NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Virginia Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Power Outage and Boil Water Advisory

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON  – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations who sustained economic losses caused by the severe storms resulting in power outage and boil water advisory occurring Jan. 5-11. The SBA issued the administrative declaration for an economic injury disaster on April 9. 

    The declaration covers primary counties of Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, and Richmond City; and the adjacent counties of Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Powhatan, and Spotsylvania in Virginia. 

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises. 

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

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.” 

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan. 

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

    The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is Jan. 9, 2026. 

    ### 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Saying Goodbye to Emily Fort, CASC Deputy Senior Administrator

    Source: US Geological Survey

    “That question of ‘Why does this matter?’ has really been the connecting thread through my circuitous career.” 

    Building on a background of physics and public policy, Emily found her way into the federal government fairly early in her career. After five years with a private government consulting firm, Emily joined the National Science Foundation in 2004 as a Program Analyst developing data and budget information systems.  

    “I enjoy working on the challenging, complicated problems the government deals with and trying to help,” she says. “I also find a lot of satisfaction focusing on the good of the American people.” 

    Loving the work but struggling with the “all day long coding on a computer by myself,” she moved to the Office of Management and Budget and eventually to the brand-new Department of the Interior National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC), which would later become the USGS National CASC.  

    Emily was thrilled to find a federal position in an applied science agency. But she had a big task in front her in the early days of data management with the CASCs.

    “In the beginning, there was no system to track data management plans or to centrally manage and review proposals. Everybody just got everything via email,” she shares. “I was basically like, ‘This is not working for me.’ We needed to create a system that we could all use.” 

    That was easier said than done. A critical piece of the CASC experiment was partnering closely with host and consortium institutions to fund science and support regional needs. But individual organizations have their own processes and systems, and many didn’t have access to internal USGS file sharing. The fledgling program also did not have the budget for or access to commercial tools for organizing information and engaging with the public. 

    Undeterred, Emily and her team set about building the technical foundation of the CASC network. They partnered with offices like the USGS Fort Collins Science Center to integrate into existing data systems and build the network’s first website, and found open-source tools to fill gaps as needed. 

    Emily Fort, along with Shawn Carter and Elda Varela-Minder, received awards in 2024 for their key roles in founding the CASC network and helping it grow over the past 15 years.

    The CASCs’ infrastructure and capacity have grown over time, in large part because of Emily’s willingness to invest in creative solutions and staff development. 

    “It is because of Emily that the CASCs can do what they do,” says Steph McAfee, Regional Administrator of the Southwest CASC. “She has designed and re-designed processes to improve our program and solved problems nimbly and graciously.”   

    Reflecting on her supervisory umbrella, which has grown from just data management to include project tracking, internal and external communications, budget and admin, and IT, Emily is grateful for the trust she has been given over the years by leadership.  

    “The great thing and the reason I think I’ve been here so long is that I’ve been granted the flexibility to really grow my position and add on things that I’m interested in,” she says. “It was really rewarding to be on the ground floor of something and be able to envision where you want to go and then how you’re going to piece it together.  

    “It was a lot of seizing opportunities to learn and not being afraid of not knowing, of not being an ‘expert.’” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governors Issue Joint Letter Against Harmful Proposal to Disrupt State Marketplaces & Limit Access to Health Insurance

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek fight against Harmful Proposal to Disrupt State Marketplaces

    DENVER — Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a joint letter to Peter Nelson, Deputy Administrator anf Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). The letter is in response to the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule (CMS-9884-P “Proposed Rule”), which would restrict states’ ability to regulate their health insurance marketplaces, causing confusion among customers, limiting enrollment options for low-income families, and ultimately disrupting local healthcare landscapes and making coverage less accessible to residents. The Governors urged Director Nelson to withdraw the Proposed Rule and ensure states retain flexibility in the health insurance marketplace.

    The proposed rule comes as a record number of Americans (24.2 million) accessed healthcare through marketplaces in 2024, including nearly four million new customers.

    “The Affordable Care Act has helped hundreds of thousands of Coloradans connect to health care coverage they can afford. The rule being pushed could raise premiums and make it harder for Americans to continue to see their doctors and get the coverage they need. I urge the Trump administration and CMS not to raise health care premiums and to protect this important coverage for millions of Americans,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The proposed rule will put record enrollment at risk. It will create more challenges that harm Colorado’s market if subsidies are also cut through the Congressional reconciliation process. The combination of this rule and the loss of subsidies could mean millions of Americans lose coverage when they see their insurance premiums increase.”

    “Once again, it is clear that the Trump Administration will stop at nothing to restrict access to health insurance for Americans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This proposed rule will cause confusion, make it harder to enroll, and limit healthcare access for the most vulnerable Illinoisans.”  

    Governors are advocating for withdrawal of the harmful portions of the Proposed Rule; key concerns include:

    1. Restrictions on states’ ability to set open enrollment periods and determine eligibility: States intimately know local healthcare landscapes, and inconsistency in eligibility, benefits, and open enrollment periods will create confusion among consumers. The markets, which rely on risk calculation, will suffer destabilization and uncertainty if individuals and families are left without coverage.
    2. Eliminating Enrollment Options for Low-Income Families: Eliminating options for special enrollment will increase the likelihood that large numbers of our residents will return to being uninsured and will leave hospitals and providers to foot the bill for their medical care.
    3. Increased Consumer Costs and Special Enrollment Limitations: Changing premium adjustment calculations will significantly increase the cost burden on consumers and contribute to overall price inflation. Additionally, low-income families who rely on special enrollment will return to being uninsured, creating imbalance in the amount hospitals and providers pay for medical care.

    “When the Affordable Care Act took effect, roughly three-quarters of a million Marylanders lacked health coverage–since then our state has seen seven consecutive years of enrollment increases. This proposed rule would jeopardize the progress we’ve seen in Maryland, causing significant disruptions and limiting Marylanders access to healthcare options. Marylanders rely on this affordable health care. We urge the Trump Administration to change course on this overreach, and allow Maryland and so many others to see continued progress,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

    The full letter can be accessed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Fire Marshal Announces 2025 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant Awardees

    Source: US State of Oregon

    small grant with big impact, helping protect Oregonians when it matters most. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is announcing the 2025 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant recipients. Now in its fourth year, this funding helps local fire agencies, many relying on volunteer crews, bring on extra firefighters during wildfire season. These seasonal staff boost emergency response in 200 agencies across the state, from wildfire calls to everyday emergencies.

    “The OSFM wildfire season staffing grants have greatly improved our response capabilities and those in neighboring districts,” Coburg Fire District Chief Chad Minter said. “With this funding, we can staff a wildland engine daily during fire season with two additional firefighters who respond to all fires and support five nearby districts. When not on calls, the crew assists with recruitment, training, outreach, and prevention. This staffing makes up 50% of our rapid response and is essential to keeping fires small. These grants are a smart investment.”

