate in this great Republic,” said Paul Lux, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections. 

    “This bipartisan bill calls for a comprehensive study and analysis of all factors and data that impact the ability of our service members and their families to vote.The results of this study will help us better understand the factors that result in the very low voting rate of our uniformed service men and women. It will provide a basis of knowledge upon which we can improve the resources and outreach to our military voters, thus improving their ability to vote in a more hassle-free and seamless manner that is also secure and timely,” said Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections. 

    Background: 

    UOCAVA, first enacted in 1986, is the only federal law solely dedicated to protecting the voting rights of active-duty military members, their families, and overseas citizens. Under this law, states must provide an option for these voters to request and submit absentee ballots, often through the Federal Post Card Application. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is responsible for administering UOCAVA.

    Despite these protections, voting rates among active-duty military remain significantly lower than the general population. In the 2022 midterm elections, only 23 percent of active-duty military voters participated, compared to 52 percent of civilians. For military voters stationed overseas, the turnout dropped to just 15 percent.

    In June 2025, the House Administration Committee held the first congressional oversight hearing on FVAP in over a decade. FVAP Director Patrick Wiedmann highlighted the persistent challenges military voters face—such as time constraints, frequent relocations, and access to voter information.

    Supporting Organizations & Individuals: 

    • Issue One
    • Institute for Responsive Government Action
    • Bipartisan Policy Center Action
    • Concerned Veterans for America
    • Supervisor Paul Lux, Okaloosa County, FL
    • Supervisor Mark Earley, Leon County, FL

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Leads Bipartisan Bill to Protect Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01) today announced his co-leadership of the bipartisan Estuaries Saving Through Efficient and Responsible Appropriations for Your Shoreline (ESTUARIES) Act, a bill that reauthorizes the National Estuary Program (NEP) through Fiscal Year 2031 and supports the continued restoration and protection of vital estuarine ecosystems across the country.

    “I lead the bipartisan ESTUARIES Act in the House because I represent two of our nation’s 28 nationally recognized estuaries—and I know they’re vital to our economy, our fisheries, and the coastal way of life we cherish. That’s why I’m proud to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure clean water and healthy habitats remain national priorities for generations to come,” said Rep. Nick LaLota.

    “The National Estuary Program is one of the smartest investments Congress can make in clean water, resilient infrastructure, and local economies,” said Joyce Novak, PhD, Executive Director of the Peconic Estuary Partnership and Chair of the Association of National Estuary Programs. “Reauthorizing the NEP ensures that coastal communities can continue to lead with science, partner across sectors, and deliver real results where they matter most. We thank Congressman Lalota for his continued and unwavering support for clean water on Long Island and for recognizing the power of this program to protect both ecosystems and economies.”

    To read the full text of the ESTUARIES Act, click HERE.

    Background:

    H.R. 3962 ESTUARIES Act reauthorizes the National Estuary Program (NEP) through Fiscal Year 2031. This bill, which amends Section 320(i)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, ensures the continued protection and restoration of estuaries critical to coastal communities and ecosystems across the country. This legislation extends federal funding authority from 2026 through 2031, ensuring uninterrupted support for vital work in watershed planning, conservation, and pollution mitigation.

    The NEP is a non-regulatory, community-based initiative administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It empowers local stakeholders to improve water quality, restore habitats, and build climate resilience in estuaries of national significance.

    New York’s First Congressional District is home to two nationally recognized estuaries: the Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Leads Bipartisan Bill to Protect Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01) today announced his co-leadership of the bipartisan Estuaries Saving Through Efficient and Responsible Appropriations for Your Shoreline (ESTUARIES) Act, a bill that reauthorizes the National Estuary Program (NEP) through Fiscal Year 2031 and supports the continued restoration and protection of vital estuarine ecosystems across the country.

    “I lead the bipartisan ESTUARIES Act in the House because I represent two of our nation’s 28 nationally recognized estuaries—and I know they’re vital to our economy, our fisheries, and the coastal way of life we cherish. That’s why I’m proud to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure clean water and healthy habitats remain national priorities for generations to come,” said Rep. Nick LaLota.

    “The National Estuary Program is one of the smartest investments Congress can make in clean water, resilient infrastructure, and local economies,” said Joyce Novak, PhD, Executive Director of the Peconic Estuary Partnership and Chair of the Association of National Estuary Programs. “Reauthorizing the NEP ensures that coastal communities can continue to lead with science, partner across sectors, and deliver real results where they matter most. We thank Congressman Lalota for his continued and unwavering support for clean water on Long Island and for recognizing the power of this program to protect both ecosystems and economies.”

    To read the full text of the ESTUARIES Act, click HERE.

    Background:

    H.R. 3962 ESTUARIES Act reauthorizes the National Estuary Program (NEP) through Fiscal Year 2031. This bill, which amends Section 320(i)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, ensures the continued protection and restoration of estuaries critical to coastal communities and ecosystems across the country. This legislation extends federal funding authority from 2026 through 2031, ensuring uninterrupted support for vital work in watershed planning, conservation, and pollution mitigation.

    The NEP is a non-regulatory, community-based initiative administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It empowers local stakeholders to improve water quality, restore habitats, and build climate resilience in estuaries of national significance.

    New York’s First Congressional District is home to two nationally recognized estuaries: the Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bills. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this month, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

    This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.

    “The brilliant faculty and students at Maine’s public universities and at the flagship university are conducting cutting-edge research and making promising discoveries in a wide variety of fields,” said Senator Collins. “This funding to support these exciting projects across the UMaine System would promote workforce development, support marine research, and help to prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

    “These investments—made possible through Senator Collins’ advocacy—would expand research opportunities, improve infrastructure, and support collaborative solutions that strengthen Maine’s economy and communities,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the UMaine System.

    “Located at the heart of our campus, the Reynolds Center is a hub of learning and connection. This investment would expand its role as a space for students to grow academically and socially — strengthening our commitment to the Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.

    “The spruce budworm is one of the most significant threats to Maine’s forest economy, and proactive research is essential to protecting this vital resource,” said Dr. Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics at the University of Maine. “With this support, UMaine can expand its leadership in forest health research, helping landowners, communities, and the forest products industry prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Collins’ investment in the resilience of Maine’s forests.” 

    Funding advanced by Senator Collins for the UMaine System in the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills is as follows:

    Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Coastal counties from Washington County to York County, ME
    Amount Requested: $5,000,000
    Project Purpose: To expand the ocean observation system in the Gulf of Maine, which is used by the maritime and fishing industries.

    University of Maine Health Science Complex
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Orono, ME
    Amount Requested: $45,000,000
    Project Purpose: To support the construction of a health and life sciences complex.

    University of Maine Forest Health Lab
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Orono, ME
    Amount Requested: $600,000
    Project Purpose: To support the construction of the University’s Forest Health Lab, which conducts spruce budworm research.

    University of Maine at Machias Early College Student Support Center
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Machias, ME
    Amount Requested: $750,000
    Project Purpose: To renovate a facility on campus to support early college students.

    American Lobster Settlement Index Expansion
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Walpole, ME
    Amount Requested: $1,000,000
    Project Purpose: To expand the Maine Collector Survey for lobster in the Gulf of Maine.

    In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bills. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this month, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

    This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.

    “The brilliant faculty and students at Maine’s public universities and at the flagship university are conducting cutting-edge research and making promising discoveries in a wide variety of fields,” said Senator Collins. “This funding to support these exciting projects across the UMaine System would promote workforce development, support marine research, and help to prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

    “These investments—made possible through Senator Collins’ advocacy—would expand research opportunities, improve infrastructure, and support collaborative solutions that strengthen Maine’s economy and communities,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the UMaine System.

    “Located at the heart of our campus, the Reynolds Center is a hub of learning and connection. This investment would expand its role as a space for students to grow academically and socially — strengthening our commitment to the Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.

    “The spruce budworm is one of the most significant threats to Maine’s forest economy, and proactive research is essential to protecting this vital resource,” said Dr. Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics at the University of Maine. “With this support, UMaine can expand its leadership in forest health research, helping landowners, communities, and the forest products industry prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Collins’ investment in the resilience of Maine’s forests.” 

    Funding advanced by Senator Collins for the UMaine System in the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills is as follows:

    Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Coastal counties from Washington County to York County, ME
    Amount Requested: $5,000,000
    Project Purpose: To expand the ocean observation system in the Gulf of Maine, which is used by the maritime and fishing industries.

    University of Maine Health Science Complex
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Orono, ME
    Amount Requested: $45,000,000
    Project Purpose: To support the construction of a health and life sciences complex.

    University of Maine Forest Health Lab
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Orono, ME
    Amount Requested: $600,000
    Project Purpose: To support the construction of the University’s Forest Health Lab, which conducts spruce budworm research.

    University of Maine at Machias Early College Student Support Center
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Machias, ME
    Amount Requested: $750,000
    Project Purpose: To renovate a facility on campus to support early college students.

    American Lobster Settlement Index Expansion
    Recipient: University of Maine System
    Project Location: Walpole, ME
    Amount Requested: $1,000,000
    Project Purpose: To expand the Maine Collector Survey for lobster in the Gulf of Maine.

    In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Sanders, Wyden Investigate Skydance’s Role in Potential Secret Trump Payoff Connected to Paramount Deal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    July 21, 2025

    Skydance reportedly set up secret side deal with Trump worth tens of millions more dollars, with potential Skydance/Paramount merger pending Trump admin approval

    “These reports raise fresh questions about corruption in the Trump Administration and President Trump’s willingness to accept payments from entities with significant policy interests before agencies he controls.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pressed David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media, about reports of a secret deal between Skydance and President Trump — and how it may be related to Paramount’s recent multi-million-dollar settlement agreement with Trump. The settlement, which comes as Skydance and Paramount await approval from the Trump administration for their proposed mega-merger, has raised concerns about potential bribery.

    “These reports raise fresh questions about corruption in the Trump Administration and President Trump’s willingness to accept payments from entities with significant policy interests before agencies he controls,” wrote the senators.

    In May, following reports of a potential settlement in Paramount’s legal battle with President Trump, the senators wrote to the company with concerns that its attempt to settle President Trump’s “meritless” lawsuit for tens of millions of dollars, while approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance is pending in front of the Trump administration, could be construed as bribery.

    Despite the senators’ warnings, on July 2, Paramount settled with President Trump for $16 million, at least part of which will go toward his Presidential Library fund. But President Trump himself revealed that the arrangement is worth more than the initially announced $16 million, leading to reports of a back-door deal with President Trump. Reporting suggests that a secret side deal with Skydance may include public service announcements “and other broadcast transmissions” worth between $15 million and $20 million that “support conservative causes supported by President Trump.”

    On July 17, CBS announced it was canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, just days after the host criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump on his show and said the deal resembled bribery.

    The senators asked Skydance to answer questions related to whether Skydance’s actions comply with federal anti-bribery laws, including about the contents of the secret deal with President Trump, whether the deal’s participants discussed the pending Paramount-Skydance transaction, and whether Skydance executives were involved in the decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, by August 4.

    The $16 million Paramount settlement will largely go straight to President Trump’s Presidential Library fund — along with the money from other settlements by tech and media companies, including ABC. Senator Warren, alongside Senator Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), last week introduced the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act, new legislation to close loopholes that allow presidential libraries to be used as tools for corruption and bribery.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman Statement on Interior Memo Targeting Clean Energy on Federal Lands

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    July 17, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) issued a statement after the Department of the Interior released a memo ordering that all wind and solar energy projects on federal lands must now receive personal approval from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum:
     
    “This memo confirms what we’ve known all along: the Trump administration is deliberately sabotaging clean energy on our public lands. Trump and his fossil fuel allies are so desperate to prop up polluting industries that they’re forcing every single decision and permit for every solar and wind project through the Interior Secretary’s desk.
     
    “Let me be clear, this will drive up energy costs for American families and result in fewer jobs in communities that need them the most, in red and blue districts alike. Blocking wind and solar while China dominates the global clean energy market is nothing short of a surrender.
     
    “Republicans talk a big game about cutting red tape, but when clean energy threatens fossil fuel profits, they pile on bureaucracy. We are watching them slow-walk permits, rewrite definitions, and dismantle tax credits for renewables under the cover of executive orders and a budget bill so horrendous, it reads like it was written by Big Oil — all while the climate crisis fuels deadly heat waves, wildfires, and floods across the country.
     
    “House Republicans and this administration can try to stall our clean energy future, but they won’t stop Democrats from fighting for cleaner air, lower bills, and an economy that works for everyone.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman Releases Interior Department Letter Opposing GOP Effort to Overturn Public Land Protections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    July 21, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released a letter from the Department of the Interior (DOI) that rebukes House Republicans’ unprecedented attempt to roll back long-term land management plans in Alaska, North Dakota, and Montana through the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

    In a response to Rep. Huffman’s inquiry, DOI made clear that Resource Management Plans (RMPs) approved under Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 are not considered “rules” subject to CRA repeal. This directly undermines the legal premise of three CRA resolutions introduced by House Republicans that seek to void years of public engagement, scientific review, and Tribal consultation.

    “The answer to this question is no,” DOI wrote in the letter, referring to whether RMPs qualify as CRA-covered rules.

    The RMPs targeted by the Republican resolutions took years to develop and reflect broad public input, including from local communities, Tribes, and conservation experts. A recent poll from the National Wildlife Federation found that 75% of voters oppose efforts by Congress to eliminate existing public land management plans.

    Ranking Member Huffman is calling on Congress to reject H.J. Res. 104, 105, and 106 and protect the integrity of public land management processes.

    Read the full letter here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, McCollum, Craig, Morrison, Omar, Pingree Demand Answers on Reverse of Mineral Withdrawal in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    July 18, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Rollins and Interior Secretary Burgum demanding answers on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to overturn the 225,504-acre federal mineral withdrawal in the Rainy River Watershed on the Superior National Forest.

    This move would blindside local communities, ignore scientific consensus, and put the profits of mining interests ahead of Minnesota’s clean water and world-renowned wilderness.

    “This withdrawal is crucial for protecting the clean water, unparalleled recreation opportunities, and biodiverse wildlife habitat of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Boundary Waters)—the most visited National Wilderness Area in the nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “As Representatives for the people of the United States and champions for the Boundary Waters – a vast reserve of some of our nation’s purest water and one of our greatest outdoor treasures – we have significant concerns both the substance of this announcement and the manner in which it was communicated.”

    The lawmakers slammed Secretary Rollins for announcing the decision using a vague and misleading social post, claiming to have reviewed the withdrawal and taken into account the extensive public input. Multiple environmental reviews and public letters from the U.S. Forest Service leadership have repeatedly concluded that opening the Superior National Forest to mineral development would pose unacceptable risks to the watershed’s cultural, economic, and natural resource values. Polls show that 70 percent of Minnesotans support permanent protection of the Boundary Waters.

    “The people of Minnesota and Americans nationwide overwhelmingly support permanent protection for the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The use of an inaccurate tweet lacking substantive detail has generated confusion and concern among our constituents, who have already provided extensive public input in support of protecting the Boundary Waters through a mineral withdrawal,” added the lawmakers.

    Unraveling the mineral withdrawal protecting these headwaters threatens pristine ecosystems and a vibrant recreational economy supporting nearly 96,000 jobs in Minnesota and generating $13.5 billion annually. The lawmakers asked Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum to address their concerns before any further action is taken on the Rainy River Mineral Withdrawal by either the USDA or the DOI. 

    Read the full letter here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Estimated Budgetary Effects of Public Law 119-21, to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14, Relative to the Budget Enforcement Baseline for Consideration in the Senate

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    CBO estimates that Public Law 119-21 will result in a net decrease in the unified budget deficit totaling $366 billion over the 2025-2034 period, relative to the budget enforcement baseline for consideration in the Senate. That decrease in the deficit is estimated to result from a decrease in direct spending of $1.2 trillion and an decrease in revenues of $849 billion.

    Some of those budgetary effects are associated with programs that are classified as off-budget. The decrease in the on-budget deficit over that period is estimated at $380 billion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Quality Conference Highlights

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the 2025 Quality Conference, July 1-2, convening healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates from across the country. This year’s theme—“Make American Healthy: Improving Health Outcomes Through Prevention, Quality, and Safety,”—focused on practical strategies to reduce harm, improve outcomes, and modernize care delivery. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS maps moon for water, supporting NASA mission

    Source: US Geological Survey

    “The USGS and NASA have partnered for over 50 years to leverage space technologies to map the Earth’s resources, and to bring Earth science to bear on space exploration,” said Sarah Ryker, acting USGS director.“As the nation plans to return astronauts to the Moon, the Artemis missions will require resources prohibitive to bring from Earth. Our USGS expertise in assessing resources will help locate ice, which can be purified for drinking, or electrolyzed to make hydrogen and oxygen, key ingredients in rocket fuel.” 

    Since its establishment in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey has been mapping mineral resources in the U.S. and on Earth, with satellite-based scanning beginning in 1972. Off-planet prospectivity is the latest step in the USGS and NASA’s partnership applying Earth science tools to space. 

    NASA’s planned VIPER, or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, mission will explore volatile-bearing deposits within the loose surface materials near the Moon’s South Pole, specifically around the Mons Mouton landing site. By locating and characterizing these resources, particularly water ice, the mission could reduce the need to transport such materials from Earth, supporting long-term lunar exploration and future space missions.

    “Contributing to the VIPER Science Team helps the USGS test our methods in new settings, with new types of data. This mission represents a bold leap forward in lunar science, and also advances what we do on Earth,” said Joshua Coyan, lead author of the study and a research geologist with the USGS Mineral Resources Program.

    Mapping lunar resources paves the way for uncovering critical supplies on other planetary bodies. On Earth, the USGS maps energy and water resources; on the Moon and other planets, as on Earth, water is a potential energy resource.

    To support the VIPER mission, the USGS Mineral Resources Program partnered with NASA, the University of Hawai’i, and the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute to develop a new astrogeological prospectivity map with the goal of identifying locations with a high likelihood of containing water-ice deposits around the Lunar South Pole.

    “This is the first time Earth-based geostatistical techniques have been adapted to map potential resources on another celestial body,” said Coyan. “By applying proven terrestrial methods in a new planetary context, we’re showing that the tools used to assess mineral potential on Earth can also help identify strategic exploration targets on the Moon and potentially beyond.”

    Studying these potential water ice deposits may also help to shed light onto the origin and distribution of these lunar volatiles, offering a deeper understanding of the Moon’s geologic and thermal evolution.

    The team found that there are several highly prospective areas near the VIPER landing site. Notable locations include the bases of the Jaci, Masina, and Dawa craters, in addition to several smaller clusters of depressions in the surrounding areas.

    3D Map showing prospectivity of water ice volatiles in the Mons Mouton region (Map by Coyan et al., 2025, USGS Mineral Resources Program).

    The prospectivity map was generated using methodologies for uncovering drilling and mining locations. Remote sensing and geophysical data on the lunar poles are relatively scarce, so the team used a “fuzzy logic” artificial intelligence technique to locate areas with high potential for ice based on factors like shade and slope.

    These techniques were designed to improve as new data is collected during the mission, allowing for near-real time refinement of the locations considered prospective for water ice.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Weekly Immigration Caseload Dips Below 200 in Western District of Texas

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

    SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 178 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from July 11 through July 17.

    Among the new cases, Edgar Josue Montelongo-Loera was charged in a criminal complaint in Del Rio for trafficking in firearms. On June 12, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, assisting in a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigation, allegedly observed Montelongo-Loera transfer a plastic bag containing seven 9mm pistols to a non-immigrant alien co-conspirator at a parking lot in Eagle Pass. The criminal complaint states that HSI agents followed the co-conspirator to the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers allegedly located eight firearms concealed inside the vehicle during an inspection. Further investigation by ATF revealed that Montelongo-Loera allegedly purchased one of the pistols at a retail location in San Antonio.

    Also in the Del Rio sector, Mexican national Jose Elias Gavina-Vasquez was arrested on July 14 and charged with illegal re-entry. Gavina-Vasquez has seven prior deportations, and he was most recently deported to Mexico on Feb. 23, 2023. He has a prior felony conviction from June 2022 and a separate conviction for driving while intoxicated from March 2022.

    Mexican national and convicted felon Juan Antonio Torres-Moreno was also arrested and charged with illegal re-entry in Del Rio. Torres-Moreno has three prior removals and a voluntary departure, the last being a deportation in 2019. The 2019 deportation resulted from his second illegal-re-entry conviction. He was sentenced to nine months confinement in that case.

    Sergio Villeda-Hernandez, also a Mexican national, was arrested in Eagle Pass on July 13 and charged with illegal re-entry after he was recently removed from the U.S. on March 18. Villeda-Hernandez is a convicted felon, having been sentenced to just over a year in prison in 2007 for a felony battery, possession of cocaine, and selling cocaine in DeSoto County, Florida.

    In El Paso, Mexican national Mario Humberto Sanchez-Hernandez was found less than a mile and a half west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the U.S. Sanchez-Hernandez was just removed from the U.S. to Mexico for the third time on June 21 through San Diego and was convicted in October 2024 for driving under the influence in Newark, New Jersey.

    Two brothers were arrested in El Paso, each charged with one count of alien smuggling. U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted an undercover operation that led them to meet Marcos Dominguez, who allegedly believed the agents were transporting two illegal aliens and were in need of a stash house. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that Marcos exited his vehicle to assist with transferring one of the illegal aliens from the agents’ vehicle to his own. Marcos was then detained for further investigation and agreed to guide the agents to his residence. At the residence, the agents encountered Marcos’s brother, Andres Dominguez, who allegedly admitted that illegal aliens were present inside. Agents located four subjects determined to be illegal aliens. The illegal aliens were arrested and transported to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station. The investigation revealed that Marcos allegedly housed more than 40 illegal aliens at his residence, was paid $200 per day for his smuggling actions, and would split the earnings with his brother Andres, whom he said helped him house and transport the illegal aliens.

    In Austin, the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Fugitive Operations Team (FOT) encountered Honduran national Jimmy Reinel Espinal-Mejia on July 16. Espinal-Mejia was convicted for illegal re-entry in May 2024 after being previously removed in January 2024. For that conviction, he was sentenced to 63 days confinement and removed in July 2024. Six years earlier, in 2018, Espinal-Mejia was convicted for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

    In Waco, a Mexican national was charged with illegal re-entry on July 17 when Temple Police responded to a vehicle collision in Temple and identified Eloy Hernandez-Ponce as one of the vehicle occupants. ICE identified Hernandez-Ponce as a previously removed alien who was last deported in March 2010 following a felony conviction for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in Houston.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: As Canada’s economy faces serious challenges, the Indigenous economy offers solutions

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mylon Ollila, PhD Candidate in Indigenous Economic Policy, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)

    Canada faces economic headwinds due to geopolitical change, including a trade war with its closest economic partner, the United States.

    Canada’s policymakers are searching for new, sustainable sources of economic strength. One such source is already here and is being overlooked: the emerging Indigenous economy. It has the potential to boost Canada’s economy by more than $60 billion a year.

    But Indigenous Peoples are still largely seen as an economic liability to manage instead of an opportunity for growth. It is time for a mindset shift. For it to happen, the federal government should remove unfair economic barriers and invest in closing the employment and income gap.

