NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Final Closing of over $41 Million for Ninepoint 2025 Flow-Through Limited Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint”) is pleased to announce that the Ninepoint 2025 Flow-Through Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) has completed the third and final closing in connection with its offering of Class A and Class F limited partnership units (the “Units”) pursuant to a prospectus dated January 30, 2025. The Partnership raised $4,375,500 on the sale of an additional 175,020 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $41,381,200.    The Units are being offered at a price per Unit of $25.00 with a minimum subscription of 100 Units ($2,500).

    The Partnership intends to provide liquidity to limited partners through a roll-over to the Ninepoint Resource Fund Class in the period between January 15, 2027 to February 28, 2027.

    Ninepoint is a leading manager of Flow-Through Funds in Canada. Since its inception in 2017, Ninepoint has successfully raised more Flow-Through Fund capital than any other asset manager in Canada. Flow Through strategies continue to provide an effective time-tested tax planning strategy to Canadian investors and have delivered strong after-tax returns.

    Investment Objective of the Partnership
    The Partnership’s investment objective is to achieve capital appreciation and significant tax benefits for limited partners by investing in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares (as defined in the Prospectus) and other securities, if any, of Resource Issuers (as defined in the Prospectus).

    Attractive Tax-Reduction Benefits
    Flow-through partnerships are one of the most effective tax reduction strategies available to Canadians. Ninepoint anticipates that investors participating in the Partnership will be eligible to receive a tax deduction of approximately 100% of the amount invested.

    Resource Expertise
    The Partnership will be sub-advised by Sprott Asset Management LP (“Sprott”), one of Canada’s leading investment advisors in small and mid-cap resource companies. Over its long history of investing in the resource sector, Sprott has developed relationships with hundreds of companies. Its experienced team of portfolio managers is supported by a team of technical experts with extensive backgrounds in mining and geology.

    Portfolio manager Jason Mayer will manage the portfolio of the Partnership and will be supported by Sprott’s broader team of experienced resource investment professionals.

    Agents
    The offering is being made through a syndicate of agents led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. which includes
    CIBC World Markets Inc., TD Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Manulife Wealth Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., Ventum Financial Corp. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

    About Ninepoint Partners LP
    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent that they relate to the Partnership. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Partnership’s, Ninepoint’s and Sprott’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Partnership, Ninepoint and Sprott believe the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Partnership, nor Ninepoint or Sprott undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

    This offering is only made by prospectus. The Partnership’s prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from one of the dealers noted above. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces 3.4% Increase to Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend to shareholders. The quarterly cash dividend will increase 3.4% from twenty-nine cents ($0.29) to thirty cents ($0.30) per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 13, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 30, 2025.

    “We are pleased to deliver another increase to our quarterly dividend. Over the last five years, the quarterly dividend per common share has increased by 50%, which demonstrates our commitment to drive meaningful shareholder returns as a result of our strong balance sheet, solid capital position, and diversified funding sources,” said Chairman and CEO, Tim Laney.

    About National Bank Holdings Corporation

    National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality client service and committed to stakeholder results. Through its bank subsidiaries, NBH Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole Trust, National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of over 85 banking centers, serving individual consumers, small, medium and large businesses, and government and non-profit entities. Its banking centers are located in its core footprint of Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho. Its comprehensive residential mortgage banking group primarily serves the bank’s core footprint. Its trust and wealth management business is operated in its core footprint under the Bank of Jackson Hole Trust charter. NBH Bank operates under a single state charter through the following brand names as divisions of NBH Bank: in Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado and Community Banks Mortgage; in Kansas and Missouri, Bank Midwest and Bank Midwest Mortgage; in Texas, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho, Hillcrest Bank and Hillcrest Bank Mortgage; and in Wyoming, Bank of Jackson Hole and Bank of Jackson Hole Mortgage. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

    For more information visit: cobnks.com, bankmw.com, hillcrestbank.com, bankofjacksonhole.com, or nbhbank.com, or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “predict,” “seek,” “potential,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “intend” or similar expressions that relate to the Company’s strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the “Risk Factors” referenced in our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

    Contact:  
       
    Analysts/Institutional Investors:  
    Emily Gooden, 720-554-6640  
    Chief Accounting Officer and Investor Relations Director  
    ir@nationalbankholdings.com  
       
    Nicole Van Denabeele, 720-529-3370,  
    Chief Financial Officer
    ir@nationalbankholdings.com    		  
       
    or  
       
    Media:  
    Jody Soper, 303-784-5925  
    Chief Marketing Officer  
    Jody.Soper@nbhbank.com  
       
    Source: National Bank Holdings Corporation  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Playing politics with AI: why NZ needs rules on the use of ‘fake’ images in election campaigns

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Isaacs, Lecturer, Anthropology, University of Waikato

    Laurence Dutton/Getty Images

    Seeing is no longer believing in the age of images and videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI), and this is having an impact on elections in New Zealand and elsewhere.

    Ahead of the 2025 local body elections, voters are being warned by overseas politicians and local experts not to automatically trust that what they are looking at is real.

    Deepfakes – images or video created with the use of AI to mislead or spread false information – were used in last year’s United States presidential election. Early in the campaign, a deepfake voice clip impersonating then president Joe Biden told voters not to cast a ballot vote in New Hampshire’s primaries.

    There have also been concerns about the role of deepfakes on the campaign trail in Australia. The Labor Party, for example, released an AI-generated video of opposition leader Peter Dutton dancing on its TikTok account.

    But the worry is not just that deepfakes will spread lies about politicians or other real people. AI is also used to create “synthetic deepfakes” – images of fake people who do not exist.

    Using artificially generated images and videos of both real and fake people raises questions around transparency and the ethical treatment of cultural and ethnic groups.

    Cultural offence with AI isn’t a hypothetical concern. Australian voters have found some AI used in political advertising to be “cringe” and culturally clumsy, with one white female politician using auto-tuned rapping in her campaign.

    Australians have also reported an increase in deepfake political content. The majority were unable to detect AI content.

    Several countries including Australia and Canada are considering laws to manage the harms of AI use in political messaging.

    Others have already passed legislation banning or limiting AI in elections. South Korea for example, banned the use of deepfakes in political advertising 90 days before an election. Singapore has banned digitally-altered material misrepresenting political candidates.

    While New Zealand has several voluntary frameworks to address the growing use of AI in media, there are no explicit rules to prevent its use in political campaigns. To avoid cultural offence and to offer transparency, it is crucial for political parties to establish and follow clear ethical standards on AI use in their messaging.

    Existing frameworks

    The film industry is a good starting point for policymakers looking to establish a clear framework for AI in political messaging.

    In my ongoing research about culture and technology in film production, industry workers have spoken about New Zealand’s world-leading standards on culturally aware film production processes and the positive impact this had on shaping AI standards.

    Released in March 2025, the New Zealand Film Commission’s Artificial Intelligence Guiding Principles takes a “people first” approach to AI which prioritises the needs, wellbeing and empowerment of individuals when developing and implementing AI systems.

    The principles also stress respect for matauranga Māori and transparency in the use of AI so that audiences are “informed about the use of AI in screen content they consume”.

    The government’s Public Service AI framework, meanwhile, requires government agencies to publicly disclose how AI systems are used and to practice human-centred values such as dignity and self-determination.

    AI in NZ politics

    Meanwhile, the use of AI by some of New Zealand’s political parties has already raised concerns.

    During the 2023 election campaign, the National Party admitted using AI in their attack advertisements. And recent social media posts using AI by New Zealand’s ACT party were criticised for their lack of transparency and cultural sensitivity.

    An ACT Instagram post about interest rate cuts featured an AI generated image of a Māori couple from the software company Adobe’s stock photo collection.

    Act whip Todd Stephenson responded that using stock imagery or AI-generated imagery was not inherently misleading. But he said that the party “would never use an actor or AI to impersonate a real person”.

    My own search of the Adobe collection came up with other images used by ACT in its Instagram posts, including an AI generated image labelled as “studio photography portrait of a 40 years old Polynesian woman”.

    There are two key concerns with using AI like this. The first is that ACT didn’t declare the use of AI in its Instagram posts. A lack of transparency around the use of deepfakes of any kind can undermine trust in the political system. Voters end up uncertain about what is real and what is fake.

    Secondly, the images were synthetic fakes of ethnic minorities in New Zealand. There have long been concerns from academics and technology experts that AI generated images reproduce harmful stereotypes of diverse communities.

    Legislation needed

    While the potential for cultural offence and misinformation with faked content is not new, AI alters the scale at which such fakes can be created. It makes it easier and quicker to produce manipulative, fake and culturally offensive images.

    At a minimum, New Zealand needs to introduce legalisation that requires political parties to acknowledge the use of AI in their advertising. And as the country moves into a new election season, political parties should commit to combating misinformation and cultural misrepresentation.

    Bronwyn Isaacs is a member of the Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

    – ref. Playing politics with AI: why NZ needs rules on the use of ‘fake’ images in election campaigns – https://theconversation.com/playing-politics-with-ai-why-nz-needs-rules-on-the-use-of-fake-images-in-election-campaigns-255415

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Donald Trump has cast a long shadow over the Australian election. Will it prove decisive?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University

    Donald Trump is everywhere, inescapable. His return to power in the United States was always going to have some impact on the Australian federal election. The question was how disruptive he would be.

    The answer is very – but not in the ways we might have thought.

    As soon as Trump was elected president, the political debate in Australia focused on whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese or Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would be best suited to managing him – and keeping the US-Australia security alliance intact.

    Initially, at least, this conversation was predictable.

    The Coalition looked set to continue an ideological alignment with Trumpism that had flourished under the prime ministership of Scott Morrison. Dutton prosecuted the argument that given his party’s experience with the first Trump administration, it would be better placed than Labor to handle the second.

    Albanese, meanwhile, appeared caught off guard by Trump’s victory and timid in his response.

    But as has become all too clear, the second Trump administration is radically different from the first. That has rattled the right of Australian politics and worked to Labor’s advantage.

    A turning point at the White House

    In January, the Coalition announced that NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had been appointed shadow minister for government efficiency – a direct importation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) being led by Elon Musk in the US.

    In a barely disguised imitation of the Trump administration’s attacks on “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) measures, members of the Coalition, including Price, singled out Welcome to Country ceremonies as evidence of the kind of “wasteful” spending it would cut.

    When the Coalition seemed to be riding high in the polls, Dutton, too, nodded at “wokeism” and singled out young white men feeling “disenfranchised”.

    Soon after, however, this began to change. The first few weeks of Trump’s second term were marked by a cascade of executive actions targeting trans people, climate action and immigration. Trump and his new appointees began the process of radically reshaping the United States and its role in the world.

    In February, polling by the independent think tank The Australia Institute found Australians saw Trump as a bigger threat to world peace than Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

    And then Volodymyr Zelensky went to the White House.

    The Ukrainian president was humiliated in an Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, laying bare how the administration was willing to treat the leader of an ally devastated by a war it hadn’t started.

    Trump’s territorial threats towards Canada and Greenland, in addition to his dismissive statements about European allies, shattered the long-held assumptions about the US as a force for stability in the world.

    MAGA ideology isn’t ‘pick and choose’

    After this incident, Dutton was careful to distance himself from Trump’s abandonment of Ukraine. He even went so far as to say that leadership might require “standing up to your friends and to those traditional allies because our views have diverged”.

    Similarly, influential Coalition powerbroker Peta Credlin wrote in The Australian:

    it’s hard to see America made great again if the Trump administration’s message to the world is that the strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must.

    Therein lies the bind for the Coalition – an ideological alignment with “Make America Great Again” cannot be fully reconciled with a nationalism that puts Australian interests first.

    MAGA ideology is all-or-nothing, not pick-and-choose.

    During the election campaign, the Coalition attempted to walk the path of “pick-and-choose”. And Labor quite successfully used this against them. Assertions the opposition leader was nothing but a “Temu Trump”, or “DOGE-y Dutton”, stuck because they had at least a ring of truth to them.

    The opposition’s pledge to dramatically reduce the size of the public service, for example, was clearly linked to Musk’s efforts at DOGE to take a chainsaw to the public service in the US. This idea has been deeply unpopular with Australian voters, and the Coalition has faced innumerable questions about it.

    For all the talk of “shared values” and how essential the US alliance is to Australian security, this campaign shows that Australia is not like America.

    Most Australians concerned about Trump’s impact

    When Trump’s tariffs arrived on “Liberation Day” in early April, both leaders claimed they were best placed to negotiate.

    Albanese insisted Australia had got one of the best results in the world, while Dutton asserted, without evidence, that he would be able to negotiate a better one.

    More broadly, the Trump tariffs have contributed to a growing sense of unease in the electorate.

    A recent YouGov poll found that 66% of Australians no longer believe the US can be relied on for defence and security. According to Paul Smith, the director of YouGov, this is a “fundamental change of worldview”.

    In the same poll, 71% of Australians also said they were either concerned or very concerned Trump’s policies would make Australia worse off.

    While neither party has signalled it would make a fundamental shift in Australia’s alliance with the US if elected, that doesn’t mean changes aren’t possible.

    Independents and minor parties may well play a significant role in the formation of the next government. Some, like Zoe Daniel and Jacqui Lambie, are increasingly vocal about the risks the Trump administration poses to Australia.

    A limit to Trumpism’s appeal

    As election day approaches, many of the assumptions driving conventional Australian political thinking are under pressure.

    Labor’s recovery in the polls, and the Liberals’ election win in Canada, suggest assumptions about the dangers of incumbency might have been misplaced. The dissatisfaction with incumbent governments last year may have had more to do with unresponsive political parties and systems.

    There’s evidence emerging, instead, that in more responsive democracies with robust institutions like Australia and Canada, Trumpism does not have great appeal.

    The idea that “kindness is not a weakness” may yet prove to be a winning political strategy.

    Emma Shortis is Director of International and Security Affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank.

    – ref. Donald Trump has cast a long shadow over the Australian election. Will it prove decisive? – https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-has-cast-a-long-shadow-over-the-australian-election-will-it-prove-decisive-255422

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace USA marks Trump’s first 100 days with launch of global #TimetoResist campaign

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2025) – This morning, Greenpeace USA campaigners marked the first 100 days of this administration’s second term by unfurling a powerful banner reading “We the People: Preserve, Protect, Defend” in front of the U.S. Constitution display at the National Archives, launching the organization’s new #TimeToResist global campaign.

    Photos from the DC bannering can be found here. 

    This comes after 100 days of chaos and lawlessness, escalating threats to democracy, climate action, and civil rights – led by billionaire oligarchs and corporate bullies who are using money and insider relationships in Washington to try to silence dissent. Greenpeace USA’s campaign is a bold defense, not just of the planet, but the foundational freedoms that protect it.

    Dr. Folabi Olagbaju, Democracy Campaign Director, Greenpeace USA, said:  “Greenpeace’s mission has always been to preserve, protect, and defend our just green world and today, that means defending the very document that makes this critical advocacy work possible. We the People is a phrase that belongs to all of us… it is not owned by corporations, or billionaires, or politicians. As the constitutional rights to free speech and due process come under attack on university campuses, in major law firms, and even inside legacy journalism institutions, Greenpeace USA is making clear that our fight is not just about defending the environment and safeguarding climate: it’s about defending democracy itself.

    “We are here to remind this administration, and the nation, that constitutional rights belong to the people. Free speech, protest, and dissent are not negotiable. They are the foundation of any livable future, and we will resist any effort to erase them.”

    Greenpeace USA marked the first 100 days of this administration’s second term by unfurling a powerful banner reading “We the People: Preserve, Protect, Defend” © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace

    With today’s action, Greenpeace USA declares: the next 100 days are ours — a time for the people to restore hope, to organize, to rise up, and to defy the suppression of dissent and justice.

    The Time to Resist campaign will mobilize people across the United States and around the world to stand together, protect the right to dissent, and safeguard the future before it’s too late.Read more and see the global petition here.

    Contact: Madison Carter, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected]

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 881, DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 881 would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from providing funds to any higher education institution that hosts Confucius Institutes, which are nonprofit cultural and educational centers funded by the Chinese government. That prohibition also would apply to institutions that have financial relationships with Chinese universities or colleges that meet other criteria such as receiving funding from or providing support to elements of the Chinese Communist Party. H.R. 881 also would require DHS to report to the Congress on the number of education institutions that maintain relationships with Chinese entities of concern and receive funds from the department.

    The requirements of H.R. 881 would not change the total amount of funding DHS provides to higher education institutions. CBO expects that the department would update its contracting and federal assistance procedures to ensure that it complies with H.R. 881. CBO estimates that those administrative and reporting efforts would cost less than $500,000. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aldo Prosperi. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 2683, Remote Access Security Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 2683 would authorize the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), an agency of the Department of Commerce, to issue licenses and impose penalties on exporters of technology that could be accessed over a network connection between foreign and U.S. entities, such as a cloud computing service. Under its current regulations, BIS can require licenses or impose penalties for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of such technology. It is not authorized to take those actions when the technology is remotely accessed by foreign entities.

    BIS has proposed rules that would expand export controls to cover cloud-based access to U.S. technology. Using information from BIS about its work on similar export controls, CBO anticipates that the agency would need seven full-time employees to finalize regulations, process license applications, and identify unlicensed exporters. Based on information from BIS, CBO estimates that annual compensation for each of those employees would cost $240,000 and total $9 million over the 2025-2030 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 050 (national defense).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 2683
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Estimated Authorization

    *

    1

    2

    2

    2

    2

    9

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    2

    2

    2

    2

    9

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2683 would increase the number of people who would be subject to civil or criminal penalties for violating U.S. export laws. Penalties are recorded as revenues and a portion of those penalties can be spent without further appropriation. Because CBO expects that very few people would be subject to penalties, CBO estimates that the bill’s enactment would have insignificant effects on both revenues and direct spendingand would, on net, reduce deficits by insignificant amounts over the 2025-2035 period.

    H.R. 2683 would impose a private-sector mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) on exporters by requiring them to obtain an export license from BIS before allowing remote access of technologies subject to export controls, such as superconductor chips, to foreign entities. The cost of the mandate would be the costs to comply with BIS regulations and the loss of income from losing access to some foreign markets otherwise available to them under current law. Based on industry data of the size and value of cloud services and superconductor chips that would be affected, CBO estimates that the cost of regulatory compliance and losses in revenue would exceed the threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($206 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    The bill would not impose intergovernmental mandates as defined in UMRA.

    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aldo Prosperi (for federal costs) and Grace Watson (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Unveils New Housing In Castle Rock, Celebrates Women in the Trades Who Strengthen Colorado’s Economy

    Source: US State of Colorado

    CASTLE ROCK/DENVER – Today, Governor Polis unveiled 200 new homes for hardworking Coloradans at the Meadowmark community in Castle Rock. Last year, Governor Polis signed legislation to create more transit-oriented communities, eliminate discriminatory occupancy limits, get rid of costly parking restrictions, and give Coloradans the freedom to build Accessory Dwelling Units on their property. These efforts to break down government barriers to new housing continue to help bring more homes that Coloradans can afford to communities across the state. 

    “Each grand opening of new homes proves that by removing unnecessary government barriers, the market is responding to the deep need for more housing Coloradans can afford across the state. Today we unveiled 200 new homes in Castle Rock for hardworking Coloradans and families, and I look forward to building on our progress, making more housing for Coloradans and our families,” said Governor Polis. 

    Now, building on last year’s success, Governor Polis is supporting legislation to break down barriers for modular housing, allow communities to build more single-stair buildings that will save Coloradans money on housing, support the construction of more condos that Coloradans can afford, and support schools and churches in using their lands to build more homes for Coloradans. 

    Governor Polis also attended the Emily Griffith Women in the Trades Celebration to highlight the importance of Colorado women in the trades and Colorado’s emphasis on creating pathways to opportunity for everyone that strengthen Colorado’s workforce and economy. 

    “Today’s celebration confirms that in Colorado, the trades are for everyone. We are focused on connecting Coloradans, no matter who you are, with the skills needed to get a good-paying job. Our workforce and economy are made stronger by our efforts to create new opportunities and pathways for women to join the trades,” said Governor Polis. 

    Earlier this month, Governor Polis signed bipartisan legislation to create a new Associate of Applied Science degree at Emily Griffith Technical College, creating new opportunities for students of all backgrounds to participate in apprenticeships in HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and more. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Kicks Off 2025 Cooperation with G20 under South African Presidency

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    IAEA and South African G20 Presidency side event on the role of nuclear power and the clean energy transitions, in Cape Town. (Photo: B. Carpinelli/IAEA)

    For the second year in a row, the IAEA has been invited to collaborate with the G20 on work related to nuclear power. The cooperation with the G20 (Group of Twenty) resumed under the presidency of South Africa at meetings this week in Cape Town, kicking off with a side event hosted by the IAEA and South Africa on the role of nuclear energy in clean energy transitions, as one of the technology dialogues that the presidency is featuring throughout the yearlong process.

    Building on its first-ever collaboration on nuclear power with the G20 in 2024 under the presidency of Brazil, the IAEA engagement this year will include publications tailored to inform the group on topics such as the prospects for nuclear power in Africa and repurposing coal-fired plants with nuclear power such as small modular reactors (SMRs),  as well as participation in the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy, set for 23-26 September.

    “At a time when energy access and security of supply are issues of global concern, the role of nuclear energy in low carbon, resilient and affordable energy systems remains indispensable,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. “Continuing the work that the IAEA began under the presidency of Brazil, we are now looking forward to working with South Africa.”

    The first African country to assume the G20 presidency, South Africa is pursuing an Africa-wide approach emphasizing energy security, a just and inclusive clean energy transition and regional energy cooperation. While South Africa remains the only country on the continent to have nuclear power and aims to expand its programme, several African countries have expressed interest in or are embarking its introduction. Egypt is building four large reactors, and other countries such as Ghana and Kenya are working with the IAEA to establish the necessary infrastructure for a nuclear power programme, with a particular interest in SMRs.

    The side event opened with special remarks from Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy of South Africa. Delegates from the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) attended the event, which discussed the state of nuclear power in South Africa as well as the IAEA’s outlook on nuclear power and a description of the upcoming publications that the IAEA will publish as part of its G20 collaboration this year. A session on nuclear power project financing issues followed, with panellists from the IAEA, the International Energy Agency, France and South Africa discussing ways to unlock financing for nuclear power projects and pave the way for faster deployment.

    “In the wake of the world aiming to reach net zero by 2050, there has been a return to realism where it is globally accepted that nuclear technology has a huge role to play in the energy mix as a key source to ensure countries achieve their energy security, energy sovereignty, and energy justice in the transition,” said Minster Ramokgopa. “The expansion of the nuclear programme gives South Africa energy security and sovereignty that enables the country to move its economy into a digital era, engage in new research frontiers and take its rightful place amongst leading nations.” 

    Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa delivering his opening remarks at the nuclear energy side event hosted by the IAEA and South Africa during the G20 ETWG meetings. (Photo: B. Carpinelli/IAEA)

    During the event, delegates from G20 members and invited countries delivered remarks from the floor and offered their national perspectives.

    “Italy is working to relaunch the use of sustainable nuclear energy, in its net zero emissions path by 2050. We have created the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear involving R&D centres and industrial capabilities and nowadays our Government is strongly committed to work on enabling a favourable legislative and regulatory framework aimed at promoting the use of safe and innovative nuclear at the national level, including small modular reactors and Generation IV advanced modular reactors,” said Alberto Pela, Head of Delegation and Senior Advisor on International activities at the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security of Italy.

    The United Arab Emirates, an invited country, recently began operating four large nuclear power reactors.

    “In the UAE, nuclear energy is more than a power source — it’s a cornerstone of our clean, safe, and sustainable energy future,” said Nawal Yousif Alhanaee, Director of the Future Energy Department at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “With the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant meeting up to 25 per cent of our electricity needs, we affirm our commitment to a carbon-free tomorrow powered by peaceful and reliable nuclear technology.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution While on Supervised Release for Drug Trafficking Conviction

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly distributing 1,000 fentanyl pills while on federal supervised release for a prior drug trafficking conviction involving heroin and cocaine.

    Wagner Ismael Mejia Sanchez, a/k/a “Jose F. Rosario,” a/k/a “Jose Majimbe,” 39, was indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Mejia Sanchez was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2025.

    In 2012, Mejia Sanchez was among 10 individuals charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy. He subsequently pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and, in 2015, was sentenced to 39 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.

    According to the charging documents, during an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in January 2025, Mejia Sanchez was allegedly identified as a drug supplier who provided fentanyl pills to a distributor and was also observed engaging in suspected hand-to-hand drug transactions. It is alleged that law enforcement subsequently arranged for a controlled purchase from Mejia Sanchez on Feb. 19, 2025 in Lawrence, during which he allegedly distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills (with a net weight of 96.2 grams) while on federal supervised release.

    The charge of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five and up to 20 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Because of the prior conviction, Mejia Sanchez may face a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 million. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting this case.

    This case is 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts conspirator involved in transporting aliens shot en route to Houston

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 21-year-old New Orleans, Louisiana, resident has been found guilty for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Mailon Almendares-Martinez, 21, New Orleans, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport aliens.    

    The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the guilty verdict following a three-day trial.

    The jury heard how Almendares-Martinez conspired with others from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2022, to transport aliens from the South Texas border to Houston.

    The jury heard testimony that Almendares-Martinez recruited friends and conspirators from New Orleans to carry out the scheme. Witnesses testified that Almendares-Martinez and others offered to pay them $1,000 to $2,000 per alien they transported.   

    Evidence revealed he had directed them as to where to pick up the aliens through WhatsApp messages and phone calls.

    After picking up the aliens near the border, the conspirators headed back to Houston. En route, individuals believed to be a part of a rival alien smuggling and transporting organization had shot at them. Two of the aliens suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and leg. One was a native of Honduras who had recently crossed the Rio Grande River and entered the United States illegally. 

    After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the co-conspirators to return to Houston and not seek medical attention for the two wounded aliens. 

    Co-conspirators then brought the aliens to a motel in Houston Nov. 1, 2022. The next day, the illegal aliens had escaped. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and took four people in custody, to include Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla and Cesar Monge-Milla.

    The defense attempted to convince the jury Almendares-Martinez was not part of the conspiracy and someone else was using his WhatsApp account to communicate with co-conspirators. They did not believe those claims and found Almendares-Martinez guilty as charged.

    “This case demonstrates—like so many cases before it—that human smuggling is an inhumane, dangerous, and sometimes fatal business,” said Ganjei. “Those that smuggle human beings for profit deserve prosecution, and those that would willingly place themselves in a situation to be smuggled need to think twice. Stay home, stay safe.”

    U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt presided over trial and set sentencing for Aug. 11. At that time, Almendares-Martinez faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.   

    Previously released on bond, Almendares-Martinez was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing.

    Seven others, all from New Orleans, Louisiana, previously pleaded guilty in the case – Melendez-Merino, 32, Melendez-Sosa, 22, Mencias-Padilla, 21, and Monge-Milla, 25, along with Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, 23, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano, 22.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.

    This case is 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Why are women paid less than men? New research in South Africa shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ihsaan Bassier, Researcher in Economics, University of Surrey

    Why do women earn less than men? The usual suspects – occupation, hours, experience – explain some of it. But a powerful, often overlooked reason is simply this: where women work. The companies that hire them play a huge role in shaping their lifetime earnings.

    South Africa has a severe gender pay gap, much of which is unexplained by worker characteristics such as occupation, skills or experience.

    In our new study published in the Journal of Development Economics, using tax data on the universe of formal workers in South Africa, we uncover a striking fact: nearly half of the gender pay gap in South Africa is explained by women working at lower-paying companies than men. That is, more women tend to work at companies that pay all workers less.

    In addition, this phenomenon evolves dramatically over a woman’s life.

    We tracked millions of workers between 2010 and 2018 using tax data. We wanted to figure out how much money different companies paid, relative to each other, regardless of the type of worker. To do this, we compared what two companies pay the same worker. We looked at workers who switched companies and compared how their pay changed when they moved to a new company. By doing this for many workers and many companies, we could see how much more or less that company tends to pay people with the same kind of background or job.

    In the formal sector in South Africa, women, on average, get paid 12% less than men. We find that about 45% of this gap – 5.5 percentage points – is due to women being concentrated in firms that pay less overall (to both women and men).

    This isn’t because women are paid less within the same company — that kind of direct discrimination plays a much smaller role. Instead, it’s largely about sorting: women and men end up at different companies, and those pay differently.

    Women disproportionately enter lower-paying sectors such as education, retail, or personal care, while men are over-represented in high-premium sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing.

    As labour and development economists, we argue that reducing the gender pay gap takes more than putting women into male-dominated jobs or promoting equal pay for equal work. It means tackling the invisible structures that steer women into lower-paying companies.

    A gender gap that grows, then shrinks

    What’s particularly revealing is how the firm-pay gap changes across the life cycle. For workers in their early twenties, this gap is almost nonexistent. But from the mid-20s to the mid-40s — roughly the child-rearing years — the gap widens significantly.

    Why does this happen?

    First, women who remain continuously employed through their 30s tend to move to worse-paying firms than men, even though they switch jobs at similar rates.

    Second, women entering or re-entering formal work (after a spell of unemployment or informal work) tend to start at lower-paying firms than men. This disadvantage when re-entering contributes to the overall gap, but is more constant over the life cycle.

    Interestingly, churn (moving in and out of employment) is common — but men and women do it at similar rates. The key difference is what type of firm they land in when they return. Nearly half the gap among entrants is explained by industry sorting — women disproportionately enter lower-paying sectors such as education, retail, or personal care, while men are overrepresented in high-premium sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing.

    This isn’t because women have less (or different) skills. That might be another contributor to the overall gender gap in pay, but it’s not what we looked at. This is the pay disadvantage that women face from being at firms that pay less for the same job or skill.

    The firms that women join tend to be in lower-paying industries, have fewer resources, and are less likely to be covered by collective bargaining agreements (union-negotiated industry wages) that boost pay.

    Just like women leave or re-enter formal jobs at the same rates as men, they are in fact just as likely to switch jobs when employed. The problem then is that their job switches are less likely to lead to upward moves in the pay hierarchy, possibly due to employer discrimination or a need to prioritise non-pay job characteristics (like flexibility).

    Then something remarkable happens. As women age into their late 40s and 50s, the gender gap begins to close. They start making more advantageous moves than men. This is likely because, having been sorted into lower-paying firms earlier in their careers, they have more room to climb. And with child-related constraints easing later in life, they finally can.

    Firms in developing countries

    Our finding — that women ending up in lower-paying companies accounts for nearly half of the pay gap — is higher than estimates from high-income countries like Portugal or Italy, where it explains around 20%–25%. But in developing countries like Brazil and Chile, the contribution is similar to what we find.

    Why do firms matter more in places like South Africa?

    Labour markets are more “monopsonistic” — firms have more power to set wages due to high unemployment and few outside options for workers. So because formal jobs are scarce, entering or moving up within the formal sector is harder, especially for women. In fact, we show that in regions of South Africa with lower levels of formality, the gender gap in firm pay is wider.

    Policy takeaways

    One instructive exception is the public sector, where the state has actively pursued gender equity in hiring. Public administration employs a much higher share of women than men and offers relatively high pay premia.

    In developing countries especially, where formality is limited and transitions into good jobs are harder, policy can focus on easing women’s access to high-paying companies.

    This can mean policies that support childcare, promote flexibility without penalising pay, or reduce discrimination in hiring. Otherwise, sorting into low-paying firms will keep reproducing the gender pay gap, one job move at a time.

    – Why are women paid less than men? New research in South Africa shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference
    – https://theconversation.com/why-are-women-paid-less-than-men-new-research-in-south-africa-shows-the-company-you-work-for-makes-the-biggest-difference-254221

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: In Primetime Interview, President Trump Highlights America’s Comeback

    Source: The White House

    In a commanding primetime interview on ABC, President Donald J. Trump delivered a powerful recap of his first 100 days in office — showcasing his transformative achievements and confronting the mainstream media’s distortions head-on. From securing the border to slashing billions in waste, President Trump laid out why the nation is rallying behind the America First agenda.

    Here’s what you missed:

    • President Trump highlighted the single biggest accomplishment of his first 100 days: “The border is the most significant because our country was really going bad … You had murderers coming in, you had everybody coming in … Now, it’s totally closed down … Nobody thought that could happen, and it happened quickly.”
    • President Trump roasted the media for covering up Biden’s decline: “We had a President that couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk down a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk across the stage without falling. We had a President that was grossly incompetent. You knew it, I knew it, and everybody knew it, but you guys didn’t want to write it because you’re fake news — and, by the way, ABC is one of the worst.”
    • President Trump distilled his first 100 days to a single statement: “I’m doing one thing: I’m Making America Great Again … Our country suffered greatly — and now, our country is coming back like nobody can believe.”
    • President Trump noted prices are already moderating in his first 100 days: “Our country had inflation that was worse than they’ve ever had it before … Why don’t you mention that? … Now, grocery prices are coming down, the energy prices are coming down…”
    • President Trump fact checked the interviewer on deported criminal illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia: “This is an MS-13 gang member … Beat the hell out of his wife … This is not an ‘innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland … He came into our country ILLEGALLY!”
    • President Trump outlined the stakes of his trade policy: “This is what I campaigned on. I said that we’ve been abused by other countries at levels that nobody’s ever seen before … I could’ve left it that way — and at some point, there would’ve been an implosion … but I said, ‘No. We have to fix it.’”
    • President Trump discussed his success in securing the homeland: “We’re doing something that has to be done … They’ve allowed 21 million people to pour into our country. Many of these people are criminals … We’re getting them out, and I was elected to get them out.”
    • President Trump described meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the Vatican: “The moment was a moment of solace in a sense because tremendous numbers of people are dying … and I feel very badly about it. That’s a war that would’ve never happened if I were president.”
    • President Trump praised DOGE: “We saved $150 billion — BILLION. That’s a lot of money … There are things that I’m considering right now putting back, but overall, we saved hundreds of billions of dollars … We also found tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse.”
    • President Trump addressed the measles vaccine: “I recommend it. Do I mandate it? No.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Irrigation Development Program Intake Closing

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 30, 2025

    The Ministry of Agriculture will be closing application intake under the Irrigation Development Program as of April 30, 2025. Applications may still be submitted under the program from April 30 to May 30, but those projects must be completed, with claims submitted, by December 31, 2025.

    The program supports infrastructure development to increase irrigation capacity by creating a secure water supply to land parcels suitable for irrigation. Introduced in April 2023, the successful program has seen high uptake from producers and is now fully subscribed. From the program’s launch on April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025, 202 applications were received, and over 41,000 acres of irrigated acres were developed.

    “The strong demand for this program demonstrates the interest in increasing production and crop diversity through irrigation,” Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said. “This government is committed to supporting irrigation through a variety of programs and projects. Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan sets the goal of reaching 85,000 irrigated acres by 2030, which is already 95 per cent achieved and expected to be surpassed in 2025.” 

    The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to funding all projects pre-approved through to May 30, 2025, and completed by the claim deadline. The claim deadlines for those projects pre-approved before April 30 are indicated in the Ministry’s letter of pre-approval to each applicant. 

    The Irrigation Development Program is one of many ways in which the Government of Saskatchewan provides support for irrigation expansion in the province. Irrigation allows more diverse crops to be grown and increases the number of livestock that can be supported. It is also important for strengthening rural economies and stabilizing crop production with a consistent source of moisture. 

    For more information, please visit saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tribunal Continues Order—Silicon Metal from China

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Ottawa, Ontario, April 30, 2025—The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today continued its order made on August 22, 2019, in expiry review RR‑2018‑003, continuing, without amendment, its finding made on November 19, 2013, in inquiry NQ‑2013‑003, concerning the dumping and subsidizing of silicon metal containing at least 96.00 percent but less than 99.99 percent silicon by weight, and silicon metal containing between 89.00 percent and 96.00 percent silicon by weight that contains aluminum greater than 0.20 percent by weight, of all forms and sizes, from the People’s Republic of China.

    The Canadian International Trade Tribunal found that the expiry of the order was likely to result in injury to the domestic industry. As such, the Tribunal continued its order. The Canada Border Services Agency will therefore continue to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on this product.

    The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidized imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings. When requested by the federal government, the Tribunal also provides advice on other economic, trade and tariff matters.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Trade Commissioner Service announces new resources to support Canadian exporters facing U.S. tariffs

    Source: Government of Canada News

    April 30, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    As part of Canada’s ongoing support for Canadian businesses facing the unjustified tariffs imposed by the United States (U.S.), Global Affairs Canada announces the launch of new resources from the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) aimed at supporting Canadian exporters to help them benefit from the tariff-free treatment provided under the CUSMA.

    To better assist exporters, the TCS is providing new and comprehensive information on rules of origin and customs procedures under the Agreement, including:  

    • a web page on understanding CUSMA compliance,
    • a step-by-step guide to CUSMA compliance,
    • self-serve resources for problem solving related to tariffs, and 
    • a list of support programs available to businesses from federal and provincial partners.

    Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also call the Government of Canada’s dedicated phone line for information on CUSMA compliance. The new hotline, available at 1-833-760-1167, offers advice on:

    • CUSMA rules of origin
    • certification of origin
    • resources for customs procedures at the U.S. border.

    The hotline is operational Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. E.T.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Los Angeles, multiagency case dismantles identity theft mill, organized retail scheme spanning 7 California counties

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES — Felony charges were filed April 25 against three people involved in a suspected identity theft mill, where stolen identities were used in an organized retail crime scheme. The scheme involved suspects applying for store credit cards using stolen identities and credit lines to purchase merchandise. The fraud scheme was carried out in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted the investigation led by the California Department of Justice based on a referral from a Signet Jeweler’s Corporate Fraud Investigator, in cooperation by Santa Maria Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and Westminster Police department.

    “These arrests are the result of excellent collaboration between HSI, private industry, state and local law enforcement partners,” ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orange County Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bracken. “HSI will work tirelessly with our partners in California to ensure that those who commit fraud will be held accountable.”

    As a result of the investigation, a 34-count felony complaint was filed against three defendants by DOJ. The charges include organized retail theft, grand theft, and identity theft of 13 victims.

    “I am committed to using the full force of the California Department of Justice to fight organized retail crime both in the field and in the courtroom,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “This was not a one-off shoplifting offense, it was a malicious, coordinated scheme. These crimes hurt our businesses and pose a serious threat to our communities. I am thankful to Signet Jewelers as well as our local and state law enforcement partners for their collaboration in the battle against organized retail crime. We will not give up until we put a stop to this criminal activity all together.”

    From March 2023 to July 2023, the defendants fraudulently obtained over $100,000 worth of merchandise from high end retail stores and Harbor Freight retailers.

    “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is deeply committed to tackling organized retail crime through strategic multiagency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and targeted enforcement,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Division Chief Joe Mendoza. “By working closely with our local, state, and federal partners, we continue to strengthen our efforts, disrupt criminal networks, protect both businesses and our communities, while holding individuals accountable.”

    A copy of the criminal complaint in this case is available here. Photos related to this investigation can be found here, here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Announces New Grant Funding to Support Made in America Manufacturing

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new funding opportunity as part of its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, the agency’s targeted effort to restore the U.S industrial base, bring back American jobs, and promote our nation’s economic dominance and national security.

    The Manufacturing in America Grant Initiative will provide three eligible applicants up to $1.1 million total to deliver training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program – including those businesses in key industries such as timber, energy, aluminum, and steel. SBA’s E2G Program is designed to provide eligible U.S. small businesses with free business courses, hands-on training, and one-on-one consulting to support their growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness. 

    “The SBA is investing in small manufacturers across the country – arming them with the training and tools to dominate critical industries and drive our industrial comeback,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With this new grant, the agency will accelerate the return of American supply chains, production power, and economic independence. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are rebuilding the backbone of American industry – and with it, the jobs and communities that are at the heart of our nation.”

    To be eligible for this funding opportunity, an applicant must:

    • Be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity (including, but not limited to small businesses, other-than small businesses, trade and professional associations, and educational institutions).
    • Have been in existence continually for at least the past three years.
    • Have experience providing technical assistance, tools, or training, etc. relating to small manufacturing businesses on a regional or national basis; and
    • Demonstrate that it has the capacity to provide hands-on manufacturing-related training and technical assistance to small business concerns.

    The deadline to submit proposals electronically via Home | Grants.gov is May 12, no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT. To learn more about this grant opportunity, visit here.

    The SBA will host a webinar on the following date to inform the public about the grants. Registration is required through the provided link.

    For more questions about the Manufacturing grants and webinars, visit: Manufacturing Grants.

    Additional questions or requests for assistance should be submitted via email to e2g@sba.gov .

    # # #

    About the Empower to Grow Program
    The Empower to Grow program, formerly known as 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program, provides eligible U.S. small businesses with free business courses, tailored training, and one-on-one consulting to support their growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness. The Empower to Grow program uplifts businesses to be procurement ready for federal, state, and local government contracts. For more questions about the Empower to Grow program, visit: Empower to Grow Program. 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee, RIDOH Recognize Health Professional Loan Repayment Awardees and Donors

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), and the Board of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program proudly recognized the 2024 cohort of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program recipients at a State House ceremony today. The event also honored the donors and partners whose support continues to drive the program’s success.

    By offering loan repayment assistance, the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program supports the recruitment and retention of high-quality, community-centered healthcare professionals who serve in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. This year, the program reached a major milestone�58 clinicians received awards, the largest cohort in the program’s history. The program provided over $1.6 million in loan repayment relief to recruit and retain health professionals in Rhode Island. Awardees include physicians, dentists, nurses, and behavioral healthcare providers, each of whom has pledged to serve in medically underserved communities for a minimum of two years.

    Governor McKee proposed an additional $200,000 investment in the FY26 state budget to further grow the program, specifically targeting primary care physicians and pediatricians. This funding would be matched by federal dollars and expand the program’s reach. If passed by the General Assembly, it will also be the first time that general revenue is invested in the program since Fiscal Year 2008.

    Today’s announcement comes a day after Governor McKee announced a series of short- and long-term strategic actions to strengthen Rhode Island’s primary care system. The included accelerating a primary care Medicaid rate review, requiring commercial health insurers to increase funding for primary care reimbursements, reducing red tape by easing prior authorization requirements, providing grants to help primary care practices serve additional patients and hire new providers, and strengthening fiscal oversight of Rhode Island’s health care system.

    “Programs like the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program are a critical part of the solution�helping us attract and retain providers in the communities that need them most,” said Governor McKee. “This is about making smart, long-term investments in our healthcare workforce so that every Rhode Islander can receive timely, quality care.”

    The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program is jointly administered by RIDOH and the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. The program is made possible through a combination of federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and generous contributions from local organizations and donors. The Rhode Island Health Center Association (RIHCA) played a central role in securing matching funds from many of these partners.

    “The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program helps defray the cost of medical education, making the pathway to a career in primary care in Rhode Island more affordable for more students and new healthcare professionals,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “It also helps ensure that all communities have the opportunity to benefit from some of the most talented, dedicated members of our health care workforce.”

    “On behalf of Rhode Island’s health centers, the Rhode Island Health Center Association extends our congratulations and appreciation to all the 2024 awardees,” said Elena Nicolella, President and CEO of RIHCA. “We, along with our funding partners, understand how vital this program is to building a healthcare workforce that truly reflects and serves our communities.”

    Since its inception in 1994, the Rhode Island Health Professional Loan Repayment Program has provided more than $11.4 million in student loan repayment relief, empowering 337 clinicians to serve in medically underserved communities across the state. Over that time, the program has issued 358 total awards, including 279 first-time awards that have helped recruit new providers into areas of greatest need, and 79 retention awards that ensure continuity of care by allowing experienced clinicians to stay in the communities they serve.

    These targeted investments have not only helped relieve the financial burden of educational debt but have also strengthened both the pipeline and the long-term retention of Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce. Since 2013, 91% of awardees have maintained an active license in Rhode Island after completing their service obligation. As a result, more than 100,000 Rhode Islanders receive care each year from current or former program participants.

    2024 Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Donors include:

    Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Care New England, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Prospect CharterCARE, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Rhode Island Health Center Association, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

    2024 Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Awardees Honored Include:

    Class of 2024 Agbelese Mofoluso, DNP, NP Alexa Allard, FNP-C Lexsey Almeida, LMHC Amanda Anacleto, APRN Natalia Aponte, RN Susana Arenas, LMHC Ashlee Austin, LCSW Jeffrey Bouley, FNP-C Garrett Bowen, MD Estefania Clavijo, LCSW Alexis Corey, RN Yamila Cos, DDS Marissa Dacruz, PA-C, CPH Randy D’Aquila, RN Shital Desai, DNP, MSN, FNP-C Laura Dobler, LCSW Lucinda Doman, RN Elizabeth Duran, RN Michelle Eche, LCSW John Gambino, RN Analisa Goncalves, LCSW Michelle Gras, PA-C Janick Hippolyte, APRN Roxanne Jardin, RN Alondra Jimenez, RN Kristen Julius- Woodbine, LCSW Mariam Kanteh, PA-C Erica Knarr, DMD Kimberly Kozlosky, APRN Madison Lombari, PA-C Matthew Lorenz, MD Ariadna Lozano, LCSW Taisha Macedo, APRN Sasha Martinez, RN Elizabeth Meyer, MD Sage Mueller, LCSW Irma Nalic, DMD Vanny Nhem-Raphael, RN Dayna Orourke, APRN Ashleigh Ortiz, RN Ashley Paradizo, RDH Nithin Paul, MD Marylin Powers, DO Jorge Resendiz, RN Cristina Restrepo, RDH Taylor Robbins, APRN Ernesto Rocha, RN Casey Rote, APRN John Saad, DMD Alyssa Saccoccia , RN Sarah Satterlee, APRN Nicole Schachman, APRN Kelly Smith, RN Wesley Smyth, APRN Jeannette Sorace-Burton, APRN Alison Turner, LMHC Bernadette Waleryszak, RN Cruz Zapata, LCSW

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues National Cleaning and Sanitation Company for “No Poach” Agreements

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a lawsuit against Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. LTD., now doing business as Fortrex (PSSI), a national cleaning and sanitation company, for allegedly engaging in unlawful “no poach” agreements that restrict competition and harm workers’ rights. Filed in the San Diego Superior Court, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that PSSI’s use of illegal agreements – where businesses agree not to solicit or hire each other’s employees – violated California law, specifically the Unfair Competition Law. Through this lawsuit, the DOJ is seeking civil penalties, permanent injunctive relief that bars PSSI from using no-poach agreements, and restitution for employees that were harmed due to PSSI’s alleged unlawful conduct.

    “When companies like PSSI use unlawful business practices to limit employee opportunities, they deny workers the freedom to compete for better wages, benefits, and career advancement,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Workers deserve a labor market free from illegal restraints. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to support workers’ rights by holding accountable any business that undermines a fair labor market.”  

    PSSI is a national cleaning and sanitation company that contracts with dozens of meatpacking and food processing facilities in California and hundreds across the country. Nationally, PSSI employs over 17,000 workers across approximately 500 worksites. PSSI has had cleaning contracts with over 20 meatpacking and food processing companies in California, including well-known names such as Foster Farms, Harris Ranch, and Pilgrim’s Pride. 

    Central to the company’s alleged unlawful conduct is its use of prohibited no-poach provisions. This business practice, often hidden from employees, can have serious implications including artificially lowering employee compensation, reducing incentives for companies to improve working conditions, and limiting employee career growth. The DOJ’s investigation revealed that PSSI had implemented a no poach provision in 22 out of its 24 operative contracts in California, which impacted the rights of approximately 6,000 employees who worked pursuant to those contracts. Workers who are aware that they are subject to an unreasonable or overly restrictive noncompete agreement should report it immediately to the Attorney General’s office at oag.ca.gov/report.

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to defending workers’ rights, workplace safety, and California’s fair and competitive labor market. Through the Worker Rights and Fair Labor Section, the Civil Rights Enforcement Section, and the Antitrust Law Section, Attorney General Bonta enforces California’s laws to protect the welfare of California workers and legitimate businesses operating in California. This year, Attorney General Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for conducting an illegal mass firing of federal probationary employees. In 2024, Attorney General Bonta took action by defending wages and overtime owed in the West Coast Drywall Lawsuit. In 2023, Attorney General Bonta took action to protect workers, launching an historic investigation into gender discrimination in the National Football League, joined 17 attorneys general in supporting the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed rule limiting noncompete agreements, fought for the rights of transportation workers, and immigrant children. In November 2022, Attorney General Bonta joined 21 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing McDonald’s attempt to evade liability for past alleged efforts to stifle competition and undercut wages through the use of “no-poach” agreements. In October 2022, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in an effort to protect Californians from discrimination in the employment hiring process. 

    A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commencement Student Speaker Spotlight: Daniella Dennis

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Meet Daniella Dennis of New Britain. Her parents were born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated to America in the late 1990s. The youngest of four siblings, her mother as a Certified Nursing Assistant introduced her to the medical field. Before matriculating at UConn School of Medicine she was an EMT and a patient care technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, she will be entering emergency medicine residency at UConn and will be a proud first-generation college graduate and first doctor in her family. Her advice to all students: no matter what stage you are at, you can never have too many mentors. 

    Why did you choose the UConn School of Medicine?

    I was born and raised in Connecticut so UConn growing up was a dream school for me. Something I’ve loved about UConn is its Team Based Learning curriculum which makes it very unique compared to other medical schools and its cohesiveness between faculty and students.

    Tell us more about your path to medical school.

    After New Britain High School, I attended Central Connecticut State University where I was a biomolecular science major with a minor in community engagement and graduated in 2018. Following graduation, I took two gap years where I worked as an EMT and as a patient care tech over at Hartford Hospital and then matriculated at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in the fall of 2021.

    What activities were you involved with as a student?

    I was involved in a multitude of different leadership positions including being secretary of the Student National Medical Association, a part of the Gold Humanism Society, in various surgical student groups and participated as a mentor as part of the Health Career Opportunities Programs — a pipeline program created by Dr. Marja Hurley here at UConn Health that helps students from high school who come from underrepresented backgrounds including those who are first-generation college students to be able to get into college and then furthermore get into medical and dental school.

    What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

    How willing faculty are open to listening to student feedback and always looking for different ways to improve the curriculum and always looking for other new ways to improve student wellness.

    What’s one thing every student should do during their time at UConn?

    One of my favorite events that UConn has every single year is Culture Shock which is run in collaboration with the Student National Medical Association, the Latino Medical Association, and the Student National Dental Association. Culture shock is essentially our version of a school-wide talent show where we have students showcase their various talents and their cultures and most importantly it’s a great time to have the entire student body and faculty be around for a great night of celebration. The event raises money for various charities within the Greater Hartford Area. This event takes place every December and I’m glad to have been able to participate in Culture Shock and be able to attend the event every single year since my first year of medical school. I absolutely love seeing people in my class and even upper-class students be involved. Whether it’s my peers showcasing their singing skills, dancing, or most importantly the most famous part of the night is our fashion show where you get to showcase various pieces and clothing from your particular culture.

