Source: US State of Pennsylvania
April 14, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll held a virtual media update on REAL ID. This was the second in a series of virtual updates to be held regularly in the weeks leading up to the start of federal enforcement on May 7. The updates are streamed live on PAcast and the PennDOT Facebook page.
Speaker:
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 14, 2025
Lawmakers send letter amidst widespread website outages, benefit disruptions
“We are concerned these cuts will lead to further website and benefit disruptions, preventing tens of millions of Americans from accessing their hard-earned Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – Senate Banking Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), wrote to Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek with concerns about ongoing issues with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) website and reported plans to worsen the situation by firing up to 50 percent of employees from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).
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.
On March 27, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order stripping federal employees—including those at OCIO—of their bargaining rights, which would make it easier for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to fire OCIO staff and replace them with employees “more amenable to doing what (DOGE) want(s) to do.”
“(T)hese actions are dangerous for SSA—OCIO employees are the ones who know SSA’s programming language and…administration and oversight of the agency’s anti-fraud software, which DOGE has been tampering with,” wrote the lawmakers.
The senators emphasized that these firings will exacerbate the agency’s ongoing website issues, including recipients being incorrectly labeled as “not receiving payments” and losing access to their account histories. Senator Warren, along with Senators Wyden (D-Ore.) and Kelly (D-Ariz.), sent a letter to Dudek on April 7, 2025, demanding an explanation for their constituents’ reports of these disruptions, but the agency has not responded.
“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, DOGE’s role in the firings, and the Acting Commissioner’s plan to ensure technical knowledge of internal systems are not lost during work force reductions.
The letter is the latest oversight push from Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 14, 2025
Bill would expand existing ethics rules to apply to SGEs, strengthen conflict of interest rules, increase transparency
Bill Text (PDF) | Bill Summary (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) introduced the SGE Ethics Enforcement & Reform (SEER) Act, a bill to strengthen transparency and ethics requirements for Special Government Employees (SGEs). The bill would rein in Elon Musk by restricting certain SGEs from officially communicating with agencies and offices that regulate or contract with large companies owned by the SGE.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), joined in cosponsoring the bill.
Representatives Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) cosponsored the House version of the bill.
“Unelected billionaire Elon Musk should not be acting as co-president of the United States and making $8 million a day from government contracts while he’s at it. My new bill would crack down on conflicts of interest and create stronger ethics rules for Elon Musk and all Special Government Employees. Government should work for the American people, not billionaires lining their own pockets,” said Senator Warren.
“For months Elon Musk has dismantled federal agencies, fired thousands of federal workers, data-mined American data, and set himself up to make billions of dollars in federal contracts—all while acting as a Special Government Employee. Never again can we allow such blatant abuses of power to happen,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.). “That is why I am proud to introduce the SEER Act with Senator Elizabeth Warren to ensure the Trump Administration and people like Elon Musk cannot take advantage of the system and that there are strict rules and legal consequences in place to hold them accountable.”
Special Government Employees (SGEs) are temporary federal employees with a limit of 130 work days per year. Unlike regular employees, SGEs typically maintain jobs outside of the government and can be paid by an outside entity for the time they spend working for the federal government. SGEs are also not required to publicly disclose their financial interest, unless they are classified above the GS-15 level and serve for longer than 60 days.
Elon Musk and various members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are designated as SGEs, allowing them to be paid by private companies while they work to dismantle federal agencies. Musk specifically is an SGE at the White House and does not have to recuse himself from matters impacting his own multi-billion-dollar companies as long as his work does not meet the relatively narrow definition of a “particular matter” (as defined by Office of Government Ethics regulations).
This new bill would bar Musk from communicating with the Space Force and other agencies that interface with his companies, including the CFPB and the NLRB, which have reviewed and investigated complaints about Tesla. The bill would also block Musk from participating in portions of projects that he has a financial interest in, and would require him to file a public financial disclosure form.
Generally, the SEER Act includes reforms to:
Expand existing ethics rules to apply to SGEs: This bill makes SGEs subject to most standard ethics rules starting on their 61st day in government, and rules on outside compensation after their 130th day.
Strengthen conflict-of-interest rules for SGEs:
Prohibits any SGE who owns or leads a billion-dollar company, or a company with large federal contracts or monopolistic market power, from communicating, in their official capacity, with agencies that contract with, regulate, or conduct enforcement actions against their company;
Requires SGEs to resolve a broader range of conflicts of interest raised by government work that would directly and predictably affect their non-government employers; and
Requires OGE to agree before issuing a conflict-of-interest waiver to an SGE.
Hold SGE chairs and vice chairs of advisory committees to a tougher standard for receiving a conflict-of-interest waiver.
Increase transparency surrounding SGE classification and SGE financial interests:
Allow public access to the financial disclosures of SGEs without requiring the public to request disclosure;
Allow public access to conflict-of-interest waivers; and
Requires the Office of Personnel Management to maintain a public database of SGEs, including the number of days served as an SGE and the reason for their classification as an SGE instead of a regular employee.
“The Trump Administration’s use of this special designation to install people with potential conflicts in high-level government jobs with no accountability may have begun with Elon Musk – but it goes way beyond Musk. The public now has no way to know whether special government employees who don’t file public financial disclosure reports or are empowered to oversee themselves are putting the people’s interests ahead of their own,” said Jon Golinger, Democracy Advocate at Public Citizen. “Public Citizen strongly supports the SEER Act to close these loopholes and ensure that anti-corruption rules apply to special government employees, strengthen conflict-of-interest barriers to prevent financial self-dealing or misuse of insider information, and shine sunlight with financial disclosure so the public knows who has been given the power and privilege of doing the people’s business.”
“Special Government Employees (SGEs) may be able to hold jobs outside of government, but they should not be allowed to operate outside of the bounds of ethics or transparency rules” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Senator Warren’s SGE Ethics Enforcement and Reform Act would require SGEs to abide by ethics rules similar to those in place for other federal employees and ensure transparency around who is classified as an SGE and what their conflicts of interest may be. This will help ensure that the work of Special Government Employees serves the American people, and not personal financial interests.”
This bill is endorsed by Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Project On Government Oversight (POGO), State Democracy Defenders, Campaign Legal Center, American Federation Of Government Employees (AFGE), and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Friday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) led a group of colleagues in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the Biden administration’s AI Diffusion Rule (AIDR). The letter calls on the Trump administration to withdraw Biden’s bad rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology. The letter states:
“We applaud President Trump’s commitment to ensuring American dominance in the tech sector. Today, we are in an enviable position: American companies dominate in crucial areas that will define tomorrow’s economy including semiconductor design, compute infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI). This leadership position has been hard fought. Maintaining and growing our tech lead requires diligently advancing an American-led, global ecosystem around the world.”
“With the compliance deadline of May 15, 2025, rapidly approaching, immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to American innovation and competitiveness,” the letter continues. “Every day this rule remains in place, American companies face mounting uncertainty, stalled investments, and the risk of losing critical global partnerships that cannot be easily regained. Therefore, we urge you to withdraw this rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology without compromising American advantages.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Secretary Lutnick:
We applaud President Trump’s commitment to ensuring American dominance in the tech sector. Today, we are in an enviable position: American companies dominate in crucial areas that will define tomorrow’s economy including semiconductor design, compute infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI). This leadership position has been hard fought. Maintaining and growing our tech lead requires diligently advancing an American-led, global ecosystem around the world.
Concerningly, President Biden’s recently issued Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule
(AIDR) threatens to undermine this leadership and advancement. Among other things, the rule categorizes countries into three tiers, imposing complex restrictions on the purchase of U.S. technology. Only Tier 1 countries—limited to just 18 nations—would have access to American technology. Even these 18 would only have access if they comply with a burdensome and ever-evolving set of federal regulations. The vast majority of nations fall into Tier 2. These countries face arbitrary purchase limits and a cumbersome licensing process to acquire U.S. computing technologies. Strikingly, key allies and partners like Israel have been inexplicably excluded from the top tier and placed into Tier 2. Tier 3 countries, including Communist China, are already rightly restricted.
While the AIDR claims to provide secure ecosystems for the responsible diffusion of AI, this rushed midnight rule’s impact and overly broad scope will result in consequences that divorce it from its intent. Fundamentally, the rule places burdensome constraints on U.S. companies that would be difficult to comply with and even harder for the Federal government to enforce. Buyers, particularly in Tier 2 countries that are constrained from purchasing U.S. technology, would be incentivized to turn to Communist China’s unregulated, cheap substitutes. Additionally, technology companies in Tier 2 countries could be motivated to create their own AI technology stack that is outside our export control regime. Neither outcome furthers our nation’s long-term economic and national security goals.
With the compliance deadline of May 15, 2025, rapidly approaching, immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to American innovation and competitiveness. Every day this rule remains in place, American companies face mounting uncertainty, stalled investments, and the risk of losing critical global partnerships that cannot be easily regained. Therefore, we urge you to withdraw this rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology without compromising American advantages.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)
WASHINGTON D.C.– Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) have introduced the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Improvement Act to help ranchers and farmers receive a fairer payment structure from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and responsibly manage water resources in agricultural areas. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Dr. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran of Kansas will be introducing the bipartisan companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
As ranchers and farmers voluntarily retire farm acreage to comply with conservation requirements, the USDA has supplied CREP participants with payments to make agriculture leaders whole. The CREP Improvement Act makes adjustments to the payment structure that incentivizes more farmers and ranchers to participate and reforms the payment formula to apply retroactively to water and conservation agreements.
“Our ranchers and farmers are doing everything they can to conserve water while continuing to provide for their families and communities, but the current agreement with the USDA badly needs reform,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “Our CREP Improvement Act has support from both sides of the aisle and is driven by local stakeholders in Colorado who deserve a fair payment structure for retiring their land and ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture interests. This will be a win for ranchers and farmers in Colorado and across America, and I look forward to working with Rep. Evans, and Senators Bennet, Hickenlooper, Marshall, and Moran to pass this legislation through Congress.”
“The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement (CREP) Act gives Colorado’s hardworking farmers and ranchers a path forward, allowing them the flexibility to voluntarily cut back on water use while keeping our working lands productive. This bill is a smart, bipartisan step toward protecting Colorado’s water and ensuring our agricultural communities remain sustainable for generations to come,” said Congressman Evans.
“The Colorado Farm Bureau welcomes the reintroduction of the CREP Improvement Act in the House by Congresswoman Boebert. By removing the $50,000 payment limitation, the playing field for additive water conservation and stewardship will be expanded. We’re grateful for the continued leadership of our Colorado delegation on this bill,” said Carlyle Currier, President of the Colorado Farm Bureau.
“The proposed improvements to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program are a significant step forward for agricultural communities, especially in eastern Colorado. By increasing flexibility, enhancing incentives, and recognizing the unique needs of our region, this bipartisan legislation supports water conservation, strengthens rural economies, and helps ensure the next generation can thrive in agriculture,” said Rod Lenz, President of the Republican River Water Conservation District. “We appreciate our lawmakers’ continued leadership and commitment to working with producers to protect our most vital resource: water.”
“We support creating flexibility in the CREP program to reflect local environmental conditions and to meet unique regional conservation goals,” said Chad Franke, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President. “These modifications will allow farmers and rural economies to better manage our most precious resource, water. We thank Senators Bennet, Marshall, Hickenlooper, and Moran as well as Representative Boebert for hearing our concerns and for bringing forward the CREP Improvement Act.”
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Background:
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Improvement Act addresses the unfair payment structure currently used by USDA to compensate ranchers and farmers who have voluntarily retired farmland from production to meet conservation goals and concerns. The bill also expands the types of crops that can be retired and eligible for CREP payments as well as increasing flexibility for how ranchers and farmers can utilize dryland CREP acreage where appropriate.
The CREP Improvement Act includes:
Supportive stakeholders include the Republican River Water Conservation District, the Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.
[. The ‘Buy Local’ campaign, recently launched by Alberta’s government, encourages consumers to eat, drink and buy local to show our unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry.
The government’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign encourages consumers to buy products from Alberta’s hard-working farmers, ranchers and food processors that produce safe, nutritious food for Albertans, Canadians and the world.
“It’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back. Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products. The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”
Alberta’s government supports consumer choice. We are providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products. Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province. Whether it is farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, honey, craft beer, frozen food or our world-renowned beef, Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on April 14, 2025
The Government of Saskatchewan is proclaiming April 13-19, 2025, as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This week is dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the hard work and commitment of 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers and technicians across the province.
“Telecommunicators are essential in saving lives,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “They ensure that the information you provide during a 9-1-1 call is accurately relayed to the emergency personnel who are coming to your aid. We recognize and appreciate their vital role in keeping our citizens safe.”
This week is an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude to those who devote their lives to serving the public.
In Saskatchewan, 9-1-1 calls are taken by highly trained professional staff in Regina, Saskatoon and near Prince Albert. These telecommunicators received over 570,000 calls in 2024.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) provides monitoring and dispatching services across the province. The SPSA works with volunteer and professional first responders, as well as provincial and municipal government ministries and agencies to support public safety, protection and enforcement.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators week is observed annually during the second full week of April.
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For more information, contact:
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on April 14, 2025
Saskatchewan Government Delivers on Commitment to More Timely Access and Enhanced Breast Health Services
The highly anticipated Regina Breast Health Centre will officially open its doors to patients next week on April 23rd. The new centre will provide a variety of services, including diagnostic imaging, biopsies, specialist consultations, patient education and navigation, as well as other future on-site post treatment therapies and rehabilitation.
“Women will now have improved access to a full range of breast health services and the supports they need to help them through the difficult journey of diagnosis, treatment and recovery in a centralized way,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Regina’s new Breast Health Centre represents a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of Saskatchewan women and will have a positive impact to breast health services in our province.”
Co-location of essential services at the Breast Health Centre will allow family physicians and nurse practitioners to provide a single referral rather than coordinating multiple referrals. This streamlined approach will reduce wait times and improve the patient experience in what can often be a challenging time.
“The new Breast Health Centre is going to have an incredibly positive impact on anyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis in Regina and surrounding areas,” breast cancer survivor and Inpower Committee Member Briana Bolduc said. “I think the familiarity of having appointments in the same location will provide a much-needed sense of comfort and help reduce anxiety during a really difficult time. Anything that makes the cancer journey a bit more manageable is a win, and I am grateful this centre will exist for those who need it.”
Patients will receive coordinated care from the time they are referred by a primary care provider through assessment, diagnosis, and treatment if required (including surgery and/or referral to an oncologist), as well as connections to other services for therapies, rehabilitation or reconstructions.
Multi-disciplinary teams will include breast radiologists, breast specialized surgeons, nurse navigators, diagnostic imaging professionals, physiotherapists, a social worker and support administrative staff all working together and closely collaborating as a team to provide timely care and a better patient experience.
“The opening of the Regina Breast Health Centre reflects our commitment to timely, compassionate, high-quality care for women facing breast health concerns,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Chief Operating Officer Derek Miller said. “By bringing key services together under one roof, we are making care more coordinated, accessible, and supportive for every patient.”
Government has invested $8.5 million to open the new Breast Health Centre including building renovations, diagnostic equipment and staffing.
“We continue to deliver on our commitment to improve access and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients through a number of ongoing initiatives to enhance breast care,” Cockrill said. “We are also grateful to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation for their support in funding two radiologists to receive fellowship training for breast imaging and intervention specialties and deliver highly specialized care to Saskatchewan women.”
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For more information, contact:
Media
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)
Today, U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), John Carter (R-TX), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) led a bipartisan delegation in introducing the Military Spouse Hiring Act, legislation to amend the tax code to incentivize businesses to hire military spouses.
Today, U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), John Carter (R-TX), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) led a bipartisan delegation in introducing the Military Spouse Hiring Act, legislation to amend the tax code to incentivize businesses to hire military spouses. Beyer, Kelly, and Panetta serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, with Kelly chairing the Tax Subcommittee. Carter chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, and is co-chair of the Army Caucus.
“My mother was a military spouse, and I am keenly aware of challenges facing partners of active-duty servicemembers, who often have to relocate their families long distances,” said Rep. Beyer. “Our legislation would make important changes to the tax code to overcome hurdles to employment that disproportionately affect military spouses and show military families that ther service to the nation is valued.”
“America’s soldiers and military families who support them on the frontlines deserve our nation’s support.” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax. “Unfortunately, military spouses have a higher rate of unemployment and are often underemployed due to frequent relocations and service member deployments. Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation aims to help active-duty families get a leg up financially by encouraging local businesses to hire more military spouses in their communities. It’s a win-win for America.”
“Military spouses do so much to support our servicemembers, but too often, they struggle to find steady jobs because of the unique challenges that face military families,” said Rep. Carter. “The Military Spouse Hiring Act is a simple, commonsense way to help—giving businesses an incentive to hire these hardworking men and women. At the end of the day, supporting military spouses means supporting military families, and that’s something we should all get behind.”
“Military spouses face high unemployment rates and career instability due to the frequent relocations required by military service,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Military Spouse Hiring Act directly addresses this challenge by making military spouses eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, encouraging businesses to hire them and providing these families with greater economic stability. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is a commonsense step to support our military families and ensure that they have some stability through economic opportunity.”
A Senate companion is being introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Boozman (R-AR), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
According to a survey by Blue Star Families, military spouse employment is the top issue impacting active-duty families, and the top contributor to financial stress among military families. Military spouses consistently experience unemployment rates substantially higher than the national rate, and two thirds of employed active duty military spouses report underemployment. Frequent moves often stall military spouses’ upward career progression and force them to find new jobs. This hurts military families and military readiness.
Today’s legislation would address the issue by expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program—which incentivizes employers to hire individuals who experience unique employment barriers—to include military spouses.
The Military Spouse Hiring Act is supported by: Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Jewish War Veterans (JWV), Marine Corps League (MCL), Military Chaplains Association (MCA), Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Military Spouse Advocacy network (MSAN), National Defense Committee (NDC), National Military Family Association (NMFA), National Military Spouse Network (NMSN), Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), The American Legion (TAL), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USA WOA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
“Military spouse unemployment continues to hover at a very troubling 21%, and expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) would help bring that number down by incentivizing employers to hire our nation’s military spouses,” said Sue Hoppin, founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network. “Our mission is to support the efforts of spouses to secure viable careers within the military lifestyle and then help them pave the way for a successful transition post military life. This expansion would go a long way. We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Congressman Beyer, who has been a tireless champion of the Military Spouse Hiring Act.”
“Employing military spouses is a strategic issue with direct ties to force readiness and the retention of experienced warfighters. And in 2025, having two household incomes is a baseline requirement. This bill eases an employer’s path to hiring from this talented pool of dedicated workers to invest in both military families and the viability of the all-volunteer force,” Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, USAF (Ret), president and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America, said. “MOAA wants to thank Sens. Kaine, Boozman, Hassan and Rounds and Reps. Beyer, Kelly, Panetta and Carter for their ongoing work to support military spouses and families.”
“Hiring a military spouse isn’t just good for a business, it’s good for America,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of the National Military Family Association. “Expanding the Work Opportunity tax Credit to include military spouses incentivizes businesses to employ military spouses, a highly qualified talent pool. It also supports military family financial security—ensuring our military is always ready. We’re grateful to Senators Boozman and Kaine and Representatives Kelly and Beyer for introducing this important legislation.”
The bill has a history of robust bipartisan support in both chambers. Full text of the legislation is available here, with a summary here.
Source: US Geological Survey
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) was released in late 2024 as a reinvention of the prior NLCD, a longstanding and definitive national U.S. land cover resource valued by private industry, government agencies and university researchers.
New AI innovations made the Annual NLCD improvements possible, including providing a look at yearly land changes dating back to 1985. The previous NLCD was only able to offer new land cover data every two to three years and dated back only to 2001.
The primary source for Annual NLCD’s 16 land cover labels—for fields, forests, city development and more—is Landsat satellite imagery. Every satellite pixel, or 30-meter-by-30-meter plot, needed to be processed from 1985 to 2023 across the lower 48 states, which added up to 295 trillion pixels. With a goal of completing the entire release in two years, the development of more advanced methods was essential.
AI was used for both the classification, or labeling, of land cover types and also the detection of changes in land cover from year to year. That involved a lot of training data—helping the algorithms learn from labeled satellite data and from mistakes to predict labels and changes.
Rylie Fleckenstein, the Research and Development technical lead for Annual NLCD, discussed the deeper levels of machine learning used for Annual NLCD in the podcast episodes. Annual NLCD aimed for a faster, more automated approach that would not compromise on quality or consistency, versus slower methods in the past that relied more on human interpretation of imagery.
Deep learning is a type of machine learning that performs complex tasks and learns from the results, essentially training itself. Flecksenstein compared it to LEGOS. Rather than using the instructions to build a certain object in a certain way, he said deep learning is like “a box of LEGOS that you can construct in any way that you can think of that actually can better fit to your problem.”
Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch at EROS, summarized how AI benefited not only Annual NLCD production and data users but also taxpayers. “A completely new methodology was stood up, all AI-based, linking three different AI models,” Sohl said. “We’re faster, we’re more efficient. We’ve saved the government and the taxpayers money, and we’re creating a superior product. It’s a win all the way around.”
Source: Washington State News 2
BELLEVUE – Southeast Eastgate Way in Bellevue will close for six months between Richards Road and 139th Avenue Southeast starting Monday, April 21. The closure supports a fish barrier removal project on Sunset Creek.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will remove culverts nearly 40 feet beneath Southeast Eastgate Way that prevent fish from swimming upstream. The culverts are being replaced by a new bridge across the waterway.
“Extended roadway closures are never our first choice,” WSDOT Project Engineer Thomas La Bolle said. “But in this case, closing Southeast Eastgate Way proved to be the quickest and most efficient way to build a new bridge in this area.”
The new bridge on Southeast Eastgate Way is the fourth and final one that will be built for the Interstate 90 Sunset Creek fish passage project. Construction in this area will continue into early 2027, although most work will occur beneath I-90 starting next year.
All lanes on Southeast Eastgate Way will close by 5 a.m. Monday, April 21, roughly halfway between Richards Road and 139th Avenue Southeast. The six-month closure creates a work zone for trucks and heavy equipment to excavate down to Sunset Creek.
A signed detour using Richards Road, Southeast 26th Street and 139th Avenue Southeast will guide pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles around the work zone during the closure.
Local access will be permitted to the east and west of the work zone, and driveways along this corridor will remain accessible. Through-traffic will not be allowed between Richards Road and 139th Avenue Southeast.
Utility work and site preparation began in March on Southeast Eastgate Way. Bridge construction will primarily happen weekdays from 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Some intermittent night work is possible during later stages of the project.
King County Metro will relocate bus stops along Southeast Eastgate Way during construction. Some additional vehicle traffic is also likely along the detour route during peak travel times.
Southeast Eastgate Way is scheduled to reopen in fall 2025. Atkinson Construction is the lead contractor for the project.
Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: Fast-Growing Snack Brand Selects Rutherford County for New Manufacturing Hub
Fast-Growing Snack Brand Selects Rutherford County for New Manufacturing Hub
lsaito
Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that Wow Bao, a fast-growing Asian street food company, will create 88 jobs in Rutherford County. The company will invest $6.45 million to establish its first company-operated manufacturing facility in Forest City.
“North Carolina welcomes Wow Bao to our state where businesses find a strong infrastructure and ready workforce,” said Governor Stein. “Wow Bao’s decision to expand here strengthens our state’s vibrant food industry and brings new opportunities and jobs to Rutherford County.”
Wow Bao was founded in 2003 as a fast-casual restaurant brand and became known for its unique Asian-inspired menu, including bao (steamed buns), potstickers, and soup dumplings. Since then, the brand has grown rapidly, offering fresh, flavorful, and high-quality snacks in restaurants, airport locations, hundreds of Delivery Only kitchens and thousands of grocery stores, nationwide. The company is set to meet growing demand by opening its first company-operated manufacturing facility in Forest City, which will increase production capacity, modernize operations, and expand its reach.
“Wow Bao is thrilled to bring our operations to Forest City,” said Matt Fallon, CFO of Wow Bao. “With a world-class workforce and vibrant food and beverage industry, it became clear that Forest City and the State of North Carolina were the perfect home for this exciting phase of Wow Bao’s expansion. We are excited to begin cooking up America’s Number One Bao in Forest City and shipping it out to the rest of the country. We’re grateful for the support of Governor Stein, and our many partners throughout North Carolina, and we look forward to joining the community and catapulting this great brand forward.”
“With the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast and the fourth largest food and beverage industry in the country, North Carolina is the ideal place for companies like Wow Bao to thrive,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Our economic development teams at the state, regional, and local level will continue to provide strong support as the company expands their cutting-edge business.”
Positions at Wow Bao’s new facility will include maintenance engineers, production supervisors, sanitation associates, and other personnel. While wages vary by position, annual salaries for the new positions will average $49,648, exceeding the Rutherford County average of $46,673. These new jobs could potentially create an annual payroll impact of more than $4.3 million for the region.
A performance-based grant of $180,000 from the One North Carolina Fund awarded to Wow Bao Service, Inc. will help facilitate the company’s location to North Carolina. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
“Congratulations to Wow Bao on choosing Rutherford County for its new manufacturing facility,” said N.C. Senator Timothy D. Moffitt. “We look forward to the continued success and impact of their presence in North Carolina.”
“This expansion is a tremendous win for Forest City, bringing more jobs and strengthening our position as a leader in food production,” said N.C. Representative Jake Johnson. “I’m excited to see Wow Bao expand and thrive here.”
In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, North Carolina Community College System, Isothermal Community College, Rutherford County, and the Town of Forest City.
Source: US State of South Carolina
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is leading a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in commending U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s newly introduced legislation: the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act (“FIRM Act”). The bill is aimed at curbing the politically motivated denial of financial services—commonly known as de-banking.
“We commend Senator Scott for taking a bold stand against de-banking, a practice that threatens free speech, religious liberty, and equal access to financial services,” said Attorney General Wilson. “No law-abiding American should be denied banking access based on their beliefs or political affiliation.” All Americans, regardless of ideology, deserve equal treatment by financial institutions.
The coalition warns that de-banking efforts, once focused on firearms manufacturers and payday lenders, have expanded to include religious organizations, conservative tech leaders, and even former President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. The letter also criticizes proxy advisory firms for pressuring shareholders to oppose reforms that would eliminate politically driven banking discrimination.
“These politically charged attacks are fundamentally un-American and may also violate state laws,” Wilson continued. “This legislation gives us another tool to push back and protect citizens’ rights.”
The letter is also joined by attorneys general from North Dakota, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, Montana, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
You can read the full letter here.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicolas Forsans, Professor of Management and Co-director of the Centre for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, University of Essex
Daniel Noboa has been re-elected as president of Ecuador with a margin that has surprised most observers. Just weeks before the April 13 runoff, polls had him neck and neck with his left-wing rival, Luisa González. In the end, Noboa secured about 56% of the vote against González’s 44%, a difference of more than 1 million votes.
The victory gives Noboa, a 37-year-old businessman and political outsider, a full four-year mandate. Noboa won a shortened presidential term in November 2023 in a snap election called when his predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved congress in an attempt to escape impeachment.
It also marks the third consecutive presidential defeat for the movement led by former president, Rafael Correa, whose influence remains polarising in Ecuadorian politics.
González is, at the time of writing, refusing to concede, claiming “grotesque” electoral fraud. “I refuse to believe that the people prefer lies over the truth”, she has said. But she has presented no evidence to support the allegation.
International observers, including the EU and the Organisation of American States, have confirmed the elections were free and fair. In the absence of proof, the fraud claims appear to be more political theatre than a real challenge to the integrity of the vote.
Noboa’s campaign leaned heavily on security – a theme that has come to dominate Ecuadorian public life as the country grapples with record levels of violence. Since assuming the presidency in 2023, Noboa has governed under a permanent state of emergency.
He declared an “internal armed conflict” in early 2024, deployed the military in prisons and on the streets, and launched a wide-ranging security plan called Plan Fénix. This plan includes building a new maximum-security prison in the coastal province of Santa Elena modelled on El Salvador’s much-criticised approach to curbing violence.
Initially, these measures won Noboa widespread support. But the picture soon darkened. January 2025 was Ecuador’s most violent month on record, with 781 homicides. Criminal groups remain entrenched in the country’s port cities and prisons. And human rights organisations have raised serious concerns about arbitrary arrests, the excessive use of force, and the militarisation of civilian life.
Despite these setbacks, Noboa’s message of strength and order clearly resonated with voters. Ecuadorians, exhausted by spiralling violence, appear willing to accept more authoritarian governance in exchange for safety. This is a trend seen across the region, from President Nayib Bukele’s 2024 re-election in El Salvador to rising approval for militarised policing in Brazil, Honduras and Mexico.
The challenges Noboa now faces are daunting. The most pressing is Ecuador’s descent into organised crime and narco-violence. Situated between Colombia and Peru, the country has become a major transit hub for cocaine bound for the US and Europe. Powerful international cartels have partnered with local gangs, and the state has lost control over large swaths of territory.
In response, Noboa has not only empowered the armed forces but has also sought international assistance. In 2024, he met with Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, a controversial US private military contractor. This raised concerns about the outsourcing of Ecuador’s security and its implications for human rights. He has also floated the idea of hosting foreign troops in Ecuador, a proposal that would require a constitutional amendment.
But militarised solutions alone did not bring an end to violence during Noboa’s first term, nor are they likely to succeed in his second.
Ecuador’s security crisis is not just a matter of policing – it is a crisis of state capacity. The judiciary is riddled with corruption, prisons have become centres of criminal coordination, and police officers are often outgunned and underpaid. Without reforming these institutions, Noboa’s war on crime risks becoming a war without end.
At the same time, Ecuador’s economy is faltering. In 2024, the country fell into recession, with GDP contracting and inflation rising. Ecuador is reliant on hydropower for its electricity generation, and a historic drought that year caused blackouts lasting up to 14 hours a day. This revealed years of under-investment in infrastructure.
In response, Noboa raised VAT, cut fuel subsidies, and secured a US$4 billion (roughly £3 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund. These unpopular measures provoked grumbling but not mass protests, a fact some analysts attribute to exhaustion rather than approval.
Inequality remains high, especially for young people and those living in rural and coastal regions. Unemployment and underemployment affect nearly half of the working-age population, and around one-third of Ecuadorians live in poverty. Noboa has announced new cash transfers and youth employment programmes, but these are palliative, not structural.
To make matters worse, Noboa governs with limited support in the National Assembly. His party, Acción Democrática Nacional, holds 66 of the chamber’s 151 seats – one less than González’s Citizen Revolution.
The Indigenous Pachakutik party controls a crucial bloc of nine seats, but is itself internally divided. Passing legislation will require building coalitions and compromising. These are skills that Noboa has yet to demonstrate at scale.
Noboa’s credibility has also been challenged. His family’s banana export company, Noboa Trading, has been linked to multiple drug seizures in Europe. While there is no evidence implicating Noboa directly, the revelations raise uncomfortable questions about the president’s anti-drug narrative and potential conflicts of interest.
Noboa’s victory gives him an opportunity, but not a blank cheque. His success will now depend on whether he can pivot from ruling by decree to governing by consensus. The public expects results: less violence, more jobs and greater political stability.
To meet these expectations, he will need to restore the rule of law, protect human rights and build inclusive institutions capable of resisting criminal capture. This means professionalising the police, strengthening the judiciary and tackling the deep inequalities that fuel violence and despair.
It also means stepping back from theatrical gestures, such as alliances with foreign mercenaries, and focusing on the slow, often frustrating work of state-building.
In the coming months, Noboa will face a simple but profound test: can he translate his electoral mandate into real, lasting progress for a country on the edge? Ecuador’s future may depend on the answer.
Nicolas Forsans does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Ecuador: can freshly re-elected Daniel Noboa govern a country in crisis? – https://theconversation.com/ecuador-can-freshly-re-elected-daniel-noboa-govern-a-country-in-crisis-254420
Source: Securities and Exchange Commission
The Securities and Exchange Commission today published new data and analysis in a pair of reports that provide the investing public with updated key information about registered investment companies and money market funds.
“It is important that the Commission publicly shares the information it collects in a clear and transparent way,” said Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda. “These two reports will provide the public with key information about the approximately $41.5 trillion investors trust to funds and the approximately $7.39 trillion invested in money market funds.”
Annual Registered Investment Company Update contains statistics and SEC staff analysis based on Form N-CEN data. It is designed to facilitate the public’s ability to efficiently review, digest, and use key summary information about the industry. This information includes insights into the service providers used by investment companies, the assets they manage, and certain activities they undertake (such as securities lending).
Money Market Fund Statistics is an enhanced version of the money market funds report generated by the Division of Investment Management. This report contains additional statistical analysis and enhancements, as well as certain metrics based on Form N-MFP data. The modifications to the report are designed to further facilitate the public’s ability to efficiently review, digest, and use aggregate information about the money market fund industry by including summaries of more money market fund data, including information about internal affiliated funds, portfolio investments, flows, and industry concentration. The report extends the downloadable historical statistical series of data back to 2010.
The statistics reported in both reports may be downloaded in a structured format, which will provide the historical statistical series of information with each publication of the reports.
“These reports reflect the important work of the Division of Investment Management staff analyzing and collecting data from registered funds and money market funds,” said Natasha Vij Greiner, Director of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management. “The statistics and staff analysis in the reports will help investors, economists, academics, and other interested members of the public better engage with the staff and the Commission. This is critical information given the important role of funds in financial markets and the portfolios of millions of investors.”
Tim Husson, who leads the SEC’s Division of Investment Management’s Analytics Office, added, “Forms N-MFP and N-CEN provide insights into key areas of the investment company industry. The reports reflect our continued dedication to enhance the public’s use of important information about the industry.”
The Division of Investment Management advises the Commission on rules and forms under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including oversight of investment advisers, as well as investment companies, such as mutual funds, money market funds, and ETFs. The Division’s Analytics Office provides practical reviews and actionable analysis of the asset management industry.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
WASHINGTON — A Honduran man was extradited to the United States April 11 for his alleged involvement in a drug smuggling conspiracy, following extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Honduran law enforcement authorities.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune made the announcement.
Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, 39, allegedly conspired to transport approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the U.S. on a vessel attempting to illegally bring 23 Honduran nationals into the country. This operation was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in February 2022, about 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana after the vessel, M/V Pop, developed engine trouble.
According to court documents, Velasquez Maldonado was tasked with ensuring the cocaine was safely transported on the M/V Pop, which set sail from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana. When he was apprehended, Velasquez Maldonado allegedly pretended to be an undocumented immigrant aiming to stay in the U.S. to avoid prosecution.
Velasquez Maldonado is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He made his initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
If convicted, Velasquez Maldonado faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
His co-defendants, Carl Allison, 47, Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 37, previously pleaded guilty to associated charges in 2023. Lenord Cooper, 40, admitted to aiding in the unlawful entry of aliens into the U.S. and attempting to do so for financial gain. Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, were also convicted after trial of aiding in the unlawful entry of aliens into the U.S. and attempting to do so for financial gain.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation and extradition of Velasquez Maldonado was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the attorney general with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and ICE HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security, public safety risks or grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
ICE HSI Houma, Louisiana investigated the case, with assistance from ICE HSI Pittsburgh, ICE HSI Atlanta and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The ICE HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance, in addition to the substantial assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras.
Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the General Crimes Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Army
Return to
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
VICENZA, Italy – Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion (173rd BSB), 173rd Airborne Brigade were announced as the winners of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy on April 11, 2025.
“It feels great to win. We put our hearts and souls into this competition,” said Sgt. Travis Dionne, a combat medic assigned to the 173rd BSB. “The competition really validates your skills, and it proves that you are able to accomplish your goals and become the greatest version of yourself.”
Dionne emphasized the importance of competition in the military—it makes the individual Soldier and the squad better. Preparing for competitions like Best Squad reinforce unit and team cohesion, while also developing the individual skills of each competitor.
Each team is composed of five Soldiers: the squad leader, a sergeant first class or staff sergeant; a team leader, a sergeant or corporal; and three squad members in the ranks of specialist or below. The three-day long competition tested their physical strength, mental fortitude, technical proficiency and ability to work as a team.
“I think I can say for the entire team, it shows our dedication to each other,” said Specialist Gavin Hale, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. “This competition shows the best of a unit and to bring out the best cohesion in a team. I am really confident that my team will win in Germany for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa competition.”
The first day of this year’s Best Squad Competition was a physical and mental gut-check consisting of an Army Combat Fitness Test, then an obstacle course event, followed by a stress-shoot and a written essay.
Day two tested their knowledge and proficiency of warrior tasks and skills. Each team was graded on their ability to execute patrolling tasks, such as buddy-team bounding, squad movements testing their ability to move, shoot and communicate cohesively. The squads were also tested on their application of tactical combat casuatly care. Each team had to assess a casualty, provide aid and conduct medical evacuation on a simulated casualty.
Day three ended the competition with a 12-mile ruck march, weapons familiarity test and a formal board. The compressed timeline of these events tests each Soldiers’ ability to push through exhaustion and still excel at encompassing the Full-Soldier Concept, having the ability to stay professional and also be ready to execute warrior tasks and drills.
The winners of this year’s SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition will represent the command in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command’s competition to take place August 20-28 in Hohenfels, Germany.
Additionally, this year’s Best Squad awarded four individual awards. Best Pen goes to the best essay written, Top Shot for the most accurate marksmanship during the stress shoot, Best Noncommissioned Officer, awarded for the most individual points for a Noncommisioned officer and Best Soldier, awarded for the highest individual points for any Soldier in the competition.
The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:
About 173rd Airborne Brigade
The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility. Forward-based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners.
About SETAF-AF
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS
Source: US State of Rhode Island
On Thursday night, April 17, as part of improvements to Route 146 in North Smithfield, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will shift traffic to provide one lane southbound on the new flyover bridge at the Sayles Hill Road intersection. This work was postponed from April 11 because of inclement weather.
The other southbound travel lane will remain at ground level. The traffic signal will be adjusted to ensure that the intersection functions at maximum efficiency. This change will be in place until the end of the year.
The Route 146 Improvement Project will replace multiple bridges, repave 8 miles of road and eliminate congestion at the intersection of Sayles Hill Road and Route 146. Approximately 171,000 vehicles use Route 146 daily.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MultiCorp International, Inc. (OTC Markets PINK: MCIC) Multicorp International, Inc. is pleased to announce the execution of a Quadripartite Agreement on March 26, 2025 and the currently pending $2,000,000,000 credit transfer from a top 10 European Bank to Neoforma Inc.’s domestic bank to access immediate liquidity.
Multicorp International, Inc.’s alliance with 40 Brightwater LLC’s Global Financial Consortium inclusive of Neoforma Inc. and now Airavata Developers Corporation has expanded immediate access to greater liquidity, which will be added to the previously announced financings from Edwards Capital N.A. correspondent bank.
In turn, Neoforma Inc. will provide a line of credit to MultiCorp International, Inc. in an amount of up to $1,800,000,000 (one billion eight hundred million USD), to be utilized to execute all transactions previously announced with Global X Cryptocurrency Stablecoin Tokens (GBP-pegged), Bitcoin, and gold-backed Cryptocurrency Tokens, as well as to perfect the newly-targeted acquisition of a mineral property in Michigan and to cover all required corporate expenditures.
About MultiCorp International, Inc. :
(https://multicorpinternational.com/)
MultiCorp International, Inc., a diversified leader in health, energy, and agriculture, announces a series of strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating its growth and expanding its market presence. The company is actively pursuing joint ventures and acquisitions, is fortifying its organizational infrastructure, and is preparing for significant advancements in the stock market.
About Neoforma Inc. :
Neoforma Inc. is a Minnesota based privately held corporation and a global leader in Software & Technology. The company has now diversified into International finance including private equity and has operations globally, including India, the UAE, the UK, Mexico and the United States and serves clients globally. Its client base includes numerous global corporations as well as government entities.
About Airavata Developers Corporation:
Airavata Developers Corporation is a prominent international construction firm that has carved a niche for itself in the design and construction of commercial and industrial infrastructure. With a commitment to excellence, we specialize in a wide array of services that encompass every phase of the construction process, including comprehensive pre-construction planning, meticulous project management, and effective general contracting. Each of these services is tailored to meet the specific needs and demands of our diverse clientele, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed their expectations.
At the helm of our organization are the highly respected Principal Partners, Alan Khara, who serves as the Chief Executive Director and Chairman, and David D. Brannon, the Executive Financial Director. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the company. Their unwavering dedication extends beyond just business; they are passionately committed to fostering community excellence. This commitment is demonstrated through substantial efforts in promoting global economic development while simultaneously focusing on job creation within the communities we operate. Their leadership style emphasizes ethical practices, innovative thinking, and a deep responsibility toward societal well-being.
Airavata Developers Corporation has set forth an ambitious goal: to emerge as the global leader within this ever-evolving and dynamic construction industry. To achieve this vision, we place a strong emphasis on delivering exceptional service that stands out in a competitive marketplace. This is complemented by our proactive approach in integrating cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art materials into our projects. By continually investing in the latest advancements in construction techniques and environmental sustainability, we ensure that our infrastructure not only meets current industry standards but also anticipates future demands.
Our commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation drives every project we undertake, ensuring that we consistently remain at the forefront of industry trends and client expectations.
David Brannon Chief Financial Director/ Partner
About 40 Brightwater LLC:
40 Brightwater LLC is a private holding company focusing specifically on acquiring private entities and merging its holdings with public companies by leveraging its financial network and resources through its Managing Member, President & CEO Shannon Newby.
Disclaimer: This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable securities laws. Any offer will be made only through a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus as part of an effective registration statement.
Contact Information: J. A. Coleman, J.a.coleman1512@gmail.com.
This press release is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a solicitation to purchase securities. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on current expectations and could differ materially from actual events
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ian Urquhart, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, University of Alberta
“We heard you, Albertans.” With those words, Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean put coal mining in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains back on the table last December. Common sense might suggest Jean meant that Albertans are in favour of resuscitating metallurgical coal mining there, but that’s not the case.
Instead, the public strongly opposes reviving metallurgical coal mining — also known as coking coal mining — to supply Asian steelmakers. December’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative sadly exemplifies what has become too common in politics today — using misinformation to try to win the public’s willingness to accept the unacceptable.
In this case, the government’s treatment of expert opinion compounds its misinformation. It’s blind to expert advice from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Australian government questioning the rosiness of metallurgical coal’s future.
Bringing coal miners back to Alberta’s Rockies was extremely contentious between 2020 and 2022. Jason Kenney’s Conservatives removed the de facto exploration and exploitation restrictions in place there since the 1970s. At the same time, Benga Mining Limited proposed to resume coal mining in southwest Alberta. Together, these events ignited a public furore.
Andrew Nikiforuk, a journalist whose books and articles focus on epidemics and the energy industry, was one of the first to bring coal miner ambitions to the public’s attention. He told me the outrage was “probably the most important environmental protest I have ever witnessed in this province.”
Benga’s Grassy Mountain project was summarily dismissed by government regulators in 2021. Eleven weeks before that decision, Alberta created the Coal Policy Committee. It consulted Albertans about the 2020 decision to invite coal miners to return to the Rockies.
The committee gave anyone with a view on coal — positive or negative — the opportunity to contribute to its deliberations. The response was impressive. The committee received nearly 4,400 pieces of correspondence, 176 detailed written submissions and conducted 67 virtual and public meetings.
The consultation confirmed what polling firms had already found: “A significant number of respondents are apprehensive about coal development in Alberta.”
Albertans didn’t believe coal’s economic benefits justified its risks to landscapes and water quality. Only eight per cent of those who answered the committee’s survey question about the economic benefits of coal mining felt they were very important; 64 per cent regarded those benefits as “not important at all.”
This unambiguous public opposition repeated what the federal-provincial review panel into Benga’s Grassy Mountain coal mine proposal revealed in 2020-2021. Ninety-eight per cent of the more than 4,400 public comments left on the review panel’s website opposed the proposal to bring coal mining back to the Crowsnest Pass.
Second, the committee concluded that land-use planning, with public consultation, needed to take place before a decision could be made about permitting coal exploration in the Rockies.
Premier Danielle Smith’s government hasn’t listened. It doesn’t intend to conduct the land-use planning called for by the committee.
Jean has also said he will consult industry — and only industry — as he tries to get his new policy in place this year. He promised “targeted” engagement with coal industry stakeholders. The public and other interests will be mere spectators.
Alberta’s coal initiative has an optimistic view of future metallurgical coal demand.
Jean markets his proposal by saying Alberta coal is needed “given the current and anticipated future global demand for coal.” But the IAE doesn’t share that optimism. Nor do experts from the Australian government, the world’s largest exporter of metallurgical coal.
The IEA’s annual coal report is a benchmark for understanding the medium-term global outlook for coal. Its most recent report projects metallurgical coal production will fall by 4.2 per cent from 2024 to 2027. The IEA’s 2024 World Energy Outlook predicted steelmaking coal production would fall over the next two decades as steelmakers reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2050, it expects world coking coal production to drop 35.8 per cent from the 2024 level.
Australia’s pre-eminence comes from producing 46 per cent of global metallurgical coal exports. The Australian government’s March 2025 Resources and Energy Quarterly confirms the general thrust of the IEA’s analyses. A slight increase in the amount of steel produced without metallurgical coal “will likely result in a slight fall in global metallurgical coal demand through to 2030.”
The IEA makes it clear that Australian producers don’t intend to relinquish market share willingly. Forty-seven Australian coal projects are in the pipeline, with most focused on metallurgical coal or metallurgical/thermal coal combined. Three-quarters of Australia’s metallurgical coal exports feed the Asian steel industry.
Then there’s Mongolia. After its “recent extraordinary export growth” into China, Mongolia now supplies nearly one-half of China’s imports. The country is the world’s second largest metallurgical coal exporter. Mongolia’s high-quality coal, proximity to China and improved rail infrastructure will make its production difficult to displace.
It’s unlikely, then, that new coal production from Alberta will gain easy access to Asian markets.
Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative illustrates two dangerous trends in politics today — the refusal to heed both the public and experts.
The stakes here are large. Coal mining will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on the headwaters that serve people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Smith’s Conservatives should in fact embrace common sense and the spirit of party policy from the 1970s. Prohibit coal mining in Alberta’s Rockies.
Ian Urquhart does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith – https://theconversation.com/coal-in-alberta-neither-public-outrage-nor-waning-global-demand-seem-to-matter-to-danielle-smith-252551
Source: United Nations Population Fund
Madame Chair,
President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Dear young people,
I greet you in peace, always of concern for African people all over the world and the noble pursuit of the United Nations.
It is an honor for me to join you at this esteemed Forum. Since its establishment four years ago, UNFPA has been present at every session, a testament to our unflinching support for the crucial mandate of this Forum.
As a people, we have come to learn through history – our shared African history – that progress comes when we rise and demand long overdue justice. Referencing the great Frederick Douglass:
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning, they want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”
And so the struggle for full freedom carries on, in this generation spearheaded by the African Union, including its sixth region, its proud diaspora.
For UNFPA, that means carrying on with our important work to uphold the dignity and rights of women and girls of African descent, who continually face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and oppression, yet still contributing massively to shaping economies, cultures and scientific developments, including robotics, artificial intelligence, mathematics, populations studies, and so much more.
UNFPA is assisting countries to disaggregate population data by race and ethnicity to help us lift the cloak of invisibility off groups too often left behind. Why? Because you cannot change what you cannot see.
With UNFPA’s support, 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean now include race and ethnic self-identification in their censuses, which is essential in devising policies to end inequality and discrimination.
UNFPA addresses disparities in reproductive health, because as we know all too well, it is Black women and adolescent girls who are at a much higher risk of maternal mortality and the consequences of adolescent pregnancy. This must change and it should not take five, ten or twenty years for that change to manifest.
In partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and with the generous support of Luxembourg, UNFPA recently launched the Global Maternal Health Coalition for People of African Descent. The first technical workshop of this Coalition is due to take place later this year.
We are also pleased to partner on targeted interventions for the implementation of Recommendation Number 5 of the Committee of Experts for the Belém do Pará Convention. It calls on countries to end gender-based violence against women of African descent.
Gender-based violence is an ugly, troubling epidemic now exacerbated by online toxicity directed at women and girls of African descent. This Forum has a role to play in insisting that racism and sexism have no place in public dialogue, including in the digital space.
Let us take heart from last year’s first-ever commemoration of the International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent on July 25th, led by the Governments of Brazil and Colombia. This is another important step towards uplifting people of African descent and advancing gender equality.
The beauty of Black women is undeniable and it is our business to instill in every young girl an appreciation of her inner beauty and her inherent strength.
Excellencies, dear partners,
Stony the road we trod
Bitter the chastening rod
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died
Yet with a steady beat
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
Yes we have arrived to this place, yet am I wrong to say that the road ahead is uncertain? We cannot wait to act to protect the hard-won gains that began from the moment of abduction from Africa, through the Middle Passage, up until today.
Already, there is heightened pushback on progress that intended to level the playing field and improve the everyday lives of Black people in areas such as education, health and employment.
Already, we have seen attacks on innocent migrants whose only desire was to make a better life for themselves and their children.
Meanwhile, on the African continent conflict and war are having repercussions far and wide.
Now is the time to recommit to our quest for peace and equality. Now is the time for recognition. Now is the time to raise the demand for justice for all people of African descent.
Excellencies, dear partners,
“I am my mother’s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.”
These are words of educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune.
That drum invites us to dialogue.
I am delighted to invite all of you to an extraordinary moment that will take place outside this afternoon at 1:15pm at the Ark of Return memorial dedicated to the victims of enslavement, which is marking 10 years since it was unveiled. It is there that you will be able to hear the sounds and rhythms of drums – drums that will connect us and guide our common heartbeats as we work together towards building a peaceful, equal, healthy and just world for people of African descent, and for all.
Muchas gracias, Adelante!
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on April 14, 2025
Today, the Water Security Agency announced it would be proactively self-declaring the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (WIRP) for a provincial environmental assessment.
“The Water Security Agency is committed to ensuring the environment is protected as this project develops through the provincial environmental assessment process,” Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency Daryl Harrison said. “We are committed to engaging with rights holders and stakeholders in an open and transparent way and this formalizes the work that we have started.”
Baseline data collection and the planning and design work will go into a proposal, which is then submitted to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Collecting feedback with rights holders and stakeholders through various engagements will help incorporate their input into the design of the project as part of the environmental assessment.
“Irrigation Saskatchewan is pleased to see this project moving forward and the government’s commitment to doing it in the right way,” Irrigation Saskatchewan Chair David Bagshaw said. “Our members are producers and strong stewards of the land they farm, and we believe in responsible irrigation expansion while protecting the environment.”
Announced in July 2024, the planning and engineering design work for WIRP is being worked on by Prairie Engineering Partners, a joint venture from Stantec and MPE engineering firms. Baseline work was commissioned as part of the environmental assessment field work for both aquatic and terrestrial components, including water quality and quantity.
WIRP has the potential to add 100,000 acres of irrigated land. A recent analysis of the 100,000 acre project was done by KPMG LLP. It shows an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $5.9 billion while generating over 30,000 jobs (person years of employment) and 9,500 jobs during the construction phase.
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For more information, contact:
Source: Government of Canada regional news
The Province is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the homicide of 23-year-old Zachery Vaughan Kellock.
On January 16, 2024, police responded to a report of a missing person who was last seen at an address on Millbrook First Nation. The investigation has led police to believe that criminality was involved in Mr. Kellock’s disappearance. His body has not been recovered, and charges have not been laid.
“Someone may have the missing piece that investigators need,” said Becky Druhan, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “I urge anyone with details about what happened to Mr. Kellock to contact the rewards program and help bring justice and closure for his family, friends and loved ones.”
Anyone with information regarding this crime should call the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090. People who come forward must provide their name and contact information, and they may be called to testify in court. All calls will be recorded.
People who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Nova Scotia at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
A photo of Mr. Kellock is available at: https://novascotia.ca/just/Public_Safety/Rewards/case_detail_zachery_vaughan_kellock.asp
Cases under the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program are listed at: https://novascotia.ca/just/Public_Safety/Rewards
RCMP release, April 11, 2025 – RCMP continues to seek tips on the 2024 disappearance of Zachery Kellock: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2025/rcmp-continues-seek-tips-2024-disappearance-zachery-kellock
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)
Pfluger Fly-By: April 11, 2025Washington, April 11, 2025
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)
MIDLAND, TX — On Tuesday, April 15th, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) will host U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Scott Mason, and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-At-large), a fellow member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in the Permian Basin for an oil and gas site visit and roundtable with producers, local leaders, stakeholders, and EPA officials.
Following the site visit and producer roundtable, Rep. Pfluger will host a press conference to update the media on the efforts of the Trump Administration, Congress, and the EPA to cut the burdensome red tape previously imposed on the Permian Basin by the Biden Administration.
WHO: Congressman Pfluger, Congresswoman Fedorchak, EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason, and other local leaders possible
WHAT: Press Conference discussing takeaways EPA Administrator visit
WHERE: 500 W Wall St, Midland, TX 79701 (North Side of Wall St.)
WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 1:45 pm CT
NOTE: Credentialed media may arrive at the site at 1:30 pm. Media must RSVP to Bethany.Holden@mail.house.gov by Monday, April 14, 2025.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree hosted a town hall at Camden Hills Regional High School, drawing a capacity crowd of more than 800 Mainers for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the country—and the increasingly alarming and chaotic policies of the Trump Administration.
During the 90-minute event, constituents asked questions and shared their concerns on a variety of topics, from President Trump’s escalating attacks on Maine to the potential impacts of the Republicans budget to what Pingree and other Democrats are doing to fight back against the Administration’s reckless and illegal actions.
“This is a tumultuous time for our country. Mainers are rightfully angry about what’s going on in Washington, and they want to know what their elected leaders are doing to push back against the reckless and illegal policies of this Administration,” Pingree said. “I’m incredibly grateful to all the Mainers who turned out to make their voices heard—and that we were able to have a civil, productive conversation on a whole host of issues. It’s truly an honor to represent the people of Maine’s First District, and I look forward to continuing the constructive discourse tomorrow night in Westbrook.”
The town hall was streamed live across Pingree’s social media accounts and her YouTube.
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Pingree will be hosting another town hall in Westbrook tomorrow (Monday, April 14), from 6-7:30 p.m. That event is also expected to reach capacity.
Prior to this week’s in-person events, Pingree hosted a pair of “telephone town halls” (on February 11 and March 25, respectively), which drew more than 20,000 listeners in total.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) led the Florida Democrats in urging the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya to reverse cuts to life-saving medical research into treatments and cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. This drastic reduction in funding will hurt Florida families, eliminate thousands of Florida jobs, and cede American dominance in health research to our foreign competitors like China.
The lawmakers wrote, “We look forward to working with you to advance critical research that will improve the lives of countless Floridians and Americans. However, as members of the Florida Congressional delegation, we also write to express concern about the impact of NIH guidance (NOT-OD-25-068), stating that existing and new grant recipients will be subject to a 15 percent indirect cost rate. This policy would curtail the groundbreaking and life-saving research being done across the state of Florida by colleges and universities, cancer centers, health systems and more. Such a drastic cut in federal support for biomedical research would diminish our nation’s research capacity, slow scientific gains and harm access to patients and families across the country who benefit from NIH-funded research. While a nationwide temporary restraining order is in place, we implore you to permanently rescind this guidance.”
The lawmakers continued, “Indirect costs are an essential part of this federally funded research, supporting high-quality research with robust oversight mechanisms, critical safety measures and necessary infrastructure. There is a substantial cost associated with conducting research on behalf of the federal government, including state-of-the-art laboratory space and equipment, high-speed data processing, secure data storage, hazardous waste disposal, patient safety protocols, and utilities.”
In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, the NIH awarded the state of Florida $869 million in grants and contracts, which had a $2.82 billion economic impact and supported over 14,600 jobs.
Read the full letter here.
Source: US State of Connecticut
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon today announced that effective May 1, 2025, the State of Connecticut is expanding the benefits it provides to firefighters to include free, enhanced cancer screenings.
This new benefit comes in response to evidence that firefighters, due to their repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and carcinogens in the line of duty, have a greater prevalence of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths than the general population.
More than 900 firefighters enrolled in the state employee health plan and Partnership Plan, both of which Comptroller Scanlon oversees, will now have free access to a comprehensive, full-body scan once every two years. The screenings are designed to detect cancers early – often before symptoms appear – when treatment is more effective, and outcomes are significantly better.
While expected to cost the state about $150,000 annually, the costs associated with later-stage cancers are far greater – not to mention the hardship placed on firefighters, their families, and their departments.
“Firefighters have high-risk jobs and in the course of their duties are exposed to toxins that can wreak havoc on their health and put them at risk for cancer,” Governor Lamont said. “Expanding the state health plan to provide all firefighters with regular cancer screenings is essential because early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes. I appreciate Comptroller Scanlon for working with our administration to enact this change to the state health plan and provide this benefit for Connecticut’s firefighters.”
“When they’re putting their lives on the line every day, the last thing our firefighters should have to worry about is navigating their healthcare,” Comptroller Scanlon said. “That’s why I’m proud that the state health plan I run will now provide our members with the best preventative care and early screenings. Through better early detection, we can keep the men and women who serve our communities healthy and their minds at ease. I’ve been honored to work with the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut and Governor Lamont to bring this initiative to fruition.”
“Firefighters are an essential part of keeping all Connecticut residents safe,” Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins said. “At DESPP, where we are training and recruiting the firefighters of the future, we stand behind the continuing efforts by Governor Lamont and Comptroller Scanlon to keep the men and women of the fire service healthy.”
“Unfortunately, there is growing prevalence of cancer in firefighters, but early detection saves lives, and it saves our families – by blood and by profession – immense grief and hardship,” Peter Brown, president of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, said. “This new healthcare offering is a critical step forward in securing firefighter health and wellbeing. UPFFA is grateful for our continued partnership with Comptroller Scanlon and Governor Lamont.”
Any firefighter enrolled on the state employee health plan or Partnership Plan who is seeking more information can visit carecompass.ct.gov to connect with a representative, schedule an appointment, and find providers in their area.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)
Today, Congressmen Mark Alford (R-MO-04) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), along with Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), led a bicameral group of colleagues in sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. In the letter, the members call for the use of sound science and risk-based analysis as the MAHA Commission finalizes its work, particularly on crop protection tools and food-grade ingredients. The letter states:
“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,” the letter continues. “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.”
In addition to Congressmen Alford and Feenstra, the letter was also signed by Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE-01), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Adrian Smith (R-NE-03), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA-05), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), James Comer (R-KY-01), Troy Downing (R-MT-02), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), Gabe Evans (R-CO-08), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Vince Fong (R-CA-20), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Tracy Mann (R-KS-01), Mark Messmer (R-IN-08), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Mike Rogers (R-AL-03), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-06), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), David Valadao (R-CA-22), and Ann Wagner (R-MO-02).
The letter was also signed by U.S. 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), 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.
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