    Canada’s future depends on Indigenous Peoples

    Economic growth is projected to decline over the coming years for developed nations, with Canada expected to have the lowest GDP of the 38 OECD countries by 2060. As growth stalls, living standards will decline and governments will face increased fiscal pressure.

    Compounding this challenge is Canada’s aging labour force. The number of people aged 65 and over is growing six times faster than the number of children aged 14 and under — those who will be entering the job market in the coming years. This demographic shift places additional pressure on pensions, the health-care system and the economy.



    Read more:
    Enabling better aging: The 4 things seniors need, and the 4 things that need to change

    But these gloomy projections often overlook one of Canada’s comparative advantages: a young Indigenous population, growing at a rate outpacing the non-Indigenous population. While Indigenous Peoples comprise five per cent of Canada’s population, they only contribute 2.4 per cent of the total GDP.

    A BNN Bloomberg feature about the Indigenous economy in Canada.

    If Indigenous Peoples could participate in the economy at the same rate as non-Indigenous Canadians, their GDP contribution could increase from about $55 billion to well over $100 billion annually.

    Despite this potential, Canada has largely failed to invest in Indigenous Peoples and reform the colonial structures that create inequality.

    While some progress has been made, such as the First Nations Fiscal Management Act that offers communities tools to strengthen their economies, progress is still too slow.

    Economic barriers hold back First Nations

    There are two parts to every economy: economic advantages and the institutions that make those advantages actionable. Some institutions lower the costs of doing business and encourage investment, while others do the opposite. Investment naturally flows to places that have both economic advantages and low costs of doing business.

    In Canada, strong property rights lower the costs of doing business and support the finance of business ventures. An efficient tax system creates predictability and allows governments to provide services. Business-grade infrastructure reduces logistical costs. All these institutions work together to support Canada’s economic development.

    In contrast, First Nations communities are constrained by Canadian institutions. The Indian Act limits First Nations’ authority over their own affairs, segregating them from mainstream finance mechanisms. Unclear legal jurisdiction between federal, provincial and Indigenous governments and weak property rights discourage business investments.

    Limited authority and fiscal powers mean First Nations governments cannot provide services at national standards and must depend on other governments.

    Compounding these issues is the fragmented, insufficient and culturally inappropriate nature of federal support systems. First Nations people have economic advantages and an entrepreneurial spirit, but they are burdened with unfair economic barriers, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to capital and administrative hurdles.

    Investing in Indigenous economies is vital

    In 1997, the Royal Bank of Canada predicted that not investing in Indigenous Peoples would widen the socioeconomic gap. As predicted, this is what happened.

    Canada has consistently chosen to manage poverty instead of investing in growth. While financial support for Indigenous Peoples more than doubled over the last decade, it only resulted in modest improvement in living standards.

    The RoadMap Project, a national initiative led by the First Nations Financial Management Board and other Indigenous organizations, proposes a pathway to economic reconciliation. Investing in the Indigenous economy means supporting Indigenous training, providing access to capital for Indigenous organizations and reforming the institutions that continue to impose systemic barriers.

    Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, improve health outcomes and drive economic development. The federal government should therefore support training programs designed to meet Indigenous needs.

    Online learning could help remote communities achieve educational goals, but its success depends on major investments in high-speed internet access, which remains lacking in many areas.

    Indigenous organizations are best positioned to understand and respond to local training needs. That is why Indigenous control over revenue transfers and program design must be central to any future investments in education. To support this, the federal government should partner with Indigenous education institutions to develop common goals and values.

    Financing and supporting Indigenous growth

    Indigenous Peoples develop new businesses at nine times the Canadian average, but only receive 0.2 per cent of available credit. Most Indigenous enterprises are small and cannot grow without viable financing options.

    Yet, individual Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nations governments face challenges securing loans and financial support.

    Internationally, development banks have been used to fill credit gaps when the private sector is unable to meet the needs of emerging economies.

    In Canada, the First Nations Financial Management Board and other Indigenous organizations are calling for a similar solution: the creation of an Indigenous Development Finance Organization. By lending to Indigenous governments and businesses, this finance organization could bridge the gap between the financial markets and the Indigenous economy.

    While investments in capacity and development finance are urgent needs, only the dismantling of economic barriers and increased access to effective institutions can assure Indigenous development.

    Legislation such as the First Nations Fiscal Management Act and the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management can support Indigenous economies through taxation, budgeting, land codes and financial laws. They offer a pathway between the Indian Act framework and self-government, without waiting on lengthy negotiations.

    Growing stronger together

    Canada’s economic future will remain uncertain if short-term solutions keep being prioritized while ignoring the growth potential of the Indigenous economy. Improvements to the status quo are no longer sufficient.

    The federal government must support Indigenous-led initiatives like the RoadMap Project to foster shared growth and prosperity for Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians alike. Investments are needed to narrow the employment and income gap through new supports for capacity, access to capital and institutional reform.

    Mylon Ollila is a Senior Strategist for the First Nations Financial Management Board.

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

    – ref. As Canada’s economy faces serious challenges, the Indigenous economy offers solutions – https://theconversation.com/as-canadas-economy-faces-serious-challenges-the-indigenous-economy-offers-solutions-261252

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: More than just a bad date: Navigating harms on LGBTQ+ dating apps

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Christopher Dietzel, Postdoctoral fellow, the DIGS Lab, Concordia University

    It is crucial to think about what you can do promote your safety while using dating apps, and before you click the download button. (Shutterstock)

    Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Grindr have become a ubiquitous part of modern dating for young people looking to meet potential partners. However, many Gen Z users are increasingly forgoing dating apps, feeling burnt out by the whole process.



    Read more:
    Why in-person dating is making a comeback — and why Gen Z is struggling with it

    Dating apps have been plagued with concerns about harassment, sexual and gender-based violence, romance scams and other safety issues. These risks are elevated for LGBTQ+ people who can experience hate crimes, physical violence and other harms when using dating apps.

    With anti-LGBTQ+ movements rising in Canada, the United States and around the world, it is important to understand the potential dangers of online dating and how LGBTQ+ people can promote their safety.

    We recently conducted an online survey that looks into LGBTQ+ people’s experiences with dating apps in Canada as part of a research project at Concordia University’s Digital Intimacy, Gender & Sexuality (DIGS) Lab. We analyzed 624 participant responses that reveal the different harms LGBTQ+ users face and the strategies they use to mitigate those harms.

    Dating today can feel like a mix of endless swipes, red flags and shifting expectations. From decoding mixed signals to balancing independence with intimacy, relationships in your 20s and 30s come with unique challenges. Love IRL is the latest series from Quarter Life that explores it all.

    These research-backed articles break down the complexities of modern love to help you build meaningful connections, no matter your relationship status.

    Harms against LGBTQ+ dating app users

    LGBTQ+ dating users can experience a variety of harms, including unwanted sexual advances, harassment, coercion, discrimination and catfishing.

    The most common types of harms that participants experienced were sexual harms (like receiving unsolicited sexual content, sexual harassment and sexual assault), emotional harms (like bullying and threatening behavior) and social harms (like discrimination and exclusion). Sexual harm was more common online and emotional harm was more common in person.

    Many trans and non-binary participants were insulted with slurs and told their identity was not real by other dating app users. Some people they matched with would also verbally attack them or make death threats. Other trans and non-binary participants reported that people were often nice and friendly online, but then would harass them in person.

    Like other studies have found, objectification and fetishization were also common for trans and non-binary users.

    Racialized LGBTQ+ users said people often made racist comments or used slurs against them. Racial stereotyping and fetishizing was also common. For example, one participant said that she received “comments about my body based on my race and implications of what a Black woman could do with her lips.”

    As an example of the discrimination Asian men experience, one participant said “white people tend to fetishize Asian bodies and assume they’re submissive.” Other research has similarly found that racial exclusion and racial fetishization are common on dating apps.

    There were participants who reported being drugged or sexually assaulted when they met someone in person. Unfortunately, many people who use dating apps say that they have experienced sexual violence online or in person.

    Younger LGBTQ+ users reported feeling pressured or coerced into doing sexual acts by older users. For example, one participant said they felt pushed into doing sexual acts they were not comfortable with.

    Sextortion is on the rise among youth, and dating apps can facilitate sextortion and romance scams.

    Strategies for staying safe

    If you or someone you know uses dating apps, there are steps you can take to make your experience safer.

    The LGBTQ+ people in our study employed strategies like verifying someone’s identity through video calls or by checking out their social media profiles. When meeting someone in person for the first time, participants would choose to meet in a public space and share their location with family or close friends.

    These are some examples of common strategies, often encouraged by dating app companies, that you can employ to promote your safety.

    Safety is not just the individual’s responsibility, however. Dating app companies need to keep their users safe, and participants from the survey gave suggestions to make dating apps safer. For instance, many recommended better content moderation systems to filter out inappropriate messages and problematic users.

    Participants wanted features to make it easier for marginalized communities to connect and avoid people who harass or discriminate. They also wanted better enforcement and stricter consequences for people who violated an app’s community guidelines, like making it impossible, not just harder, for banned users to get back on the apps.

    Some dating apps have recently implemented new safety features, but many users find their moderation systems inadequate.

    Protecting your privacy

    Dating apps have also been criticized for prioritizing profits over users’ security and well-being. That said, users do not want dating apps to police their every move. Too much moderation can impede authenticity and spontaneity.

    Another thing to think about is how new technology is being incorporated into the apps you use and what that means for your safety and privacy. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more popular and accessible, and dating app companies are integrating this technology into their platforms to help manage user safety.

    However, AI in online dating raises new concerns about data privacy, content moderation and technological bias — all of which can negatively impact the user experience.

    App terms and conditions are notoriously long and difficult to understand, and most people are unlikely to read them at all.

    However, there is information publicly available to help you understand how your data will be used and stored. There are also features in some apps to help you manage your privacy.

    With evolving technologies and changes in the sociopolitical climate, these safety issues are not going away. In fact, they may become more complicated in the future. It is crucial to think about what you can do promote your safety while using dating apps, both online and in person.

    Christopher Dietzel receives funding from Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC).

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

    – ref. More than just a bad date: Navigating harms on LGBTQ+ dating apps – https://theconversation.com/more-than-just-a-bad-date-navigating-harms-on-lgbtq-dating-apps-252297

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Conaway, New Jersey Congressional Democrats Condemn Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Decision to Detain Undocumented Immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), along with U.S. Representatives Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05)—issued the following statement after Defense Secretary Hegseth announced his plan to use Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as a detention site for undocumented immigrants:

    “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Trump Administration to use Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as an immigrant detention center. This is an inappropriate use of our national defense system and military resources. Escalating a radical immigration policy that has resulted in the inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants and unlawful deportation of U.S. citizens, including children, across the country.

    “We call on our Republican colleagues in New Jersey to join us in urging this Administration to immediately reverse this action. Using our country’s military to detain and hold undocumented immigrants jeopardizes military preparedness and paves the way for ICE immigration raids in every New Jersey community. We have the greatest military in the world and using it as a domestic political tool is unacceptable and shameful.”

    To read the letter Congressman Conaway received from Secretary of Defense Hegseth, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Issue Statements After Trump Administration Heeds Demands to Release Funding for Boys and Girls Clubs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, both D-VA, issued the following statements after the Trump Administration heeded their demands that release funding it was illegally withholding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, including over $23 million for centers throughout Virginia, such as Boys and Girls clubs:

    “It’s about time that the Trump administration finally agreed to release federal funding for these vital community learning centers in Virginia and across the country,” said Warner. “Sadly, the truth of the matter is that these funds should never have been stalled. Holding back these investments put unnecessary strain on schools and families, jeopardizing critical support for children in need. Virginia’s kids deserve better.”

    “I had the chance to meet with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Southwest Virginia earlier this month to hear from them directly about how devastating the Trump Administration’s illegal withholding of critical funding would be for their ability to provide crucial educational programs for kids throughout Virginia,” said Kaine. “I informed my Senate colleagues of these disastrous cuts at a HELP committee hearing on Tuesday and urged Republican leaders to press the Trump Administration to reverse its devastating action. While I am glad to see the Trump Administration complied with our demands to release this funding, it never should have been withheld in the first place. It’s past time for the Administration to release the remaining $85 million it is still actively withholding from Virginia schools.”

    Warner and Kaine have repeatedly battled the Trump Administration over its illegal withholding of already-appropriated federal funding. On July 3, 2025, the senators issued a statement demanding that the Administration promptly release $108 million in funding for Virginia K-12 education—including money for teacher training, after-school programs, and mental health resources—that had already been duly appropriated by Congress. In the following weeks, Kaine met with local officials, parents, and leadership of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia in Vinton, Virginia; and with officials of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Washington, D.C. In April 2025, Warner and Kaine joined 40 of their congressional colleagues in excoriating the Trump Administration over its illegal funding freeze to Head Start programs on which thousands of families and children in Virginia rely.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada grants $1,859,000 to Just For Laughs Festival

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Montréal, Quebec, July 21, 2025

    This year, the Just For Laughs Festival is back in Montréal from July 16 to 27 with new diverse programming where festive comic entertainment is front stage!

    Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), along with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced a total of $1,859,000 in funding for the Just For Laughs Festival.

    CED is providing a non-repayable contribution of $1,359,000 under its Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) for the 2025 and 2026 editions of the festival. This assistance serves to support the promotion and marketing of the event, in addition to fostering the development of new products.

    For its part, Canadian Heritage is providing $500,000 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support the 2025 edition of the festival. This funding will allow audiences to access rich bilingual programming, including comedy shows of all kinds.

    Quotes

    “The Just For Laughs Festival is one of our metropolis’s flagship events which, on top of generating significant economic impacts, helps to position Montréal as the world capital of festivals. That is why our government is today announcing significant funding to attract festivalgoers from all walks of life and to provide the public with a renewed experience. Congratulations to the entire team! I invite Montréalers and tourists from home and abroad to take advantage of a rich program that illustrates our diversity and cultural vitality!”

    – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for CED

    “The Just For Laughs Festival is an integral part of Montréal’s cultural life. By showcasing both established artists and emerging talents, this major international event reflects the vitality, creativity and strength of our comedy scene. Our new government is proud to support this festival, which perfectly embodies the richness of our culture. Don’t miss this great opportunity to come together and laugh!”

    – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

    Quick facts

    • Montréal’s Just For Laughs Festival is the largest comedy festival in the world, a must-attend event that, every summer, transforms the metropolis into the world capital of laughter. For over 40 years, it has been celebrating humour in all its forms, bringing together renowned artists, rising stars and the next generation of talent in a rich, daring, inclusive program.
    • CED’s Quebec Economic Development Program helps communities seize economic development and diversification opportunities that are promising for the future.
    • The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provides financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series. It also supports organizations that offer support to arts presenters.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Isabella Orozco-Madison
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
    isabella.orozco-madison@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
    514-283-7443
    media@dec-ced.gc.ca

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
    hermine.landry@pch.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Canadian Heritage
    media@pch.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Best Summer Week for MTA Since 2019

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) achieved its best summer subway ridership week since 2019, hitting four million subway riders three days in a row in a summer season — a first since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, July 15, New York City Transit recorded 4,046,610 subway riders; on Wednesday, July 16, the agency recorded 4,121,751 subway riders; and on Thursday, July 17 saw 4,029,692 riders. This milestone was also achieved during the same week NYC experienced a near-record rainfall on Monday, July 14, and transit crews worked expeditiously to restore service the evening of the storm and through the night to ensure a smooth commute the next day. Moreover, Wednesday’s ridership of 4,121,751 subway riders is a new post-pandemic ridership high for the summer.

    “We’re delivering a transit system that is safer and more reliable, and New Yorkers have responded by riding in record numbers,” Governor Hochul said. “Transit is the lifeblood of New York City, it powers our economy and makes city life possible for millions. When ridership is on the rise, New York is on the rise.”

    The four million mark has now been achieved seven times in three weeks, starting at the end of the school year. The first time the MTA reached four million subway riders in a single day during a summer season since the start of the pandemic was on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, followed by Thursday, June 26, 2025, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and Thursday, July 10, 2025, and now July 17 through July 19. This milestone comes days after the Governor announced the Authority’s path towards a record-breaking year in ridership and on-time performance.

    This is the first summer NYC students are enjoying expanded benefits from Student OMNY cards distributed last September, which allow use after the conclusion of the school year. Student OMNY cards are valid 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Previously, Student MetroCards limited rides on days when the student’s school was open for class.

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “New Yorkers are demonstrating their confidence in the MTA’s faster and more reliable transit, voting with their taps to get around the City this summer. And thanks to Governor Hochul’s investments in state-of-good-repair work, safety, and accessibility, we’re achieving post-pandemic ridership records every week.”

    New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Thanks to the dedication of New York City Transit workers, we’re continuing to see record-breaking ridership on subways and buses this year. And we’re not done yet – with a capital plan that funds new train cars, more accessible stations, and computerized signals that allow for increased speeds and shorter travel times, riders will continue to see improvements both in the short term and well into the future.” 

    On top of the ridership increases, tap-and-go continues to surge in popularity with 75 percent of riders deciding to tap their phones, contactless debit/credit cards, or OMNY cards to pay their fares during the week of July 14, up from 67 percent in March 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nordhaus, Raines see heroism, partnerships in Central Texas

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: Nordhaus, Raines see heroism, partnerships in Central Texas

    Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding. Within hours, Texas National Guard members sprang into action, launching search and rescue operations alongside civil authorities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: AI and other future technologies will be necessary — but not sufficient — for enacting the UN’s Pact for the Future

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joyeeta Gupta, Professor, Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam

    In September 2024, members of the United Nations adopted the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future, held in New York City. The pact, including its two annexes on the Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact, builds on multilateral agreements following the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



    Read more:
    How the United Nations’ Pact for the Future could help heal a fractured world

    The pact commits to “protect the needs and interests of present and future generations through the actions stated in the pact.” These actions address the digital divide, inclusion, digital space that respects human rights and promotes responsible governance of artificial intelligence (AI).

    Additionally, the Declaration on Future Generations includes 10 principles and some actions. The pact also encourages accelerated development of AI, while considering both its positive and negative aspects within a broader aim to protect human rights.

    A 1972 image of the Earth taken during the Apollo 17 mission. Planetary justice means considering human and non-human life, Earth systems and responsible management of resources.
    (NASA)

    Meeting needs

    As the former co-chair of the Earth Commission and current co-chair of the UN 10-member group, I have worked on incorporating justice issues within environmental studies. Along with my colleagues, we recently published an article where we explain how we have developed Earth system boundaries based on the principle of not causing significant harm to others as part of a broader human rights and Earth systems justice approach.

    While the pact acknowledges and builds on the Sustainable Development Goals, it does not adequately take into account the latest science that shows we have crossed many safe and just Earth system boundaries. There’s also a challenge here: if we were to meet everyone’s minimum needs as required by the social Sustainable Development Goals, we will cross boundaries further.

    A human rights approach

    The pact and its annexes make reference to justice, future generations and Africa. Justice is anchored in a human rights approach. The pact only mentions reducing harm in relation to digital platforms and explosive weapons, but this could be strengthened with the addition of the no-harm principle — not causing significant harm to human and non-human others — in other areas such as climate change. Other forms of justice are scarcely accounted for.

    These include epistemic justice (or how different knowledge systems are included), and data justice (the right to create, control, access, apply and profit from data). Procedural justice — the right to information, decision-making, civic space and courts relating to the allocation of resources and responsibilities — is also vital.

    Other important forms of justice include recognition justice, interspecies, and intragenerational justice. Earth system justice is needed to identify and live within Earth system boundaries and equitably share resources and risks.

    The pact notes that “if we do not change course, we risk tipping into a future of persistent crisis and breakdown,” but it does not make reference to the latest science on planetary boundaries.

    Climate justice

    We argue that implementing the pact requires recognizing how boundaries, foundations and inequality are inextricably are linked together. The Earth Commission argues that safe planetary boundaries are not necessarily just. To minimize significant harm to others, it may be necessary to have more stringent targets.

    For example, 1.5 C is the proposed safe climate boundary for climate change, while 1 C is the proposed just boundary since, at this level, already tens of millions of people are exposed to extreme heat and humidity. Eight safe and just boundaries for climate, water, nutrients, biosphere and aerosols have been identified, seven of which have been crossed.



    Read more:
    What are ‘planetary boundaries’ and why should we care?

    In terms of foundations, theoretically, meeting people’s minimum needs would lead to further crossing these boundaries. We need to recognize that living within safe and just boundaries requires meeting everyone’s minimum needs.

    This requires deploying efficient technologies and redistributing resources to make up the deficit. But governments are reluctant to take this approach, probably because it limits the use of resources and sinks.

    Technological support

    Living within climate boundaries will require a just transition. Globally, if we wish to remain below the safe climate boundary, we will have to completely stop using fossil fuels. Since most remaining fossil fuel reserves are in the developing world, this will put a heavy burden on them. At the same time, climate impacts are considerable, so finance for a just energy transformation is needed.

    While the pact restates the importance of the 2030 agenda in bolstering sustainable development, it lacks a credible mechanism for monitoring whether the national pledges are implemented. This will require strong collaboration among policy, science and the private sector.

    There is a wealth of information in Earth observations from space that can assist in monitoring progress. This information, if made available to researchers and policymakers, can be integrated into national, regional and global environmental risk assessments.

    Digital twins are another technological development that can support these assessments. The European Commission’s Digital Twin of the Ocean, for example, is a virtual model. It integrates diverse ocean data sources and leverages the power of big data, advanced computing and AI to provide real-time insights and scenario simulations under a variety of conditions. Such systems can enhance our ability to cope with environmental challenges.

    As AI is likely to dramatically develop in the few two years, it is critical to be ready to shape and use its potential in a positive way to implement the Pact while reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

    A ‘cash flow crisis’

    Finally, the pact calls for urgent, predictable and stable funding for the UN and developing countries. This will enable UN bodies to deliver services and administer programs in accordance with international law. The UN Secretariat is facing a severe “cash flow crisis,” as major contributors are paying too late or too little.

    The UN Honour Roll lists member states that have paid membership fees in full: 151 of 193 countries paid in full, but only 51 of them on time in 2024. Among 13 countries with assessed fees of more than US$50 million, only Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Germany and Italy paid on time.

    With most members paying late, and large ones not paying till later or only partially, this severely constrains the ability of the UN to provide planned, impartial and inclusive services to the global community.

    There is also a need for funding to enable developing countries to adapt and transform. But if such funding comes through loans, this may further exacerbate existing developing country debt: in 2023, developing countries made debt repayments of US$1.4 trillion.

    We need redistribution of resources. Until then, it is critical that new technologies such as AI are deployed to help us return within the boundaries and meet minimum needs without exacerbating climate change through its fossil fuels dependence. The UN plays a critical role in facilitating human, environmental and earthy system justice, but shrinking resources hamper its ability to deliver.

    Joyeeta Gupta receives funding from European Research Council and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

    – ref. AI and other future technologies will be necessary — but not sufficient — for enacting the UN’s Pact for the Future – https://theconversation.com/ai-and-other-future-technologies-will-be-necessary-but-not-sufficient-for-enacting-the-uns-pact-for-the-future-247511

    MIL OSI –