    Who inspired you to enter health care?

    It started with my mother who was a certified nursing assistant at a rehabilitation center and in elementary school after school I would visit her at work and be around various health care professionals including physicians, nurses, and physician assistants and I became very curious at that time at an early age about becoming a doctor. It wasn’t really until high school where we had a Health Academy that’s focused on helping students go into health care professionals that I really started to think more about becoming a physician. Furthermore I had a great relationship with my pediatrician growing up who became one of my first mentors in the field of medicine that I made the final decision to go to medical school after my sophomore year of college where during that summer between freshman and sophomore year I did a six-week program at Columbia University focused on first generation college students who were interested in going into health professional careers. During that program, I was able to shadow various physicians and different medical sub-specialties which really gave me the confidence and knowledge to go into medicine. From that experience I decided to go on the pathway of becoming a doctor and I’ve had a multitude of other great inspiration and mentors along the way that helped guide me on this path.

    What are your plans after graduation?

    I’ll be continuing my journey here at UConn as an Emergency Medicine resident physician.

    What’s one thing that will always make you think of UConn?

    The people! The faculty, friends, and mentors are what makes UConn have its collaborative feel and most importantly always making you feel comfortable and welcomed.

    What does being a part of UConn mean to you?

    I love being at UConn! Being at UConn feels at home. I think most importantly the reason that I love being here is that it feels like a community. I’m very thankful for my colleagues who’ve helped me throughout my entire medical school time. I really do love the faculty who also have been very supportive and very attentive to student wellness. These are the characteristics and traits that I want to continue to have as I transition in the next part of my journey of becoming a resident.

    What’s it going to be like to walk across the Commencement stage and get your degree?

    It’s going to be a huge accomplishment for me, especially in my case being a first-generation college student and now to be the first person in my family to become a doctor. It’s going to be an amazing accomplishment to share this moment with friends and family watching me on the stage and I’m super thankful for their support in terms of this entire journey to be able to get to this point.

    Any final words of wisdom for incoming students?

    Get involved and explore as early as you possibly can and most importantly you can never have too many mentors there’s always something that you can learn and grow from someone no matter what field that they come from. Always take advantage of the ability to ask for help.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Keep Moving” David’s Story of Living Well with Parkinson’s

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Every April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month shines a light on the more than 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and many aspects of daily life. At UConn Health, we’re proud to care for hundreds of individuals navigating this journey, including Bristol resident David Swarts, who has become an advocate for living well in the face of a challenging diagnosis.

    Swarts, now 79, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in September 2021. Like many, his journey began with subtle symptoms, tremors, balance changes, and eventually a loss of smell. Over time, the changes became more pronounced, but Swarts chose not to let the diagnosis define him.

    “I have it, and I’m going to live for today, not worry about the future and how Parkinson’s will affect it,” he says. “There are things to think about, but not to worry about day in and day out.”

    Swarts receives care from more than nine UConn Health providers, including his neurologist, Dr. Chindhuri Selvadurai, all of whom work together using a shared medical record system to stay coordinated on his care. It’s one of the many things Swarts values about UConn Health. “All my doctors can see each other’s notes. They know what’s going on, and that gives me confidence in the care I’m getting,” he says.

    At UConn Health’s Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the Brain and Spine Institute Selvadurai and her colleagues diagnose and treat those with Parkinson’s.

    “Early diagnosis can lead to better access to education, resources, and specialized treatments. Exercise is the best way to slow the progression of disease. Medications including oral and a new FDA approved injection are used to treat the symptoms and other options include exercise, physical therapy and occupational therapy,” says Selvadurai.

    There is also brain stimulation surgery for patients with Parkinson’s disease. This has been proven to improve quality of life in patients, reduce medication burden, reduce the number of falls and symptom fluctuation.

    We have a robust Parkinson’s disease (PD) clinic that provides multidisciplinary attention to patients and families living with PD. We offer social services, neurorehabilitation, and supportive care and planning services integrated into the same environment, allowing for continuity of care. The

    In addition to managing Parkinson’s, David recently underwent a knee replacement at UConn Health and worked hard in physical therapy to regain strength. Now, he’s back at the gym several times a week through the Silver Fox program at the Bristol Senior Center. He uses the treadmill, rowing machine, and elliptical to stay active.

    “Exercise is key,” Swarts says. “Just keep moving. That’s my motto.”

    He’s also trying new medications and staying involved in the Parkinson’s community. Last week, he attended a local support group where he performed a humorous skit and shared a booklet he wrote on life with Parkinson’s.

    “Seeing others at different stages helped me reflect on my own progress,” he says. “It’s important to stay connected and keep a sense of humor.”

    One of Swarts biggest motivations? His family. He recently ordered a rollator walker so he can attend his grandsons’ track meets at Bristol Central High School. “I don’t want to miss out,” he says.

    He’s also explored dance therapy, and a local group called ParkiPong, which combines table tennis with community support. He credits these experiences, and his attitude, for helping him stay strong, both physically and mentally.

    As we mark Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Swarts’s story is a reminder that while Parkinson’s brings challenges, it also brings opportunities: to grow, to connect, and to keep moving.

    “Focus on the disorder and deal with it,” he says. “Don’t succumb.”

    “Managing Parkinson’s requires a coordinated, team-based approach. At UConn Health, we bring together a multidisciplinary team and foster an environment where patients feel truly empowered to take an active role in their care,” says Dr. Selvadurai.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn School of Pharmacy Places Second in 2025 AMCP P&T Competition: Following Back-to-Back National Championships

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In April, UConn placed second in the AMCP’s annual P&T Competition! The event invites many pharmacy schools across the nation to participate in a multiple-stage, intensive competition showcasing a team of four dedicated students from each school. 

    Students during the judging portion of the competition

    Out of 47 participating teams from pharmacy schools across the country, 15 advanced to the Semi-Final round, and just 5 teams moved on to present to a mock P&T Committee during the AMCP Annual Meeting in Houston on April 1, 2025.  

    This annual competition offers students an immersive opportunity to apply skills essential to formulary decision-making – an area critical to the practice of managed care pharmacy. Competing teams are tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of a medication’s clinical economic, and safety profile to inform whether it should be added to a formulary. 

    This year’s UConn team was the youngest to ever represent the University, composed primarily of first year pharmacy students. Team members included Hira Ilyas (P3), Owen Kwok (P1), Maggie Liu (P1), and Emily Szydlo (P1) – a group whose dedication and insight impressed judges. 

    Their success reflects not only their talent but the supportive network guiding them. Associate Professor Christina Polomoff serves as the faculty advisor for the competition team and for UConn’s student AMCP chapter. Additional support comes from a group of dedicated managed care leaders: Jeffrey Casberg, Andrew Cournoyer, Joseph Honcz, Daniel Shan, and Glen Smyth, whose guidance continues to shape the program’s growth.

    Headshot of Christina Polomoff (UConn Photo)

    Adding to the celebration, Polomoff was named the recipient of the 2025 AMCP Individual Contribution Award. This national honor recognizes her leadership in expanding managed care education at UConn School of Pharmacy, from integrating managed care concepts into the core curriculum, to coordinating a dedicated elective, to offering hands-on experiences through her advanced pharmacy practice rotation at Hartford HealthCare Integrated Care Partners. 

    This award is about raising awareness about managed care.” – Christina Polomoff, Pharm.D.

    Polomoff believes her award exemplifies the progress UConn Pharmacy has made in increasing the visibility of managed care and its career opportunities to students – a momentum she’s excited to continue within the School and beyond.

    UConn’s continued success in this prestigious national competition is a testament to the School of Pharmacy’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and preparing the next generation of managed care leaders. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Sentenced to Three Years in prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Chelsea, Mass., was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fentanyl trafficking.

    Junior Baez Sanchez, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years in prison. Baez Sanchez is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In January 2025, Baez Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of failing to appear for court.  

    Baez Sanchez distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl in Chelsea on June 2, 2020 and in Malden on July 15, 2020. In March 2021, Baez Sanchez was indicted by a federal grand jury and was scheduled for trial in October 2022. Baez Sanchez failed to appear for court as required on Oct. 4, 2022—less than two weeks before trial—and the Court issued a warrant for his arrest. Approximately two years later, on Sept. 24, 2024, Baez Sanchez was arrested on the warrant after law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Baez Sanchez. At the time of his arrest, Baez Sanchez had 12 clear bags of fentanyl in his pocket.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Chelsea Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Joins House and Senate Democrats in Reintroducing Historic Equality Act to Ban Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined a group of House and Senate Democrats led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, to announce the bicameral reintroduction of the Equality Act in an effort to push back against escalated attacks from the Trump Administration, MAGA Republicans, and state legislatures on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide.
    In states across the country, over 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed so far this year—the most in U.S. history. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive legislation to enshrine civil rights protections for our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors in federal law.
    The Equality Act amends landmark federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to longstanding bans on discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. It would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.
    Despite major advances in equality for LGBTQ+ Americans in recent years, including codifying federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, the majority of states still do not have explicit LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protection laws. The Equality Act would finally enshrine protections into federal law under all areas of potential discrimination, protecting the rights and freedoms of all LGBTQ+ Americans for generations to come.
    “As the Trump Administration dismantles the civil liberties and legal protections of LGBTQ+ folks nationwide––progress that was hard-won and that we are still fighting to maintain––lawmakers in Congress must act to pass the bicameral Equality Act,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation would finally make clear that LGBTQ+ people in this country cannot be denied entry into a restaurant, be denied federal housing and benefits, or be discriminated against simply because of who they are and who they love. This legislation is long overdue, and I will work tirelessly with my colleagues to ensure the Equality Act becomes the law of the land.”
    “Generations of Americans have marched, voted, organized, and raised their voices to fully realize the vision of America as a land of freedom and equality for all,” said Senator Merkley. “As MAGA extremists attack the rights and freedoms of our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors, I am fighting to end this hateful discrimination, expand freedom, and open the doors of opportunity for everyone. Back in 2007, I led the fight to secure this vision for Oregonians, and it is way past time for Congress to do the same for all LGBTQ+ Americans by passing my Equality Act.”
    “Across the country, LGBTQI+ and trans Americans are being targeted and attacked, but we refuse to be cowed or intimidated by their hate. Instead, we reintroduce the Equality Act as our declaration that freedom and dignity are the birthright of every American. We will not rest until full equality is the law of the land,” said Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Takano.
    “The Equality Act simply puts into law what we all believe: that every American is created equal and should be treated equally under the law. But, for too many LGBTQ+ Americans in states across the country, equality under the law is not the reality, and they are harassed at work, denied a place to live, and discriminated against just for being who they are,” said Senator Baldwin. “The Equality Act makes clear that in the United States, we can live up to our nation’s highest ideals and we will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity – just like religion, race, or ethnicity. Equality is not a privilege, it’s what we’re all owed as American citizens, and I’m committed to making that promise a reality.”
    “The Equality Act is necessary, urgent, and long overdue,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “As the Trump administration and dangerously conservative Supreme Court threaten the safety and security of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States, it is the obligation of the Senate to ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law – a standard that the United States has long strived for but failed to perfectly meet. I am honored to help lead the reintroduction of the Equality Act and stand with the LGBTQ+ community as we continue to fight for a more equal, just, and loving world.”
    “Across the country, from city councils to Congress, state legislatures to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, freedom is under attack. The Equality Act will make sure that members of the LGBTQ community can live free from discrimination and pursue the American dream in every single zip code. House Democrats will continue to show up, speak up and stand up until this legislation is the law of the land,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
    “As Republicans across the country continue their assault on LGBTQ+ Americans – particularly the trans community – the fight against bigotry and discrimination remains as urgent as ever,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). “The landmark Equality Act – twice passed by the Democratic House but blocked by Senate Republicans – would extend the crucial protections of the Civil Rights Act to all LGBTQ+ Americans, in the workplace and in every place. Today, it was my privilege to join Congressional Democrats in proudly reintroducing our Equality Act to continue our fight for a future of equality and dignity for all.”
    “Not only is freedom the birthright of every person; we can only defend ours if we defend everyone’s,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA). “That’s the basis of the Equality Act. Republicans’ rejection of such a basic truth tells you everything you need to know about the broken state of their party. While they work to strip away equality, freedom, health care, and housing, we are fighting for a future that is worthy of all our children.”
    The Equality Act is supported by 47 U.S. Senators and 214 U.S. Representatives. A full list of the 600+ organizations endorsing the Equality Act can be found by clicking here.
    “Everyone, no matter who they are or who they love, deserves the right to live free from discrimination and harassment. But LGBTQ+ people, who go to school, run small businesses, raise kids and work hard to put food on the table just like everyone else, still don’t have the federal nondiscrimination protections that others have enjoyed for decades. In some parts of the country, we can still be evicted from our homes, kicked out of a public business, or denied government services simply because of who we are. As the Trump administration works to erode civil rights protections across the board and state legislatures continue their onslaught against equality, it has never been more important to safeguard the basic protections that are a central part of the American Dream. It is time to pass the Equality Act,” said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Chief of Staff.
    “This moment demands action. The reintroduction of the Equality Act comes as the Trump administration and state governments across the country launch aggressive attacks on LGBTQIA+ Americans, especially trans youth. These aren’t abstract policy debates – they are coordinated efforts to erode civil rights and protections, criminalize LGBTQIA+ existence, and erase communities. Trans youth deserve to be protected by their governments, they shouldn’t have to be protected from their governments. It’s long past time our federal laws reflect and protect the reality and dignity of all people,” said Olivia Hunt, Director of Federal Policy for Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).
    “In Oregon we are lucky to have state protections that prohibit discrimination based on sexual or gender identity. But those protections are feeling pretty shaking these days, considering the series of Executive Orders following inauguration day. There has not been a more critical time to protect the most marginalized within our communities. Without federal protections, states with progressive and inclusive discrimination policies are at risk of losing them. Thank you to Senator Merkley for taking a stand for our communities,” said Kyndall Mason, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon.
    “With the LGBTQ+ community under attack from the Trump Administration—and anti-LGBTQ+ bills once again rearing their heads in statehouses across the country—the reintroduction of the Equality Act could not be more prescient. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of who we are, who we love, or where we call home. The Equality Act provides common sense nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people—protections that a majority of Americans agree should already be available. We are grateful to Rep. Takano for leading the charge on this critical bill, and look forward to working with him and other members of California’s Congressional delegation throughout the process,” said Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California.
    Stories in support of the Equality Act and the protections it would enshrine into federal law can be found by clicking here.
    A summary of the Equality Act can be found by clicking here.
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Jeffries Conclude Day-Long Capitol Steps Sit-In Calling Americans to Action to Protect Medicaid, Safety Net Programs from GOP Budget Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have concluded a day-long sit-in on the US Capitol steps that began at sunrise today, calling Americans to action to protect Medicaid and other vital safety net programs from devastating cuts proposed in Trump and Congressional Republicans’ budget bill.
    With Congress returning to session tomorrow, Republican leaders have made clear their intention to use the coming weeks to advance a reckless budget scheme to President Trump’s desk that seeks to gut Medicaid, food assistance and basic needs programs that help people, all to give tax breaks to billionaires. Given what’s at stake, these could be some of the most consequential weeks for seniors, kids and families in generations.
    The sit-in—which began at 6:14am ET this morning with Booker and Jeffries opening a live streamed conversation with their social media followers as the sun was rising over the Capitol—saw numerous guest speakers and passers-by participate, including families who rely on critical programs like Medicaid, people who administer nutrition programs that keep Americans from going hungry, union leaders who fight for fair wages and working conditions, experts on Social Security and civil rights, and Senators and members of Congress.
    The live stream concluded at 6:35pm ET, after more than 12 hours. 
    “Budgets are more than just numbers in a spreadsheet—they are moral documents,” said Senator Booker. “They reveal what we value, who we protect, and what we stand for. That’s why I came here today: to sit-in at a sacred civic space, to make clear the moral and practical stakes of the Trump budget proposal, and to call others to action. Republicans in Congress are proposing cuts that will take food from children, healthcare from the sick, and dignity from those already struggling. It’s wrong. To stop it, we all must say so—clearly, courageously, and together. Speaking out and speaking up is how we will convince four Republicans in the House and Senate to do the right thing and vote no.”
    “Republicans are crashing the economy in real time,” said House Democratic Leader Jeffries. “Now, they want to jam a reckless budget down the throats of the American people that will end Medicaid as we know it, destroy Social Security and rip food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans. As Democrats, we’re going to continue to stand on the side of the American people and we will not rest until we bury this reckless Republican budget in the ground.”
    For millions of Americans, Sundays are a day of faith, spirituality and moral reflection. In that spirit, Booker and Jeffries launched their sit-in this morning—an urgent conversation with the American people to focus on our common values, our faith traditions, and the moral moment facing our nation.
    Over the course of the day, Booker, Jeffries, and participants spoke to our shared American values and our nation’s religious and moral underpinnings, and how the Republican budget bill is antithetical to these beliefs. They also affirmed to Americans that their voices not only matter, but are needed in this moment in order to stop these harmful cuts.
    The conversation was live-streamed on multiple platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Sullivan Introduce Bipartisan Keep Finfish Free Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the Keep Finfish Free Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit federal agencies from issuing any permit or taking any other action to authorize or facilitate commercial finfish aquaculture operations in federal waters, known as the exclusive economic zone, from 3 to 200 nautical miles off U.S. shores, unless Congress passes future legislation explicitly authorizing such permits.
    Commercial finfish aquaculture, often with Atlantic salmon, utilizes infrastructure consisting of massive cages and intensive feeding systems. Commercial offshore cages typically contain hundreds of thousands of fish. Aquaculture nets are porous and can allow for waste and pathogens—viruses, bacteria, and parasites—to pass from farmed fish inside the cages to wild fish and shellfish outside the cages.
    “Industrial finfish aquaculture operations are like underwater factory farms, polluting our oceans and spreading potentially deadly diseases and parasites to wild fish,” said Senator Booker. “These operations use millions of pounds of wild fish to feed the caged fish at an unsustainable rate of consumption that depletes marine resources in traditional fishing areas. As we make decisions that will impact the future of our oceans, we should not go down the unsustainable road of allowing commercial finfish aquaculture in our federal waters. Instead we should chart a different path built around the health of wild fish stocks and ocean ecosystems.”
    “Alaskans are deeply invested in protecting the health of our marine ecosystem, and maintaining sustainability of our world-class fisheries,” said Senator Sullivan. “That is why I’m introducing legislation with Senator Booker to ban risky fish farming operations in federal waters that could jeopardize the health of our fish species and undermine Alaska’s coastal fishing communities. I hope my colleagues will join us in passing this important legislation to keep American finfish healthy and free!”
    “Thank you, Senator Booker, for introducing the Keep Finfish Free Act. The last thing our ocean needs is industrialization, especially off New Jersey and New York coasts,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, based in Long Branch, NJ. “Offshore finfish farms would harm and contaminate our wild and free ocean with pollution including from pharmaceuticals, chemical feed, and concentrated fecal matter. It will also promote diseases and genetic mutations which will threaten native species. In short, nothing but yuck. We need strong laws to ensure our ocean is clean and healthy for all to enjoy today and for future generations.”
    “What affects fishers affects farmers, too; we co-exist within the same food systems. Factory farming on land has displaced small producers, harmed rural communities, and depleted natural resources,” said Cali Alexander, board member and policy chair with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ (NOFA-NJ), and former state seafood administrator with the NJ Department of Health. “Now, industrial-scale fish farming threatens to do the same. So we at NOFA-NJ are grateful to Senator Booker for co-sponsoring the Keep Finfish Free Act, a vital push toward keeping food production truly sustainable and in the hands of those who put food on our plates.”
    “Reintroduction of the Keep Finfish Free Act is a welcome display of support that Senator Sullivan and Senator Booker have for the fisher people who provide natural and healthy food to the world,” said Melanie Brown, Native Alaskan fisherwoman and outreach director at SalmonState. “Thank you, Senators, for leading the charge on keeping net pens out of the waters of our wild-caught fisheries.”
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, New Jersey Lawmakers Urge IMLS to Rescind Termination of NJSL Grant

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a bicameral group of his colleagues in the New Jersey delegation in writing a letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Acting Director Keith Sonderling regarding a notice that the IMLS terminated a grant directed to the New Jersey State Library (NJLS). This grant supported Teaching Information Literacy, a project developing an instructional framework and educational tools that K-12 teachers and librarians use to teach statutorily required information literacy skills.
    “The termination of this grant has significant implications: New Jersey K-12 teachers and librarians will no longer have access to specially-designed tools and learning activities to teach New Jersey’s emerging information literacy skill standards.
    “This project was funded through IMLS’s discretionary National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. While discretionary, it directly supports IMLS’s statutory mission and complements the agency’s Grants to States program, which enables the NJSL to provide a wide range of essential services to New Jersey’s libraries and residents,” the lawmakers wrote. 
    The termination notice cited an Executive Order dated March 14, 2025 stating that the grant is ‘no longer consistent with agency priorities.’ However, the grant is aligned with IMLS’s mission and was authorized and funded by Congress under the Library Services and Technology Act. Termination of the grant violates federal law. 
    “The Administration’s Executive Order issued on March 14, 2025, threatens to effectively dismantle the IMLS. The consequences would devastate libraries and museums in New Jersey and nationwide and lead to the potential loss of jobs in these institutions. It would jeopardize essential services that help support education, digital access, and economic opportunity for millions of Americans. We respectfully urge IMLS to immediately rescind the grant termination and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to its statutory mission,” the lawmakers concluded. 
    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Herb Conaway (D-NJ-03), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12).  
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Wicker, Bennet Introduce the LOCAL Infrastructure Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced the Lifting Our Communities through Advance Liquidity for Infrastructure (LOCAL Infrastructure) Act of 2025. The legislation would amend the federal tax code to restore state and local governments’ ability to use advance refunding to manage bond debt and reduce borrowing costs for public infrastructure projects.
    “The LOCAL Infrastructure Act would amend the federal tax code to give more financial flexibility to state and local governments. Restoring advance refunding would help community leaders manage their existing debts and allow for more investment to improve their existing infrastructure. Local leaders know what their states need best, and it’s important to give them the resources to ensure their community’s success,” said Senator Wicker.
    “As state and local governments work to improve their communities and plan for the future, our bipartisan bill will support their efforts to revitalize infrastructure, create jobs, and improve quality of life for all Coloradans,” said Senator Bennet. “From improving our roads and bridges to modernizing our hospitals and schools, this legislation will help create stronger and more resilient communities.”
    “SIFMA would like to thank Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) for their continued leadership on municipal bonds. Advance refunding is an important tool which permits state and local governments to save billions of dollars in interest costs by refinancing their outstanding debt to a lower interest rate. Our nation benefits by allowing for a robust capital market to flourish, which in turn helps local communities build affordable infrastructure specifically related to their needs. Reinstating the prior tax-exemption for advance refunding bonds is essential to making that happen and the LOCAL Infrastructure Act does just that,” said SIFMA President Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.
    “Tax-exempt municipal bonds are a critical tool enabling counties to finance infrastructure projects for our communities” said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. “The LOCAL Infrastructure Act would restore the tax-exemption of advance refunding bonds and give counties the flexibility to respond to market conditions and lower borrowing costs for residents. Counties applaud Senators Wicker and Bennet for their bipartisan leadership and urge swift passage of this legislation.” 
    Advance refunding allows state and local governments to refinance outstanding municipal bonds to more favorable borrowing rates or conditions before the end of the initial bond term on a tax-exempt basis. This process is very similar to how a homeowner may refinance the mortgage on their property to lock in a lower interest rate. The federal tax-exempt debt could be refinanced only once, but local communities would be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates to generate additional savings on existing bonds. Local governments could reinvest these savings to fund infrastructure, education, health care, or other capital improvement projects. Advance refunding has saved state and local governments billions of dollars over decades, but has been unavailable to state and local governments since 2017.
    Click here to read a one-page outline of the legislation.
    Click here to view the full text of the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump’s Border Protection Nominee Commits to Sharing Public Information about Location in Custody “As Soon As Possible”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 30, 2025
    Asserts refusing detainees phone calls and their families information on their location will not be his policy
    Scott: “I will follow court orders…(and) commit to transparency and sharing (custody and location) information consistent with law and policy as quickly as possible.”
    Warren: “Targeting people who have never committed a crime, but who are now terrified that the United States government is going to remove them from their families without any legal help…is not only wrong, it is not making us safer.”
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. — At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pushed Mr. Rodney Scott, nominee for Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to commit to following court orders, ensuring agents do not deny entry based on travelers’ political views, allowing detained individuals to make phone calls to their families and their lawyers, and publicly releasing information on where people in CBP custody are being held. 
    Senator Warren highlighted the Trump administration’s recent disturbing pattern of detaining people with no criminal record, refusing to let them speak with their families and lawyers, and then deporting them even after courts have said not to. Mr. Scott said he would “follow court orders.” 
    Senator Warren also pointed to a recent report of immigration officials searching a traveler’s phone and denying entry to the United States for criticizing the Trump administration. Mr. Scott agreed that, if confirmed, he would not allow politically motivated denials of entry based on criticism of the President. 
    Senator Warren pushed Mr. Scott to commit to letting the public know within hours, instead of the current policy of 48 hours, when someone is in CBP custody and where they are located. Mr. Scott refused to commit but said he would share public information about the location of people in CBP custody “as soon as possible.”
    “I am concerned that, while I appreciate that you are making commitments to do your best here, that we really are going to need continued oversight to make sure that this happens,” said Senator Warren. 
    “Targeting people who have never committed a crime, but who are now terrified that the United States government is going to remove them from their families without any legal help… is not making us safer,” Senator Warren concluded. 
    Transcript: “Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Rodney Scott, of Oklahoma, to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, vice Chris Magnus”Senate Finance CommitteeApril 30, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, Americans want to be safe, but in just 100 days, the Trump administration has started to round up people with no criminal record, move them so that even their families and lawyers have no idea where they are, and deport them even after a court has said not to. That is not making our nation safer.  
    Now, Mr. Scott, if confirmed as Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, you will decide whether to continue or to reverse these very troubling trends. 
    So, I want to understand what policies you would follow. Last month, ICE transported Kilmar Abrego Garcia and more than one hundred others to El Salvador after a court ordered they not be removed. Concerns have also been raised about whether CBP is deporting people in violation of court orders.
    So let me start there. Mr. Scott, will it be your policy as CBP Commissioner to deport people in violation of court orders?
    Mr. Rodney Scott, nominee for Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection: No, ma’am. I will follow court orders. 
    Senator Warren: That’s what I like to hear. So, let’s try another one. Last month, CBP reportedly searched the phone of a French scientist at a Houston airport, and reportedly found text messages criticizing President Trump’s research policies, and then denied him entry. 
    Mr. Scott, will it be your policy as CBP Commissioner to deny entry to travelers because they criticize Donald Trump? 
    Mr. Scott: In my experience, that does not happen. In my experience—
    Senator Warren: That’s not my question. My question is will it be your policy that if someone criticizes Donald Trump will be denied entry to the United States of America?
    Mr. Scott: No, and I don’t believe that happens today either.
    Senator Warren: Alright, but you will make sure that that is not the policy that CBP follows, is that right? 
    Mr. Scott: If confirmed, that’s correct. 
    Senator Warren: Alright, let’s do one more. Lawyers and loved ones are finding CBP to be a black box that detains people and refuses to tell anyone where they are for hours, sometimes for days. 
    For example, two U.S. citizen children and their immigrant mother were detained by CBP for three days without being able to communicate with legal counsel or anyone in their family. They reported feeling “kidnapped.” 
    Mr. Scott, you said you care about transparency. Will it be your policy for CBP agents to detain a family and prevent them from speaking with counsel or their families for days?
    Mr. Scott: That is not the policy of CBP. And if confirmed that would not be my policy.
    Senator Warren: Alright. And will you commit to letting the public know within hours, not days, when someone is in CBP custody and where they are located, the same way that ICE does?
    Mr. Scott: I have learned to not over commit to something that I can’t follow through on. I commit to transparency and sharing that information consistent with law and policy as quickly as possible, but CBP is slightly different. There’s an interdiction, there’s a processing, we don’t have detention facilities, so a lot of times they are taken somewhere else. 
    There are time delays and the generality of within hours—as soon as possible I will commit to, but I cannot commit to a specific timeline, because it changes in different parts of the country depending on where the individual is encountered. 
    Senator Warren: So, are you telling me that literally it can be days before CBP understands they’ve got someone and to let that person be able to call a family member so they’re not frantically wondering what happened to them?
    Mr. Scott: So, under the last administration and the chaos that was created the answer to your question was yes. People being arrested were so backed up that in many cases it was taking CBP officers and patrol agents days just to get to them to do basic processing. 
    Senator Warren: And in the meantime, none of them were permitted to make a phone call? 
    Mr. Scott: We didn’t know who they were. 
    Senator Warren: So you can’t let them make a phone call to just tell their family where they are or find a lawyer if that’s what they think they need? 
    Mr. Scott: I believe there were 15,000 of them in one day. There wasn’t time. It was about officer safety, it was about keeping people safe and keeping them safe. Because it’s not just 15,000 families. There were criminals mixed in there. There were gang members mixed in there. There were cartel members mixed in there. And all of the officers and agents when we create this chaos have to deal with all of that and keep people safe, so it gets delayed. 
    Today we don’t have that problem, because the Trump administration’s created policies that have deterred all that massive chaos on the border from crossing. So those calls will take place quicker because we actually have time to—
    Senator Warren: So, if the Trump administration has ended all the chaos, is there a reason that you cannot commit to let people be able to reach out to their families within hours of being detained by CBP?
    You said you got that chaos under control now?
    Mr. Scott: I will confirm that if confirmed as commissioner, my commitment to you is we will let them make that call as quickly as reasonably possible with the other factors that I just outlined for you.
    Senator Warren: Well, the questions I asked are really straightforward and I’m very worried about what’s happening now—denying people entry because they criticize Donald Trump. 
    I’m worried about the feeling that people have been disappeared, including mothers with children, for days on end. And I am concerned that, while I appreciate that you are making commitments to do your best here, that we really are going to need continued oversight to make sure that this happens.
    Targeting people who have never committed a crime, but who are now terrified that the United States government is going to remove them from their families without any legal help, take them off of our streets or out of our airports is not only wrong, it is not making us safer. 
    I apologize for going over, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –