NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Presses Energy Under Secretary Nominee on BPA Staff Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.10.25

    Cantwell Presses Energy Under Secretary Nominee on BPA Staff Cuts

    Bonneville Power Administration owns and operates about 80% of PacNW power lines; workforce reductions by Trump admin have eliminated hundreds of employees, including many powerline workers; Cantwell: “Do you believe the BPA workforce should be exempt from the current hiring freeze and future force reductions?”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, questioned Preston Wells Griffith III – President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as Under Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) – on the administration’s plans to cut additional staff at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), even though BPA is funded by ratepayers not federal taxpayers.

    “I’m a big supporter of BPA and what it delivers in cost-based power. I think we need to give BPA more support, not less. They have committed to $5 billion in grid upgrades using borrowing authority this Committee approved as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure [Law]. I want to submit […] an article for the record written by former two former BPA leaders, Randy Hardy and Steve Wright, and I want to quote. They say, ‘we can say with confidence the level of risk now with the existing workforce reductions is unacceptably high, and at some point further reductions would make outages practically inevitable.’

    “So, that concerns me when two former BPA Administrators make those kind of statements. I appreciate that DOGE has already allowed the BPA to rehire some of those probationary employees, but I want to ask you, do you believe the BPA workforce should be exempt from the current hiring freeze and future force reductions?” Sen. Cantwell asked during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    Griffith responded: “I obviously haven’t been confirmed, and don’t know — I’ve read similar reports, and I don’t think I saw that one that you submitted for the record, but should I be confirmed, I look forward to getting up to speed and prioritizing it. I worked in the last Trump Administration, the first one, and understand the important role that BPA and the Power Marketing Administrations, other PMAs, have in delivering affordable, reliable energy from our hydroelectric resources. And I’m committed to working with you and your office, this Committee, to do that should I be confirmed.”

    Sen. Cantwell: “Do you commit to articulate BPA’s safety and reliability role when considering any RIF [Reduction in Force] proposals?”

    Griffith: “Senator, again, I don’t know exactly what is happening in the Department or any discussions, but I will prioritize working with the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and the rest of the team on this issue, if confirmed to—”

    Sen. Cantwell: “I’m just asking you whether you will raise safety and reliability roles. That’s a pretty easy –“

    Griffith: “Oh, safety and reliability are obviously very important to the grid, BPA, and all of the utilities and PMAs, and I think we’ll continue to prioritize the reliability, the security, and the resilience of our grid, including at the PMAs.”

    A video of her Q&A with Griffith can be watched HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell has slammed the Trump Administration’s mass firings and hiring freezes as overbroad, dangerous to the public, precarious for our lands, and at times illegal.

    Last week, during another hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sen. Cantwell also pressed James Danly and Katharine MacGregor – President Trump’s nominees to serve as DOE Deputy Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior – on their commitments to not sell off public assets owned by Bonneville Power Administration after DOGE recently ordered the sale of the BPA Portland building. Video of that exchange is HERE.

    In July 2021, Sen. Cantwell authored and fought for passage of a bipartisan amendment that eventually resulted in a $10 billion increase in BPA’s borrowing authority being included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The measure allowed BPA to continue to borrow at low-interest rates at no ultimate cost to the taxpayer, so that Bonneville could move forward with the vital projects announced today. Sen. Cantwell’s amendment also linked expanded borrowing authority to new financial oversight requirements and opportunities for increased stakeholder engagement.

    Without Sen. Cantwell’s efforts, the borrowing authority would likely not have been established, industry insiders said at the time.

    In July 2023, BPA announced it would move forward with more than $2 billion worth of electricity grid improvement projects that will significantly increase the capacity and reliability of the Pacific Northwest grid and its ability to integrate new energy sources. In October 2024, BPA announced an additional $3 billion in grid updates.

    Bonneville’s generating and transmission portfolio consists primarily of emissions-free sources and is the backbone of an electricity system that is relied on by tens of millions of people throughout the Western United States. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the Pacific Northwest will need to add 56% more transmission capacity by 2040. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council calculates the region will need 3,500 megawatts of new renewable generation by 2027 and 14,000 additional megawatts by 2040. Sen. Cantwell has been a longtime champion of BPA and the cost-based power it helps provide the Pacific Northwest, and has successfully fended off multiple efforts to privatize BPA or increase regional electricity rates.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee, Tuberville Introduce Legislation to Repurpose Woke USAID Funding to Improve Veterans’ Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Veterans First Act of 2025, which will redirect wasteful taxpayer funding previously allocated for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to instead pay for outstanding repairs in state veterans’ homes. This legislation follows the Trump administration’s actions to largely shut down USAID after it was revealed that the agency was using taxpayer funds to pay for radical leftist priorities. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) leads the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “Our bill takes 2 billion dollars that was going to be thrown into the USAID money pit and distributed to radical progressive causes across the globe, and instead puts it toward desperately needed housing and hospitals for the men and women who defend America,” said Senator Lee. “We should put our veterans before any foreign interests or organizations.” 

     “Let’s be honest, USAID was largely being used as a Democrat slush fund under Joe Biden,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We don’t need to waste BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars on research in Wuhan or transgender operas in Colombia when our own veterans are living in horrible conditions. There are more than 160 state veteran homes across the country that provide long-term care to eligible military veterans. The VA currently offers construction grants that cover up to 65% of renovation costs, but funding constraints can cause years of delays for homes that are waiting to receive federal funds to match the funds approved at the state level. This critical legislation would provide sufficient federal funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home Construction projects that already have the state-matching funds. Our veteran heroes were willing to lay down their lives for our freedom. The least we can do is make sure they have a decent place to call home.

     “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, taxpayer dollars were wastefully sent overseas to fund DEI initiatives while the pressing needs of veterans here at home were ignored,” said Rep. Taylor. “Under President Trump, Republicans are getting our Nation’s priorities straight and our Heroes are at the top of the list. I am proud to lead this bill to ensure State Veterans Homes across our country are equipped with the funding to meet our veterans’ needs.”

     The Veterans First Act of 2025 would:

    • Redirect $2 billion of USAID funds toward State Veteran Home repairs and renovations,
    • Provide sufficient funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home construction grants,
      • These are ready-to-go projects that already possess state-matching funds and are only awaiting federal matching funds to being work.
    • Put America’s veterans first and reorient our nation’s spending priorities.

    Read full text of the legislation here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Peters Champion Bipartisan Bill Increasing Higher Education Accessibility, Affordability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA), bipartisan legislation to help reduce barriers to higher education and lower student debt by expanding the use of existing federal grants that support dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment and early college high school programs.

    “Providing more pathways for students to pursue higher education or technical skills and experience is crucial to their success and benefits our economy,” said Boozman. “I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to increase access to programs that prepare the next generation of Arkansans and other Americans to get an affordable head start that sets them up for career success and longevity.”

    “To meet our current workforce needs, we must expand access to programs that help students begin training for a career they are interested in,” said Peters. “This bipartisan bill would give high school students the chance to start working towards a college degree and building their future without the financial burden of a student loan.”

    Specifically, the MEAA Act would expand the allowable uses of funding from the Higher Education Act Title VII Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), allowing colleges and universities to strengthen early college access programs by broadening FIPSE funding to:

    • Implement dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programming;
    • Provide educators, principals, counselors and other school leaders in these programs with professional development;
    • Assist students in the program by covering education-related costs such as tuition and fees, books and transportation; and 
    • Support activities such as course design, course approval processes, community outreach, student counseling and support services.

    The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). 

    “School leaders recognize that college accessibility does more than just create opportunities for students—it strengthens our entire education workforce,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “This critical legislation tackles the financial obstacles confronting future teachers, making certification attainable during an era when higher education costs dramatically exceed educator compensation.” 

    “The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act would expand opportunities for dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high schools—both key to the success and connections between our secondary education, postsecondary education and workforce systems,” said ACTE Director LeAnn Curry. “ACTE is proud to endorse the bill, and we are grateful to Senators Gary Peters and John Boozman for introducing the legislation. Their bipartisan commitment provides Congress with an opportunity to expand access to early postsecondary credit and increase opportunities for CTE students pursuing these pathways into successful careers.”

    Background:

    • Dual enrollment programs enable students to be enrolled in and earn credit from both their high school and a college institution.
    • Concurrent enrollment allows students to take college-credit courses taught by qualified high school teachers approved by partner colleges.
    • Early college high schools, which are typically located on or near college campuses or embedded within high schools, allow students to work toward an associate’s degree while completing their high school diploma.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Hanna, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Planning, University of Waikato

    Christina Hanna, CC BY-SA

    Once floodwaters subside, talk of planned retreat inevitably rises.

    Within Aotearoa New Zealand, several communities from north to south – including Kumeū, Kawatiri Westport and parts of Ōtepoti Dunedin – are considering future relocations while others are completing property buyouts and categorisations.

    Planned retreats may reduce exposure to harm, but the social and cultural burdens of dislocation from land and home are complex. Planning, funding and physically relocating or removing homes, taonga or assets – and even entire towns – is challenging.

    Internationally, research has focused on why, when and how planned retreats occur, as well as who pays. But we explore what happens to the places we retreat from.

    Our latest research examines 161 international case studies of planned retreat. We analysed what happens beyond retreat, revealing how land use has changed following withdrawal of human activities.

    We found a wide range of land use following retreat. In some cases, comprehensive planning for future uses of land was part of the retreat process. But in others we found a failure to consider these changing places.

    Planned retreats have happened in response to various climate and hazard risks, including sea-level rise and coastal erosion, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides.

    The case studies we investigated range from gradual transitions to sudden changes, such as from residential or business activities to conservation or vacant lands. In some cases, “sea change” is evident, where once dry land becomes foreshore and seabed.

    Through our research, we identified global “retreat legacies”. These themes demonstrate how communities across the world have sought similar outcomes, highlighting primary land-use patterns following retreat.

    Case studies reveal several themes in what happens to land after people withdraw.
    Hanna,C, White I,Cretney, R, Wallace, P, CC BY-SA

    Nature legacies

    The case studies show significant conversions of private to public land, with new nature and open-space reserves. Sites have been rehabilitated and floodplains and coastal ecosystems restored and reconnected.

    Open spaces are used for various purposes, including as nature, community, stormwater or passive recreational reserves. Some of these new zones may restrict structures or certain activities, depending on the risk.

    For example, due to debris flow hazard in Matatā in the Bay of Plenty, only transitory recreation or specific low-risk activities are allowed in the post-retreat environment because of the high risk to human life.

    Planning and investment in new open-space zones range from basic rehabilitation (grassed sites) to established parks and reserves, such as the Grand Forks riverfront greenway which borders rivers in the twin US cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This area now hosts various recreational courses and connected trails as well as major flood protection measures.

    Project Twin Streams has transformed former residential sites to allow rivers to roam in the floodplain.
    Wikimedia Commons/Ingolfson, CC BY-SA

    Nature-based adaptations are a key function in this retreat legacy. For example, Project Twin Streams, a large-scale environmental restoration project in Waitakere, West Auckland, has transformed former residential sites into drainage reserves to make room for rivers in the floodplain.

    Importantly, not all retreats require significant land-use change. Continued farming, heritage preservation and cultural activities show that planned retreats are not always full and final withdrawals from a place.

    Instead, they represent an adapted relationship. While sensitive activities are relocated, other practices may remain, such as residents’ continued access to the old village of Vunidogoloa in Fiji for fishing and farming.

    Social and economic legacies

    Urban development in a small number of retreated sites has involved comprehensive spatial reorganisation, with planning for new urban esplanades, improved infrastructure and cultural amenities.

    One example is the comprehensive infrastructure masterplan for the Caño Martín Peña district in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which involves communities living along a tidal channel. The plan applied a community-first approach to retreat. It integrated infrastructure, housing, open space, flood mitigation and ecological planning.

    Alternatively, the decision to remove stopbanks and return the landscape to a “waterscape” can become a tourism feature, such as in the marshlands of the Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. A museum is dedicated to the transformed environment.

    The Biesbosch marshland nature reserve was created following historic flooding.
    Shutterstock/Rudmer Zwerver

    Where there was no post-retreat planning or site rehabilitation, ghost towns such as Missouri’s Pattonsburg leave eerie reminders of the costs of living in danger zones.

    Vacant and abandoned sites also raise environmental justice and ecological concerns about which retreat spaces are invested in and rehabilitated to avoid urban blight and environmental risks. Retreat sites may include landfills or contaminated land, requiring major site rehabilitation.

    The 12 case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate a range of new land uses. These include new open-space reserves, the restoration of floodplains and coastal environments, risk mitigation and re-development, and protection measures such as stopbanks.

    Moving beyond retreat

    Our research highlights how planned retreats can create a transition in landscapes, with potential for a new sense of place, meaning and strategic adaptation.

    We found planned retreats have impacts beyond the retreat site, which reinforces the value of spatial planning.

    The definition and practices of “planned or managed retreat” must include early planning to account of the values and uses the land once had. Any reconfigurations of land and seascapes must imagine a future well beyond people’s retreat.

    Christina Hanna received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.

    Iain White received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa, from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. He is New Zealand’s national contact point for climate, energy and mobility for the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program.

    Raven Cretney received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa.

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

    – ref. As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave – https://theconversation.com/as-more-communities-have-to-consider-relocation-we-explore-what-happens-to-the-land-after-people-leave-253653

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – April 10, 2025

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

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing, at the Department of State, on April 10, 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56iOof8AidY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Trump’s Chaotic Tariff Pause

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC — In an overdue reversal, President Donald Trump abruptly announced via his social media platform today that he ordered a pause of his tariffs regime for 90 days.  U.S. Senator Jack Reed reacted to the news by stating:
    “After causing a financial disaster, President Trump came to his senses and realized what Democrats, small businesses, working families, Main Street and Wall Street have told him all along: his blanket tariff tax regime meant higher prices, fewer jobs, and a likely recession. 
    “It was clear from the get go that the Trump Administration hadn’t done its homework on tariffs.  They literally miscalculated on the math and threw the global economy into disarray.  Due to the Trump Administration’s recklessness, our economy shed trillions of dollars and consumers and businesses were left holding the bag for higher prices.  President Trump is directly to blame.  He created these tariffs out of thin air and chose to put them on American consumers.  This was an ‘own goal’ of historic proportions.  The American people deserve better.”  
    In response to Trump implementing his tariff taxes last week, U.S. financial markets acted with volatility, triggering the loss of trillions of dollars.  Today’s abrupt announcement of the pause seemed to tamp down the economic chaos, but the President’s reckless tariff and economic policy has created significant uncertainty for businesses and financial markets and continues to put our economy at risk.  Senator Reed supports legislation to end the ‘Trump sales tax’ on imported goods and restore Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Young Introduce Bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – The latest results for U.S. adults on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) are sobering.  Between  2017 and 2023 literacy and numeracy skills sank, with the percentage of adults at the lowest performance levels increasing from 19 to 28 percent in literacy and from 29 to 34 percent in numeracy. And, at current funding levels, adult education programs reach only an estimated 1.1 million people across the nation.
    In an effort to connect more Americans to adult education opportunities and boost our economy, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN) today reintroduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (the Adult Education WORKS Act), to reauthorize adult education programs and expand upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-6) is leading introduction of companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimates that getting all American adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would add $2.2 trillion to the country’s annual income. Without the opportunities provided by adult education programs — like numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, soft skills, work readiness, high school equivalency, and other wraparound services — many adults will be left on the sidelines of an economy that needs more qualified workers in order to grow.
    The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis by updating WIOA and by strengthening and expanding access to adult education services. Specifically, the legislation calls for nearly doubling the authorized funding for adult education by 2030 to $1.35 billion while making significant changes to the adult education system. Critical for achieving success in modern workplaces and for navigating everyday life, the bill calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy. Furthermore, the legislation will help to enhance the role of adult education providers by ensuring representation in the workforce planning process, with a focus on college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations.
    The Adult Education WORKS Act invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. Investments will enhance innovation and provide increased accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and outcomes for adult learners.
    “Strengthening adult education programs is essential to growing our economy and ensuring business owners have enough qualified workers. Adult education is the ticket to a more prosperous and successful life,” said Senator Reed.  “The Adult Education WORKS Act will help ensure that more Americans can access educational programs that will equip them with in-demand skills to take the opportunities that are available to them.” 
    “It’s critical that all Hoosiers have the tools necessary to succeed in the modern economy – and that starts with strengthening adult education,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill would bolster critical services for adult learners, while also making important updates that ensure participants are prepared for the 21st century workforce.”
    “With so many adults at low literacy and numeracy rates, it is crucial that we provide them an option to gain the skills they need to succeed,” said Rep. McBath. “No adult or family should be left on the sidelines, and the expertise available through these programs often mean the difference between a job that supports a family and struggling to make ends meet. The Adult Education WORKS Act will ensure that essential skills will be taught to adult learners nationwide. I thank my colleagues for their support on this bipartisan bill.”
    The Adult Education WORKS Act would amend Title I and reauthorize Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority and it was the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.
    The legislation is supported by the Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), American Library Association (ALA), National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), TESOL International Association, and the Urban Libraries Council.
    “Through investment and innovation, adult education is the solution to bridging the widening skills gap and ensuring American employers can fill open roles with qualified individuals. The bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act would strengthen adult education and help equip millions of American adults with the literacy, numeracy, and digital and information literacy skills needed to secure in-demand jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. COABE is grateful for Senator Reed and Senator Young’s engagement with the adult education field to develop this bill and applauds them and Representative McBath for sponsoring it in the Senate and House of Representatives. COABE is proud to give its full support to the bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act.” said Sharon Bonney, CEO of COABE.
    “Adult learners and programs would greatly benefit from the changes proposed to WIOA in the Adult Education WORKS Act. This bipartisan bill acknowledges the need for increased investment in adult education and includes key provisions to enhance professional development for educators, promote integrated education and training concurrently with other adult education activities and services, ensure adults learners gain critical digital and information literacy skills, and foster stronger coordination between workforce and adult education programs. By addressing these barriers within the WIOA system, the Adult Education WORKS Act ensures adults have access to the skills and guidance needed to move on to college or a career pathway.” said Shaketta Thomas, President of COABE.
    “Every day, library patrons turn to their local library for employment services and to make themselves more competitive in today’s job market. Librarians provide resources to the unemployed and underemployed to help their career goals become a reality” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “The bipartisan Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (Adult Education WORKS Act) will address workforce challenges by updating the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to strengthen and expand access to adult education services. ALA strongly endorses the Adult Education WORKS Act.”
    “Adult Education is an essential lifeline for adults in the U.S. who lack sufficient foundational skills and are struggling to find meaningful employment and live productive, happy lives.  The Adult Education WORKS Act will improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by:   promoting better coordination between the adult education and workforce development systems, increasing access to enhanced adult education services, and getting more of our lowest-skilled adults into education and training pathways.  Simply put, the Adult Education WORKS Act will provide the necessary skills, expand the employment opportunities and improve the lives of millions of adults in the U.S., which will result in a more skilled workforce, a stronger economy and healthier communities across America,” said Jeffrey A. Fantine, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy.
    “TESOL International Association, on behalf of its members who proudly serve the English Language Teaching (ELT) profession, supports Senators Reed and Young’s Adult Education WORKS Act, as it strengthens and expands access to adult education services through WIOA for all adult learners, more than half of whom are multilingual learners of English seeking to better themselves, their communities, and their nation,” said Jeff Hutcheson, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for TESOL.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cortez Masto Reintroduce Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Theft

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on flash mob robberies and intricate retail theft schemes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 would establish a coordinated multi-agency response and create new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft.

    “Retail crime has cost Iowa billions, and it’s even worse across the nation. Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces. Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers,” Grassley said.  

    “Large criminal organizations are constantly evolving their tactics to steal goods from retailers and the supply chain in communities across the Silver State,” said Cortez Masto. “The rise in organized retail crime has left businesses scrambling, and it is time for Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement agencies keep our communities safe.” 

    According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 84 percent of retailers report that violence and aggression from criminal activities has become more of a concern since 2022, resulting in injuries and deaths among employees, customers, security officers and law enforcement personnel. NRF also estimates that larceny incidents increased by 93 percent in 2023 compared to 2019. In recent years, criminal organizations have increasingly turned to retail crime to generate illicit profits, using internet-based tools to organize flash mobs, sell stolen goods and move money.  

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security that combines expertise from state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as retail industry representatives. The bill would also create new tools to assist in federal investigation and prosecution of organized retail crime, and help recapture lost goods and proceeds.

    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is supported by the National Retail Federation (NRF), United Postal Service (UPS), Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), Association of American Railroads (AAR), Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), American Trucking Associations, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), the Home Depot, Iowa Soybean Association and National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).

    “NRF applauds Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., for their continued leadership to address one of retail’s biggest challenges, the rise of organized retail crime. ORC is a multibillion-dollar crisis impacting retailers, their associates and the customers they serve. ORC is occurring across the retail enterprise – supply chains, bricks-and-mortar stores, warehouses and online – with stolen product sold for a profit, oftentimes to fund other crimes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 will align efforts within a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center to ensure that resources and information-sharing will be available across local, state, federal and private-sector partners to bring cases and prosecutions against organized theft groups. This legislation is an important step to help prevent ORC from infiltrating local communities across the country,” said NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French.

    “UPS supports the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act as it provides the necessary resources and coordination to protect the movement of American goods throughout our country while safeguarding the integrity of our national supply chain from rail to road, to retail,” said President of UPS Global Public Affairs Michael Kiely.

    “Organized cargo theft and fraud disrupt intermodal freight supply chains, risk the safety of our workforce, and harm the U.S. economy. The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) applauds Senator Grassley, Senator Cortez Masto, Congressman Joyce, and Congresswoman Lee for their leadership in championing critical legislation to address this urgent threat. The bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act will provide important resources to detect and fight organized crime throughout the supply chain, ensuring that our industry can continue delivering goods to American consumers safely and efficiently,” said Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) President & CEO Anne Reinke.

    “Highly motivated and sophisticated criminal networks continue to wreak havoc on communities, retailers and employees across America. They are targeting retailers through brazen organized retail crime schemes, defrauding customers via gift card scams and attacking our supply chains by hijacking our rails and truck shipments. Dismantling these organized criminal rings requires cooperation and collaboration. RILA applauds Sens. Grassley and Cortez Masto for their leadership and commitment to enacting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which brings federal, state, and local law enforcement together to intercept and prosecute these criminal enterprises. RILA looks forward to working with them to get this critical piece of legislation signed into law,” said Retail Industry Leaders Association Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Michael Hanson.

    “Organized criminal operations continue to evolve and escalate their targeted attacks against our nation’s supply chain and retailers,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “This alarming trend affects every industry — including the nation’s largest railroads, which experienced a 40% spike in cargo theft last year. Disrupting these organized crime networks requires a unified, federally led response. Chairman Grassley and Rep. Joyce’s bipartisan legislation provides the strategic framework necessary to disrupt these criminal networks and safeguard our supply chain.”

    “The trucking industry takes great pride in delivering America’s freight safely and on time; however, the billions of tons of goods transported by trucks from coast to coast have increasingly become a prime target for organized crime rings, including transnational organizations, putting truck drivers at risk and raising costs for consumers,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “ATA commends this bipartisan group of leaders for addressing this alarming trend and safeguarding our supply chain. By empowering federal agencies to improve cooperation across jurisdictions and ramp up enforcement actions, this bill would strike an effective blow against organized crime.”

    “Across the United States, communities small and large are facing an unprecedented number of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) incidents. The Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would provide the necessary resources to bring the people and organizations behind this nationwide problem to justice by establishing formal coordination between law enforcement and the private sector,” said ICSC President and CEO, Tom McGee. “We applaud Senators Grassley and Cortez Masto for reintroducing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act. We believe the bill represents a huge step in the right direction towards addressing this growing issue.”

    “We welcome the bipartisan action led by Senators Grassley and Cantwell and Representatives Bacon, Gottheimer, Hurd and Meeks to reassert Congressional authority over the tariff process. While we support the Administration’s efforts to grow our economy, we also believe that Congress has a critical role to play in setting trade policy and has clear Article 1 authority to set duties and taxes,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith.

    Background:

    Grassley and Cortez Masto introduced similar legislation in 2022 and 2023. On Fight Retail Crime Day in 2023, Grassley held a press conference alongside the National Retail Federation and congressional cosponsors to push for passage of the legislation. 

    At a roundtable in Iowa, Grassley met with a group of local, state and federal officials to explore the shadowy ties between a spike in organized retail crime and the illicit drug trade.

    In December of 2021, Grassley called on the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to prioritize a response to organized retail crimes.  

    Legislative text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Jordan, Lee and Fitzgerald Launch Bicameral Investigation into Potential Ivy League Tuition Pricing Collusion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are inspecting the tuition pricing practices of Ivy League member institutions. The chairmen are joined by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust.

    “We are particularly concerned that Ivy League member institutions appear to collectively raise tuition prices while engaging in price discrimination by offering selective financial aid packages to maximize profit. These institutions establish the industry standard for tuition pricing, creating an umbrella effect for all colleges and universities to justify higher tuition costs than they could otherwise charge in a competitive market,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “The structure and operation of the higher education market strongly suggests the market is not functioning properly and is subject to widespread violations of antitrust laws,” the lawmakers continued.

    The lawmakers sent letters to eight Ivy League universities requesting documents and communications regarding their apparent collusion to raise tuition prices. They contend that the Ivy Leagues’ anti-competitive agreements, use of shared admissions algorithms and ongoing coordination with third parties – such as the College Board and the Common Application – may violate federal antitrust law.

    Their letters follow:

    Background:

    Federal antitrust law prohibits:

    • Certain agreements among competitors that limit competition on price, output or quality of services;
    • Coordination with noncompetitor third parties to facilitate collusion;
    • Businesses from locking consumers into one market, and then forcing consumers to purchase related goods and services in a secondary market; and
    • Certain members of boards of directors from sitting on the boards of competitors.

    There are significant concerns that Ivy League member institutions’ coordinated practices and alleged collusion violate federal antitrust law, and that these institutions continue to benefit from prior collusion, despite Congress sunsetting their antitrust exemption in 2022.

    Additionally, the lawmakers warn:

    • Despite a steady increase in consumer demand and massive endowments that grow yearly, universities continue to limit output and drive prices higher.
    • Binding early decision programs may eliminate students’ ability to receive and compare competing financial aid offers.
    • Institutions requiring students to purchase on-campus housing and meal-plan packages, in addition to tuition, undermines consumer choice and restricts competition in secondary markets.
    • Directors or trustees currently serving on the boards of multiple higher education institutions or other organizations that influence admissions create conflicts of interest.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Bipartisan Colleagues Reignite Effort to Protect Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) today reintroduced legislation to protect law enforcement from ambush-style attacks. The bipartisan Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act would enhance information-gathering and fill gaps in the reporting requirements for attacks against law enforcement, while examining officers’ access to mental health resources.
    “Law enforcement officers in Iowa and across the nation put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Our bipartisan bill takes an essential step towards protecting our brave men and women in blue and putting an end to these disgusting attacks,” Grassley said. 
    “Members of law enforcement help keep our communities safe and should be able to do their jobs without fear of being attacked. Through this legislation, the federal government will collect data on attacks and help us better understand motives and prevent them from happening. This is a critical effort to maintain positive relationships between law enforcement and those they serve,” Luján said.
    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
    View bill text HERE.
    Background:
    In 2023, law enforcement agencies reported over 79,000 police officers were assaulted and 60 were feloniously killed. While the government collects basic information on these attacks, including when the attack occurred and the types of weapons used, more information is needed to help prepare for, identify and prevent anti-police activity.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Klobuchar, Colleagues Press USDA on Avian Flu Response, Push to Ensure Strategy for Turkeys, Dairy Cows and Wildlife

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Agriculture Committee Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Committee, along with Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), in pressing Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to broaden the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) strategy for managing avian flu to include measures for turkeys and dairy herds.

    “Since the beginning of the outbreak, the virus has impacted more than 160 million birds, including more than 18.6 million turkeys, and nearly 1,000 dairy herds across the country. We appreciated your commitment to make addressing avian flu a top priority during your confirmation process and believe this strategic plan is an important first step in this effort,” the senators wrote.

    “While the plan did include shared priorities to continue combating this disease – including the expansion of relief to farmers dealing with outbreaks among their livestock and investment in research – we encourage the plan to include turkeys and dairy cows. Since avian flu has impacted a wide array of animals, we believe any biosecurity and vaccine measures, including discussions with foreign trading partners, offered by the Department should be available to all livestock producers dealing with avian flu, including turkey and dairy producers,” the senators continued.

    Text of the letter to Secretary Rollins follows:

    Dear Secretary Rollins, 

    We are writing with regard to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s February 26, 2025, avian flu strategic plan. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the virus has impacted more than 160 million birds, including more than 18.6 million turkeys, and nearly 1,000 dairy herds across the country. We appreciated your commitment to make addressing avian flu a top priority during your confirmation process and believe this strategic plan is an important first step in this effort. We also appreciate your efforts to address turkeys and dairy cows in response to the outbreak. We encourage you to ensure that the implementation of the February 26, 2025, strategy addresses turkeys, dairy cows, and wildlife.  

    While the plan did include shared priorities to continue combating this disease – including the expansion of relief to farmers dealing with outbreaks among their livestock and investment in research – we encourage the plan to include turkeys and dairy cows. Since avian flu has impacted a wide array of animals, we believe any biosecurity and vaccine measures, including discussions with foreign trading partners, offered by the Department should be available to all livestock producers dealing with avian flu, including turkey and dairy producers. 

    We request an update on the Department’s plan for ensuring turkey producers, dairy and other impacted livestock and wildlife species are covered under the plan. In addition, we request the Department develop a strategy and timeline for working with foreign trading partners to ensure potential vaccination of avian flu in poultry and cattle does not disrupt trade and that the Department provide information to Congress about the expected timeline for conditional approval of an avian flu vaccine for dairy cattle. 

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Seek Explanation from FBI on Handling of Hunter Biden’s Laptop

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are demanding Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel provide all internal communications and records relating to the FBI’s handling of Hunter Biden’s laptop.

    “On April 1, 2025, Catherine Herridge and Michael Shellenberger published a report and released FBI ‘chat messages’ from October 2020, which revealed that FBI officials were ‘actively shutting down discussion of the [Hunter Biden] laptop’s credibility before the 2020 presidential election,’” the chairmen wrote.

    “While your predecessor opted to stonewall and ignore our multiple requests for information on the matter, we expect that under your leadership the FBI will be transparent with Congress. The American people deserve to see every document, along with a detailed explanation of how the FBI handled the laptop since the day they first possessed it on December 9, 2019,” the chairmen continued.

    Grassley and Johnson requested the following information:

    1. All “chat messages” referenced in Catherine Herridge and Michael Shellenberger’s report, including but not limited to all messages provided to any office or committee of the U.S. House of Representatives referring or relating to the Hunter Biden laptop.
    2. All text messages, instant messages, team chats and all other “chat messages” referring or relating to the Hunter Biden laptop, sent between and among the following individuals:
      1. Elvis Chan;
      2. Laura Dehmlow;
      3. Bradley Benavides;
      4. James Dennehy; and
      5. Any other FBI employee or detailee involved in the receipt, review or assessment of the Hunter Biden laptop.
    3. All FBI records from December 1, 2019 to the present related to Hunter Biden and his electronic devices.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Pushes Toward Recession, Heinrich & Luján Demand Answers on Cuts to New Mexico Manufacturing Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are demanding answers on the Administration’s decision to cancel funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country, including in New Mexico. The action came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports that tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession. 

    New Mexico MEP is part of a national network of 51 MEPs that have helped boost the productivity and competitiveness of thousands of small American manufacturers across the country for decades. The economic impact of these centers has been substantial. Last year, New Mexico MEP worked directly with 134 small manufacturers in advanced manufacturing, lean manufacturing, product development, and market expansion. This helped create or retain 700 jobs and generate $40 million in new sales. The administration’s action to cut this program and other MEP centers across the nation will raise costs on consumers, harm small businesses, and weaken businesses’ ability to recruit and retain employees.

    “Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance,” the senators wrote. “These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    A report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEPprogram generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs nationwide.

    The letter was led by Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member of the Science, Manufacturing and Competitiveness Subcommittee Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maizie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

    The letter can be found here and below: 

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.

    According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.

    Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers.  Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025. 

    Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Opening more doors to primary care

    Alberta’s government is working to ensure every resident has access to the primary care services they need. With a focus on regions with limited access to care, the new centres will serve as hubs for services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

    The centres will increase access to primary care providers – such as physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists – while easing pressure on emergency departments and urgent care centres by providing convenient, day-to-day health care services under one roof.

    “We are committed to making primary health care more accessible. Advancing plans for new primary care centres will make it easier for all people in Alberta, including Indigenous Peoples, to access day-to-day services in every corner of the province to improve health outcomes and patient experiences.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    This $20-million investment will determine the project scope, locations and costs needed to guide future capital decisions. Alberta’s government is taking an integrated approach to health system planning that responds to local needs and priorities.

    “Planning is one of the most essential parts of the construction process. Our team at Alberta Infrastructure is proud to partner with Alberta Health to ensure communities get the specific health projects they need on time, on budget and close to home.”

    Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure

    Alberta’s government is committed to improving Indigenous health care and programs to support better health outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Alberta. Several of the new primary care centres will support Indigenous communities by prioritizing the delivery of high-quality, timely and culturally appropriate care in collaboration with Indigenous partners. Budget 2025 is also investing $45 million for Indigenous health initiatives over three years to help address health inequities and promote health and wellness.

    “Improving access to culturally appropriate health care for Indigenous communities across the province demonstrates our government-wide commitment to working alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities in support of meaningful reconciliation. My colleagues at Health are working closely with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to identify and support Indigenous-led programs and services that make a meaningful difference in their communities. We know we have more work to do, and we aren’t slowing down.”

    Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

    In 2024, the government introduced seven regional health corridors that reflect how Albertans access care and travel to receive services. These corridors, shaped by travel data and public engagement, are informing planning decisions and will help identify where the new primary care centres are most needed.

    “This investment will support Primary Care Alberta’s ongoing work to build a stronger, more unified primary care system – one that puts patients first, supports our front-line teams and brings care to where people are. By expanding access to primary care in rural and remote communities, we will improve access to primary care services for Albertans previously underserved by the health care system.”

    Kim Simmonds, chief executive officer, Primary Care Alberta

    These investments lay the groundwork for a stronger, more accessible primary care system that meets the needs of all Albertans – today and for generations to come.

    Quick facts

    • There are more than 12,000 registered physicians and more than 68,000 regulated nurses delivering health care services in Alberta.
    • Primary Care Alberta’s priorities are to:
      • Ensure every Albertan has access to high-quality primary care services across the province.
      • Incentivize care models that improve health outcomes and prioritize patient experience.
      • Support integrated teams of family physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives and pharmacists to provide the best care possible.

    Related information

    • Budget 2025

    Related news

    • New pay model, better access to family doctors (Dec. 19, 2024)
    • Nurse practitioners expand primary care access (Nov. 20, 2024)
    • Leading primary care into the future (Oct. 15, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pocan, Blumenthal Introduce Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a resolution to recognize April 10 as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While HIV/AIDS affects people of all backgrounds, prevention is key for young people, who are the group of people living with HIV least likely to receive consistent medical treatment. Youth make up 19 percent of the 31,800 annual new HIV diagnoses in the US, and raising awareness is key to slowing down future infections.

    “As chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, I’m honored to introduce this resolution,” said Congressman Pocan. “We’ve made great progress fighting this disease, but there is still more we can do. While the current administration buries its head in the sand, I have one message for our young people: take your health into your own hands. Get tested, know your status, and get treatment if necessary.”

    “Nearly twenty percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States are among young people—with many more slipping through the cracks when it comes to reporting, diagnosis, and access to care,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Engaging with and educating young people about the risks of HIV/AIDS is critical to eradicating this epidemic once and for all. While the Trump Administration defunds and undermines federal efforts to achieve this goal, our resolution affirms the importance of investing in HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and lifesaving treatment in the United States and around the globe.”

    In addition to recognizing this day, the resolution also calls for prioritizing youth leadership and development, increasing HIV/AIDS comprehensive and effective prevention education, providing youth-friendly and accessible healthcare services, and urging state and local governments to recognize and support this day.

    In the United States, young people ages 13 to 24 account for 20 percent of all new HIV diagnoses. Nearly half of all young people living with HIV are unaware of their status, and only 6 percent of high school students are tested for HIV.

    Text of the House Resolution can be found here.

    Additional Co-sponsors include: Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12),  Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

    Endorsing organizations include:AIDS Institute, AVAC, HIV Medicine Association, PrEP4All

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BREAKING: Boilermakers win Sherwin-Williams organizing campaign

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    This entire process was a great experience from start to finish. I’m just really excited about the future of Boilermakers’ organizing and finding different ways to reach more employees and impact new members.

    Carlos Brooks, Southeast Area organizer

    The Boilermakers union celebrates its second organizing win within just two months, as workers at Sherwin-Williams manufacturing and distribution operations in Birmingham, Alabama, voted today in favor of unionizing. Among 84 total workers, 72 voted, with more than 50% in favor of unionizing.

    “Their biggest issues were pay, their benefits and safety on the job,” said Southeast Area organizer Carlos Brooks, who headed up the campaign. “It was really exciting to help them and to be a part of impacting change and empowering the workers.”

    This was the first organizing effort led by Brooks—one of three campaigns he is leading. International Rep Mitch Beasley and ISO-Executive Director Don Hamric assisted. 

    “Carlos Brooks deserves the credit for this win,” said Hamric. “He hit the ground running and stayed ahead of what workers needed to make sure they understood what was at stake.”

    “The utilization of digital means by Brother Brooks was instrumental in winning the campaign,” added IVP-Southeast Area Jeff Campbell. “I believe this is just the beginning of organizing success in the Southeast Section.”

    Brooks said the key was educating workers on the benefit of having a voice at their workplace through a union and being able to sit down to negotiate a contract.

    “The entire process was a great experience from start to finish,” he said.

    Next steps will be for the new Sherwin-Williams Boilermakers to elect their bargaining committee so they can begin working toward negotiating their first contract.

    “With this win for the workers at Sherwin-Williams, last month’s win at BWXT in Virginia and our work at Siemens in California, we are affirming our commitment to growing our union,” said International President Tim Simmons. “These campaigns demonstrate the new direction our union has taken. I could not be more proud of our organizing team.”

    Brooks said he’s looking forward to continuing his work and ramping up the next organizing campaigns.

    “I’m just really excited about the future of where organizing is going,” he said. “I’m excited about where our organization is going, the future of Boilermakers’ organizing and finding different ways to reach more employees and impact new members.”

    Know a company that needs to organize a union? Visit www.formaunion.com 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    As Dr. Mehmet Oz completes his first week as the 17th Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), he is sharing his agenda and vision for the agency. A cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of an award-winning TV show, he now leads the largest agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a $1.7 trillion budget, tasked with delivering health outcomes for more than 160 million people. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Kenya Wicks Honors Michael S. ‘Killer Mike’ Render with Senate Resolution

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (April 10, 2025) — On April 4, Sen. Kenya Wicks, (D–Fayette), presented a resolution recognizing and commending Grammy Award-winning artist, entrepreneur and Atlanta native Michael S. ‘Killer Mike’ Render for his music career, political advocacy and work supporting historically marginalized communities in Georgia.

    In the resolution, Wicks highlighted Greenwood, a Black-owned digital banking platform co-founded by Render. The platform aims to address economic disparities and expand financial opportunities in underserved areas. She also commended Render’s long-standing advocacy for criminal justice and prison reform, voting rights, and police accountability.

    “Killer Mike has profoundly impacted Atlanta not only through music but also through philanthropy and community service,” said Sen. Wicks. “His legacy in business, public service and the music industry is a prime example of the talent Atlanta has to offer. His work will leave a lasting impact on communities across our city and state. His passion for education, the arts and the city of Atlanta reflects the best of Georgia, and I was proud to recognize him on Atlanta Day.”

    Sen. Wicks presented the resolution to Killer Mike during the “404 Day” or “Atlanta Day” celebration at the Georgia Capitol. The event honors the spirit and legacy of Georgia’s capital city by welcoming Atlanta natives and representatives from prominent local organizations.

    The full resolution can be found here.

    ####

    Sen. Kenya Wicks represents the 34th Senate District, which includes portions of Clayton and Fayette Counties. She may be reached by email at Kenya.Wicks@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Foreign Nationals Arrested for Possessing Firearm in Mayfield, Kentucky

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

    Paducah, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued this week charging two illegal aliens with possession of a firearm.    

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Chief Nathan Kent of the Mayfield Police Department made the announcement.

    According to the complaint, Rodrigo Waldemar Caal-Caal, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala, and Rodolfo Ruiz-Hernandez, age 26, a citizen of Mexico, were charged with possessing a firearm on April 6, 2025, in Mayfield, Kentucky knowing they were aliens illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Caal-Caal and Ruiz-Hernandez admitted to possessing a firearm by removing it from the scene of a death investigation in Mayfield on April 6, 2025. The Mayfield Police Department continues to investigate the death. Both defendants are separately charged in state court with additional offenses.

    This case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Satellite Office, HSI Paducah Office, and the Mayfield Police Department.

    Both defendants remain state custody and will make initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the cases.

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

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Emine Fidan Elcioglu, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto

    After months of political decline, the Liberal Party of Canada is showing signs of recovery, buoyed, some suggest, by a surge of national pride in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff war and threats to Canadian sovereignty.

    But this apparent rebound obscures a more surprising political shift: the growing appeal of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) among immigrants and their children.

    Traditionally, immigrant and visible minority communities have supported the centrist Liberal Party. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where over half of all residents identify as “visible minority” (the category used by stats can), Chinese and South Asian Canadians have long formed a key part of the Liberal base.

    Yet recent polling tells a different story. An October 2024 survey found that 45 per cent of immigrants had changed their political allegiances since arriving in Canada, with many now leaning Conservative.

    Meanwhile, another national survey from January 2025 found that a majority of East Asian (55 per cent) and South Asian (56 per cent) respondents expressed support for the Conservative Party, far outpacing support for the Liberals or the NDP.

    Nationally, racialized citizens now make up over 26 per cent of Canada’s population, with South Asians and Chinese Canadians the two largest groups.

    While detailed racial breakdowns remain rare in Canadian polling, the few available data points suggest a meaningful shift. This pattern also reflects a broader trend: South Asian and Chinese Canadians in the GTA are increasingly politically active, with rising turnout and growing partisan diversification.

    Ramping up outreach

    The Conservative Party, for its part, has taken notice. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the CPC has actively recruited racialized candidates and ramped up outreach in suburban swing ridings — particularly through ethnic media advertising and messaging focused on economic self-reliance and family values.

    This rightward shift among racialized voters may seem counter-intuitive. The Conservative Party has historically represented white, affluent voters, and under Stephen Harper (who led from 2006 to 2015), implemented policies that curtailed immigration, tightened citizenship rules and cut social programs in ways that disproportionately harmed racialized communities.

    Why, then, would racialized Canadians increasingly turn to the right?

    In a study I recently published, I interviewed 50 Canadian-born children of South Asian, Chinese and white immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I argue that this shift is not a contradiction but provides a window into how racialized groups navigate inequality, exclusion and the search for belonging.

    While there are many reasons 2nd-generation racialized Canadians may support the Conservative Party, this study highlights one under-documented explanation. Voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of white, wealthy citizens can be a way for second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians to seek acceptance when power is linked to whiteness..



    Read more:
    Why are brown and Black people supporting the far right?

    The hidden costs of fitting in

    In other words, many of these racialized Canadians don’t vote Conservative because they’re unaware of inequality. They vote Conservative because they’re trying to navigate it.

    Growing up in precariously middle-class households, the young adults I interviewed watched their immigrant parents face deskilling and downward mobility despite arriving in Canada with professional credentials.

    They saw their families pressured to “Canadianize” their names and accents, only to be sidelined by employers who still favoured whiteness.

    And they were raised in a society where multiculturalism celebrates cultural symbols but often ignores structural racism.

    In this context, support for the Conservatives reflects not ignorance of marginalization, but a way to move through it. Aligning with the right becomes a signal of belonging.

    As one young South Asian Canadian man put it:

    “You’ve arrived. You’re a Canadian. So, start voting like one.”

    This desire to belong doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. It’s shaped by racial scripts that reward conformity and penalize dissent — most notably, the model minority stereotype.



    Read more:
    Searching for anti-racism agendas in South Asian Canadian communities

    The price of acceptance

    The model minority stereotype casts Asian Canadians as hardworking and quietly successful. On the surface, it sounds like praise. But in practice, it hides inequality and demands silence in exchange for conditional belonging.



    Read more:
    Model minority blues: The mental health consequences of being a model citizen — Don’t Call Me Resilient EP 9

    That acceptance is fragile. After Sept. 11, 2001, many South Asians, particularly those perceived as Muslim, were quickly recast as dangerous outsiders.

    A similar dynamic resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian Canadians faced a sharp rise in racial harassment. In both cases, those once celebrated as “model” citizens were suddenly treated as threats.



    Read more:
    The model minority myth hides the racist and sexist violence experienced by Asian women

    In some contexts, political restraint, like staying quiet or avoiding protest, can function as a survival strategy. But that’s not what I observed in this study.

    The second-generation Canadians I interviewed were not politically quiet. They were vocal in their support for the Conservative Party. For them, voting Conservative was a way to assert they already belonged, not by asking for inclusion, but by showing they did not need to. Conservatism became a marker of success, self-reliance and alignment with those at the centre of Canadian life.

    Canada’s official embrace of multiculturalism reinforces this logic. While often praised as a national strength, multiculturalism can obscure how racism really works. Structural barriers are hidden behind feel-good narratives of inclusion.

    Rethinking belonging

    In Canada, ideas about who belongs are often shaped by race, class and respectability. Racialized people must not only prove they are hardworking and law-abiding, but also demonstrate that they’ve “fit in.” For some, voting Conservative becomes a way to show they’ve done just that — a way of saying: “I’m not like them. I’m one of you.”

    But this strategy comes at a cost. In reinforcing the very structures that marginalize them, racialized voters may gain individual recognition while deepening collective exclusion. And in rejecting equity-based platforms, they may forgo the policies that could build a more just society.

    This dynamic isn’t limited to the second generation. A recent CBC survey found that four in five newcomers believe Canada has accepted too many immigrants and international students without proper planning.

    Some immigrants are increasingly expressing exclusionary views, often toward those who arrived more recently. This, too, is a form of aspirational politics. And it shows just how deeply race, precarity and belonging are entangled in Canada today.

    None of this means that racialized Conservative voters are naïve. Their decisions often reflect a clear-eyed understanding of how power works.

    But if we want a fairer political future, we must reckon with the ways race, class and nationalism shape belonging — not just at the ballot box, but in the stories we tell about who gets to be “Canadian.”

    As sociologist Ruha Benjamin reminds us, inclusion shouldn’t be treated as an act of generosity. It’s not about “helping” the marginalized — it’s about understanding that we’re all connected. When fear shapes policy and public goods are stripped away, everyone suffers.

    Emine Fidan Elcioglu 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. Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative? – https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-second-generation-south-asian-and-chinese-canadians-planning-to-vote-conservative-253820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Supports Disaster Recovery from March Storms, Secures Release of Federal Funds Owed to Missouri Task Force 1

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Following the devastating March 14-15, 2025, storms that hit Missouri, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) secured the release of federal funding for Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1). MO-TF1 is managed by the Boone County Fire Protection District and is one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams in the United States.

    “When disaster strikes, the first responders of Missouri Task Force 1 put themselves on the line to assist in rescue and recovery efforts,” said Congressman Alford. “They play a vital role in disaster response in Missouri and communities across America. After storms devastated Missouri last month and the Task Force was at risk of being unable to assist in future disasters, my team sprang into action. We were proud to ensure this heroic team and the Boone County Fire Protection District got access to the money they were owed by the federal government. These efforts, combined with our formal support for Governor Kehoe’s request for a major disaster declaration, show we will always go the extra mile to ensure the Show Me State has the resources it needs for disaster recovery.”

    After the March storms hit Missouri, causing significant loss of life and property damage, Congressman Alford took action, using his new role on the House Appropriations Committee to secure the release of up to $1.57 million in FEMA funding for the Boone County Fire Protection District, the sponsoring agency of MO-TF1, which was owed to it for previous Task Force deployments and preparedness cooperative agreement expenses.

    Read Congressman Alford’s letter to FEMA here.

    “Missouri Task Force 1 had its busiest year in 2024, and while we had received some federal reimbursements, we were still owed over $1.5 million for both disaster response costs and ongoing task force maintenance costs,” said Boone County Fire Protection District Fire Chief and MO-TF1 Sponsoring Agency Scott Olsen. “Not receiving full financial reimbursements from prior deployments and not being able to access monthly funding from our federal cooperative agreement was taking a financial toll on the Fire District. We were at the point that I didn’t think our Board of Directors would authorize another federal disaster deployment unless we got some financial relief and with the severe weather that was forecasted for central and southeast United States, I knew a deployment was likely soon. One phone call to Congressman Alford and 12 hours later the funding log jam was broken apart and we began to receive reimbursements shortly thereafter. Missouri Task Force 1 is forever grateful for the quick, decisive actions that Congressman Alford took to restore access to our funding.”

    Congressman Alford also joined Missouri’s federal delegation in a letter—led by Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)—respectfully requesting President Donald J. Trump grant Governor Mike Kehoe’s request to immediately authorize a federal disaster declaration in 28 Missouri counties impacted by those storms and make available federal assistance to support Missouri’s recovery efforts.

    Background:

    Missouri Task Force 1 is a part of the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System which is made up of 28 task forces across 19 states nationwide. Each task force is managed by a Sponsoring Agency. The Boone County Fire Protection District is the Sponsoring Agency for Missouri Task Force 1.

    Missouri Task Force 1 is proud to represent Missouri as one of the nation’s premier FEMA Type 1 US&R Task Forces, comprised of members from all over the State of Missouri. For 30 years, Missouri Task Force 1 has deployed to tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, terrorist incidents, wildfires and building collapses. When a disaster overwhelms local emergency response capabilities, US&R task forces, like MO-TF1, are designed to supplement and enhance local rescue efforts.

    Missouri Task Force 1 has played a critical role in the most devastating disasters in our nation’s history, including the 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin EF5 Tornado and recent disasters like Hurricane Helene, and this year the Kentucky floods and Missouri’s severe weather and flooding event.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pat Fallon Introduces Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04)

    WASHINGTON – Representatives Pat Fallon (TX-04) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) as well as Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced their Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act, which would protect America’s cybersecurity by ensuring the Department of Defense (DoD) does not unintentionally acquire counterfeit electronics or those from unauthorized sellers: 

    “The proliferation of artificial intelligence has allowed US adversaries to conduct offensive cyber-operations with alarming speed and impact, creating the possibility of a devastating attack on our nation’s most sensitive networks,” said Rep. Fallon. “Simultaneously, our adversaries have been targeting our hardware and software systems by selling the US government counterfeit products through what are known as ‘grey market’ sellers. These products, although marketed as genuine hardware, allow our adversaries to gain access to US government systems, making it far easier to conduct subsequent cyber-attacks. This is unacceptable.”

    “With the rising threat posed by Chinese aggression, not only in the Indo-Pacific, but here at home by means of artificial intelligence and cyber attacks, it’s critical that the Department of Defense secure its vital infrastructure,” continued Rep. Pat Fallon. “In order to do so, we must ensure that the US military only purchases electronic equipment from approved vendors that are free from adversarial, particularly CCP influence. Under President Trump’s bold leadership, the US is finally focused on breaking its dependency on Communist China. The SAFE Supply Chains Act dovetails with this endeavor and is in the best interest of US national security.”

    Background:

    Due to increased cyberattacks on vulnerable supply chains and federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), it is vital that when purchasing information technology products, the DoD only purchase these electronics from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or their authorized resellers. Under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARs), in order for businesses to contract with the U.S. military, they are required to only acquire electronic products from these OEMs or authorized sellers. However, there are still many cases of federal government employees purchasing technology from grey-market sellers rather than authorized sellers. Grey-market sellers may circumvent trusted supply chains and provide counterfeit technology that could harm security networks within the DoD. These counterfeit devices are often older and may contain unsafe and unreliable components, causing technology to malfunction or completely fail, leading to significant damage to networks and operations. 

    The Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act would:

    Prohibit the DoD from using a covered product from an entity other than an original equipment manufacturer or authorized seller;

    Allow the Secretary of Defense to waive the prohibition of a covered product, upon written notice to the Congressional Defense Committees, if they determine the waiver is necessary in the interest of national security;

    Require written notice on justification for waivers and any security mitigations that have been implemented and a plan of action to avoid future waivers for similar future purchases; and

    Require the DoD to submit a report to Congress that lists the number and types of covered products for which a waiver was granted and why.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Cornyn Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Satellite Data Sharing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Legislation would ensure partnerships between NASA and the private sector to boost satellite-enabled research

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Cornyn reintroduced their bipartisan Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act to codify NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program and continue shared access to commercial small-satellite (SmallSat) datasets that prove crucial for Earth science research and applications.

    “Satellites help us study and better understand our planet,” said Hickenlooper. “Our legislation leverages public-private partnerships to advance vital scientific research.”

    “Investing in satellite data and imagery gives us a deeper understanding of everything from agricultural yields to weather forecasting and disaster response,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would create a permanent program through NASA to expand the data pool available to us and build on prior success.”

    Alongside the unprecedented growth of the commercial space industry, technological advancements have enabled the development of SmallSats with novel capabilities. There has been a sharp increase in the number of privately owned and operated satellites, including over 2,800 SmallSats launched in 2023 alone. Commercial SmallSats provide high resolution data to complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by NASA, other U.S. Government agencies, and international partners. Earth observation data supplied by satellites in orbit provide important information for a variety of purposes, including increasing agricultural crop yields, informing forest conservation, improving disaster mitigation and response, forecasting space weather, advancing science, and more.

    NASA established CSDA as a pilot program in 2017 to identify and evaluate commercial capabilities, establish new processes to onramp vendors, and enable broad sharing and use of acquired data products. The CSDA pilot program proved to be a success, with participating scientists finding the program’s datasets to be useful and reliable for a variety of research topics. Today, fifteen commercial vendors are providing 7 unique data types to federal researchers through CSDA.

    The ASCEND Act would permanently authorize CSDA within NASA to sustain and expand the program and continue to leverage the advancing capabilities in remote sensing offered by commercial vendors.

    “This act will provide data to support Earth science and applications and help meet some of the nation’s strategic goals, providing societal benefit and improving public understanding and exchange of knowledge,” said Frank Eparvier, Interim Director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. “We firmly believe that supporting the ASCEND Act will strengthen Colorado’s leadership in Earth science and secure long-term economic societal benefits for the state and the nation. Thank you, Senator Hickenlooper, for your leadership on the important ASCEND Act.”

    “Commercial satellite observations have a demonstrated ability to provide vital information about important Earth characteristics and processes in a cost-effective way. They serve as a powerful complement to the capabilities developed by NASA and other federal agencies, enhancing our ability to monitor and understand our surroundings and the environment,” said Waleed Abdalati, Director of the Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “These insights contribute significantly to our safety, prosperity, and overall well-being by deepening our understanding of the world around us.”

    “NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program is an outstanding example of how commercial companies can provide data and services to the government for a fraction of the cost of government owned systems. CSF applauds the reintroduction of the ASCEND Act and encourages quick passage of this legislation to expand utilization of these important data sets,” said Dave Cavossa, President of the Commercial Space Federation.

    Specifically, this legislation will:

    • Establish CSDA as a permanent program within NASA’s Earth Science Division
    • Direct NASA to expand procurement licenses and provide federal agencies access to high-quality Earth remote sensing datasets and imagery
    • Promote the acquisition of new datasets for scientific and non-scientific applications
    • Require an annual report to Congress on the uses and impact of commercial data products and licensing agreements

    A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.

    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Offerings and Registrations of Securities in the Crypto Asset Markets

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    As part of an effort to provide greater clarity on the application of the federal securities laws to crypto assets,[1] the Division of Corporation Finance is providing its views[2] about the application of certain disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws to offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets. These offerings and registrations may involve equity or debt securities of issuers whose operations relate to networks, applications, and/or crypto assets. These offerings and registrations also may relate to crypto assets offered as part of or subject to an investment contract (such a crypto asset, a “subject crypto asset”).[3] The Division recognizes that Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda formed the Crypto Task Force to help the Commission develop a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets, including addressing applicable registration and disclosure requirements.[4] The Division is issuing this statement to provide its views during the pendency of these deliberations.

    The disclosures required in connection with offerings and registrations under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and promote fair, orderly, and efficient markets. In recent years, some issuers in the crypto asset markets have registered or qualified[5] offerings of securities under the Securities Act or registered a class of securities under the Exchange Act. This statement reflects our observations regarding disclosures provided in response to existing disclosure requirements. It also addresses our views about certain specific disclosure questions that market participants have presented to the staff. While disclosures should be based on an issuer’s specific facts and circumstances, we believe that issuers may benefit from the identification of common issues we have identified during our reviews.

    This statement addresses our views about certain disclosure requirements set forth in Regulation S-K as they apply to Securities Act registration forms (such as Form S-1) and Exchange Act registration forms (such as Form 10).[6] This statement also addresses our views about certain disclosure requirements of Form 20-F when used by foreign private issuers to register classes of securities under the Exchange Act, and Form 1-A for offerings exempt from registration under Regulation A.[7] This statement does not address all material disclosure items, and the disclosure topics addressed below may not be relevant for all issuers. Each issuer should consider its own facts and circumstances when preparing its disclosures. Each issuer also should consider whether it is permitted to provide “scaled disclosure” with respect to any applicable disclosure requirements.[8] Moreover, issuers should note that disclosure is not required where a particular disclosure requirement is not applicable, or they otherwise do not have responsive information.[9]

    In this statement, we sometimes address the same or similar disclosure items in more than one place. This should not be read to suggest providing duplicative disclosure in multiple places throughout filings. Rather, issuers should use their judgment in determining the location for any relevant disclosures.

    Description of Business

    SEC rules require issuers to provide a narrative description of the material aspects of their business.[10] Issuers are required to disclose information material to an understanding of the general development of their business, and, in the case of the business done and intended to be done by the issuer, only information material to an understanding of the business taken as a whole (or with respect to each segment, if applicable).[11]

    Disclosure should be tailored to the issuer’s business and presented in clear, concise, and understandable language, without overly relying on technical terminology or jargon. For example, we have observed disclosure that:

    • Specifically relates to the material aspects of the issuer’s current or proposed business, rather than to crypto networks, crypto assets, or other technologies that are not specific or material to the issuer’s current or proposed business.
    • Addresses the current stage of development of the business and clearly delineates any forward-looking or future plans of development.
    • Is consistent with the issuer’s public statements and promotional materials (including, without limitation, white papers, and developer documentation) relating to material aspects of the business.

    We also have observed the following disclosure with respect to current or proposed business plans:

    • The issuer’s specific business activity, such as operating or developing a network or application, and the current stage of development of the business.
    • Whether the issuer intends to continue to operate the business following the launch of a network or application, and, if so, a description of the issuer’s contemplated business activities. If not, a description of how the business will be operated following launch and whether another entity will be involved in such operations.
    • To the extent the business has not been fully implemented, milestones (including technology development milestones) needed to fully implement the business.
    • How the issuer generates or expects to generate revenue or increase profitability and/or value.
    • Whether the security or crypto asset has any function(s) in the operation of the business, including whether it has any intended use or role in an associated network or application.

    Where an issuer is developing or acquiring or intending to develop or acquire a network or application, we have observed issuers tailoring their disclosure to provide a narrative description of the purpose of the network or the application, and its operation, including the following:

    • Whether the initial development team is developing a network and/or application and/or a crypto asset for the network or application.
    • The current state and timeline for the development of the network and/or application to show how and when the initial development team intends to achieve network maturity or deploy the application.
    • Milestones needed to fully develop the network, application, and/or crypto asset, including an estimated timeline, the estimated costs to reach key milestones, and the source of funds for the development of the network, application, and/or crypto asset.
    • The objectives of the network and how the technology of the network or application functions and accomplishes its objectives, including its architecture, software, cryptographic key management, and functionality.
    • Whether the technology is derived from proprietary or open-sourced software, and a description of any licenses or intellectual property rights relating to the technology.
    • The process for validating transactions, the consensus mechanism, the block size, the transaction speed, the transaction (or “gas”) fees, and reward mechanism, if any.
    • A description of any products and services that will be offered through the network and/or application.
    • The various roles that exist or are intended to exist in connection with the network and/or application, such as users, onchain[12]  and offchain[13] service providers, developers, transaction validators, and governance participants.
    • The process of how network and application upgrades and updates are disclosed, proposed, developed, reviewed, and ultimately deployed.
    • The measures, if any, taken to ensure network and/or application security.
    • A description of the network or application’s governance system, as applicable.

    Risk Factors

    SEC rules require a discussion of the material factors that make an investment in the registrant or the offering speculative or risky.[14] In the context of offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, the content and scope of an issuer’s disclosure will depend on the nature of the security and the issuer’s business, and may include factors that address the development and implementation of the issuer’s business and the particular characteristics of the security, such as its features, price volatility, limited rights of holders, valuation and liquidity risks, technological risks, cybersecurity risks, business, operational, and network risks, and legal and regulatory risks. Disclosure should address risks relating to an associated network or application if material.

    The following are examples of risks that have been disclosed:

    • Risks relating to the issuer’s planned business operations, such as risks relating to technology and cybersecurity, and implementation of the issuer’s business, as well as reliance on another network or application.
    • Risks relating to the security, such as the risks relating to any unique characteristics of the security including its form, price volatility, the rights of holders or their lack of rights, valuation and liquidity, supply, and custody.
    • Risks related to other applicable laws and regulations, such as whether the issuer’s activities may require it to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or certain state financial services agencies under money transmission laws, or to register with another regulatory authority, such as federal or state banking regulators or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

    Description of Securities

    SEC rules require an issuer to provide a materially complete description of its securities.[15] The specific disclosure depends on the particular type of security, with these rules setting forth requirements for specifically identified types of securities, such as traditional capital stock and debt securities. These rules also include a general category for securities that are not specifically identified, referring to them as “other securities” or “other kinds of securities.” In the context of offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, we have observed disclosure where issuers have considered how this requirement applies in the context of their particular security, such as where an offering or registration involves a subject crypto asset. In these cases, issuers have provided a description of the terms, rights, and characteristics of the security in their specific context. It is important for investors to understand what the security represents.

    Examples of disclosure we have observed in the context of describing a security in the crypto asset markets include, among others, the following:

    Rights, Obligations, and Preferences

    • How the rights of holders and characteristics of the security are memorialized, how such rights and characteristics convey when the security is transferred, and whether, when and by whom such rights and characteristics can be modified.
    • The rights that holders have and do not have, such as with respect to dividends, payments, profit sharing, distributions, and voting rights, as well as the rights holders have to enforce their rights, preferences, and obligations.
    • If the holders have voting rights, how the issuer intends to comply with applicable proxy rules.
    • The rights that holders have and do not have with respect to transactions that impact the issuer or the network, such as liquidation, bankruptcy, sale, merger, network forks or other similar events.
    • The characteristics of the security, such as term, maturity, restrictions on transferability, how the security or subject crypto asset can be accessed, held and transferred, redeemed, retired, or burned, whether the security can be loaned or pledged and by whom, and whether the security will be certificated or uncertificated, and eligible for deposit at a securities depository.

    Technical Specifications

    • The network or application associated with the security or subject crypto asset, and whether the underlying code can be modified, how, when, and by whom, and what effect(s) that may have on the rights of a holder of the security or subject crypto asset.
    • The technical requirements for holding, accessing and transferring the security or subject crypto asset, such as the requirements and characteristics as to wallets and keys, whether the wallet addresses of the sender and receiver must be included in an approved list of participants, and any network transaction fees required for the transfer of the security or subject crypto asset and who is responsible for those fees.
    • Where the definitive record of ownership exists and who maintains it.
    • Whether the security or subject crypto asset is divisible, and, if so, whether there are any limits on its division.
    • Whether the security or subject crypto asset and the smart contract(s) and/or code on which it is/are based, if applicable, have been subjected to a third-party security audit (i.e., an independent assessment to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry standards), and if, so who conducted the audit and the results of the audit.

    Supply

    • The rules governing the total supply of the security or subject crypto asset, including the total supply, whether it is fixed at a maximum possible supply, the method for minting or generating the security or subject crypto asset, whether the supply will be created at initial generation or continuously or from time to time, whether there is a process for redeeming, retiring, freezing or burning the security or subject crypto asset, whether any of the supply is reserved for the network’s treasury, particular uses or participants, and whether any portion of the supply is subject to vesting and/or lock-ups.
    • Whether any entity or person (or group of persons) is responsible for implementing rules governing the total supply and/or has the authority or ability to change the rules.
    • Whether the issuer intends to enter into any arrangements with market makers or similar firms to distribute and/or provide liquidity for the security or a subject crypto asset and the terms of such arrangement.

    If the issuer’s business involves crypto assets that themselves are not securities, whether offered as part of or subject to an investment contract or otherwise, similar disclosures, if material, may be relevant to the section of the registration or offering statement discussing the issuer’s business.[16]

    Directors, Executive Officers, and Significant Employees

    SEC rules require disclosure of information relating to the identity and experience of those entrusted with the management of the issuer, including executive officers, directors, and certain significant employees who are (or are expected) to make a significant contribution to the issuer’s business.[17] SEC rules also require such disclosure for persons who do not hold formal titles or positions as executive officers or directors but who perform policy-making functions typically performed by executive officers or perform similar functions as directors.[18] Further, if a third party is performing the policy-making functions typically performed by executive officers and directors, we have observed disclosure addressing the third party that satisfies the applicable disclosure requirements. For example, certain trusts – such as the spot crypto exchange-traded products – have a sponsor with directors and executive officers who perform functions similar to directors or executive officers of the trust. In these cases, disclosure has been provided with respect to the directors or executive officers of the sponsor. Although disclosure regarding executive compensation of the issuer would not be applicable in this situation,[19] disclosure may be required of any fees paid to the third party for performing such functions.[20]

    Financial Statements

    SEC rules require issuers to provide financial statements that comply with applicable requirements.[21] Issuers with requests for assistance regarding the form and content of financial statements and other financial information required to be included in Commission filings should contact the Division’s Office of Chief Accountant.[22] Issuers may also consult with the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant on accounting and financial reporting questions, especially those involving unusual, complex, or innovative transactions.[23]

    Exhibits

    SEC rules require an issuer to file as an exhibit any instrument defining the rights of security holders.[24] In connection with offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, to the extent that the rights, preferences, and obligations of holders of the securities are memorialized in smart contract(s) or otherwise programmed into the code of a network or application, we have observed filings include as an exhibit the code of the smart contract(s) and/or the network or application, with the issuer updating any such exhibit in response to subsequent changes in such code.[25]

    Contacting the Division

    The Division welcomes questions about the application of the SEC’s disclosure rules to offerings and registrations, as well as any ongoing reporting obligations. We also welcome requests for other assistance (including requests for interpretive or no-action letters) relating to these issues and questions. Information about how to contact the Division is available on our website.[26]

     

    [1]     For purposes of this statement, a “crypto asset” is an asset that is generated, issued, and/or transferred using a blockchain or similar distributed ledger technology network (“crypto network”), including, but not limited to, assets known as “tokens,” “digital assets,” “virtual currencies,” and “coins,” and that relies on cryptographic protocols. References in this statement to “network” refer to a crypto network, and references to “application” refer to an application running on such a crypto network.

    [2]     This statement represents the views of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Division”). It is not a rule, regulation, guidance, or statement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”), and the Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. This statement, like all staff statements, has no legal force or effect: it does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.

    [3]     Nothing in this statement is intended to suggest that registration or qualification is required in connection with an offering of a crypto asset if the crypto asset is not a security and not part of or subject to an investment contract.

    [5]     Offerings of securities in the crypto asset markets can be, and have been, qualified under Regulation A.

    [6]     See 17 C.F.R. §229.10 et seq. Form F-1 is a Securities Act registration form that can be used by foreign private issuers. Certain of the disclosure topics discussed in this statement may apply differently to foreign private issuers using Form F-1

    [7]     See 17 C.F.R. §239.90. Form 20-F is an Exchange Act form that can be used by foreign private issuers. Certain of the disclosure topics discussed in this statement may apply differently to foreign private issuers using Form 20-F and issuers conducting exempt offerings using Form 1-A.

    [8]     Scaled disclosure refers to disclosure accommodations that the federal securities laws sometimes provide for smaller or newly public companies, such as smaller reporting companies, non-accelerated filers, or emerging growth companies. These accommodations apply to a qualifying company’s registered offerings and its ongoing public company reporting. Scaled disclosure permits these companies to provide less extensive disclosure than other companies.

    [9]     See, e.g., Rule 404(c) under the Securities Act, and General Instruction II.B. of Form S-1, and General Instruction C of Form 20-F. For example, disclosure regarding dilution to stockholders, market price and dividends, and certain other stockholder matters only is required if the securities being offered are equity securities. See Items 201 and 506 of Regulation S-K, Items 8.A., 9.E., and 10 of Form 20-F, and Items 4 and 7 of Part II of Form 1-A. In addition, disclosure regarding properties only is required where issuers have material physical properties. See Item 102 of Regulation S-K, Item 4.D. of Form 20-F, and Item 8 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [10]     See Item 101 of Regulation S-K, Item 4 of Form 20-F, and Item 7 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [11]     The SEC, upon written request of the registrant and where consistent with the protection of investors, may permit the omission of any required information relating to the issuer’s business or the furnishing in substitution thereof of appropriate information of comparable character. See Instruction 3 to Item 101 of Regulation S-K.

    [12]     An “onchain” transaction occurs directly on a network and is validated in accordance with the protocol of the network, with the transaction recorded on the network’s public ledger.

    [13]     An “offchain” transaction occurs outside the network where the parties agree that a third party will validate and authenticate the transaction.

    [14]     See Item 105 of Regulation S-K, Item 3.D of Form 20-F, and Item 3 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [15]     See Item 202 of Regulation S-K, Item 12 of Form 20-F, and Item 14 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [16]     See footnote 10 above and accompanying text.

    [17]     See Item 401 of Regulation S-K, Items 1 and 6 of Form 20-F, and Item 10 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [18]     See Rule 405 under the Securities Act and Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act. As noted above, disclosure is not required where a particular disclosure requirement is not applicable, or the issuer otherwise does not have responsive information. For example, certain trusts do not have a board of directors or persons performing similar functions and, therefore, do not provide disclosure regarding members of a board of directors.

    [19]     See Item 402 of Regulation S-K, Item 6 of Form 20-F, and Item 11 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [20]     See Item 404 of Regulation S-K, Item 7 of Form 20-F, and Item 13 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [21]     See Item 11 of Form S-1, Items 8, 17, and 18 of Form 20-F, and Part F/S of Form 1-A.

    [22]     See footnote 26 below and accompanying text.

    [24]     See Item 601 of Regulation S-K, Item 19 of Form 20-F, and Part III of Form 1-A.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces guilty plea and sentence in Orangeburg case of vulnerable adults locked in unlicensed facilityRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that on April 10, 2025, Tracy Timothy Wright, 53 years old, of Orangeburg, S.C., pleaded guilty in Orangeburg County to one count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-85(C)} and one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-410}. The Honorable Charles McCutchen sentenced Wright to five years in prison, suspended to three years at the South Carolina Department of Corrections, followed by two years of probation on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.

    An investigation by the Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adult and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS) revealed that, between January 16, 2024 and February 5, 2024, Wright, while working as a caretaker at an unlicensed community residential care facility, confined residents in locked rooms within the care facility and prevented the residents from accessing basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine, shelter, supervision, medical services, and any way to get out of the building. The residents were immediately taken into emergency protective custody by law enforcement. Additionally, ODPS firefighters identified that a malfunctioning natural gas heater in the facility was causing a buildup of gas fumes inside the residence, requiring the immediate venting of the residence by emergency personnel.

    Charges remain pending against Wright’s co-conspirator and facility owner, Estelle A. Hutchinson, 52 years old, of Orangeburg, S.C. Pending charges against Hutchinson include five counts of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (C)}, four counts of Kidnapping {16-03-0910}, and one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-410}. This case is also being prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

    Pursuant to federal regulations, the VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. 

    The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.

    Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Columbia, Missouri, Man Who Fled to Mexico and Faked His Own Death Sentenced to 10 Years for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former Columbia Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and possessing child pornography.

    Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carmargo-Wasserman to 10 years of supervised release following  his release from custody. Carmargo-Wasserman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

    On August 8, 2024, Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

    The investigation began on July 1, 2010, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of child pornography over the internet.  During a search warrant execution, Camargo-Wasserman admitted to using Limewire to download child pornography.  Multiple videos depicting child pornography were found on Camargo-Wasserman’s cell phone.  Camargo-Wasserman was previously indicted on federal charges for this offense in 2010, however in 2013, a bail bond agent provided documentation from Mexico stating Camargo-Wasserman had died on October 5, 2012.  Federal charges were dismissed.

    In July 2017, the FBI received information that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and was residing in Mexico. Federal charges were filed again in 2018 followed by extradition proceedings to return Camargo-Wasserman to the United States.  Camargo-Wasserman was brought to the United States to face charges in 2024. Camargo-Wasserman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Mexico.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

    Project Safe Childhood

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Denali Capital Acquisition Corp. Announces Adjournment of Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to April 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Denali Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: DECA) (the “Company”) announced today that the Company’s Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) was convened on April 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and adjourned as it was deemed advisable to do so in order to provide shareholders of record with additional time to consider the proposals being voted on at the Extraordinary General Meeting as described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2025.
    .
    The Extraordinary General Meeting has been adjourned to Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time and will continue to be held at the offices of US Tiger Securities, Inc., located at 437 Madison Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

    Only shareholders of record, as of the record date, March 24, 2025 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Proxies previously submitted in respect of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be voted at the adjourned Extraordinary General Meeting unless properly revoked, and shareholders who have previously submitted a proxy or otherwise voted need not take any further action. 

    About the Company

    Denali Capital Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.

     Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, risks and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    Contact Info: 646-978-3133

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TrustCo to Release First Quarter 2025 Results on April 21, 2025; Conference Call on April 22, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GLENVILLE, N.Y., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) today announced that it will release first quarter 2025 results after the market close on April 21, 2025. Results are released on the 21st of the reporting months (January, April, July and October), or on the next day that equity markets are open if the 21st falls on a Friday, weekend or holiday. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2025. Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free for the United States at 1-833-470-1428, and for Canada at 1-833-950-0062, Access code 048251.  A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing toll-free for the United States at 1-866-813-9403, Access code 486810.

    The call will also be audio webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/647533404, and will be available for one year. The earnings press release will be posted on the Company’s Investor Relations website at: https://trustcobank.q4ir.com/corporate-overview/corporate-profile/default.aspx. Other information, including the Company’s most recent annual report, proxy statement and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can also be found at this website.

    TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $6.2 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operates 136 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida. For more information, visit www.trustcobank.com.

    In addition, the Bank’s Wealth Management Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services.

    The common shares of TrustCo are traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future developments, results or periods. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and such forward-looking statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in such statements. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: volatility in financial markets and the soundness of other financial institutions; U.S. government shutdowns, credit rating downgrades, or failure to increase the debt ceiling; changes in interest rates; the effects of inflation and inflationary pressures and changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including changes in the Federal funds target rate by, and interest rate policies of, the Federal Reserve Board; ongoing armed conflicts (including the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas); the risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; the other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in TrustCo’s cautionary statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the effect of all of such items on our operations, liquidity and capital position, and on the financial condition of our borrowers and other customers. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent TrustCo management’s judgment as of the date of this news release. TrustCo disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements, either as a result of future developments, new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

       
    Subsidiary: Trustco Bank
       
    Contact:  Robert Leonard
      Executive Vice President
      (518) 381-3693

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ACM Research Receives 2025 3D InCites Technology Enablement Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer and panel processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today announced that its Ultra ECP ap-p tool has won the 2025 3D InCites Award in the Technology Enablement category. This award honors companies that have identified and solved critical challenges in the advancement of the heterogeneous integration roadmap, driving the industry forward through cutting-edge solutions and advancements.

    ACM’s Ultra ECP ap-p system, designed for fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP), is the first commercially-available high-volume copper deposition system for the large panel market. By using a horizontal plating approach, it achieves exceptional uniformity and precision across the entire panel. The tool supports 515 mm x 510 mm and 600 mm x 600 mm panel sizes and can be used for plating steps in a variety of processes including pillar, bump and redistribution layer.

    “I believe this award recognition from 3D InCites validates ACM’s dedication to innovation in addressing customers’ challenges in panel-level packaging (PLP),” said Dr. David Wang, ACM’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As the demand for large chiplets, high-performance graphics processing units and high-density high-bandwidth memory continues to grow, PLP has emerged as a key solution for reducing cost and improving efficiency. The Ultra ECP ap-p system is a vital addition to ACM’s expanding FOPLP portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to advancing high-volume manufacturing solutions.”

    ACM’s FOPLP portfolio includes:

    Announced at the IMAPS Device Packaging Conference, 3D InCites award winners were selected based on their significant contributions to the advancement of the heterogeneous integration roadmap.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “designed,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on ACM management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings ACM makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by ACM. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ACM undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    About ACM Research, Inc.

    ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com.

    © ACM Research, Inc. ULTRA C, ULTRA ECP ap and the ACM Research logo are trademarks of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, these trademarks appear in this press release without ™ symbols, but that practice does not mean ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact: Company Contacts:
    Alyssa Lundeen USA
    Kiterocket Robert Metter
    +1 218.398.0776 +1 503.367.9753
    alundeen@kiterocket.com  
      China
      Xi Wang
      ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc.
      +86 21 50808868
       
      Korea
      ACM Research (Korea), Inc.
      +82-70-41006699.
       
      Taiwan
      David Chang
      +886 921999884
       
      Singapore
      Adrian Ong
      +65 8813-1107

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province, mayors pledge stable, expanded transit services in Metro Vancouver

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Transit users in Metro Vancouver will not only see their bus service protected, but will also see more buses on the busiest routes, with new funding from the provincial government.

    The Province is providing $312 million in operating funding to TransLink for the next three years, as part of TransLink’s 2025 Investment Plan.

    “We know TransLink was facing a significant deficit as costs and demand for service increased, and had warned of drastic cuts to services,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “Our government is committed to protecting services for the people of B.C. In partnership with TransLink and the Mayors’ Council we are making sure that people continue to have safe, reliable and affordable transit services while expanding priority projects.”

    Along with TransLink’s revenue sources as part of its Investment Plan, provincial funding will help ensure stable transit service over the next three years while also enabling targeted service expansion. Along with adding service to the region’s busiest bus routes, TransLink will also advance planning and design for future Bus Rapid Transit service on priority corridors.

    “This investment plan proposal will not only fully fund TransLink services for two years, but will expand transit with the largest increase to bus service since 2018,” said Brad West, chair of Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation. “Now, more than ever, is the right time to invest in British Columbia’s future, and these investments are crucial to the region’s growth and economic strength.”

    The $312 million requires approval of the 2025 Investment Plan by the TransLink Board, with final approval by the Mayors’ Council. The Province is also committed to continue working with TransLink and the Mayors’ Council on long-term funding solutions to ensure that people in Metro Vancouver have access to the transit services they need.

    “This proposed plan allows us to get back to what we do best, which is delivering transit services that Metro Vancouver residents want and expect,” said Kevin Quinn, CEO, TransLink. “We appreciate the investments from our government partners which will help us to expand transit services to set up the region for growth and long-term prosperity.”

    Since 2017, the Province has committed more than $11 billion in combined operating and capital funding to support TransLink. This unprecedented level of provincial support enabled transit service to keep running through the pandemic and to rebuild ridership. It also helped with investments in new capital projects, such as the Surrey-Langley Skytrain and the Broadway Subway project, and to keep TransLink’s finances stable.

    MIL OSI Canada News –