Category: Americas

MIL-OSI USA: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the modern world, driving innovation across industries, enhancing productivity, and reshaping the way we live and work. To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nation’s youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology. By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society. Early learning and exposure to AI concepts not only demystifies this powerful technology but also sparks curiosity and creativity, preparing students to become active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future and nurturing the next generation of American AI innovators to propel our Nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.To achieve this vision, we must also invest in our educators and equip them with the tools and knowledge to not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes. Professional development programs focused on AI education will empower educators to confidently guide students through this complex and evolving field. Educators, industry leaders, and employers who rely on an AI-skilled workforce should partner to create educational programs that equip students with essential AI skills and competencies across all learning pathways. While AI education in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) is critical, our Nation must also make resources available for lifelong learners to develop new skills for a changing workforce. By establishing a strong framework that integrates early student exposure with comprehensive teacher training and other resources for workforce development, we can ensure that every American has the opportunity to learn about AI from the earliest stages of their educational journey through postsecondary education, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking that will solidify our Nation’s leadership in the AI-driven future.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators.
Sec. 3. Definition. For the purposes of this order, “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).
Sec. 4. Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force. (a) There is hereby established the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education (Task Force).(b) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall be the Chair of the Task Force.(c) The Task Force membership shall consist of the following members:(i) the Secretary of Agriculture;(ii) the Secretary of Labor;(iii) the Secretary of Energy;(iv) the Secretary of Education;(v) the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF);(vi) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;(vii) the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto; (viii) the Assistant to the President for Policy; and(ix) the heads of other such executive departments and agencies (agencies) and offices that the Chair may designate or invite to participate.(d) The Task Force shall be responsible for implementing the policy stated in section 2 of this order and coordinating Federal efforts related to AI education, including the actions outlined in this order.
Sec. 5. Establishing the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall establish plans for a Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge (Challenge), and the agencies represented on the Task Force shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, implement the plans by holding the Challenge no later than 12 months from the submission of the plan. The Challenge shall encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.(b) The Challenge shall feature multiple age categories, distinct geographic regions for competition, and a variety of topical themes of competition to reflect the breadth of AI applications, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration. (c) The Task Force and, as appropriate, agencies represented on the Task Force shall collaborate with relevant agencies and private sector entities to provide technical expertise, resources, and promotional support for implementing the Challenge, including through existing funding vehicles.
Sec. 6. Improving Education Through Artificial Intelligence. (a) To provide resources for K-12 AI education, agencies represented on the Task Force shall seek to establish public-private partnerships with leading AI industry organizations, academic institutions, nonprofit entities, and other organizations with expertise in AI and computer science education to collaboratively develop online resources focused on teaching K-12 students foundational AI literacy and critical thinking skills. The Task Force shall promptly announce such public-private partnerships on a rolling basis as they are formed.(i) The Task Force shall seek to utilize industry commitments and identify any Federal funding mechanisms, including discretionary grants, that can be used to provide resources for K-12 AI education. To the extent practicable and as consistent with applicable law, agencies shall prioritize funding for such purposes when it would further the aims of the program for which funding is available.(ii) The Task Force shall work to ensure the resources funded as described in subsection (i) of this section are ready for use in K-12 instruction within 180 days following the Task Force’s formal announcement of the first slate of public-private partnerships.(b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall identify existing Federal AI resources on which agencies may rely, such as the NSF- and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National AI Research Institutes, to support partnerships with State and local educational agencies to improve AI education.(c) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding the use of formula and discretionary grant funds to improve education outcomes using AI, including but not limited to AI-based high-quality instructional resources; high-impact tutoring; and college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation.(d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall identify and implement ways to utilize existing research programs to assist State and local efforts to use AI for improved student achievement, attainment, and mobility.
Sec. 7. Enhancing Training for Educators on Artificial Intelligence. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall take steps to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10), as amended, and Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329), as amended, including for:(i) reducing time-intensive administrative tasks;(ii) improving teacher training and evaluation; (iii) providing professional development for all educators, so they can integrate the fundamentals of AI into all subject areas; and(iv) providing professional development in foundational computer science and AI, preparing educators to effectively teach AI in stand-alone computer science and other relevant courses.(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Director of the NSF shall take steps to prioritize research on the use of AI in education. The Director of the NSF shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher training opportunities that help educators effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities in classrooms. (c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take steps to prioritize research, extension, and education on the use of AI in formal and non-formal education through 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System. The Secretary of Agriculture shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher and educator training opportunities that help effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities into classrooms and curriculum.
Sec. 8. Promoting Registered Apprenticeships. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall seek to increase participation in AI-related Registered Apprenticeships, including by:(i) Prioritizing the development and growth of Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations. The Secretary of Labor shall establish specific goals for growing Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations across industries; and(ii) Using apprenticeship intermediary contracts and allocating existing discretionary funds, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to engage industry organizations and employers and facilitate the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs in AI-related occupations. In doing so, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of industry-developed program standards to be registered on a nationwide basis, enabling individual employers to adopt the standards without requiring individual registry.(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall encourage States and grantees to use funding provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law 113-128), as amended, to develop AI skills and support work-based learning opportunities within occupations utilizing AI by:(i) issuing guidance to State and local workforce development boards encouraging the use of WIOA youth formula funds to help youth develop AI skills;(ii) clarifying that States can use Governor set-asides to integrate AI learning opportunities into youth programs across the State; and(iii) consistent with applicable law, establishing AI skills training and work-based learning as a grant priority in all Employment and Training Administration youth-focused discretionary grant programs.(c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, and in collaboration with the Director of the NSF, shall engage with relevant State and local workforce development boards, industry organizations, education and training providers, and employers to identify and promote high-quality AI skills education coursework and certifications across the country. Through such engagement, the Secretary of Labor shall:(i) identify applicable funding opportunities to expand access to high-quality AI coursework and certifications;(ii) set performance targets for youth participation through any grants awarded for this purpose; and(iii) utilize industry and philanthropic partnerships to the extent practicable.(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the NSF, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs by giving priority consideration in awarding grants as appropriate and consistent with applicable law to providers that commit to use funds to develop or expand AI courses and certification programs. The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall encourage recipients to build partnerships with States and local school districts to encourage those entities to consider offering high school students dual enrollment opportunities to take courses to earn postsecondary credentials and industry-recognized AI credentials concurrent with high school education.(e) Within 120 days of the date of this order, all agencies that provide educational grants shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider AI as a priority area within existing Federal fellowship and scholarship for service programs.
Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, April 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: National Volunteer Week, 2025

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Every day, countless volunteers strengthen and enrich communities across the country through their selfless service. This National Volunteer Week, we offer our gratitude to every individual who generously volunteers their time, talent, and resources to influence and impact the lives of their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation as a whole.
Volunteerism is central to the American way of life, exemplifying the spirit that makes America great. In soup kitchens, shelters, schools, hospitals, and religious organizations across the country, volunteers encompass a spirit of kindness and compassion to help those in need. These exemplary citizens are role models for their communities and inspire us all with their commitment to selfless service.
During National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to every American who gives their time and talents in service to our Nation. We celebrate their selfless spirit — the driving force that inspires them to uplift others and serve a purpose greater than their own. In times of need, the American people emerge stronger than ever.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 20 through April 26, 2025, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thistwenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
Donald J. Trump

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kean Applauds SBA Extension of Business Recovery Center in Wharton and Pushes for Broader State Aid

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

(April 23, 2025) Bernardsville, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) issued the following statement after the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) extended operations at the Business Recovery Center in Wharton, NJ, through May 6, providing additional time for small businesses impacted by the I-80 sinkhole related closures to receive in-person support.

The Congressman previously announced that the SBA approved New Jersey’s disaster declaration request, making Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to small businesses in Morris County and adjacent counties impacted by the closures. The extension of the Business Recovery Center offers affected businesses more time to access federal resources and guidance directly from SBA personnel.

Congressman Kean also urged Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to expand the geographic scope of its Route 80 Business Assistance Grant Program beyond Morris County to include Sussex County. While this state-level grant program is available to small businesses in Morris County, it does not help nearby businesses in Sussex County, which have also experienced significant economic hardship due to the sinkhole-related disruptions.

“The SBA’s rapid approval of Economic Injury Disaster Loans for small businesses impacted by the I-80 closure continues to provide meaningful relief for businesses in Morris County, as well as the adjacent counties,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “With the Business Recovery Center in Wharton now extended through May 6, affected businesses have additional time to access critical, on-the-ground support. State-level support programs should also be expanded beyond Morris County to help other severely impacted businesses, including those in Sussex County.”

Background:

On March 28th, Congressman Kean sent a letter to Governor Murphy urging him to submit an official disaster declaration request to the SBA. After subsequent submission, the SBA granted this request within one day, unlocking federal assistance for small businesses suffering substantial economic loss due to the I-80 sinkhole related closures. Eligible businesses in Morris, Essex, Hunterdon, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties can apply HERE for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

The SBA’s Business Recovery Center at the Wharton Municipal Building will now remain open through Tuesday, May 6, operating Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. SBA representatives will continue offering personalized assistance to business owners navigating the loan application process and recovery resources.

For more information on disaster assistance, contact the SBA Customer Service Center Line at (800) 659-2955.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper Highlights Trump Admin Chaos at Town Halls in Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, Events Across Western Slope

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently held town halls in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, and made stops in Breckenridge, Eagle, and Glenwood Springs to discuss how the Trump administration’s policies are raising costs and harming communities across Colorado.
In Grand Junction, Hickenlooper hosted a town hall at Colorado Mesa University where he answered constituent concerns about Trump administration policies including tariffs and cuts to the Department of Education.
The next day Hickenlooper stopped in Glenwood Springs to discuss drought on the Colorado River, as well as the current Trump administration’s freeze on federal funding for water conservation across the West.
Hickenlooper also stopped in Eagle to meet with local leaders impacted by Trump administration’s funding and workforce cuts to public lands, and in Breckenridge at the Vista Verde workforce housing complex, where he discussed food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis in Colorado’s mountain communities.
Later in the week, Hickenlooper held a second town hall In Colorado Springs where he answered questions on his response to Trump administration ICE detentions and cuts to funding for medical research.
Check out the coverage below:
KKCO Grand Junction: Senator Hickenlooper addresses tariffs, immigration, and federal layoffs at Grand Junction Town Hall
“I know that there is a lot of frustration, anger, concern about what’s going on in Washington,” said Hickenlooper.
…KKCO had the opportunity to listen to Hickenlooper’s response to key issues before the Town Hall.
Hickenlooper was asked about Colorado Public Lands if he will fight to keep State and National Parks and Forests untouched: “I have gone up to every Republican I know and say that’s off the table. Just so you know, I will fight tooth and nail. You’ll never get anything done. And I have been assured that at least through the Senate, that’s not going to happen,” he said.
Hickenlooper was asked about current immigration laws and Kilmar Garcia: “I think that is the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone, that I can remember,” he said. “This is a level of corruption that I don’t think any American expected when they voted for Donald Trump. I can tell you that at least two or three dozen people I know who are devout supporters of President Trump are outraged.”
CPR News: US Senator Hickenlooper talks Trump resistance during Grand Junction town hal
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper invoked Valley Forge at an event in Grand Junction Monday night while encouraging disaffected voters to stay engaged in politics. But he also invoked collegiality to defend his approach to navigating Trump politics.
While Hickenlooper drew questions about some of his concessions, he spent much of the evening outlining policies and actions by the Trump administration he could not abide by. He told reporters that the wrongful deportation of a man to an El Salvadorian prison was “the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone,” and that feared cuts to Medicaid were “unfathomable.
Daily Sentinel Editorial: Hickenlooper shows up — that’s enough for now
Monday’s town hall reflected Hickenlooper’s even-keeled personality. The advice he imparted to those concerned with the direction of the country mirrored his own political posture: Stay engaged, show kindness and work to find real solutions to the nation’s problems.
“In a funny way, we’re at war,” he added. “You’ve got to be pragmatic as well as ruthless.
Hickenlooper provided examples of Trump administration controversies he can’t tolerate — including the “tariff tax” putting a “chokehold” on economic growth and the wrongful deportation of a man lawfully in the United States to an El Salvadoran prison.
Calling the latter “the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone,” Hickenlooper told reporters that if the administration defies court orders, “then we really have to go to the streets.”
WATCH: NBC Grand Junction: Hickenlooper hosts Grand Junction town hall
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Sen. Hickenlooper hosts town hall in Grand Junction
Colorado Sun: John Hickenlooper’s Western Slope tour reveals growing frustration over Trump’s public lands policy
Colorado U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is hearing a lot of frustration and anger as he tours the state this week. He’s telling people to organize and gather stories that reflect how public lands are suffering under drastic cuts at land agencies.
“It’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be a war. And the only real leverage that we have … in a constitutional democracy is to have people rise up,” he said, standing on the banks of the Eagle River on Tuesday at a small gathering of local officials worried about their forests.
Vail Daily: Colorado’s John Hickenlooper says ‘some things just shouldn’t be for sale’ as he stumps for public lands on Western Slope
Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper didn’t mince words Tuesday on the threat to public lands in the West during a tour of the Western Slope that included stops in Breckenridge, Eagle and Glenwood Springs.
“There are a lot of people out there that have never been to the West,” Hickenlooper said during a stop at the Eagle River Park. “They don’t give a crap. They think government’s too big and they’re just going to cut. Elections have consequences. The way to fight back on that is to bring them lessons from the West in graphic detail. Information is power.”
Colorado Newsline: Hickenlooper calls on Supreme Court to hold Trump officials in contempt
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to start holding Trump administration officials in contempt of court and “lock them up” if they refuse to comply with the court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” the return of a Maryland man wrongly deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador.
“The Supreme Court’s got to step up and say, ‘All right, we’re going to start holding people in contempt of court.’ They have the ability to sanction,” Hickenlooper said in an interview with Colorado Newsline. “They can take the people, the officials who deny any culpability or any responsibility, they can bring them in and force them to testify, to come to the court. And if they don’t come, they’re in contempt, and then you lock them up.”
Summit Daily: ‘I don’t see the demand decreasing’: Summit officials get candid with Sen. Hickenlooper about workforce’s struggles with affordability
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper hit stops in Colorado’s High Country on Tuesday, April 15, for what he said was an effort to collect stories from his constituents to help refine his understanding of the area he represents.
His Breckenridge stop was paired with a tour of an upcoming nonprofit hub, and the story he got from local officials lifted the veil covering the historic mountain town with an affluent appearance to show the local workforce’s struggles with affordability.
Hickenlooper said the United States is currently in a place where even those living in areas with a low cost of living are having to work multiple jobs to stay afloat.
“Society has gotten wealthier and wealthier, again, the greatest wealth in the history of the world, and yet we still have to fight like crazy to keep rent within peoples’ grasp,” he said.
Colorado Springs Gazette: Hickenlooper fields questions on Space Command, immigration, more at Colorado Springs town hall
“I think the threat on our democracy is real,” Hickenlooper said. “This notion that we can take someone off the street, lock him up, not charge him, no hearing and send him down to a hellhole of a prison in El Salvador, and then admit that we made a mistake, but we’re not going to do anything about it.”
The president’s tariffs, meanwhile, are going to have a negative impact on the local economy, Hickenlooper said.
“The tariffs are going to slow down everything, and the fact that he’s going to have these gigantic reciprocal tariffs, and now we paused for 90 days, well, that means no large company can make an investment, right?”
WATCH: NBC Colorado Springs: Sen. Hickenlooper hosts town hall in Colorado Springs

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National roadshow kicks off to get businesses exporting and grow the economy
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

National roadshow kicks off to get businesses exporting and grow the economy

SMEs from across the UK will benefit from new government support to match them up with international buyers and markets.
Export Roadshows, created to get more small businesses exporting and grow the economy, kick off today in the North East

Taking place across all nations and regions of the UK, events will bring together small firms, industry experts, trade bodies and government

Part of the modern Industrial Strategy, the roadshow aims to channel government support to growth-driving sectors, as part of the Plan for Change

SMEs from across the UK will benefit from new government support to match them up with international buyers and markets, to turbocharge UK exports and grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change.

The ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ roadshows, kicking off today [24 April] in Blyth and taking place across all nations and regions of the UK, have been designed to directly connect international buyers with SME exporters ready to seize the opportunity to grow their businesses. Through these events, the Government is working to maximise international opportunities for UK businesses by highlighting tangible opportunities that exist in new markets.

Each event will be aligned to one of the eight key growth driving sectors outlined in Britain’s modern Industrial Strategy, channelling government support to sectors with the highest potential to create jobs, boost productivity and grow the economy. All of which will help deliver the Plan for Change to put more money in more working people’s pockets.

Highlighted sectors include clean energy, advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, digital and technology, and financial services.

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said:

Maximising the UK’s export potential is crucial to achieving our Plan for Change, by creating good jobs with high wages, raising productivity, and boosting the economy.

Through these roadshows, the government is focussing on supporting key growth sectors, making it quicker and easier for smaller businesses to connect with markets, grasp export opportunities and expand.

The focus of the first roadshow, taking place today, is exporting in the clean energy sector.

There will be 100 attendees at the event – made up of small businesses, trade bodies, and government representatives, as well as 30 Commercial Officers from UK embassies and consulates from around the world, and 97 buyers, all of whom will join the event virtually through pre-planned meetings.

The 97 buyers span 19 markets worldwide, from Argentina to Austria, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, India, and the UAE.

All roadshow events will provide opportunities for delegates to meet with domestic and international Commercial Officers, who will be on hand to offer expert support and advice on specific products, markets, and export opportunities.

There will also be a designated advice zone for SMEs to learn about wider export support services offered by the Department for Business and Trade, as well as those provided by other public sectors partners like regional Growth Hubs, and trusted private sector providers like the Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Business, UKEF and MAKE UK.

A range of workshops and seminars on topical issues such as ‘conducting market research’ and ‘routes to market’ will take place throughout the day, led by the UK Export Academy. Several of these will feature DBT Export Champions who will speak of their own experiences in target markets.

Alex Marshall, Group Business Development Director at Clarke Energy, said:

From the Americas, Africa, Asia to Australasia, clean technologies are now established as one of the most important pillars of the global economy.

So as an Export Champion and a UK business developing innovative clean technology solutions across the world, this Made in the UK, Sold to the World roadshow event is an excellent place to discuss the latest international trends and export opportunities for UK businesses in the clean energy sector.

We know that when SMEs trade around the world, the whole economy benefits, which is why this government is so committed to supporting smaller businesses grow and export.

Just last month, the Department of Business and Trade relaunched the Board of Trade, to help businesses, and in particular the UK’s 5.5 million SMEs, boost their exports.

And later this year, we will be launching a small business strategy to raise growth and productivity across the UK’s SME population and boost the number of scale-ups.

UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network, and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

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Published 24 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Dresden Man Sentenced to Federal Imprisonment for Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Chapell Dain Cissell, 31, to ten years in federal prison for possession of several firearms and a large amount of ammunition. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the evidence presented in court, in March 2021, several deputies with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department responded to Fast Eddie’s Bar in Dresden, Tennessee, after receiving a report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with the victims who said that an individual, later identified as Cissell, drove a black SUV into the parking lot of the bar wearing a “bullet proof vest” and holding an assault rifle firearm. Cissell pointed the firearm at the three victims, threatened to kill them, and fled the parking lot.

Deputies later found Cissell wearing a ballistic vest while sitting inside a pickup truck, preparing to leave his residence. The deputies observed a wooden handle of a revolver sticking out of the top of the vest. Deputies also found three firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition either on Cissell or in the vehicle he was occupying. Cissell admitted that there were additional firearms in his residence. Three additional firearms and over two thousand rounds of various caliber ammunition were discovered after a search of Cissell’s residence.

On April 11, 2025, United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Cissell to 120 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release, the maximum term of imprisonment, after Cissell pled guilty to six counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates

MIL Security OSI –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future

Source: The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. To maximize my Administration’s historic investments in America’s reindustrialization and economic growth, my Administration will fully equip the American worker to produce world-class products and implement world-leading technologies. My Administration will also consolidate and streamline fragmented Federal workforce development programs that are too disconnected from propelling workers into secure, well-paying, and high-need American jobs.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce development to align with our country’s reindustrialization needs and equip American workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other occupations. My Administration will further protect and strengthen Registered Apprenticeships and build on their successes to seize new opportunities and unlock the limitless potential of the American worker.

Sec. 3. Comprehensive Worker Investment and Development Strategy. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall review all Federal workforce development programs and submit to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a report setting forth strategies to help the American worker. That report shall identify the following:

(a) Opportunities to integrate systems and realign resources to address critical workforce needs and in-demand skills of emerging industries and companies investing in the United States as determined, to the extent permissible by law, by prospective employers. The report shall include:

(i)    administrative reforms to agency policies and programmatic requirements;

(ii)   process improvements to better the experience for program participants; and

(iii) recommendations to further restructure and consolidate programs.

(b) Federal workforce development and education programs, or related spending within these programs, that are ineffective or otherwise fail to achieve their desired outcomes. Each identified program should be accompanied by a proposal to reform the program, redirect its funding, or eliminate it.

(c) Available statutory authorities to promote innovation and system integration in pursuit of better employment and earnings outcomes for program participants.

(d) Opportunities to invest in the upskilling of incumbent workers to meet rapidly evolving skill demands of their industries, including the use of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace.

(e) Strategies to identify alternative credentials and assessments to the 4-year college degree that can be mapped to the specific skill needs of prospective employers.

(f) Efficiencies to streamline information collection, including through:

(i)    harmonizing performance measures;

(ii)   reducing the burden on grantees; and

(iii) ensuring that performance outcomes are measured using the most reliable data sources.

Sec. 4. Expanding Registered Apprenticeships. Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall submit to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a plan to reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices. That plan shall identify the following:

(a) Avenues to expand Registered Apprenticeships to new industries and occupations, including high-growth and emerging sectors.

(b) Measures to scale this proven model across the country, improve its efficiency, and provide consistent support to program participants.

(c) Opportunities, including through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (Perkins V) Act and Federal student aid, to enhance connections between the education system and Registered Apprenticeships.

Sec. 5. Delivering Unprecedented Transparency and Accountability. The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall improve transparency on the performance outcomes of workforce development programs and credentials supported through Federal investments, including earnings and employment data, for all Federal workforce development programs.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: National Park Week, 2025

Source: The White House

class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National Park Week, we celebrate the majestic beauty and rich history preserved within our national parks. The week’s events will begin with a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War at Minute Man National Historical Park in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. There, ceremonies and tactical demonstrations will recall the bravery of the patriots who stood their ground against tyranny and launched a movement that secured the blessing of freedom and forever changed the course of history.

As President, I have taken action to restore names to our parks that honor American greatness — including returning Mount McKinley to its rightful name. I was also proud to announce the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes — a new monument honoring 250 American patriots who embodied the virtues of courage, love of country, and devotion to our Nation’s highest ideals. My Administration is promoting education that teaches our children to love our country and honor our history, including through the work of the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.

Our national parks are magnificent sources of inspiration, education, and recreation — representing our customs and culture. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as the world’s first-ever national park, commencing a proud American tradition that has led to the designation of more than 400 park sites of national significance. From prehistoric dwellings and architectural masterpieces to historic battlefields where our forefathers fought for independence, our national parks draw hundreds of millions of visitors each year.

This National Park Week, we renew our pledge to cherish and protect our magnificent symbols of American greatness, and we vow to ensure that they remain breathtaking for our children and grandchildren.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 19 through April 27, 2025, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to celebrate our national parks by learning more about the natural and historical heritage that belongs to each and every citizen of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, 2025

Source: The White House

class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and during this week of solemn remembrance, we honor the blessed memories of the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were viciously slaughtered by the genocidal Nazi regime and their collaborators — one of the bleakest hours in human history. We also remember the Roma and Sinti, peoples of Slavic and Polish ancestry, persons with disabilities, Soviet prisoners of war, Jehovah’s Witnesses, persons targeted based on their sexual orientation, and countless other innocent victims of this tragedy.
Earlier this year, our Nation solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, during which we memorialized the lives of the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, grandmothers, and grandfathers whose futures were barbarically ripped away in Nazi-occupied Europe. During these Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, we once again honor every Holocaust survivor who has imparted their wisdom to younger generations. Today and every day, we commit to preserving their stories.
The price to humanity of the lives lost during the Shoah can never be fully grasped or understood. Yet, even in the wake of the Holocaust, a self-determined Jewish homeland rose from the ashes as the modern State of Israel.
Sadly, our Nation has borne witness to the worst outbreak of anti-Semitism on American soil in generations. Nearly every day following the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Jewish Americans were threatened on our streets and in our public square — a reminder that the poison of anti-Semitism tragically still exists.
For that reason, my Administration is proudly upholding the basic truth that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society. As President, I signed an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to use all available and appropriate legal tools to combat the explosion of anti-Semitic harassment in our schools and on college campuses — including through the removal of resident aliens who violate our laws. We are also steadfastly committed to investigating and swiftly punishing all anti-Semitic discrimination in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities.
During these Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, we reflect upon the dark affront to human dignity posed by Nazis. We cherish the eternal memories of all those whose lives were lost to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism. Above all, we vow to never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. We declare that never again means now.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby ask the people of the United States to observe the Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust from April 20 through April 27, 2025, and the solemn anniversary of the liberation of Nazi death camps with appropriate study, prayers, and commemoration and to honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution by remembering the lessons of this atrocity so that it is never repeated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies

Source: The White House

class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to ensure safety and order in American classrooms, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. The Federal Government will no longer tolerate known risks to children’s safety and well-being in the classroom that result from the application of school discipline based on discriminatory and unlawful “equity” ideology.

In January 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice jointly issued a “Dear Colleague” letter regarding school discipline. In that letter, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice explained that schools could be found to violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — and therefore could lose Federal funding — if their disciplinary decisions ran afoul of a newly imposed disparate-impact framework under which race-neutral disciplinary policies, applied in an even-handed manner, may be improper if members of any racial groups are suspended, expelled, or referred to law enforcement at higher rates than others. The letter effectively required schools to discriminate on the basis of race by imposing discipline based on racial characteristics, rather than on objective behavior alone.

The consequences harmed students and schools. A 2018 report from the Federal Commission on School Safety (Commission) noted evidence that, because of the 2014 letter, “schools ignored or covered up — rather than disciplined — student misconduct in order to avoid any purported racial disparity in discipline numbers that might catch the eye of the federal government.” As a result, students who should have been suspended or expelled for dangerous behavior remained in the classroom, making all students less safe.

As the Commission found: “When school leaders focus on aggregate school discipline numbers rather than the specific circumstances and conduct that underlie each matter, schools become less safe,” and “[r]esearch clearly indicates that the failure of schools to appropriately discipline disruptive students has consequences for overall student achievement.” The Commission’s seemingly obvious conclusion was that “disciplinary decisions are best left in the hands of classroom teachers and administrators” and should be based on student behavior, rather than racial statistics.

Following the Commission’s report on December 18, 2018, the 2014 Dear Colleague letter was rescinded. In 2023, however, the previous administration’s Department of Education and Department of Justice issued new guidance noting that statistical racial disparities in student discipline may indicate violations of law, and encouraging schools to collect, analyze, and adjust their disciplinary policies in light of racial disciplinary data. The 2023 guidance thus effectively reinstated the practice of weaponizing Title VI to promote an approach to school discipline based on discriminatory equity ideology. As a consequence of these policies, teachers and students are suffering increased levels of classroom disorder and school violence.

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used herein:
(a) The definitions in the Executive Order of January 29, 2025 (Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling), shall apply to this order.
(b) “Behavior Modification Techniques” means any school discipline policies or practices that incorporate or are based on discriminatory equity ideology.

Sec. 3. Ensuring Commonsense School Discipline Policies.     (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue new guidance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and State educational agencies (SEAs) regarding school discipline and their obligations not to engage in racial discrimination under Title VI in all contexts, including school discipline.
(b) The Secretary of Education shall take appropriate action with respect to LEAs and SEAs that fail to comply with Title VI protections against racial discrimination in the application of school discipline.
(c) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General shall initiate coordination with Governors and State Attorneys General regarding the prevention of racial discrimination in the application of school discipline.
(d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall issue a revised school discipline code that appropriately protects and enhances the education of the children of America’s military-service families.
(e) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, regarding the status of discriminatory-equity-ideology-based school discipline and behavior modification techniques in American public education . The report shall include:
(i)    an inventory and analysis of the nature and consequences of all Title VI discipline-related investigations since 2009;
(ii)   an assessment of the role of non-profit organizations that are Federal grant recipients in promoting discriminatory-equity-ideology-based discipline and behavior modification techniques, and recommendations to ensure that Federal taxpayer funds do not flow to programs or activities, including those of non-profit organizations, that promote discriminatory-equity-ideology-based discipline and behavior modification techniques;
(iii) an assessment of discipline-related policies and curricular options that do not promote discriminatory equity ideology; and
(iv)   model school discipline policies that promote common sense, protect the safety and educational environment of students, do not promote unlawful discrimination, and are rooted in American values and traditional virtues.

     Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                              DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    April 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy

Source: The White House

class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose. A bedrock principle of the United States is that all citizens are treated equally under the law. This principle guarantees equality of opportunity, not equal outcomes. It promises that people are treated as individuals, not components of a particular race or group. It encourages meritocracy and a colorblind society, not race- or sex-based favoritism. Adherence to this principle is essential to creating opportunity, encouraging achievement, and sustaining the American Dream.
But a pernicious movement endangers this foundational principle, seeking to transform America’s promise of equal opportunity into a divisive pursuit of results preordained by irrelevant immutable characteristics, regardless of individual strengths, effort, or achievement. A key tool of this movement is disparate-impact liability, which holds that a near insurmountable presumption of unlawful discrimination exists where there are any differences in outcomes in certain circumstances among different races, sexes, or similar groups, even if there is no facially discriminatory policy or practice or discriminatory intent involved, and even if everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Disparate-impact liability all but requires individuals and businesses to consider race and engage in racial balancing to avoid potentially crippling legal liability. It not only undermines our national values, but also runs contrary to equal protection under the law and, therefore, violates our Constitution.
On a practical level, disparate-impact liability has hindered businesses from making hiring and other employment decisions based on merit and skill, their needs, or the needs of their customers because of the specter that such a process might lead to disparate outcomes, and thus disparate-impact lawsuits. This has made it difficult, and in some cases impossible, for employers to use bona fide job-oriented evaluations when recruiting, which prevents job seekers from being paired with jobs to which their skills are most suited — in other words, it deprives them of opportunities for success. Because of disparate-impact liability, employers cannot act in the best interests of the job applicant, the employer, and the American public.
Disparate-impact liability imperils the effectiveness of civil rights laws by mandating, rather than proscribing, discrimination. As the Supreme Court put it, “[t]he way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”
Disparate-impact liability is wholly inconsistent with the Constitution and threatens the commitment to merit and equality of opportunity that forms the foundation of the American Dream. Under my Administration, citizens will be treated equally before the law and as individuals, not consigned to a certain fate based on their immutable characteristics.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible to avoid violating the Constitution, Federal civil rights laws, and basic American ideals.

Sec 3. Revoking Certain Presidential Actions. The following Presidential approvals of the regulations promulgated under 42 U.S.C. 2000d-1 are hereby revoked:
(a) the Presidential approval of July 25, 1966, of the Department of Justice Title VI regulations (31 Fed. Reg. 10269), as applied to 28 C.F.R. 42.104(b)(2) in full; and
(b) the Presidential approval of July 5, 1973, of the Department of Justice Title VI regulations (38 Fed. Reg. 17955, FR Doc. 73-13407), as applied to the words “or effect” in both places they appear in 28 C.F.R. 42.104(b)(3), and as applied to 28 C.F.R. 42.104(b)(6)(ii) and 28 C.F.R. 42.104(c)(2) in full.

Sec. 4. Enforcement Discretion to Ensure Lawful Governance. Given the limited enforcement resources of executive departments and agencies (agencies), the unlawfulness of disparate-impact liability, and the policy of this order, all agencies shall deprioritize enforcement of all statutes and regulations to the extent they include disparate-impact liability, including but not limited to 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2, 28 C.F.R. 42.104(b)(2)–(3), 28 C.F.R. 42.104(b)(6)(ii), and 28 C.F.R. 42.104(c)(2).

Sec. 5. Existing Regulations. (a) As delegated by Executive Order 12250 of November 2, 1980 (Leadership and Coordination of Nondiscrimination Laws), the Attorney General shall initiate appropriate action to repeal or amend the implementing regulations for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for all agencies to the extent they contemplate disparate-impact liability.
(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General, in coordination with the heads of all other agencies, shall report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy:
(i)   all existing regulations, guidance, rules, or orders that impose disparate-impact liability or similar requirements, and detail agency steps for their amendment or repeal, as appropriate under applicable law; and
(ii) other laws or decisions, including at the State level, that impose disparate-impact liability and any appropriate measures to address any constitutional or other legal infirmities.

Sec. 6. Review of Current Matters. (a) Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall assess all pending investigations, civil suits, or positions taken in ongoing matters under every Federal civil rights law within their respective jurisdictions, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that rely on a theory of disparate-impact liability, and shall take appropriate action with respect to such matters consistent with the policy of this order.
(b) Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and the heads of other agencies responsible for enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Public Law 93-495), Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (the Fair Housing Act (Public Law 90-284, as amended)), or laws prohibiting unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices shall evaluate all pending proceedings that rely on theories of disparate-impact liability and take appropriate action with respect to such matters consistent with the policy of this order.
(c) Within 90 days of the date of this order, all agencies shall evaluate existing consent judgments and permanent injunctions that rely on theories of disparate-impact liability and take appropriate action with respect to such matters consistent with the policy of this order.

Sec. 7. Future Agency Action. (a) In coordination with other agencies, the Attorney General shall determine whether any Federal authorities preempt State laws, regulations, policies, or practices that impose disparate-impact liability based on a federally protected characteristic such as race, sex, or age, or whether such laws, regulations, policies, or practices have constitutional infirmities that warrant Federal action, and shall take appropriate measures consistent with the policy of this order.
(b) The Attorney General and the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall jointly formulate and issue guidance or technical assistance to employers regarding appropriate methods to promote equal access to employment regardless of whether an applicant has a college education, where appropriate.

Sec. 8.  Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 9.  General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or 
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. 
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. 
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

                               DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    April 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Evans, Larson, DeLauro, Frankel to Introduce ‘Claws Off Social Security’ Act
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

Democrats push to protect struggling seniors from Trump’s drastic ‘clawbacks’
WASHINGTON (April 15, 2025) – U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA), John Larson (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) announced they will introduce the “Claws Off Social Security” Act, aimed at protecting struggling seniors from drastic “clawback” payments ordered by the Trump administration.

“Under a new Trump administration policy, seniors who received an overpayment because of someone else’s mistake are seeing up to their entire checks withheld, forcing some to choose between basics like food, rent and medicine. Our bill would cap these ‘clawbacks’ at a reasonable 10 percent of monthly benefits, restoring a policy the Biden administration put in place last year,” said Evans, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Social Security.

“I’m proud to have three Social Security champions — Representatives John Larson, Rosa DeLauro and Lois Frankel – as co-lead sponsors on this bill. We are telling the Trump administration ‘Claws Off’ people’s earned benefits!”

The two-page bill would:
- cap the Social Security Administration’s overpayment withholding rate at 10 percent of a Social Security benefit on a monthly basis;
- allow beneficiaries the option to repay overpayment in larger amounts if they choose; and
- allow for an exception in cases of fraud.
“Elon Musk and Donald Trump will not lose a minute of sleep over their new policy that will mean seniors may lose their entire Social Security check through no fault of their own,” said Larson, ranking member of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. “Social Security is an earned benefit that our seniors rely on to put food on the table, afford their medications, and keep a roof over their heads. Make no mistake about it – these ‘claw backs’ are about ripping checks out of seniors’ hands to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Our Claws Off Social Security Act is a common-sense bill to restore the Social Security Administration’s policy protecting beneficiaries from being excessively penalized for accidental overpayments. Congress must act to defend our seniors’ hard-earned benefits from this cruel policy.”

“If the government makes a mistake & overpays your monthly Social Security, the government can freeze your benefits,” said DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I led the charge to fix overpayment errors without complete clawbacks, but now, President Trump is moving policies that will rollback that progress while driving up costs for seniors. Americans rely on these benefits—they shouldn’t be punished for government errors.”

“For so many seniors, their Social Security check isn’t extra – it’s everything,” said Frankel, who serves on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the Social Security Administration. “It puts food on the table, keeps the lights on, and pays for the medicine they need. But under Donald Trump’s cruel new rule, seniors who’ve done nothing wrong could suddenly lose all of their income overnight – forcing them to go months or even years without a dime to live on. That’s just wrong. Our bill will restore fairness and common sense by capping repayments at 10 percent, just like it was under President Biden – because no senior should be punished into poverty for a government mistake.”

Also co-sponsoring the bill are Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett and Sylvia Garcia (both D-TX), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar (both D-MI), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).

Organizations endorsing the bill include the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Justice in Aging, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Social Security Works.

The bill is expected to be referred to the Ways and Means Committee, on which Evans, Larson, Boyle, Davis, Doggett, Moore, Sánchez, Sewell and Suozzi serve.

###
MIL OSI USA News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Evans, Markey introduce legislation to support victims of gun violence

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

Bill would help the 100,000 new U.S. victims & survivors each year better navigate & use available resources

WASHINGTON (April 17, 2025) – U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) have introduced the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act to help all victims of gun violence – from survivors to their loved ones, coworkers, and classmates – identify and access the resources available to them to help meet medical, legal, financial, and other needs.

The bill would establish a federal interagency advisory council to help victims navigate and use these resources, streamlining what can be a complex process in a nation of gun violence survivors. Every year in America, about 100,000 people survive gun-related injuries. An estimated 10,000,000 people in the U.S. have been shot and injured in their lifetimes.

Congressman Evans said, “While gun violence is down in Philadelphia and many other communities, it’s still far too common – more than 1,000 people were injured by gunfire just in Philadelphia in 2024. So the list of victims and survivors who need well-coordinated help continues to grow, and our bill would make a difference for many of them,” Evans said. “I appreciate Senator Markey’s leadership in the Senate on this bill that would help so many victims and survivors across America.”

“For communities across the country, gun violence is an all too familiar tragedy. It is impossible to imagine the trauma that gun violence causes to victims, survivors, and their loved ones,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to join Congressman Evans in introducing the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act, which would establish an advisory council to gather information about programs to aid victims of gun violence and their families. These efforts can help heal the harm that gun violence inflicts on our society.

Evans and then-Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) first introduced the bill in 2019 after reading a Philadelphia Inquirer article about difficulties faced by victims of gun violence, titled “Shot and Forgotten.”

A PDF of the bill (H.R. 2837/S. 1466) is available here.

The bill has 11 Senate co-sponsors: Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Richard Durbin (both D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The bill has 30 House co-sponsors, including Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) – the full list is available here.

The legislation has been referred to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees for consideration.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON TERROR ATTACK IN KASHMIR

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly Congratulates Senator Durbin on Retirement, Successful Career

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced his retirement:

“I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Senator Dick Durbin on his career in public service. For nearly three decades, Senator Durbin has fought for everyday Americans, from introducing the DREAM Act to bringing historic infrastructure funding to the state of Illinois. He led the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who shattered racial barriers as the first Black woman to sit on the high court.

“Senator Durbin may be leaving Congress, but his legacy will reverberate throughout Illinois and the country. A public servant at heart, his leadership, character and commitment to the people of Illinois will remain steadfast even after his days in office. I wish my friend Senator Durbin, his wife Loretta and his family all the best.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Acting Chairman Pham Issues Statement on OIG Audit of CFTC’s Use of Charge Cards

Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Acting Chairman Pham Issues Statement on OIG Audit of CFTC’s Use of Charge Cards | CFTC

/PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/phamstatement042325
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April 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham issued the following statement on the CFTC Office of Inspector General (OIG) Audit of CFTC’s Compliance with the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act:
“I applaud the diligent work of the CFTC’s Office of the Inspector General to identify fraud, waste, and abuse in the independent audit of the agency’s Government Charge Card programs, including purchase cards and travel cards. The OIG audit did not identify any monetary violations. However, the OIG report and recommendations confirm the CFTC’s noncompliance with various requirements for internal policies and employee training—both issues I have repeatedly raised in the past, including calling for a GAO study—and instances of noncompliance relating to card deactivation for separated employees, transaction preapproval procedures, and correct interpretation and application of the Federal Travel Regulation, among other issues. This independent audit report will support my efforts to strengthen the CFTC’s management accountability and governance, and the CFTC looks forward to completing appropriate corrective action plans.”

-CFTC-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 164

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL4

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 164
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
530 PM CDT Wed Apr 23 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Far Western Oklahoma
Texas Panhandle and South Plains

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 530 PM until Midnight
CDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY…Relatively isolated severe storms should develop through
early/mid-evening, particularly across the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles, but potentially also across the Texas South Plains.
These storms may reach other parts of western Oklahoma later this
evening.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
statute miles east and west of a line from 45 miles east northeast
of Guymon OK to 55 miles south southeast of Lubbock TX. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 162…WW 163…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
24020.

…Guyer

SEL4

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 164
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
530 PM CDT Wed Apr 23 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Far Western Oklahoma
Texas Panhandle and South Plains

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 530 PM until Midnight
CDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY…Relatively isolated severe storms should develop through
early/mid-evening, particularly across the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles, but potentially also across the Texas South Plains.
These storms may reach other parts of western Oklahoma later this
evening.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
statute miles east and west of a line from 45 miles east northeast
of Guymon OK to 55 miles south southeast of Lubbock TX. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 162…WW 163…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
24020.

…Guyer

Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW4
WW 164 SEVERE TSTM OK TX 232230Z – 240500Z
AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
45ENE GUY/GUYMON OK/ – 55SSE LBB/LUBBOCK TX/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM E/W /13ESE LBL – 52SSE LBB/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24020.

LAT…LON 36919948 32930025 32930266 36910201

THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU4.

Watch 164 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

Low (20%)

Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

Low (5%)

Wind

Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

Mod (30%)

Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

Low (10%)

Hail

Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

Mod (40%)

Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

Mod (30%)

Combined Severe Hail/Wind

Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

High (80%)

For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Urges Stockholders of GB, YOTA, PORT, AKYA to Act Now
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:
- Global Blue Group Holding AG (NYSE: GB), relating to the proposed merger with Shift4 Payments, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Shift4 intends to acquire Global Blue for $7.50 per common share in cash.
ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for May 6, 2025.

Click here for https://monteverdelaw.com/case/global-blue-group-holding-ag-gb/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Yotta Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: YOTA), relating to its proposed merger with DRIVEiT Financial Auto Group, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, DRIVEiT securityholders are expected to own approximately 78.4% of the combined company.
Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/yotta-acquisition-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Southport Acquisition Corporation (OTC: PORT), relating to its proposed merger with Angel Studios, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Angel Studios shares will automatically be converted into the right to receive Southport shares.
Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/southport-acquisition-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKYA), relating to the proposed merger with Quanterix. Under the terms of the agreement, Akoya shareholders will receive 0.318 shares of Quanterix common stock for each share of Akoya common stock owned. Akoya shareholders will own approximately 30% of the combined company.
ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for May 13, 2025.

Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/akoya-biosciences-inc-akya/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?
About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Visits Colorado Schools, Highlights National Blue Ribbon Winner and Career Learning Opportunities

Source: US State of Colorado

DENVER/COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, Governor Polis visited schools in Denver and Colorado Springs to highlight the success and innovation happening that is preparing students for the future.

He began with a visit to DSST: Cedar High School in Denver, a 2024 National Blue Ribbon-winning school.

“Preparing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed is important for their future, our communities, and our economy. I am proud of DSST: Cedar High School, including all the students, educators and staff, for receiving this prestigious national recognition and was thrilled to visit today to learn more about its success,” said Governor Polis.

With this visit, the Governor has visited three of Colorado’s four 2024 Blue Ribbon Award Winning Schools. He previously visited Mesa View Elementary School in Grand Junction and Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins.

Governor Polis then traveled to Colorado Springs, where he launched Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy, and then visited Odyssey Early College & Career Options to highlight its dual enrollment efforts to help students earn an associate’s degree, saving students thousands in tuition costs.

“Dual and concurrent enrollment efforts are an important way to help students gain new skills and earn college credits and even a degree, all while saving them time and thousands of dollars in tuition costs. We are committed to expanding access to dual enrollment opportunities like what Odyssey Early College offers, to help our students get ahead and get good-paying jobs in our strong economy,” said Governor Polis.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: Pulse Seismic Inc. Announces Voting Results at Shareholders’ Annual Meeting

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX:PSD) (OTCQX:PLSDF) (“Pulse” or the “Company”) announced today the voting results from its annual meeting held in Calgary, Alberta on April 23, 2025. Each of the nominee directors listed in the Company’s management proxy circular dated March 10, 2025, was elected as a director, with a vote being conducted by ballot:

Name of Nominee	Votes For	%	Votes Against	%
Neal Coleman	31,038,759	99.90	32,292	0.10
Paul Crilly	31,061,451	99.97	9,600	0.03
Dallas Droppo	30,880,344	99.39	190,707	0.61
Robert Robotti	31,045,648	99.92	25,403	0.08
Patrick Ward	31,047,955	99.93	23,096	0.07
Melanie Westergaard	31,055,358	99.95	15,693	0.05

The “Say on Pay” shareholder advisory vote on Pulse’s approach to executive compensation was approved by 99.78% of the votes cast.

The report on voting for the meeting will be available at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at www.pulseseismic.com.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Pulse is a market leader in the acquisition, marketing and licensing of 2D and 3D seismic data to the western Canadian energy sector. Pulse owns the largest licensable seismic data library in Canada, currently consisting of approximately 65,310 square kilometres of 3D seismic and 829,207 kilometres of 2D seismic. The library extensively covers the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin where most of Canada’s oil and natural gas exploration and development occur.

For further information, please contact:
Neal Coleman, President and CEO
Or
Pamela Wicks, Vice President Finance and CFO

Tel.: (403) 237-5559
Toll-free: 1-877-460-5559
E-mail: info@pulseseismic.com.
Please visit our website at www.pulseseismic.com.

PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/9b5fd3a7-4102-47a8-93f6-f9e16fd4e04a

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Celebrates Start of I-44 and US Highway 75 Interchange Improvement Project in Tulsa

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
TULSA, OK — Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined officials from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), the City of Tulsa, and Tulsa County to break ground on the next phase of the I-44 and US Highway 75 interchange improvement project, one of the largest and most complex infrastructure undertakings in Oklahoma.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a major milestone for Tulsa and our entire state,” said Lankford. “This interchange has been a priority for decades, and today’s groundbreaking marks the result of tireless collaboration between federal, state, and local partners. I’m proud we secured the federal support needed to get this done. Improving this corridor isn’t just about concrete and steel—it’s about safer roads, better commutes, and a stronger foundation for Tulsa and Oklahoma’s growth.”
“The I-44/US-75 interchange in Tulsa is Oklahoma’s largest single investment in transportation infrastructure ever, totaling $252 million, and will update a very busy interchange along two equally busy corridors,” said ODOT Executive Director, Tim Gatz. “Both I-44 and US-75 carry a significant amount of both local and regional traffic through the Tulsa area. This project will make this interchange function much more efficiently while also improving safety for the traveling public. We appreciate the efforts of our congressional representatives, especially Sen. James Lankford, for helping ODOT to earn two federal grants totaling $95 million to help complete the work. I also want to thank the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County and INCOG for their collaboration.”
“The improvements to the I-44 and US-75 interchange represent a critical investment in Tulsa’s infrastructure and long-term growth,” said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. “This project will make one of our busiest corridors safer, less congested, and better connected for the people who rely on it every day. We’re proud to work alongside our federal and state partners to strengthen Tulsa’s transportation network and support continued growth across our city.”
“Because of the good work of federal and state officials, this highway intersection will be transformed from Oklahoma’s most dangerous to the safest, maybe in the nation,” said Tulsa City Council Chair Phil Lakin. “We Tulsans are mighty grateful. Thanks to all the Tulsa area drivers for their patience during construction. The finished product will be well worth the wait.”
“This interchange is a critical connector for the movement of people, goods, and services throughout Tulsa County,” said Tulsa County Commissioner Lonnie Sims. “By moving forward with construction, we’re keeping our promise to build a safer, more efficient transportation system that reduces commute times and supports long-term growth for our region and beyond.”
“The ceremonial groundbreaking for the I-44 and US-75 highway interchange project will complete the construction of long-needed highway improvements at one of the most heavily traveled major highway interchanges in the Tulsa metro area,” said Executive Director of Indian Nations Council of Governance (INCOG), Rich Brierre. “The improvements will relieve traffic congestion experienced daily by motorists, while reducing travel time and saving countless lives. A project of this magnitude could not be undertaken without the leadership of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation working with our federal partners to secure the necessary funding. Senator Lankford’s leadership, support, and advocacy for addressing real infrastructure needs such as this project and his continued encouragement for working collaboratively to achieve meaningful results is recognized and greatly appreciated.”
Background:
In 2023, Lankford applauded Oklahoma’s selection for a highly competitive $85 million federal grant from the US Department of Transportation to support the I-44 and US-75 interchange project. The funding, awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, also supports pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements in the corridor.
Once complete, the project will improve safety, streamline traffic, and enhance pedestrian and bicycle access through one of Oklahoma’s busiest highway interchanges.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Urges USDA, HHS, EPA to Safeguard MAHA Work From Environmental Activists

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin calling for the use of sound science and risk-based analysis as the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission finalizes its work, particularly on crop protection tools and food-grade ingredients:

The lawmakers wrote: “We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.”

“We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health. Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science.”

Other signatories include Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, and Administrator Zeldin:

We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny and to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.

We also urge you to safeguard the work of the Make America Healthy Again Commission (Commission) from activist groups promoting misguided and sometimes even malicious policies masquerading as health solutions. The influence of these groups in the Commission would result in shoddy science; a less abundant, less affordable food supply; greater reliance on foreign adversaries for our food; diminished U.S. agricultural production and manufacturing; and, ultimately, poorer health outcomes.

President Trump recently stated environmental activists were holding the economic prosperity of our country hostage. We now have concerns that they are seeking to influence the work of the Commission to advance their agenda. For decades activist groups have tried to ban safe, well-regulated agricultural inputs by any means necessary. Without these products, yields and quality are negatively impacted by otherwise avoidable insects, fungus, weeds, and other pest pressures. This drives up food prices for American consumers and forces reliance of food imports.

The same groups have seized upon the Commission’s work as an opportunity to misrepresent the science on common food and feed categories or ingredients, such as plant-based oils. These inputs are subject to a robust, risk-based regulatory system which focuses on protecting human health. Unfounded accusations harm the U.S. farmers who grow our food, upend food and feed supply chains, and significantly increase grocery food prices – all without public health benefit.

We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health. Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science.

We applaud the Commission’s desire to improve the health and well-being of Americans. We implore you to ensure policy decisions are grounded in sound science and risk-based analyses. With unity, we can protect American agricultural producers from environmental activists’ attacks on proven-safe inputs critical to their profitability and long-term viability while promoting positive health outcomes.

Sincerely,

/s/

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Blasts Trump Administration Plan to Cut Funding for Head Start

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

According to Reports, Trump Will Submit A Budget Proposal to Congress That Would Eliminate All Funding for Head Start Program
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is going to submit a budget proposal that eliminates all funding for Head Start, a federally funded early education program that provides no-cost educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to more than half a million children, including thousands of Nevada children. Studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education programs, like Head Start, contribute to success later in life. Last week, Senator Rosen visited a local Head Start classroom in Carson City, Nevada – where she reaffirmed her commitment to this early childhood education program.
“At a time when child care is already too expensive and out of reach for hardworking Nevada families, it’s outrageous and cruel for the Trump Administration to propose eliminating Head Start, taking away this lifeline from families who need it most,” said Senator Rosen. “Studies have shown that Head Start improves children’s lives, and I won’t let this critical program be sacrificed by Republicans to pay for more tax cuts for billionaires. If the Trump Administration sends a budget proposal to Congress that guts Head Start funding, I’m going to do everything in my power to oppose it and fight back.”
According to the National Head Start Association, children who participate in the Head Start program are more likely to meet key educational benchmarks, have been shown to perform considerably better on cognitive and social-emotional measures, exhibit fewer attention problems, and display fewer negative behaviors. Head Start children also have a higher likelihood of graduating from high school, attending college, and receiving a post-secondary degree, license, or certification.
Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for the Head Start program and has repeatedly pushed for additional funding to ensure that early education programs can continue serving Nevada families. Rosen has also actively worked to reduce costs and expand access to child care for Nevadans. Earlier this year, Rosen introduced the bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act, which allows non-profit child care providers that otherwise qualify as small businesses to access larger and more flexible loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and it passed out of committee.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Multibeam bathymetric data offer high-resolution imagery of the entire Cascadia deformation front

Source: US Geological Survey

EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.

Learn More

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: I-5 fish passage project construction begins Wednesday, April 30, south of Bellingham
Source: Washington State News 2

Project will remove 17 barriers along Friday, Lake and Chuckanut creeks

BELLINGHAM – A three-year project to remove 17 barriers to fish migration along a 6-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Skagit and Whatcom Counties will begin construction Wednesday, April 30.

Contractor crews working on behalf of the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin overnight work on I-5 south of Bellingham at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 30.

Construction is expected to last until 2027, as crews will remove 17 barriers and replace them with 10 new structures that will allow fish to swim freely beneath I-5 and adjacent Whatcom and Skagit county roads near Lake Samish. This work will improve stream connectivity along Lake Creek, Chuckanut Creek and unnamed tributaries to Friday Creek and Lake Creek.

What to expect

From April through October 2025, construction will occur at Lake Creek near the north end of Lake Samish. During this time, travelers should expect to see:
- Nighttime single-lane closures on I-5 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting Wednesday, April 30, through early June.
- Temporary two-lane bypass roads used for northbound and southbound I-5 traffic during the summer.
- Occasional nighttime rolling slowdowns, where traffic is briefly held or slowed to create a safe work zone ahead.
Later in 2025, construction may occur at the unnamed tributaries to Friday Creek near Alger. More information will be shared once the schedule is finalized.

Temporary bypass roads

In 2025, bypass roads will be built to divert northbound and southbound I-5 traffic around the Lake Creek work zone (milepost 245). An advisory speed reduction will be set once traffic is shifted to the bypass roads.

Restoring fish habitat

This project is part of WSDOT’s efforts to improve fish passage under state highways. 2013 federal court injunction requires the state to significantly increase its efforts to remove state-owned culverts that block salmon, bull trout and steelhead habitats.

People can find real-time updates by visiting the Friday, Lake and Chuckanut Creeks Online Open House and the WSDOT Travel Map.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Woman Sentenced in Healthcare Fraud Scheme and Schemes to Defraud COVID-19 Relief Program

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Nakita Cannady, 49, to 14 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for healthcare fraud and making false statements in connection with loan applications for the Covid-19 Relief Program. The final sentencing hearing was concluded on April 4, 2025, with the entry of an order by Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. directing the defendant to pay more than $500,000.00 dollars in restitution to the victims. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the original federal indictment in the healthcare fraud case, Cannady owned and operated What About Us In-Home Healthcare, a home healthcare services business that purported to provide custodial healthcare services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to mostly elderly patients. From May 29, 2017 through December 23, 2019, Cannady fraudulently billed Cigna Insurance for 24 hours a day of home healthcare when she knew the patients had only received 8 or 12 hours a day of home healthcare. Cannady was ordered to make restitution to Cigna Insurance in the amount of $193,508.10.

According to the second federal indictment, from June 17, 2020 through April 15, 2021, Cannady submitted six fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications for four purported businesses she controlled, specifically: What About Us Childcare, What About Us Foundation, What About Us Adult Daycare, and What About Us In-Home Healthcare. Cannady’s loan applications contained false information concerning the dates of operation, gross revenues, costs of goods sold, number of employees, and amount of payroll related to the businesses. Cannady was ordered to make restitution to the Small Business Administration in the amount of $346,882.13.

“Those who exploit health care programs for personal gain will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office. “Health care fraud is a priority for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our partners to investigate those who prioritize greed over the well-being of others.”

Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Cotten and former Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney Lewis and Murrell Foster also assisted in the prosecution of this case. The FBI Nashville Field Office – Memphis Resident Agency and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.

###

For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

MIL Security OSI –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Baird Meets with Monrovia Middle School Social Studies Class to Share Insights on Legislative Process

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Rep. Baird Meets with Monrovia Middle School Social Studies Class to Share Insights on Legislative Process

Monrovia, IN, April 23, 2025

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) joined Monrovia Middle School to meet with sixth-grade students in their social studies class to share his insights into the legislative process, the importance of civic engagement, and the responsibilities of elected officials. The students asked thoughtful questions and learned about how laws are made, how Congress operates, and the role citizens play in a healthy democracy.

“It’s always encouraging to see young Hoosiers taking an interest in how our government works, and I hope that this can inspire the next generation of leaders,” said Congressman Baird. “These students are the future of our country, and it’s important they understand that their voices matter and that they can make a difference in their communities. It was an honor to meet with these bright young students, share stories of my time serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and discuss the importance of public service, integrity, and leadership.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Modernizes American Workforce Programs for the High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future
Source: The White House
OVERHAULING FEDERAL WORKFORCE TRAINING: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize American workforce programs to prepare citizens for the high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future.
- The order directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to review all federal workforce programs to modernize, integrate, and re-align programs to address critical workforce needs in emerging industries.
- These Secretaries shall provide President Trump with a streamlined and integrated plan to re-orient federal workforce programs to prepare the American economy for the opportunities presented by reshoring and re-industrialization.
- This Comprehensive Workforce Strategy will further America’s global economic leadership and domination of key sectors by, among other things, capitalizing on the AI revolution.
PROVIDING RETURN ON WORKFORCE INVESTMENT: After years of shuffling Americans through an economically unproductive postsecondary system, President Trump will refocus young Americans on career preparation.
- Decades of failed political leadership have left America with a one-size-fits-all approach to workforce preparedness, which previous Administrations promoted as “college for all.”
- The Federal Government invests over $700 billion a year in American higher education, but only about half of new college graduates find jobs that require college degrees.
- Meanwhile, the Federal Government spends $4.1 billion on the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act and $1.4 billion on Career and Technical Education through the Perkins Act. Neither of these programs are structured to promote apprenticeships or have incentives to meet workforce training needs.
- The Trump Administration is putting American workers first, unleashing domestic advanced manufacturing to produce the best American-made products and implement world-leading, American-developed technologies.
BACK TO THE FUTURE OF JOBS: After decades of leadership by so-called “Experts” making wrong predictions on what the future will hold, President Trump will restore focus on sectors and programs that Made the American Economy Great in the first place.
- In 2024, there was a shortage of 447,00 construction workers and 94,000 durable goods workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the annual shortage of skilled tradesman over the next decade will be close to half a million—and grow as the years go by.
- This understates the problem—and the opportunity. Even the best federal government statisticians cannot predict the future. As the potential of American AI increases, and as America reshores manufacturing and makes Made in America a mark of international envy, America will need more skilled tradesman than we’re prepared to train.
- President Trump’s Executive Order will meet the needs of the future with a focus on registered apprenticeships. The Administration will submit a plan to support more than 1 million apprenticeships per year.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reinstates Commonsense School Discipline Policies
Source: The White House
REINSTATING COMMONSENSE, NON-DISCRIMINATORY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore safety and order in American classrooms by ensuring school discipline policies are based on objective behavior, not DEI.
- The Order requires new guidance to local and state educational agencies regarding school discipline, emphasizing compliance with Title VI protections against racial discrimination and preferencing.
- It calls for appropriate action against educational agencies that fail to comply with Title VI by continuing to use racially preferential discipline practices.
- The Order requires a report to the President that includes an analysis of DEI-based school discipline and its consequences, measures to ensure that federal funds do not support racially preferential policies, including through nonprofit organizations, and proposing model discipline policies rooted in American values.
ENSURING SAFETY AND ORDER IN AMERICAN CLASSROOMS: President Trump is taking action to combat the increased levels of classroom disorder and school violence that teachers and students are facing due to flawed Obama-Biden policies.
- In 2014, the Obama Administration issued guidance pressuring schools (including with threatened loss of federal funding) to impose discipline in a manner designed to equalize disciplinary rates by race, rather than simply imposing discipline based on objective behavior alone.
- As a result, students were disciplined differently depending on their race, and some students who should have been suspended or expelled for dangerous behavior remained in the classroom.
  
  A 2018 Federal Commission on School Safety report found that schools ignored or covered up student misconduct to avoid federal scrutiny over racial disparities in discipline data.
- Following the 2018 report, President Trump rescinded the Obama-era guidance.
- In 2023, the Biden Administration reinstated the Obama practice of weaponizing Title VI to promote a DEI approach to school discipline, which makes schools less safe.
MAKING AMERICA’S EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS GREAT AGAIN: President Trump prioritizes the needs of students, parents, and teachers over the demands of teachers’ unions, ensuring policies serve the interests of American families first.
- President Trump eliminated divisive DEI programs in classrooms to foster unity and focus on academic excellence.
- President Trump signed an Executive Order to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families.
- President Trump directed the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States to better serve children.
- President Trump prohibited federal funding for COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools.
- President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep men out of women’s sports and locker rooms.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Signs Landmark Order to Restore Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy
Source: The White House
TREATING AMERICANS EQUALLY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating the use of disparate-impact liability in various contexts to ensure equal treatment under the law.
- Disparate-impact liability is a legal theory holding that differences in outcomes among races, sexes, or similar groups indicate unlawful discrimination, even without discriminatory intent or policies, but the theory violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal treatment for all by requiring race-oriented policies and practices to rebalance outcomes along racial lines.
- The Order revokes presidential actions that approved of disparate-impact liability and sets in motion broader reform.
- It directs all agencies to deprioritize enforcement of statutes and regulations that include disparate-impact liability.
- The Order instructs the Attorney General to repeal or amend all Title VI (racial nondiscrimination) regulations that contemplate disparate-impact liability.
- It directs the administration to assess all pending investigations, lawsuits, and consent judgements that rely on a theory of disparate-impact liability, and take appropriate action.
RESTORING EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY: This Executive Order restores the true promise of the Civil Rights Movement—a system that does not differentiate between Americans based on race and where success is determined by individual merit, free from discriminatory practices that prioritize group outcomes over personal achievement.
- Disparate-impact liability undermines civil-rights laws by mandating discrimination to achieve predetermined, race-oriented outcomes, contradicting the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and treatment.
- It hinders businesses from making merit-based hiring decisions—depriving job seekers of opportunities best suited to their skills and preventing employers from acting in the best interests of their customers and the public.
- The Order ensures that opportunity is based on individual effort and achievement, not immutable characteristics, upholding the promise of the American Dream.
ADVANCING A MERIT-BASED AMERICA: President Trump is a champion of individual merit and fairness.
- President Trump: “Our country is going to be based on merit again.”
- In his first week in office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore merit-based opportunity in the federal workforce.
- President Trump also signed an Executive Order to restore merit and mission focus to America’s armed forces.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 24, 2025

Category: Americas

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