    Local fire agencies were eligible to apply for up to $35,000 to increase staffing levels during the fire season. Each summer, this grant adds more than 1,500 firefighters across Oregon. The Oregon legislature allocated $6 million to the program this year.

    “The Wildfire Season Staffing Grant is one of our most impactful tools to help local fire agencies respond to emergencies faster, protect communities, and support each other through mutual aid,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We’re thankful to our legislators for continuing to invest in the safety and resilience of our communities.”

    Since 2022, the grant has proven to be a vital resource in increasing preparedness, response capabilities, and overall community safety during Oregon’s increasingly challenging wildfire seasons.

    To view the list of grant awardees, click here. For more information on the OSFM’s grant programs, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Saskatchewan, Canada man was sentenced on March 6, 2025 to 14 years in federal prison for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

    According to public court documents, Quentin Joel Nighttraveller, 45, drove his fourteen-year-old daughter from Canada to the United States. Nighttraveller worked as a commercial truck driver. In Rogers, Minnesota, Nighttraveller stopped to get the truck repaired. Nighttraveller sexually assaulted the victim. They continued the trip and while in Avoca, Iowa, the victim ran from the truck in the gas station and requested assistance. Nighttraveller drove away.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Nighttraveller will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Patria Announces First Quarter 2025 Investor Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Patria (Nasdaq:PAX) announced today that it will release financial results for the first quarter 2025 on Friday, May 2, 2025, and host a conference call via public webcast at 9:00 a.m. ET.

    To register, please use the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ah6qnzkp

    For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, there will be a webcast replay on the Shareholders section of Patria’s website at https://ir.patria.com/.

    Patria distributes its earnings releases via its website and email lists. Those interested in firm updates can sign up to receive Patria press releases via email at https://ir.patria.com/ir-resources/email-alerts.

    About Patria

    Patria is a global alternative asset manager and industry leader in Latin America. Founded over 35 years ago, Patria has total assets under management of $41.9 billion, and offices in 13 cities on 4 continents. Patria aims to generate attractive long-term investment returns and, through a diversified platform with strategies that include Private Equity, Infrastructure, Credit, Real Estate, Public Equities and Global Private Markets Solutions, serve as the gateway to alternative investments for both local investors in Latin America, as well as global investors. Further information is available at www.patria.com.

    Contact

    Patria Shareholder Relations
    PatriaShareholderRelations@patria.com
    t +1 917 769 1611

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace slams Impossible Metals’ deep-sea mining lease bid as desperate move amid industry collapse

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Greenpeace International activists from the Rainbow Warrior attach a flag reading ‘Stop Deep Sea Mining” to the cable holding the prototype robot, Patania II. Part of the ongoing ‘Protect the Oceans’ campaign. © Marten van Dijl / Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (APRIL 15, 2025)—Today, Greenpeace USA condemned Impossible Metals’ application for a deep-sea mining lease off the coast of American Samoa, in U.S. federal waters, calling it a reckless and desperate attempt to prop up a speculative and struggling industry by exploiting one of Earth’s most fragile and least understood ecosystems.

    Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA Oceans are Life Campaign Lead said: “Opening up the U.S. seabed to deep sea mining runs counter to the long history of leadership in ocean stewardship set by the United States. It’s a destructive act of violence against ocean ecosystems and the Pacific communities whose culture is so closely linked to the deep ocean.”

    A Desperate Power Grab by an UnprovenIndustry

    Impossible Metals’ application for a deep-sea mining lease in U.S. federal waters is not a sign of industry momentum—it’s a glaring red flag of desperation. The move comes on the heels of a cascade of failures across the deep-sea mining sector that reveal the fundamental instability of the industry.

    In February 2025, Impossible Metals itself was forced to postpone its highly publicized 2026 mining test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, citing that its technology “isn’t ready.” Just weeks later, in March, Loke Marine Minerals, a Norwegian firm once poised to become the world’s largest deep-sea mining operator, filed for bankruptcy—an event that sent shockwaves through investor circles and exposed the financial fragility of the entire sector.

    That same month, The Metals Company (TMC) stunned international observers by announcing it would sidestep the United Nations’ regulatory process—governed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA)—and seek a U.S. mining license under the little-known and long-dormant Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA). The announcement raised serious concerns about regulatory breakdowns and attempts to fast-track exploitation while global safeguards remain unresolved.

    Adding to the pressure, in July 2024, American Samoa became the first U.S. territory to enact a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing threats to marine life, cultural heritage, and the territory’s tuna fishery—the cornerstone of its economy. Greenpeace USA applauded this historic decision, calling it a bold act of ocean stewardship and a model for U.S. policy. That Impossible Metals would now seek a lease in federal waters adjacent to a territory that has explicitly rejected deep-sea mining is not only tone-deaf, but a profound sign of disrespect to Pacific communities and their right to self-determination.

    In this context, Impossible Metals’ federal lease bid is less a step forward and more a scramble for relevance—an attempt to salvage investor confidence and secure regulatory footholds while public scrutiny and scientific warnings grow louder.

    Solomon Kaho’Ohalahala, Hawaiian elder with the Maui Nui Makai Network  said: “In July of last year, American Samoa decided that deep sea mining is not in their territorial interests—including the potential to impact tuna fisheries, currently their territory’s primary economic driver. 

    The Pacific has spoken clearly: our ocean is not a sacrifice zone. American Samoa’s moratorium reflects a deep cultural, ecological, and economic understanding of what’s at stake. For Impossible Metals to pursue a mining license just beyond those protected waters is not only reckless—it’s a betrayal of the values and sovereignty of Pacific Peoples. We as people of the Pacific do not recognize lines in the ocean drawn by Western governments.  The fish can’t see those lines, we don’t see those lines.  All of the Pacific is sacred. The U.S. government must respect the sovereignty and autonomy of Pacific Peoples and let them make decisions for their own waters, and reject any application that threatens our ocean and our way of life.” 

    No Science, No Safeguards, No Justification

    The scientific community remains united: we lack the knowledge to mine the deep sea safely. Over 90% of species in areas like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone remain undescribed. Ecological processes, such as nutrient cycling and newly discovered phenomena like “dark oxygen” production, are only beginning to be understood. There is no adequate environmental baseline, no long-term impact data, and no way to manage what we don’t yet comprehend.

    Furthermore, most current “research” is industry-led and profit-driven, not the result of independent, precautionary science. This push for premature mining risks sacrificing biodiversity for short-term speculative gains.

    Call for a Moratorium

    Greenpeace stands with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Indigenous communities, scientists, and governments around the world calling for an immediate moratorium on deep-sea mining. Given the irreversible risks and profound scientific uncertainty, deep-sea mining must not move forward. The deep ocean should remain off-limits to mining—now and for the foreseeable future—until and unless independent science, robust global governance, and clear social consent can truly demonstrate that it can be done without harm.

    Contact: Gujari Singh, Greenpeace USA Campaign Communication Manager, [email protected], 631-404-9977

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

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Week 4 of “Dirty Dems” campaign highlights dismal record of Assemblymember James Ramos on environmental justice

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SAN BERNARDINO, CA (April 15, 2025)—As part of the ongoing “Dirty Dems” campaign, Greenpeace USA, in collaboration with the California Working Families Party and Courage California, continues to hold California State legislators accountable for their damaging connections to the oil and gas industry and their failure to support critical climate, economic justice, and progressive priorities.

    This week, the spotlight is on Assemblymember Jamos Ramos of the 45th District – spanning portions of Southern California’s Inland Empire and San Bernardino. Elected in 2018, he has already directly accepted more than $89,600 in oil and gas industry money, including $19,000 in the last session. Chevron alone has directly given Ramos over $31,000.

    Amy Moas, Ph.D., Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner, said: “Assemblymember Ramos is failing his constituents left and right. Despite being the first Native American elected to the California State Legislator, and the fact that he represents a diverse, working class district with a significant Democratic voter advantage, Ramos has failed to establish himself as a principled voice for all his constituents, especially those most disadvantaged. He has one of the worst records on environmental justice, workers rights, economic justice, and other progressive priorities among the Democratic Caucus in the California State Legislature, and he consistently sides with corporations over his communities.”

    Assembly Member Ramos has received a failing grade every single year in office from California Environmental Voters, and from the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA). In 2023, his score from CEJA was an atrocious 28%. Assembly Member Ramos has never received higher than a C grade from both the California Labor Federation and from the Sierra Club. Courage California has him on their Dishonorable Mention list, as he’s received an F every year he has been in office. Initiate Justice has also given him a failing F grade since their scorecard began in 2023.

    Other lowlights of his time in office include voting no on a bill to lower pollution near homes in his very district to reduce health and safety impacts (AB 2840). He also skipped a vote aimed at reducing pollution in other parts of the state too – a bill aimed at fenceline monitoring of noxious pollutants that have been linked to asthma and cancer (AB 674). Assembly Member Ramos repeatedly voted with big corporations  on a bill aimed at moderately reducing single use plastic packaging (SB 54), and skipped a vote to reduce toxins in packaging (AB 2761). He even voted against common sense reforms aimed at making children safer by requiring firearms be properly and safely stored (SB 53), and skipped voting on a top labor priority to establish a council to determine minimum wages, working hours, and health and safety standards for fast food workers (AB 257).

    Contact: Katie Nelson, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], +1 (678) 644-1681

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

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Colleagues Seek to Protect MAHA Commission from Anti-Science Activists

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a lifelong family farmer, joined Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), along with Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Mark Alford (R-Mo.), in a letter urging the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission to use sound science and risk-based analysis in its policy decisions, particularly on crop protection tools and food-grade ingredients.

    The letter was sent to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee 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 to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “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,” they continued.

    In the Senate, additional signers include Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

    In the House, additional signers include Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), James Comer (R-Ky.), Troy Downing (R-Mont.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), Vince Fong (R-Calif.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Tracy Mann (R-Kan.), Mark Messmer (R-Ind.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), David Valadao (R-Calif.) and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.).

    Text of the letter follows:

    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.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley to Zuckerberg: Stop the Secrecy, End the War on Whistleblowers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is demanding answers from Meta Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company’s reported efforts to silence whistleblower and former employee Sarah Wynn-Williams, who alleges Meta developed concerning and potentially unlawful ties with the Chinese Communist Party and targeted teenagers for financial gain. Meta was formerly known as Facebook.

    Grassley is scrutinizing Meta’s severance agreement with Wynn-Williams, which may violate the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) regulations by restricting her ability to claim monetary rewards for reporting illegal conduct.

    “For over a decade, I’ve sounded the alarm about restrictive severance agreements and nondisclosure agreements (NDA) that hinder congressional oversight and improperly silence whistleblowers from making disclosures to Congress and regulatory bodies … It appears that attempts to silence whistleblowers are not just prevalent in the AI sector, but in the tech industry more broadly,” Grassley wrote.

    “The SEC whistleblower program was established by Congress to incentivize whistleblowers to report federal securities laws violations. The program is an important tool to expose fraud, waste, and abuse in our government and publicly traded companies,” Grassley continued.

    Grassley emphasized Meta must ensure its employees can make protected disclosures to federal authorities or Congress without illegal restrictions and bullying. According to Wynn-Williams, Meta has sought to silence her by seeking to collect $50,000 for every disparaging statement made against the company.

    “The tactics used by Meta are clearly aimed at silencing Ms. Wynn-Williams, a brave whistleblower who courageously testified in the face of Meta’s threats at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism,” Grassley concluded.

    Text of Grassley’s letter to Zuckerberg follows:

    April 14, 2025

    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

    Mr. Mark Zuckerberg 

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Meta Platforms, Inc. 

    Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

    For over a decade, I’ve sounded the alarm about restrictive severance agreements and nondisclosure agreements (NDA) that hinder congressional oversight and improperly silence whistleblowers from making disclosures to Congress and regulatory bodies.   On August 1, 2024, given my deep concern on this issue, I wrote to OpenAI regarding its use of restrictive employment, severance, non-disparagement, and nondisclosure agreements.   It appears that attempts to silence whistleblowers are not just prevalent in the AI sector, but in the tech industry more broadly.  

    Recently, Ms. Sarah Wynn-Williams approached my office with whistleblower allegations against Meta.  Her allegations raised concerns about Meta’s severance agreement, as well as the company’s ties with China, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, practices targeting vulnerable teenagers, sexual harassment, and misrepresentations made to Congress and the company’s shareholders.   Ms. Wynn-Williams has specifically alleged that her severance agreement violated SEC regulation 17 C.F.R. § 240 21F-17 by restricting her from claiming any monetary reward for reporting illegal conduct to the SEC.   The SEC whistleblower program was established by Congress to incentivize whistleblowers to report federal securities laws violations.   The program is an important tool to expose fraud, waste, and abuse in our government and publicly traded companies.  

    According to Ms. Wynn-Williams’ disclosures, Meta has sought to silence her by seeking to collect $50,000 per disparaging statement against the company.   The tactics used by Meta are clearly aimed at silencing Ms. Wynn-Williams, a brave whistleblower who courageously testified in the face of Meta’s threats at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism on April 9, 2025.  

    It’s crucial that Meta ensures its employees can provide protected disclosures without illegal restrictions and bullying.  So that Congress may conduct objective and independent oversight of Meta’s efforts to silence whistleblowers, as well as the allegations raised by Ms. Wynn-Williams, please provide answers to the following no later than April 28, 2025: 

    1. Regarding Meta’s severance, non-disparagement, and other employment agreements, has Meta made changes to the language of the agreements to remove restrictive provisions?  If so, provide a copy of the updated version(s) along with the dates the changes were made.
    1. From 2015 to the date of this letter, how many requests did Meta or its subsidiaries receive from employees to disclose information to federal authorities or Congress?  For each request, provide all records, including the relevant federal authorities, the nature of the information to be disclosed, and whether Meta or its subsidiaries permitted the disclosure. 
    1. From 2015 to the date of this letter, how many SEC investigations has Meta or its subsidiaries been subject to?  For each SEC investigation, provide the basis and outcome.   

    Thank you for your prompt review and response.  If you have any questions, please contact Tucker Akin with my Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.

    Sincerely, 

    Charles E. Grassley 

    Chairman 

    Committee on the Judiciary

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Gazette Letter to the Editor Hails Grassley Leadership on Biodiesel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Grassley, with Ernst’s support, leads on biodiesel

    Tom Brooks

    April 14, 2025

    As General Manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, I want to thank Sen. Grassley for leading a bipartisan Senate effort urging the Environmental Protection Agency to increase volumes of biomass-based diesel, like biodiesel, under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). His leadership is critical, but now the EPA must act.

    Our plant currently sits idle. We made the difficult decision in December, in large part due to weak RFS volumes that do not reflect our industry’s production capacity. We are committed to our employees and to keeping jobs in rural Iowa, but without action the future of biodiesel production — and the economic stability of our community — is at serious risk.

    Biodiesel is a proven, homegrown fuel that enhances American energy security and strengthens markets for our farmers. The EPA should set volume levels that support domestic energy production, not hinder it. For 2026, our industry is asking EPA to set the biomass-based diesel volumes at 5.25 billion gallons. We need certainty and strong commitments to prevent further plant shutdowns and job losses.

    Sen. Joni Ernst also signed onto the bipartisan letter to EPA urging action on the RFS, and we thank her, too. The message from the Senate is clear: Increase volumes to match production and demand, and provide the long-term stability needed for investment in rural America. I urge the EPA to listen and act before it’s too late.

    Tom Brooks

    Farley

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sick notes restriction will leave more time for patient care

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Changes to the Employment Standards Act will leave health-care providers with more time to spend with patients by eliminating the need for workers to get sick notes for short-term absences from work.

    Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, has introduced Bill 11, amending the Employment Standards Act to help ease the administrative burden on B.C.’s health-care practitioners by clarifying when it is appropriate for employers to request a sick note from workers.

    “When you’re sick, the last thing you should have to do is go to your doctor or a medical clinic in order to get a piece of paper saying you’re sick,” Whiteside said. “Not only is that difficult for a sick person to do, but it doesn’t help you get better any faster or prevent the spread of illness.”

    Currently, the act allows employers to request “reasonably sufficient proof” that an employee is sick. The changes to the act will clarify employers can’t request, and employees are not required to provide, a sick note written by a physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse as evidence that the employee’s short-term absence from work was related to illness or injury.

    “We’ve heard clearly from doctors around the province that unnecessary paperwork robs them of valuable time to see their patients,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Eliminating sick notes for short-term absences is just one of the actions we are taking to cut administrative burden, make our system more efficient, and free up health professionals to focus on what they do best – providing care to British Columbians.”

    Regulations will be established following engagement with stakeholders. Regulations will set out how many days is considered a short-term absence, and how often an employee may be absent before their employer can request a formal sick note. While the initial thrust of the regulations will deal with notes from doctors and nurse practitioners, the regulations may also consider notes from other health professionals.

    The regulation will be implemented prior to respiratory illness season in fall 2025.

    In addition to addressing unnecessary sick notes, the regulation update includes replacing fax and paper-based processes with digital systems, streamlining referral processes, consolidating and standardizing forms, and improving information-sharing between providers. As a result of a partnership effort with Doctors of BC and Health Quality BC, changes are being implemented related to the scheduling of medical imaging appointments, which are anticipated to save more than 180,000 physician hours per year.

    Quotes:

    Dr. Tracy Tresoor, physician, Ross Bay Health Clinic –

    “Providing sick notes are one of many administrative burdens that family physicians face. More importantly, they highlight a disparity in access for people who do not have a primary care provider. I will welcome this small but meaningful change and hope that employers support their workers as well.”

    Jane Narayan, family nurse practitioner, Axis Primary Care Clinic –

    “I strongly support the decision to remove the requirement for employer-mandated sick notes for short-term and episodic illnesses. Too often, clinical appointments are booked solely for the purpose of obtaining a sick note. Removing this requirement will reduce unnecessary strain on our health-care system and allow clinicians to focus on delivering timely, meaningful care that genuinely supports our patient’s health and well-being.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Canadian Medical Association estimates in 2024, B.C. doctors wrote approximately 1.6 million sick notes.
    • Last year, the Canadian Medical Association and Doctors of BC called for the elimination of sick note requirements for employees taking a short-term absence from work due to illness or injury.
    • Advocates estimate physicians across Canada spend between 10 and 19 hours each week on paperwork, including sick notes.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mountain Gateway Museum and McDowell Public Library to Launch Historical Book Club

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Mountain Gateway Museum and McDowell Public Library to Launch Historical Book Club

    Mountain Gateway Museum and McDowell Public Library to Launch Historical Book Club
    jejohnson6

     Mountain Gateway Museum, in partnership with the McDowell County Public Library, soon will launch a new monthly book club exploring regional history through literature.

    The first gathering of the Mountain Stories Book Club will be held on Wednesday, June 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the museum’s new location (78-C Catawba Ave., Old Fort). The featured book is “Guests on Earth” by Lee Smith, a historical novel set in Asheville’s Highland Hospital during the 1930s.

    This free event is open to the public and will highlight a different book each month that connects to western North Carolina’s rich and complex history.

    Copies of “Guests on Earth” are available through McDowell County Public Library in multiple formats. While the Old Fort Branch remains closed because of storm damage, the MCPL Bookmobile will visit the Piggly Wiggly on Tuesdays and Arrowhead Gallery & Studios on Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. For more information, call 828-785-9528 or visit mgmnc.org.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Apr 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Prepares to Start Construction on New Visitor Center

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Prepares to Start Construction on New Visitor Center

    Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Prepares to Start Construction on New Visitor Center
    jejohnson6

    STATESVILLE

    Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will start construction on a new $2 million visitor center on Monday, April 28. This will be the first major improvement at the site since the opening of the reconstructed fort in 2019.

    At nearly 3,700 square feet, the new facility will be more than five times larger than the current visitor center. In addition to a contemporary exhibit gallery, modern restrooms, and paved parking, the new building will have an expanded gift shop, lobby, and office spaces for staff. The Friends of Fort Dobbs, the site’s non-profit support group, will oversee the project. Construction is expected to take 6-8 months with the grand opening anticipated by early 2026.

    The current visitor center is housed in a log cabin built by the Fort Dobbs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as a meeting house in 1941. Though important to the site’s preservation story, the cabin is ill-equipped to serve the site’s thousands of visitors and school children each year.

    “Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Friends of Fort Dobbs, there will be a purpose-built visitor center at this historic site for the first time,” said Site Manager Scott Douglas. “I am thrilled to have more space and a proper museum gallery in which to tell the larger story of North Carolina in the French and Indian War!”

    The site will continue to serve the public while work is underway. However, there will be periods of closure and times when tours are limited or unavailable. Visitors are encouraged to monitor Fort Dobbs’ website and social media accounts for operations updates and pay attention to directional signage at the site, as access routes and parking areas will shift for construction. The site will not be able to accommodate large groups traveling by bus once work begins.

    About Fort Dobbs
    Situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Fort Dobbs interprets the French and Indian War (1754-1763) or Seven Years War. As the only state historic site associated with the period, it represents the state’s link with a global war for empire that crossed five continents, lasted nearly a decade, and sowed the seeds for independence. The site is located at 438 Fort Dobbs Rd, Statesville, NC and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Special events and living history weekends are offered throughout the year. It is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Apr 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ Will Shine in Communities Across North Carolina Friday, April 18

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ Will Shine in Communities Across North Carolina Friday, April 18

    ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ Will Shine in Communities Across North Carolina Friday, April 18
    jejohnson6

    As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, America 250 NC invites all North Carolinians to participate in a powerful national moment of reflection and unity: “Two Lights for Tomorrow.” Communities across the United States will unite this Friday, April 18, 2025, to honor the spirit of cooperation and courage that helped ignite the American Revolution.

    On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out from Boston to alert their fellow patriots of the movement of the British regulars. A prearranged signal — two lanterns in the tower of Christ Church — warned that the British troops were traveling via the Charles River. Other riders joined Revere and Dawes, creating a network across the Massachusetts countryside. These midnight rides preceded the battles at Lexington and Concord, the start of the American Revolution.

    Two hundred and fifty years later, “Two Lights for Tomorrow” commemorates Revere’s famous ride and uses the imagery of two shining lights to honor the beginning of the American Revolution.

    Overnight on Friday, April 18, 2025, two lights will shine forth from statehouses across the nation, including North Carolina’s State Capitol in Raleigh. Communities across North Carolina have been invited to participate by shining two lights on their own significant buildings. North Carolina residents are encouraged to display two lights in their homes as well.

    Participants in the campaign include the Battleship North Carolina, Museum of the Albemarle, N.C. Transportation Museum, Historic Bethabara Park, Historic Halifax, Historic Camden County Courthouse, Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society in Mt. Pleasant and House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site. Communities across the state, including New Bern, Topsail Beach, Waxahaw, Pinehurst, Harrells, Roanoke Rapids, High Shoals, Currituck County, Camden County and McDowell County are participating with proclamations and events. Local chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution are also participating, along with many other organizations and individuals.

    The nationwide initiative is part of the upcoming America 250 semiquincentennial observance in 2026. In North Carolina, the event is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ America 250 NC initiative.

    For more information, please visit https://www.america250.nc.gov/events/two-lights-tomorrow.

    About America 250 NC
    America 250 NC is North Carolina’s commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary and is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. For more information about America 250 NC, visit america250.nc.gov.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Apr 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Freehold Royalties Declares Dividend for April 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Freehold Royalties Ltd. (Freehold) (TSX: FRU) announces that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend of Cdn. $0.09 per common share to be paid on May 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on April 30, 2025.

    These dividends are designated as “eligible dividends” for Canadian income tax purposes.

    Freehold is uniquely positioned as a leading North American energy royalty company with approximately 6.1 million gross acres in Canada and approximately 1.2 million gross drilling acres in the United States. Freehold’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada under the symbol FRU.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Participates in a Commander-in-Chief Trophy Presentation to the Navy Midshipmen

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    President Trump Participates in a Commander-in-Chief Trophy Presentation to the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy.

    The White House

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX_3YJbYZqI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio meets with Jordanian Prime Minister and Defense Minister Jafar Hassan

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Jordanian Prime Minister and Defense Minister Jafar Hassan at the Department of State, on April 15, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOdqfCtvstM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Women’s Caucus Urges Chavez-DeRemer to Stand with Women Workers and Protect Women’s Bureau at DOL

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) members Ilhan Omar (MN-05) & Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led 48 DWC members in a letter to U.S Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to stand with women workers by protecting and strengthening the Women’s Bureau at the DOL. In particular, the Members call on Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate: advancing the rights and economic opportunity of women workers, as Congress intended.

    The Women’s Bureau has formulated standards and policies to improve the welfare, working conditions, and opportunities of working women since Congress established the Bureau in 1920. It has fulfilled that mission through research, policy, and grants—improving outcomes for women across the workforce. In particular, it administers the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Technical Assistance (WANTO) Grant Program, which helps recruit, train, and retain women in high-wage, high-skill jobs where they are historically underrepresented, such as in the skilled trades and technical fields, and manages the National Database of Child Care Prices.

    In their letter, Members explained the importance of the Women’s Bureau, especially at the current moment of increased economic challenges for women and families, and as Trump claims to prioritize American jobs: 

    “Women gained only 43 percent of new jobs in February, a decline from 54 percent in 2023. And the gender wage gap has widened for the first time in two decades. These numbers are not just statistics; they reflect growing economic headwinds for women and families that must be addressed. Weakening the Bureau by reducing its already limited staffing or closing regional offices would severely undermine its ability to address these persistent and growing economic disparities.”

    The Members continued:

    “If the Trump administration is serious about bringing more jobs to America, it must ensure that women can access those jobs. That means investing in initiatives that address the structural barriers women face in the workforce—barriers the Women’s Bureau was built to dismantle. We urge you to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate, as Congress intended. The choice before you is clear—and we urge you to stand with women workers.”

    The full letter can be accessed here.

    In addition to leads Ilhan Omar, Suzanne Bonamici, and Chrissy Houlahan, the letter was signed by Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Diana DeGette, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Brittany Pettersen, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Emilia Sykes, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Nellie Pou.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest Dominican alien convicted of sex crime in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WORCESTER, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with federal partners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested a 32-year-old Dominican national convicted of a sex crime against a Massachusetts resident. Officers and agents arrested Moises Ricardo Peralta-Matos Feb. 25 in Worcester.

    “Moises Ricardo Peralta-Matos victimized a member of our Massachusetts community and has subsequently been charged with further violent behavior. He clearly presents a threat to the residents here,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not tolerate such threats to our neighborhoods. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from New England.”

    Peralta legally entered the United States May 1, 2003, at New York City; however, he violated the terms of his lawful admission.

    The Worcester District Court convicted Peralta on two counts of compulsory insurance violation Oct. 5, 2018. The court ordered Peralta to pay a fine.

    The Worcester District Court convicted Peralta Dec. 16, 2024, for indecent assault and battery person 14 or over. The court sentenced Peralta to 545 days in prison but suspended the sentence.

    The Worcester District Court arraigned Peralta Jan. 13 for assault and battery on a family household member.

    ICE officers and FBI and ATF agents arrested Peralta Feb. 25 in Worcester. They served Peralta with a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter Regarding the Merger of UBS Group and Credit Suisse Group

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter Regarding the Merger of UBS Group and Credit Suisse Group | CFTC

    /PressRoom/PressReleases/9066-25
    Skip to main content

    April 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Market Participants Division and Division of Clearing and Risk today issued a no-action letter regarding the CFTC’s swap clearing and uncleared swap margin requirements. The letter is in connection with a court-supervised transfer, consistent with United Kingdom laws, of certain swaps from Credit Suisse International to UBS AG London Branch following the merger of UBS Group AG and Credit Suisse Group AG. 
    These legacy swaps were entered into prior to the relevant compliance dates for the CFTC’s margin and clearing requirements, and, therefore, were not subject to such requirements prior to this court-supervised transfer.
    The no-action letter states, in connection with such transfer and subject to certain specified conditions:

    MPD will not recommend the Commission take an enforcement action against certain of UBS AG London Branch’s swap dealer counterparties for their failure to comply with the CFTC’s uncleared swap margin requirements for such transferred swaps; and 
    DCR will not recommend the Commission take an enforcement action against UBS AG or certain of its counterparties for their failure to comply with the CFTC’s swap clearing requirement for such transferred swaps.

    The letter responds to a request from UBS AG.

    -CFTC-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DAUPHIN COUNTY – Governor Shapiro to Join Hershey Company to Open First New Manufacturing Plant in Decades, Highlight Administration’s Work to Reform Permitting and Cut Red Tape

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 16, 2025 – Hershey, PA

    ADVISORY – DAUPHIN COUNTY – Governor Shapiro to Join Hershey Company to Open First New Manufacturing Plant in Decades, Highlight Administration’s Work to Reform Permitting and Cut Red Tape

    Governor Josh Shapiro will join the Hershey Company and Pennsylvania elected officials to officially open the company’s newest manufacturing plant – their first new plant in Hershey in over three decades. The Shapiro Administration helped expedite the permitting process for the project, which will employ over 125 workers.

    Since taking office, Governor Shapiro and his Administration have been focused on getting stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania and creating economic opportunity across the Commonwealth. The Shapiro Administration is ensuring government operates at the speed of business, cutting through red tape, fostering collaboration across Commonwealth agencies and reforming the state permitting process.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Michele Buck, Hershey CEO
    Congressman Scott Perry
    Senator Patty Kim
    Representative Tom Mehaffie
    Mike Pries, Dauphin County Commissioner
    Derry Township Supervisor Natalie Nutt

    WHEN:
    Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 10:45 AM

    WHERE:
    Hershey Manufacturing Plant
    1000 Reese Avenue,
    Hershey, PA 17033

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP: Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and numbers of their team to tmscott@hersheys.com and ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

    Source: US State of California

    Minh Phoung Ngoc Vong Participated in a Multi-Year Fraudulent Scheme to Obtain Remote Information Technology Work With U.S. Companies and Government Agencies for Persons Based in China

    Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong, 40, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme whereby he conspired with unknown individuals, including John Doe, also known as William James, a foreign national living in Shenyang, China, to defraud U.S. companies into hiring Vong as a remote software developer. After securing these jobs through materially false statements about his education, training, and experience, Vong allowed Doe and others to use his computer access credentials to perform the remote software development work and receive payment for that work.

    According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 30, 2023, Doe submitted a fraudulent resume in Vong’s name to a Virginia-based technology company for the position of web application developer, which required U.S. citizenship as a condition of employment. The resume falsely represented that Vong had a Bachelor of Science degree and 16 years of experience as a software developer. In fact, Vong had no college degree or experience in software development.

    On March 28, 2023, Vong participated in an online job interview with the CEO of the Virginia-based company and verified his identity and citizenship by showing his Maryland driver’s license and U.S. passport. Following the interview, the Virginia-based company hired Vong and assigned him to work on a contract for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) involving a particular software application used by various U.S. government agencies to manage sensitive information regarding national defense matters. The Virginia-based company provided Vong with a laptop to use in connection with his employment, and the FAA authorized Vong to receive a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card to access government facilities and systems. Vong installed remote access software on the laptop to facilitate Doe’s access to it and conceal his location in China.

    Between March 2023 and July 2023, Doe used Vong’s credentials to perform the software development work from his location in China. The Virginia-based company paid Vong more than $28,000 in wages for work performed by Doe, portions of which Vong then sent overseas to Doe and other conspirators.

    As part of his guilty plea, Vong admitted that the Virginia-based company was not the only company he and his co-conspirators defrauded. Between 2021 and 2024, Vong used fraudulent misrepresentations to obtain employment with at least 13 different U.S. companies, who collectively paid Vong a total of more than $970,000 in salary for software development services that were, unbeknownst to them, performed by Doe and/or other overseas conspirators. Several of these defrauded companies contracted out Vong’s services to U.S. government agencies in addition to the FAA. As a result of Vong’s fraudulent misrepresentations, these government agencies unknowingly granted Vong’s co-conspirators access to sensitive U.S. government systems, which they accessed from China.

    Vong faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman for the District of Maryland scheduled sentencing for Aug. 28. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina A. Hoffman for the District of Maryland is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Alexandra Cooper-Ponte of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section.

    Under the Department-wide DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative,  launched in March 2024 by the National Security Division and the FBI’s Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions, Department prosecutors and agents are prioritizing the identification and shuttering of U.S.-based “laptop farms” – locations hosting laptops provided by victim U.S. companies to individuals they believed were legitimate U.S.-based freelance IT workers – and the investigation and prosecution of individuals hosting them. Today’s announcement follows successful actions taken by the Department in October 2023, May 2024, August 2024, December 2024, and January 2025, which targeted similar and related conduct.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Feenstra Letter, National Institute of Standards & Technology Confirms Full Funding for Center for Industrial Research and Service for Remainder of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, mere hours after U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Acting Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Craig Burkhart requesting renewal of the Center for Industrial Research and Service’s (CIRAS) cooperative agreement with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST confirmed that CIRAS would receive continued federal funding for Fiscal Year 2025. 

    Feenstra led U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Zach Nunn (IA-03) in sending this letter.

    “I’m glad that the National Institute of Standards & Technology decided to renew full funding for the Center for Industrial Research and Service within hours of receiving our letter. This initiative supports manufacturing in Iowa, makes important contributions to our economy, and strengthens our strategic position against countries like China,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Growing our domestic manufacturing sector and bringing jobs back to the United States is a vital mission, and CIRAS helps achieve these critical goals. By restoring full funding for CIRAS, we can continue to invest in our manufacturing might, sustain good-paying jobs in Iowa, and remain at the cusp of innovation and ingenuity, including in AI and other emerging technologies.”

    In their letter, the lawmakers note, in part, that “As Iowa’s federal delegation [Iowan Senators and Members of Congress], we have seen the crucial role CIRAS has played in aiding and growing our state’s manufacturing sector and how critical the Center has been to our state’s economic success. As you will read in the letter from concerned organizations that have firsthand knowledge of the importance of CIRAS to the manufacturing industry, the Center has helped Iowa’s small-to-medium-sized manufacturers for over six decades. Though the total impact of CIRAS since the Kennedy Administration is truly incalculable and indispensable, in the last five years alone, they have served 1,500 Iowa manufacturers that have reported $1.4 billion in financial results.”

    The full letter can be read HERE or below.

    Secretary Lutnick and Acting Director Burkhart, 

    We write with concern over the recent National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) decision regarding the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). We are enclosing a letter we received from Iowa manufacturing businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and Iowa State University concerning the non-renewal and federal funding stoppage of the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) cooperative agreement. 

    As Iowa’s federal delegation [Iowan Senators and Members of Congress], we have seen the crucial role CIRAS has played in aiding and growing our state’s manufacturing sector and how critical the Center has been to our state’s economic success. As you will read in the letter from concerned organizations that have firsthand knowledge of the importance of CIRAS to the manufacturing industry, the Center has helped Iowa’s small-to-medium-sized manufacturers for over six decades. Though the total impact of CIRAS since the Kennedy Administration is truly incalculable and indispensable, in the last five years alone, they have served 1,500 Iowa manufacturers that have reported $1.4 billion in financial results. 

    Additionally, in the non-renewal notice from NIST, it mentioned that the U.S. Department of Commerce is reprioritizing to ensure United States leadership in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). The work of CIRAS in just the past 12 months has included 16 AI-focused events with almost 400 attendees and 38 AI-focused projects. These AI projects included 9 projects using sensors and data to collect data for AI use, 27 projects leveraging AI tools for business marketing, and 3 projects to develop and implement new AI tools for manufacturers. Additionally, CIRAS has worked with manufacturing enterprises in almost every industry over the last 62 years since its founding. The manufacturing jobs being supported by CIRAS programs in Iowa are supporting emerging technologies and future-ready industries.

    As we work together to support President Trump’s prodigious goal of growing domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign industry, we believe that CIRAS should continue to be a key pillar of the MEP. We ask that all due consideration is given to resume or begin anew the cooperative agreement between CIRAS and the MEP.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Celebrates Grand Opening of New Ocala District Office Location

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    OCALA, FL — Yesterday, Rep. Cammack and hundreds of constituents celebrated the grand opening of the new Ocala District Office located in the McPherson Government Complex at 2630 SE 3rd Street in Ocala. 

    Joined by special guests Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, members of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, and leaders from the Ocala Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), Congresswoman Cammack and her district staff cut the ribbon for the new facility, which opened earlier in March following the completion of needed renovations. 

    Congresswoman Cammack, members of her staff, and constituents celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the new office.

    “I’m thrilled to have relocated our Ocala District Office back to its original location in the McPherson Government Complex,” said Rep. Cammack. “Centrally located with other useful local and state offices for constituents in Marion County, our office is a one-stop shop for folks seeking assistance with federal agencies, including the VA, Social Security Administration, and IRS, along with economic development opportunities, internships for local students, and more. Our team continues to deliver the same excellent service we always have in this new location. We hope constituents will visit us soon in-person or contact us via phone at (352) 421-9052.”

    The Ocala District Office is located at 2630 SE 3rd Street, Ocala, FL 34471 and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. No appointments are necessary to visit with staff.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Presses Social Security Commissioner on Benefit Portal Malfunctions, Planned Firings of SSA Tech Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Lawmakers Send Letter Amidst Widespread Website Outages, Benefit Disruptions

    Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek to demand that the Social Security Administration (SSA) address ongoing issues with the SSA website and reverse its reported plans to worsen the situation by firing up to 50 percent of employees from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Gillibrand was joined on the letter by Senate Banking Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden.

    OCIO is responsible for maintaining the agency’s benefit claims processing systems, managing SSA.gov and SSA’s online benefits portal, and protecting Social Security recipients’ sensitive information. In February, the agency announced plans to reduce its workforce by over 12 percent. Hundreds more staff firings will happen at OCIO, which has been directed to cut half of its staff. These cuts are expected to worsen the ongoing issues with SSA’s website and online portals, including recipients being incorrectly labeled as “not receiving payments” and losing access to their account histories.

    “It is unsurprising that weeks after you allowed DOGE to invade SSA, improperly access SSA data, and announce closures of Social Security offices, our constituents began having problems accessing their benefits…We are concerned that these recurring issues will impact the benefits of our constituents—many of whom rely on Social Security to pay rent or put food on the table,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    The cuts to the agency also expose SSA to system vulnerabilities, risking Americans’ data to hackers and foreign agents seeking to obtain private information. In addition to the dozens of senior SSA officials with centuries’ worth of experience who have resigned or retired, SSA’s entire cybersecurity leadership was also part of the exodus.

    “Leaving Americans’ most sensitive information unguarded places immeasurable financial and economic harm on our most vulnerable…We ask that you immediately cease all OCIO firings and act swiftly to restore SSA system and website functionality to prevent any further disruption of…benefits,” concluded the lawmakers. 

    The senators asked Dudek to provide clarity on the impact of cuts to OCIO, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) role in the firings, and the acting commissioner’s plan to ensure technical knowledge of internal systems is not lost during workforce reductions. 

    The letter is the latest in a series of actions by Senator Gillibrand to protect Social Security from the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the program. Last week, Senator Gillibrand led a letter with Senator Ron Wyden calling on the Trump administration and DOGE to stop their attacks on Social Security, specifically calling out SSA’s staffing cuts, plans for indiscriminate closures of field offices around the nation, and attempts to limit phone services. Earlier this year, Gillibrand also demanded answers from the administration about its plans to close the Social Security office in White Plains, NY; slammed the Trump administration for its efforts to “buy out” SSA employees; and joined elected officials in New York to call on the administration to stop its repeated efforts to cut Social Security.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Leaving Russia is inevitable – UniCredit Bank also limits transfers in dollars

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Sours: Mainfin Bank –

    Why does UniCredit Bank limit transfers in dollars?

    Suspension of outgoing transfers from Russian clients UniCredit Bank will happen on April 18 – the decision, as stated by the credit institution itself, was made “for reasons beyond the bank’s control.” At the same time, UniCredit has been winding down its business in Russia for several years now – against the backdrop of the start of the SVO and the sanctions imposed on the financial sector, the Italian group has repeatedly announced plans to abandon business in the Russian Federation.

    True, the bank will not limit all dollar transactions now. Transfers will still be available in banks, located in the EU, Australia, USA, Canada, Turkey, UAE and a number of Asian countries. Such a selective approach is due to the absence of problems on the side of the recipient banks.

    What other measures has UniCredit Bank taken to curtail its business in Russia?

    The UniCredit Group is systematically winding down its operations on Russian territory – among the previously adopted restrictions are:

    regular closure of offices and branches in the country’s cities; introduction of a 5% commission for currency transfers; suspension of transactions in euros for individuals; setting a limit on one transaction – no less than 10 thousand euros or dollars, if the amount is less, prior approval of the transaction is required.

    “UniCredit Bank intends to sell its business in Russia, but it has not yet been possible to reach an agreement and conclude a deal, including due to the need to coordinate the sale with the Russian authorities,” the expert noted.

    The bank plans to completely wind down its operations by 2027 – the reduction of assets is proceeding at an accelerated pace. The volume of retail business has already been reduced by 50%, the goal has been achieved a year ahead of schedule. However, experts are confident that the final decision to leave Russia will be made taking into account the real situation in the industry and existing geopolitical risks.

    12:00 04/15/2025

    Source:

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https://mainfin.ru/novosti/uhod-iz-rossii-neizbezen-unikredit-bank-ogranicivaet-perevody-ese-iv-dollarah

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta builds bigger and better

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dina Titus Leads Letter to GSA Seeking Response to Fine Arts Staff Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    Congresswoman Dina Titus announced today that she and ten other members of Congress have sent a letter to the head of the General Services Administration asking for a response to reports that more than half of the GSA staff responsible for overseeing the nation’s fine arts collection have been laid off.

    “We need answers,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Our national art collection is displayed around the country and reflects our rich cultural history. We need to know whether this national treasure is being properly cared for.”

    The April 14 letter sent to Stephen Ehikian, Acting Administrator of the GSA, reads, “We are deeply concerned by reports that over half of the Fine Arts Program’s staff, who play a critical role preserving the collection and overseeing its care and preservation, have been put on leave. Furthermore, at least five regional offices, which are mandated to inspect these works every two years, have reportedly closed. The consequences of not having enough staff to take inventory of these works and help ensure that they are preserved properly would be long-lasting.”

    The letter asks Ehikian for responses to the following questions:

    1. How many employees from GSA’s Fine Arts Program were placed on leave?
    2. What is GSA’s plan to ensure that the valuable works in this collection are accounted for and taken care of? How does GSA plan to reassign the duties of the staff who were placed on leave?
    3. What is GSA’s plan to ensure that the works displayed at federal buildings across the United States are inspected every two years?

    The letter was co-led by Rep. Chellie Pingree and signed by Reps. Hank Johnson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Paul Tonko, Nydia Velazquez, Jerry Nadler, Sydney Dove, James McGovern, Betty McCollum and Seth Magaziner, all of whom are members of the Congressional Arts Caucus.

    The letter cited a March 11, 2025, Washington Post article that reported, “The future of a vast collection of public artwork is in doubt as the Trump administration plans to fire workers who preserve and maintain more than 26,000 pieces owned by the U.S. government, including paintings and sculptures by renowned artists, some dating to the 1850s.

    Fine arts and historic preservation workers at the General Services Administration told the Washington Post that at least five regional offices were shuttered last week and that more than half of the division’s approximately three dozen staff members were abruptly put on leave pending their terminations.”

    Background:

    Through its Fine Arts Program, GSA maintains one of the oldest and largest public arts

    collections in the United States. The civic artworks in the collection date back to the 1850s and

    are displayed in federal buildings and courthouses across the United States. The program helps

    preserve historic works of cultural significance, such as Alexander Calder’s 1974 “Flamingo”

    which is on display at the C. Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago. In Las Vegas, the Lloyd

    D. George U.S. Courthouse features “Eldorado,” a stunning landscape of the desert by Brent

    Thomson commissioned by GSA in 2000, among other works that illustrate Southern Nevada’s

    unique beauty.

    Another important body of work that GSA’s fine arts program manages is art that was created

    under New Deal programs. In 1934, the federal government began loaning or allocating artwork

    created under these programs to public agencies and nonprofit institutions across the country.

    When GSA was established in 1949, it assumed stewardship responsibility for this artwork.

    Today, more than 20,000 New Deal works of art are on long-term loan to museums and other

    nonprofit institutions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DelBene, Moore Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Breast Cancer Screening

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Tim Moore (NC-14) introduced the Mobile Mammography Promotion Act, legislation that would exempt mobile mammography vehicles from motor fuel taxes.

    Mobile mammography units serve a vital role by delivering diagnostic care directly to women at workplaces, community centers, and rural clinics. They can often reach patients who would otherwise forgo screening due to distance, lack of transportation, or other barriers. Under current law, these vehicles are subject to the same federal fuel taxes as commercial trucks despite their public health mission.

    The Mobile Mammography Promotion Act aligns the tax treatment of mobile mammography units with blood collection vehicles, which receive a similar exemption. This commonsense fix will help providers maximize resources, increase outreach, and ultimately save lives through earlier detection and treatment.

    “Preventive health care, like mammograms, is critical to catching diseases and conditions early. But many people struggle to access this care because it isn’t available nearby. Mobile programs like mammogram vans can meet people where they are. This bill will help make mobile mammograms more accessible. These are life-saving tests,” said DelBene. 

    “We know women have a better shot at beating breast cancer when it’s caught early, but too many in rural and underserved areas can’t easily access the screenings they need,” said Congressman Moore. “The Mobile Mammography Promotion Act gives mobile clinics the same exemption already available to blood collection vehicles, helping them stretch their resources further. Instead of paying fuel taxes, that money can go straight into life-saving care.”

    The cosponsors are Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Jim Costa (CA-21), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06).

    The copy of the bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –