NewzIntel.com

Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: E-bike upgrades for New Zealand Cycle Trails

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is boosting economic growth in the regions by supporting Hawke’s Bay Trails and the Remutaka Cycle Trail to set up e-bike charging stations with more regions set to benefit from a second funding round, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
    “We launched the $3 million Electrifying the Great Rides Fund last year to make our cycle trails more accessible and appealing, both to international tourists and kiwis looking to explore more of their backyard,” Louise Upston says.
    “They play an absolutely crucial role in attracting visitors to our regions, supporting our local businesses, jobs and communities.
    “We’re pleased to be supporting investment in our Great Rides and hope more trails will take up the opportunity with the second round of funding opening shortly.”
    The first round of the Electrifying the Great Rides Fund approved $478,750 of co-funding to install 10 e-bike charging stations on two Great Rides.
    Hawke’s Bay Trails will install e-bike charging stations at six locations outside adjacent business premises and i-SITEs, as will the Remutaka Cycle Trail at four popular business premises along that trail.
    “In the second round of funding, we’ve expanded the eligibility criteria to include not only the Great Rides but the Heartland and Connector Rides which are part of the wider Ngā Haerenga, New Zealand Cycle Trail network,” Louise Upston says.
    “By opening up the criteria, we’re able to make our rural and remote trails much more accessible to visitors wanting to see more of our beautiful country.”
    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is also working with sector partners to refresh the broader New Zealand Cycle Trail programme.
    “Demand for nature-based tourism experiences is only increasing – which means our cycle trails are even more important as people seek out more environmentally friendly experiences,” Louise Upston says.
    “By investing in our cycle trails we are directly supporting our local tourism operators and driving economic growth in our regions.”
    The second round will open on 1 August 2025 for one month. Applicants will be able to find more information on the MBIE website from 30 June 2025. Opening up the fund to Heartland and Connector Rides means that territorial authorities and community groups supported by their local council will be eligible to apply.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Applauds House Passage of “Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act”

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of H.R. 2931, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, which will support the agency’s decision to relocate SBA field offices out of sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law.

    “By harboring criminal illegal aliens, sanctuary cities jeopardize both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of our small businesses — which is exactly why the SBA is moving our field offices out of these lawless jurisdictions and into safer, more accessible communities that comply with federal law,” said Administrator Loeffler. “This Administration is committed to ending the illegal invasion of our nation – and I am grateful for the bipartisan group of House lawmakers who voted in support of that agenda by passing the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025.”

    In March, the SBA announced it would relocate six of its regional offices out of sanctuary cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle. This decision was undertaken not only in support of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14218 ending the taxpayer subsidization of open borders, but also as part of SBA’s commitment to relocating field offices to safer, less costly, and more accessible communities.

    Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has taken numerous steps to put American citizens first. Earlier this year, the agency announced it would require SBA loan applications to include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants have access to taxpayer-funded SBA loan programs.

    # # #

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Sector – Strengthening UK energy security with new gas sales agreement – Equinor

    Source: Equinor

    05 JUNE 2025 – Equinor and Centrica sign long-term gas sales agreement of 55 TWh of natural gas per year (around 5 billion cubic meters – bcm) for a period of 10 years starting 1 October 2025 at terms reflecting market prices. The total contract value would be around £20 billion assuming current prices.

    “I am very pleased to strengthen the energy partnership with the UK and our longstanding partner and customer Centrica. This agreement will continue to support the UK’s energy security with reliable gas supplies from the Norwegian continental shelf. The flexibility that natural gas offers will play a key role in enabling further development of renewable power and decarbonisation in the UK”, says Equinor’s president and CEO Anders Opedal.

    For nearly 50 years, Equinor and partners have developed the Norwegian Continental Shelf to be the largest and most reliable provider of energy to Europe. Britain currently imports nearly 2/3 of its gas requirements from Norway, with Equinor being the major supplier. The annual volumes under this agreement will cover nearly 10% [1] of total annual UK gas demand which makes the agreement among the largest in Equinor bilateral portfolio.

    “The UK and the North Sea is a core area in our long-term ambitions to remain a supplier of reliable energy and to help decarbonise societies and industries. The new gas sales agreement with Centrica will be a key element in this. Energy security and decarbonisation must go hand in hand, and I am proud that Equinor is actively delivering both”, says Equinor’s UK Country Manager Alex Grant.

    Beyond investments in the UK’s oil and gas production, Equinor already operates three offshore wind farms at Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon and Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating offshore wind farm. Dogger Bank is under development and will be the world’s largest offshore windfarm once completed. Together with partners Equinor is also developing the UK’s first CO2 transport and storage project and a gas power plant with CO2 capture.

    Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica, commented: “Equinor is a valued partner, and this landmark agreement underscores the vital role that natural gas plays as a transition fuel as we navigate towards a low carbon energy future. The enduring partnership between Centrica and Equinor exemplifies the strong and strategic relationship between the UK and Norway and I’m immensely proud that we’ve agreed this deal.

    “Over the last few years, we’ve seen first-hand how important energy security is. Today’s deal not only ensures the UK’s energy security has improved but also paves the way for a burgeoning hydrogen market. The deal represents a significant investment in the UK’s future, showing that Centrica will make bold investments that drive forward the energy transition while delivering value for our shareholders. We will continue to focus on further improving energy security by working with the UK Government to ensure the right levels of gas storage are in place to complement this landmark gas importation agreement.”

    [1] Total UK demand in 2024 at 55.8 bcm

    About Centrica

    Centrica is an international energy and services company, founded on a 200-year heritage of serving customers in homes and businesses. The company supply energy and services to over 10 million residential and business customers, mainly in the UK and Ireland, through brands such as British Gas, Bord Gáis Energy and Centrica Business Solutions. Centrica has a role at every step of the energy transition. When it comes to energy, Centrica make it, store it, move it, sell it and mend it. The company’s strategy is driven by the purpose of energising a greener, fairer future.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Consumer NZ test reveals danger of unregulated online plumbing products

    Source: Master Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers

    Master Plumbers’ concerns that cheap online plumbing products will not comply with new regulations to make drinking water safer have proven justified.
    A recent test undertaken by Consumer NZ showed that one of six kitchen tap mixers purchased from a variety of retailers resulted in lead levels in the water higher than is permitted in the Australian/New Zealand testing standard.
    Lead is a cumulative toxin, which makes ongoing exposure through drinking water a particular concern.
    “No level of lead is acceptable,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace. “Young children are especially vulnerable to the toxin, with even low levels of exposure linked to learning disabilities and nervous system damage.”
    The tap mixer that failed was purchased from global retailer Amazon, which ships a wide range of product to New Zealand. This highlights the dangers of buying tapware online where the market is largely unregulated and unpoliced.
    From May 2026, new requirements for plumbing products that deliver drinking water come into force, in line with an update to the building code. These products, which include kitchen and bathroom tapware, as well as valves and fittings connected to domestic drinking water pipes, must not contain more than 0.25% lead.
    Master Plumbers welcomes the transition to lead free plumbing products in New Zealand but wants more to be done to give consumers confidence.
    “We want to see compulsory ‘lead free’ marking being placed either on the product or the packaging of relevant plumbing products, to allow consumers and tradespeople to easily identify that they are lead-free,” says Wallace. “It is the plumber installing the product who is held responsible, so installers should have a way to easily determine if the product is compliant.”
    Compulsory marking would allow for the policing of non-compliant or falsely declared products through Commerce Commission regulations. As it stands, the current building product information requirement (BPIR) regulations rely on self-reporting and do not have a proactive enforcement system in place-which is particularly concerning for the regulation of online retailers that may be importing international products.
    Master Plumbers has been raising the alarm about lead in tapware for years. In 2018, the organisation commissioned independent testing of five tapware products sold in this country and found the level of lead leaching from one product to be 70% higher than the allowable limit in drinking water product standard AS/NZS 4020.
    The full details of the test conducted by Consumer NZ are included in their online report and published in the latest issue of Consumer magazine. (ref. https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/is-the-water-from-cheap-imported-tapware-safe )
    Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc (Master Plumbers) is the national membership organisation for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, with 18 regional Associations and Branches across New Zealand. Companies go through a Quality Assurance programme in order to become a member. We provide members with a wide range of resources and training opportunities to support them in staying up with the latest technologies, products and compliance requirements. We advocate on behalf of our members and our industry.
    About Masterlink:
    Masterlink, a group training scheme owned by Master Plumbers, provides managed mentored apprenticeships across New Zealand, with Regional Managers supporting the apprentices and the businesses who host them during their training.
    About NZ Plumber:
    NZ Plumber is the award-winning, bi-monthly magazine for New Zealand’s plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. It is owned by Master Plumbers.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Department of Commerce Announces New Tools to Empower Economic Growth

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce is thrilled to announce two new tools for partners aimed at supporting our mission of empowering the growth of the North Dakota economy.

    Commerce has purchased an umbrella subscription to LOIS, a property marketing software that markets our available sites and buildings globally. This subscription is statewide and provides service for all Regional, County, Local, and Downtown/Mainstreet economic development organizations and Tribal governments at no additional charge.

    Additionally, Commerce has acquired Lasso, an RFI data collection software used by corporate location decision-makers, site selectors, and economic development organizations. Access to Lasso will enable organizations to prepare for future site selection projects and keep their site and building database up to date on the LOIS property marketing map.

    “These new tools will significantly strengthen our ability to position North Dakota’s sites and communities in the competitive marketplace for business attraction,” said Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken. “By providing comprehensive and up-to-date property marketing data, we can better showcase the opportunities available in our state and entice businesses to consider North Dakota as their next location.”

    The introduction of LOIS and Lasso represents a significant step forward in our efforts to enhance economic development across North Dakota. These tools not only provide valuable data and insights but also foster collaboration among various community and economic development organizations. By leveraging these resources, we can create a more cohesive and effective strategy for attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones.

    “These tools have significantly enhanced our ability to market properties and attract new businesses—but what’s been even more impactful is how they’ve strengthened collaboration between the regional council and our local EDC partners,” said Amber Metz, Executive Director of Lake Agassiz Development Group. “By working together and leveraging shared data and resources, we’re better positioned to showcase the opportunities from Ransom to Traill County and the broader region. It’s exciting to see how this partnership is driving momentum for future growth.”

    Benefits For North Dakota Organizations

    • Extend Marketing Reach: LOIS enables community sites and buildings to be viewed on a custom map, optimized with property brochures, geospatial map layers, demographic and workforce data, web visitor analytics, and sharing tools.
    • Preparedness for Site Selection Pursuits: Using Lasso allows organizations to proactively prepare for corporate site selection by sending RFIs and storing data in a cloud database for future retrieval.
    • Property Marketing Data Accuracy: Pre-populating the Lasso RFI ensures that the data fields corresponding to the public-facing property brochure in the LOIS property marketing map are updated.

    “We are thrilled to see the rollout of LOIS and Lasso,” said Red River Regional Council Executive Director Dawn Mandt. “Rural communities and regions, which can struggle to afford such tools, now have the same opportunity to promote their spaces as major cities. Our regions have been advocating for this for years, and we are looking forward to utilizing these services to enhance our economic development efforts.”

    LOIS and Lasso Training: Training will cover how to integrate the LOIS Map viewer on organization websites, generate reports, and walk through the Lasso RFI process.

    • LOIS Training
      • Wednesday, July 9: 2:00-3:00 PM CDT
      • Thursday, July 10: 1:00-2:00 PM CDT
    • Lasso Training “How to fill out an RFI”
      • Tuesday, July 22: 10:30 – 11:30 AM CDT
      • Tuesday, July 29: 1:00 – 2:00 PM CDT

    For more information, please go to https://www.commerce.nd.gov/lois.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Emergency Medical Transportation in Mountainous Regions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Emergency Medical Transportation in Mountainous Regions

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the bipartisan Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites (PEAKS) Act to bolster emergency medical transportation services in mountainous areas. The PEAKS Act would help Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) in mountainous areas receive fair compensation for ambulatory services by modifying distance requirements for these hospitals to receive reimbursements. California has 37 total CAHs, of which two thirds are currently operating at a loss.

    CAHs, designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, are smaller rural hospitals that are located more than a 35-mile drive — or a 15-mile drive in mountainous terrain — from any other hospital or CAH; are in an area with only secondary roads available; or otherwise are designated by their state as a “necessary provider.” Currently, CAHs in mountainous areas are not reimbursed for providing ambulatory services under the enhanced Medicare payment model if they do not meet the 35-mile distance requirement. The PEAKS Act would expand reimbursements for these services if a CAH in mountainous terrain or in an area with only secondary roads is the only provider within 15 miles.

    “Far too often, people in mountainous regions struggle to receive timely, affordable emergency care when they need it most,” said Senator Padilla. “California’s 37 Critical Access Hospitals help fill critical coverage gaps by providing emergency medical services in these rural areas, yet with two thirds of them operating in the red, we need to act quickly to prevent more ambulance service closures. Our bipartisan PEAKS Act would make commonsense updates to help Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas get Medicare reimbursements for the emergency care they provide.”

    “As residents of the Mountain State, we are proud of our beautiful peaks, however, we are also aware of the transportation challenges—especially for ambulances—that exist due to our mountainous topography. I’m proud to introduce the PEAKS Act to address this challenge and ensure even our most rural residents can depend on ambulance services, as well as ensure our critical access hospitals are able to provide the best care possible,” said Senator Capito.

    The PEAKS Act would also make certain that CAHs would not lose their designation if any new hospital is built within 15 miles.

    The PEAKS Act is supported by the West Virginia Hospital Association, California Hospital Association, Arkansas Hospital Association, Hospital Association of Oregon, Utah Hospital Association, and Wyoming Hospital Association.

    Senator Padilla has long been a leader in the fight to make health care more equitable, affordable, and accessible in the United States. Earlier this year, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Health Accelerating Consumers’ Care by Expediting Self-Scheduling (ACCESS) Act to improve digital health services by allowing patients to easily search for and book health care appointments online while protecting personal health information. Padilla also recently introduced the EASE Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase access to specialty care for rural and underserved Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients. Last year, Padilla introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024 to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States.

    Additionally, Padilla introduced the Equal Health Care for All Act, bicameral legislation that would make equal access to medical care a protected civil right to help address the racial inequities and structural failures in America’s health care system. He also recently joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and over 100 lawmakers in reintroducing the Medicare for All Act, historic legislation that would guarantee health care as a fundamental human right to all people in the United States regardless of income or background.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DeGette Statement on Trump Administration Punishing Democratic Ran Cities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after House Republicans passed a politically motivated bill that would relocate Small Business Administration offices out of Denver and other Democratic-ran cities.

    “For years, we have heard Donald Trump whine about political prosecution and targeting political opponents. Today, House Republicans are weaponizing the federal government against Democratic-led cities to cut vital access to the Small Business Administration from the countless entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout our region. This is blatant political punishment because the only reason they are forcing this bill through is because House Republicans disagree with Denver’s policies.

    “This bill is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars, and it will only further the confusion and chaos small business owners are experiencing thanks to Trump’s reckless economic agenda.”

    The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2931 by a vote of 211-199.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WSJ Editorial Highlights Tillis Bill to End Predatory Litigation Funding Practices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial supporting the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, legislation introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) which would impose a new tax on profits earned by third-party entities that finance civil litigation and curb predatory practices in the litigation funding industry.
    Read the full op-ed here or below. 
    Ending a Tax Break for LawsuitsWSJJune 4, 2025
    Why are foreign investment funds that finance predatory lawsuits against U.S. companies allowed to dodge taxes on their legal payouts? Good question, and now North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern are seeking to close this anti-growth loophole.
    Third-party litigation financing has exploded in recent years as private investment funds chase high returns goosed by America’s tort-friendly legal system. Investors give law firms money to recruit plaintiffs and file often meritless lawsuits against companies in return for a share of the eventual settlement or judgment. 
    Annual returns average about 25% thanks to jackpot jury verdicts, which also create an incentive for businesses to settle claims early to avoid costly, drawn-out litigation. In 2023, 39 investors had committed some $15.2 billion in capital to U.S. commercial litigation, according to the litigation finance advisory firm Westfleet Advisors. 
    Investment funds such as Fortress Investment Group have financed major mass torts, including Roundup fertilizer claims against Bayer AG and talc litigation against Johnson & Johnson. Fortress, which is majority owned by an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, has also harassed Apple and Intel with dubious patent lawsuits. 
    Third-party financing arrangements with law firms are typically not required to be disclosed, so foreign investors could be funding lawsuits with the goal of harming U.S. businesses that may be competitors. Bloomberg Law last year detailed how Russian oligarchs had dodged sanctions by funding lawsuits in the U.S. 
    Here’s the kicker: Foreign investors in U.S. litigation don’t have to pay tax on lawsuit proceeds because the tax code exempts foreigners from paying U.S. capital-gains tax, and their legal payouts are treated as capital gains. American litigation funders pay tax at the capital gains rate (23.8%), while the actual plaintiffs in lawsuits pay at the ordinary income rate.
    The preferential tax treatment for funders, especially foreigners, is an incentive to plow money into lawsuits rather than business investment that creates jobs, boosts productivity and improves living standards. Lawsuits do the opposite. Costs of defending against litigation get passed along to workers, consumers and shareholders. 
    Enter Messrs. Tillis and Hern, who are seeking to add a provision to the current tax bill that would require U.S. and foreign litigation funders to pay tax on their earnings at the ordinary income rate (typically 37%), plus a 3.8% surcharge. This could discourage excessive litigation, which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says costs U.S. households some $4,200 each in 2022.
    Will Hild of the right-leaning outfit Consumers’ Research recently tweeted that the Tillis-Hern provision would “rob everyday Americans of a fundamental tool in fighting back” against “large, woke corporations.” This is a giant red herring. The provision wouldn’t ban third-party funding lawsuits. It would merely eliminate a tax break for them.
    Excessive litigation is a tax on everyday Americans, which is why Republican Governors like Georgia’s Brian Kemp and Florida’s Ron DeSantis have championed tort reform. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt last week signed legislation that will ban lawsuit funding from entities controlled by foreign adversaries and cap non-economic damages in personal injury suits at $500,000. 
    The plaintiffs lobby has the Senate votes to block national tort reform with a 60-vote filibuster. But Republicans only need 51 votes in their reconciliation bill to ensure that the tax code doesn’t give the Abu Dhabi wealth fund a tax break for funding lawsuits that harm America. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness in Space

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today introduced their Licensing Aerospace Units to New Commercial Heights (LAUNCH) Act, which would streamline the application process for commercial space launches and the licensing of private remote sensing space systems or satellites:

    “As the pace of China’s space ambitions accelerate, the Federal Aviation Administration must be able to approve commercial space launches quickly and efficiently in order to maintain our competitive edge,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By reducing bureaucratic hurdles for innovators, this legislation would drive scientific advancement and ensure America stays one step ahead of our adversaries in space and beyond.”  

    “New Mexico is already at the forefront of our country’s leadership in space exploration and innovation. Ranging from Spaceport America, to Kirtland Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range, our state’s success is clear and should be supported,” said Sen. Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Cornyn to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will streamline federal oversight for commercial space flights. This bill will ensure regulations are modernized and up-to-date, allowing New Mexico to continue our leadership.”

    “Florida’s Space Coast is where our nation’s brightest minds innovate and help America reach for the stars. This incredible growth and success have been driven by effective public and private partnerships pushing our nation to the forefront of space exploration,” said Sen. Scott. “I’m honored to work alongside my colleagues in introducing the Licensing Aerospace Units to New Commercial Heights (LAUNCH) Act to eliminate unnecessary government bureaucracy and support American businesses in the space industry.”

    “Outdated regulations shouldn’t hold back the advancement of commercial spaceflight,” said Sen. Kelly. “The LAUNCH Act will support innovation and increase competition in the commercial space industry by modernizing the regulations that govern launch and reentry.”

    Background:

    Commercial space regulations were developed in an era with limited industry activity. These regulations require modernization to adapt to ongoing technological development and anticipated growth and maintain safety while reducing bureaucratic burden. The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approval process for commercial space launches is onerous and subject to arbitrary minimum review timelines, which gives foreign adversaries the economic and national security advantage. To maintain America’s competitive position, the FAA must be able to efficiently approve weekly and, eventually, daily launch and reentry operations by multiple companies in a manner that reduces the burden on the commercial space industry and government resources.

    The LAUNCH Act would require:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration to streamline the application of regulations for commercial space launches and reentry requirements by eliminating duplicative efforts and taking industry feedback into account;
    • Continued support of the Aerospace Rulemaking Committee that includes launch providers;
    • The Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce to streamline licensing of private remote sensing space systems or satellites;
    • The FAA and CRSRA to provide assistance to applicants to help them navigate licensing processes;
    • Elevation of the Commercial Space Transportation office to directly under the Secretary of Transportation;
    • And the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report on flight safety and workforce collaboration.

    This legislation is endorsed by the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Votes to Relocate Small Business Administration Offices Out of Sanctuary Jurisdictions

    Source: US State of Idaho

    WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of H.R. 2931, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act, a bill that would relocate Small Business Administration (SBA) offices to non-sanctuary city jurisdictions. It would allow offices to be relocated to federal law-abiding cities and towns, even if it is in a sanctuary state.
    “Due to the Biden administration’s open-border policies, violent crime, homicides, and aggravated assaults have all increased in American sanctuary cities,” said Rep. Simpson. “By fueling an unprecedented crisis and lacking accountability, American citizens, small businesses, and communities were put at risk. This legislation is a positive step toward ensuring their safety. Idaho is one of the most business-friendly places in our country and has set a strong example by enacting a statewide ban on sanctuary cities. With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to codifying President Trump’s agenda.”
    Rep. Simpson and the Idaho delegation recently sent a letter to Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler urging the SBA to move the Seattle regional office from Washington to Idaho.
    The measure was approved with a vote of 211-199.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Orrstown Bank Promotes Zachary Khuri to Chief Revenue Officer and Joshua Hocker to Market President for the Central Pennsylvania Region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HARRISBURG, Pa., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orrstown Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Orrstown Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORRF), is pleased to announce the promotion of Zachary Khuri to Chief Revenue Officer and Joshua Hocker to Market President for the Central Pennsylvania Region, effective immediately.

    Zachary Khuri, who most recently served as Market President for Orrstown Bank’s Central Pennsylvania Region, brings more than 20 years of banking experience to his new role. Since joining Orrstown Bank in 2019, Khuri has played a pivotal role in expanding the Bank’s market share and strengthening relationships throughout the region. As Chief Revenue Officer, he will lead the Bank’s revenue-generating lines of business across its entire footprint. Khuri holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Shippensburg University, an MBA from Penn State Harrisburg, and is a graduate of the Duke University Fuqua School of Business Executive Leadership Program.

    “Zack’s strategic mindset, deep understanding of our markets, and proven leadership make him the ideal person to help guide Orrstown Bank’s continued growth,” said Thomas R. Quinn, Jr., President and CEO of Orrstown Bank. “He embodies our culture of collaboration and client focus, and we are thrilled to welcome him to this role.”

    In conjunction with Khuri’s promotion, Joshua Hocker has been named Market President for the Central Pennsylvania Region, succeeding Khuri in the role. Hocker, who most recently served as Director of Middle Market Lending for Orrstown Bank, brings a strong track record of commercial banking success and deep knowledge of the Central Pennsylvania market to his new position. Mr. Hocker holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University and an MBA from Penn State University.

    “Josh has consistently demonstrated an ability to build strong client relationships and deliver meaningful results,” said Adam L. Metz, Chief Operating Officer at Orrstown Bank. “His leadership will ensure we continue delivering exceptional value to our clients and communities across the Central Pennsylvania Region.”

    About Orrstown

    With $5.4 billion in assets, Orrstown Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Orrstown Bank, provide a wide range of consumer and business financial services in Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Perry, and York Counties, Pennsylvania and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Washington Counties, Maryland, as well as Baltimore City, Maryland. The Company’s lending area also includes counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia within a 75-mile radius of the Company’s executive and administrative offices as well as the District of Columbia. Orrstown Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and its deposits are insured up to the legal maximum by the FDIC. Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ORRF.”   For more information about Orrstown Financial Services, Inc. and Orrstown Bank, visit www.orrstown.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and the Company’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates, predictions or projections about events or the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, the Company cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that the Company or persons acting on the Company’s behalf may issue. For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

    John Moss
    SVP, Director of Marketing and Client Experience, Orrstown Bank
    717-747-1520
    jmoss@orrstown.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IDT Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Gross Profit +15% Year-over-Year to $112 MM; Record Gross Profit Margin of 37.1%
    Income from Operations +133% to $27 MM; Adjusted EBITDA +57% to $32 MM
    GAAP EPS Increased to $0.86 from $0.22; Non-GAAP EPS Increased to $0.90 from $0.38

    NEWARK, NJ, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT), a global provider of fintech, cloud communications, and traditional communications solutions, today reported results for its third quarter fiscal year 2025, the three months ended April 30, 2025.

    THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

    (Throughout this release, unless otherwise noted, results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 (3Q25) are compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 (3Q24). All earnings per share (EPS) and other ‘per share’ results are per diluted share.)

      ● Key Businesses / Segments
      ○ NRS
      ■ Recurring revenue: +23% to $29.4 million;
      ■ Income from operations: +29% to $6.2 million;
      ■ Adjusted EBITDA: +29% to $7.2 million;
      ■ ‘Rule of 40’ score: 49;
      ○ BOSS Money / Fintech segment
      ■ BOSS Money transactions: +27% to 6.0 million;
      ■ BOSS Money revenue: +25% to $34.4 million;
      ■ Fintech segment gross profit: +31% to $22.6 million;
      ■ Fintech segment income from operations: +$4.9 million, to $4.3 million;
      ■ Fintech segment Adjusted EBITDA: +$4.8 million, to $5.0 million;
      ○ net2phone
      ■ Subscription revenue: +7% to $21.5 million (+11% on a constant currency basis);
      ■ Income from operations: +188% to $1.4 million;
      ■ Adjusted EBITDA: +50% to $3.2 million;
      ○ Traditional Communications
      ■ Gross profit: +5% to $43.4 million;
      ■ Income from operations: +39% to $17.3 million;
      ■ Adjusted EBITDA: +30% to $19.3 million;
      ● IDT Consolidated
      ○ Revenue: +1% to $302.0 million;
      ○ Gross profit (GP) / margin: GP +15% to $112.0 million; GP margin +470 bps to 37.1%;
      ○ Income from operations: +133% to $26.6 million;
      ○ GAAP EPS: Increased to $0.86 from $0.22;
      ○ Non-GAAP EPS: Increased to $0.90 from $0.38;
      ○ Adjusted EBITDA: +57% to $32.2 million;
      ○ CapEx: +14% to $5.4 million.

    REMARKS BY SHMUEL JONAS, CEO

    IDT’s third quarter was solid, with strong year-over-year gains, while slightly softer than our second quarter in part because of expected seasonal factors. Year-over-year revenue growth, and continued expansion of each of our business segments’ bottom-line results, drove a 133% year-over-year increase in consolidated income from operations, a 57% increase in consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, and a 290% increase in EPS.

    At NRS, recurring revenue increased 23% year-over-year, powered by a 37% revenue increase from NRS’ largest vertical, Merchant Services, and a 33% increase in SaaS Fees, which more than offset a 12% decrease in Advertising & Data revenue. Income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA were both up by 29% year-over-year, and the business has generated a record $32 million in Adjusted EBITDA over the past twelve months.

    Looking ahead, we continue to focus on developing new offerings that leverage the NRS platform to enable retailers to compete more effectively with large retail chains. For instance, independent neighborhood retailers have not yet meaningfully benefitted from the consumer shift to online ordering and delivery. We are working to change that by integrating our network with online ordering and delivery platforms, enabling retailers on the NRS network to provide hyper-fast local delivery of sundries and prepared foods. The 100 or so retailers we have signed up so far are already receiving, in aggregate, over 2000 delivery orders a week.

    BOSS Money, our remittance platform, increased transactions by 27% and revenue by 25%. The growth rates have been impacted by the deliberate shift we made last summer to prioritize gross profit per transaction in our retail channel rather than market share, and by a recent shift in customer preferences toward larger send amounts per remittance through fewer transactions. The Fintech segment, which includes BOSS Money and early stage fintech initiatives, generated over $5 million in Adjusted EBITDA – compared to $244 thousand in the year ago quarter. Looking ahead, Boss Money is working on initiatives to drive sustained long-term growth and innovations that reduce cross border friction and increase profitability.

    net2phone continued its steady progress with balanced growth in the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico. The team has done a great job growing its business while holding the line on overhead. net2phone’s Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 15% in 3Q25. net2phone began to offer its AI Agents this quarter and customers are already seeing the benefits, including enhanced efficiency. Even as we deploy AI Agents refined for specific market verticals, we are preparing to launch another AI-powered service which internally we refer to as ‘Coach.’ We think that it will be very successful.

    In our Traditional Communications segment, income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA both jumped by over 30% year-over-year to $17.3 million and $19.3 million, respectively, underscoring that this segment continues to be a long-term cash generator.

    I want to wrap up by thanking the millions of customers who put some of their hard-earned wages to work through our BOSS offerings, and the business customers around the world who rely on us to enhance their businesses and communications. Our ability to provide these services depends on the dedication of our employees who have been executing and innovating on so many fronts, and on our stockholders who entrust us with their capital. I am grateful for your continued patronage and support.

    (This release discloses certain Non-GAAP financial measures (Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP EPS and NRS ‘Rule of 40’) as well as certain Key Performance Metrics (net2phone subscription revenue, netphone constant currency subscription revenue growth rate, net2phone operating margin, net2phone Adjusted EBITDA margin, NRS Monthly Average Recurring Revenue, and BOSS Money transactions and digital send volume). Please see the explanations of those measures and metrics, the reasons for their inclusion and reconciliations at the end of this release.)

    3Q25 RESULTS BY SEGMENT

    National Retail Solutions (NRS)

    National Retail Solutions (NRS)
    (Terminals and accounts at end of period. $ in millions, except for average revenue per terminal)

        3Q25     2Q25     3Q24     3Q25-3Q24
    (% Δ)    		  
    Terminals and payment processing accounts                                
    Active POS terminals     35,600       34,800       30,300       +17.6 %  
    Payment processing accounts     25,500       23,900       19,500       +31.1 %  
                                     
    Recurring revenue                                
    Merchant Services & Other   $ 19.7     $ 18.1     $ 14.4       +37.3 %  
    Advertising & Data   $ 5.9     $ 10.0     $ 6.7       (12.3   )%
    SaaS Fees   $ 3.9     $ 3.5     $ 2.9       +32.8   %
    Total recurring revenue   $ 29.4     $ 31.6     $ 24.0       +22.9 %  
    POS terminal sales   $ 1.7     $ 1.3     $ 1.8       (2.9   )%
    Total revenue   $ 31.1     $ 33.0     $ 25.7       +21.1 %  
                                     
    Monthly average recurring revenue per terminal   $ 279     $ 310     $ 271       +3.0   %
                                     
    Gross profit   $ 28.4     $ 30.3     $ 22.1       +28.4   %
    Gross profit margin     91.3 %     91.8 %     86.1 %     +520   bps
    Technology & development   $ 2.3     $ 2.2     $ 1.7       +32.5   %
    SG&A   $ 20.0     $ 19.0     $ 15.7       +27.8   %
    Income from operations   $ 6.2     $ 9.1     $ 4.8       +29.3   %
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 7.2     $ 10.1     $ 5.6       +28.6   %
    CapEx   $ 1.9     $ 0.9     $ 0.9       +115.2   %


    NRS Take-Aways / Updates:

      ● NRS added approximately 900 net active terminals and approximately 1,600 net payment processing accounts during 3Q25. As mentioned in the prior quarter’s earnings release, net active terminal additions for 3Q25 included churn of approximately 300 terminals operating in seasonal stores.
      ● The 37% year-over-year increase in Merchant Services & Other revenue was driven by the increase in payment processing accounts, and by higher merchant services revenue per account, reflecting in part the ongoing, gradual migration of customer payment preference from cash to credit and debit cards.
      ● NRS Advertising & Data revenue declined 12.3% year-over-year due to NRS’ decision to slow sales to one large programmatic partner in order to limit potential bad debt risk exposure. NRS’ direct channel advertising sales, as well as sales to other programmatic partners, remained robust.
      ● NRS has begun rolling out the first of several planned integrations of its POS platform with leading online ordering and delivery services. The first integration, with DoorDash, went live this quarter.


    Fintech

    Fintech
    (Transactions and $s in millions, except for average revenue per transaction)

        3Q25     2Q25     3Q24     3Q25-3Q24
    (% Δ, $)    		  
    BOSS Money transactions     6.0       5.7       4.7         +27.0 %
                                     
    Fintech Revenue                                
    BOSS Money   $ 34.4     $ 33.5     $ 27.6         +24.7 %
    Other   $ 4.2     $ 3.3     $ 3.9         +7.0 %
    Total Revenue   $ 38.6     $ 36.8     $ 31.5         +22.5 %
                                     
    Gross profit   $ 22.6     $ 21.7     $ 17.3         +30.6 %
    Gross profit margin     58.5 %     58.9 %     54.9 %       +360 bps
    Technology & development   $ 2.2     $ 2.3     $ 2.5         (11.9 )%
    SG&A   $ 16.0     $ 16.3     $ 15.3         +5.2 %
    Income (loss) from operations   $ 4.3     $ 3.1     $ (0.6 )     +$ 4.9  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 5.0     $ 3.9     $ 0.2       +$ 4.8  
    CapEx   $ 0.8     $ 0.8     $ 1.0         (19.8 )%


    Fintech Take-Aways:

    ● The 27% increase in BOSS Money transactions comprised a 32% year-over-year increase in digital channel transactions and an 8% increase in retail channel transactions.
    ● BOSS Money revenue increased 25% year-over-year driven by a 31% increase in digital channel revenue.
    ● Digital channel send volume, or the amount of principal transferred by BOSS Money customers using the BOSS Money and BOSS Revolution apps, grew 40% year-over-year as customers increased their amount sent per transaction while reducing the frequency of transactions. BOSS Money is testing strategies to optimize pricing given this recent dynamic.
    ● The robust increases in the Fintech segment’s income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA were driven primarily by BOSS Money revenue and gross margin growth, coupled with improved operating leverage as BOSS Money continues to scale.


    net2phone

    net2phone
    (Seats in thousands at end of period. $ in millions)

        3Q25     2Q25     3Q24     3Q25-3Q24

    (% Δ)

    		  
    Seats     415       410       384       +7.9 %
                                     
    Revenue                                
    Subscription revenue   $ 21.5     $ 21.0     $ 20.0       +7.4 %
    Other revenue   $ 0.5     $ 0.5     $ 0.6       (25.9 )%
    Total Revenue   $ 22.0     $ 21.5     $ 20.7       +6.4 %
                                     
    Gross profit   $ 17.5     $ 17.0     $ 16.4       +6.9 %
    Gross profit margin     79.6 %     79.2 %     79.2 %     +40 bps
    Technology & development   $ 2.9     $ 2.8     $ 2.8       +4.8 %
    SG&A   $ 13.0     $ 13.0     $ 13.0       (0.3 )%
    Income from operations   $ 1.4     $ 1.1     $ 0.5       +188 %
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 3.2     $ 2.9     $ 2.1       +50.2 %
    CapEx   $ 1.4     $ 1.8     $ 1.6       (12.5 )%


    net2phone Take-Aways:

      ● The 8% year over year increase in total seats served was powered by continued expansion in key markets led by the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico. CCaaS seats served, which generate significantly higher revenue and margin per seat, increased by 9% year-over year.
      ● Subscription revenue increased by 7% year-over-year. The increase was tempered by the FX impact of a strengthened U.S. dollar versus local currencies in Latin America. On a constant currency basis, subscription revenue increased by 11% year over year, significantly higher than its rate of seat growth, as net2phone focuses on increasing ARPU.
      ● Income from operations increased 188% and Adjusted EBITDA increased 50% year-over-year, as operating margin increased to 6% from 2%, and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 15% from 10% in 3Q24.
      ● In 3Q25, net2phone began to deploy AI Agents, scalable virtual assistants providing exceptional customer experiences across sales, support, and administrative tasks. AI Agents have the potential to become significant revenue growth drivers in the coming quarters.
      ● net2phone is also preparing to launch an AI-powered offering that analyzes interactions to deliver real-time insights and personalized coaching for optimized performance.


    Traditional Communications

    Traditional Communications
    ($ in millions)

        3Q25     2Q25     3Q24     3Q25-3Q24
    (% Δ)    		  
    Revenue                                
    IDT Digital Payments   $ 102.6     $ 101.6     $ 101.6       +1.0 %
    BOSS Revolution   $ 51.7     $ 53.3     $ 63.2       (18.1 )%
    IDT Global   $ 50.0     $ 51.3     $ 50.1       (0.0 )%
    Other   $ 5.9     $ 5.8     $ 6.9       (14.9 )%
    Total Revenue   $ 210.2     $ 212.0     $ 221.7       (5.2 )%
                                     
    Gross profit   $ 43.4     $ 43.1     $ 41.2       +5.3 %
    Gross profit margin     20.7 %     20.3 %     18.6 %     +210 bps
    Technology & development   $ 5.4     $ 5.4     $ 5.6       (4.3 )%
    SG&A   $ 20.5     $ 19.4     $ 22.7       (9.5 )%
    Income from operations   $ 17.3     $ 18.1     $ 12.5       39.2 %
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 19.3     $ 20.2     $ 14.9       30.1 %
    CapEx   $ 1.3     $ 1.2     $ 1.2       +5.6 %


    Traditional Communications Take-Aways:

    ● Even as revenue decreased continuing an expected trend, gross profit increased year over year and sequentially.
    ● Income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA benefitted from the growth in gross profit and the reduction in SG&A expense.


    OTHER FINANCIAL RESULTS

    Consolidated results for all periods presented include corporate overhead. In 3Q25, Corporate G&A expense increased to $2.7 million from $2.3 million in 3Q24.

    As of April 30, 2025, IDT held $223.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, debt securities, and current equity investments. Also at April 30, 2025, current assets totaled $498.3 million and current liabilities totaled $287.2 million. The Company had no outstanding debt at the quarter end.

    Net cash provided by operating activities was $75.7 million in 3Q25 compared to $9.5 million in 3Q24. Exclusive of changes in customer funds deposits at IDT’s Fintech segment, net cash provided by operating activities was $66.1 million in 3Q25 compared to $8.2 million in 3Q24. The large, year-over-year increase in cash reflects, for the most part, the timing of disbursement prefunding payments made by IDT to cover anticipated BOSS Money weekly remittance activity.

    Capital expenditures increased to $5.4 million in 3Q25 from $4.7 million in 3Q24.

    DIVIDEND

    The Board of Directors of IDT Corporation has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.06 on IDT’s Class A and Class B Common stock. Payment will be made on June 18, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 9th.

    IDT EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT INFORMATION

    This release is available for download in the “Investors & Media” section of the IDT Corporation website (https://www.idt.net/investors-and-media) and has been filed on a current report (Form 8-K) with the SEC.

    IDT will host an earnings conference call beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern today with management’s discussion of results followed by Q&A with investors. To listen to the call and participate in the Q&A, dial 1-888-506-0062 (toll-free from the U.S.) or 1-973-528-0011 (international) and provide the following access code: 491722.

    A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes through June 19, 2025. To access the call replay, dial 1-877-481-4010 (toll-free from the U.S.) or 1-919-882-2331 (international) and provide this replay passcode: 52353. The replay will also be accessible via streaming audio at the IDT investor relations website.

    ABOUT IDT CORPORATION

    IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) is a global provider of fintech and communications solutions through a portfolio of synergistic businesses: National Retail Solutions (NRS), through its point-of-sale (POS) platform, enables independent retailers to operate more effectively while providing advertisers and marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets; BOSS Money facilitates innovative international remittances and fintech payments solutions; net2phone provides enterprises and organizations with intelligently integrated cloud communications and contact center services across channels and devices; IDT Digital Payments and the BOSS Revolution calling service make sharing prepaid products and services and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable; and, IDT Global and IDT Express enable communications services to provision and manage international voice and SMS messaging.

    All statements above that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “target” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors. Our filings with the SEC provide detailed information on such statements and risks and should be consulted along with this release. To the extent permitted under applicable law, IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    CONTACT

    IDT Corporation Investor Relations
    Bill Ulrey
    william.ulrey@idt.net
    973-438-3838

    IDT CORPORATION

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

        April 30,
    2025    		     July 31,
    2024    		  
        (Unaudited)        
        (in thousands, except per share data)  
    Assets                
    Current assets:                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 199,948     $ 164,557  
    Restricted cash and cash equivalents     123,129       90,899  
    Debt securities     18,683       23,438  
    Equity investments     5,187       5,009  
    Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $8,416 at April 30, 2025 and $6,352 at July 31, 2024     43,084       42,215  
    Settlement assets, net of reserve of $1,869 at April 30, 2025 and $1,866 at July 31, 2024     25,160       22,186  
    Disbursement prefunding     43,381       30,736  
    Prepaid expenses     13,837       17,558  
    Other current assets     25,865       25,927  
    Total current assets     498,274       422,525  
    Property, plant, and equipment, net     38,980       38,652  
    Goodwill     26,454       26,288  
    Other intangibles, net     5,372       6,285  
    Equity investments     6,904       6,518  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     2,013       3,273  
    Deferred income tax assets, net     16,106       35,008  
    Other assets     6,805       11,546  
    Total assets   $ 600,908     $ 550,095  
                     
    Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and equity                
    Current liabilities:                
    Trade accounts payable   $ 17,250     $ 24,773  
    Accrued expenses     91,408       103,176  
    Deferred revenue     27,513       30,364  
    Customer funds deposits     121,765       91,893  
    Settlement liabilities     14,105       12,764  
    Other current liabilities     15,121       16,374  
    Total current liabilities     287,162       279,344  
    Operating lease liabilities     1,213       1,533  
    Other liabilities     1,682       2,662  
    Total liabilities     290,057       283,539  
    Commitments and contingencies                
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest     11,357       10,901  
    Equity:                
    IDT Corporation stockholders’ equity:                
    Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares—10,000; no shares issued     —       —  
    Class A common stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares—35,000; 3,272 shares issued and 1,574 shares outstanding at April 30, 2025 and July 31, 2024     33       33  
    Class B common stock, $.01 par value; authorized shares—200,000; 28,528 and 28,177 shares issued and 23,656 and 23,684 shares outstanding at April 30, 2025 and July 31, 2024, respectively     285       282  
    Additional paid-in capital     307,757       303,510  
    Treasury stock, at cost, consisting of 1,698 and 1,698 shares of Class A common stock and 4,872 and 4,493 shares of Class B common stock at April 30, 2025 and July 31, 2024, respectively     (143,853 )     (126,080 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (19,812 )     (18,142 )
    Retained earnings     141,753       86,580  
    Total IDT Corporation stockholders’ equity     286,163       246,183  
    Noncontrolling interests     13,331       9,472  
    Total equity     299,494       255,655  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and equity   $ 600,908     $ 550,095  


    IDT CORPORATION
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)

        Three Months Ended
    April 30,    		     Nine Months Ended
    April 30,    		  
        2025     2024     2025     2024  
        (in thousands, except per share data)  
           
    Revenues   $ 301,985     $ 299,643     $ 914,901     $ 896,946  
    Direct cost of revenues     190,023       202,599       583,201       608,982  
    Gross profit     111,962       97,044       331,700       287,964  
    Operating expenses:                                
    Selling, general and administrative (i)     72,267       68,962       214,039       200,685  
    Technology and development (i)     12,744       12,640       38,115       37,975  
    Severance     190       779       600       1,648  
    Other operating expense, net     175       3,231       403       3,041  
    Total operating expenses     85,376       85,612       253,157       243,349  
    Income from operations     26,586       11,432       78,543       44,615  
    Interest income, net     1,566       1,162       4,347       3,201  
    Other income (expense), net     2,608       (3,273 )     2,533       (6,326 )
    Income before income taxes     30,760       9,321       85,423       41,490  
    Provision for income taxes     (7,798 )     (2,979 )     (21,766 )     (10,918 )
    Net income     22,962       6,342       63,657       30,572  
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests     (1,270 )     (791 )     (4,448 )     (2,937 )
    Net income attributable to IDT Corporation   $ 21,692     $ 5,551     $ 59,209     $ 27,635  
    Earnings per share attributable to IDT Corporation common stockholders:                                
    Basic   $ 0.86     $ 0.22     $ 2.35     $ 1.10  
    Diluted   $ 0.86     $ 0.22     $ 2.34     $ 1.09  
    Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of earnings per share:                                
    Basic     25,165       25,345       25,177       25,233  
    Diluted     25,249       25,516       25,312       25,380  
                                     
    (i) Stock-based compensation included in total operating expenses   $ 946     $ 2,118     $ 2,720     $ 5,375  

      
    IDT CORPORATION
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

        Nine Months Ended
    April 30,    		  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Operating activities                
    Net income   $ 63,657     $ 30,572  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
    Depreciation and amortization     15,702       15,256  
    Deferred income taxes     18,902       8,830  
    Provision for credit losses, doubtful accounts receivable, and reserve for settlement assets     4,465       3,010  
    Stock-based compensation     2,720       5,375  
    Other     1,735       4,065  
    Change in assets and liabilities:                
    Trade accounts receivable     (4,649 )     (9,000 )
    Settlement assets, disbursement prefunding, prepaid expenses, other current assets, and other assets     (8,932 )     6,797  
    Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, settlement liabilities, other current liabilities, and other liabilities     (19,486 )     (10,467 )
    Customer funds deposits     25,327       1,243  
    Deferred revenue     (3,382 )     (2,903 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities     96,059       52,778  
    Investing activities                
    Capital expenditures     (15,507 )     (13,621 )
    Purchase of convertible preferred stock in equity method investment     (926 )     (1,513 )
    Purchases of debt securities and equity investments     (29,083 )     (27,593 )
    Proceeds from maturities and sales of debt securities and redemptions of equity investments     35,005       41,527  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (10,511 )     (1,200 )
    Financing activities                
    Dividends paid     (4,036 )     (1,269 )
    Distributions to noncontrolling interests     (100 )     (62 )
    Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility     24,551       32,864  
    Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility.     (24,551 )     (32,864 )
    Purchase of restricted shares of net2phone common stock     —       (3,558 )
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options     —       172  
    Repurchases of Class B common stock     (17,773 )     (7,207 )
    Net cash used in financing activities     (21,909 )     (11,924 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents     3,982       (5,632 )
    Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents     67,621       34,022  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     255,456       198,823  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 323,077     $ 232,845  
                     
    Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities                
    Shares of the Company’s Class B common stock issued to executive officers for bonus payments   $ 1,824     $ 1,495  
    Value of the Company’s Class B common stock exchanged for National Retail Solutions shares   $ 442     $ 6,254  
    Shares of the Company’s Class B common stock issued for business acquisition   $ —     $ 100  


    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 and 2024

    In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), IDT also disclosed (a) Adjusted EBITDA for 3Q25, 2Q25, and 3Q24, (b) non-GAAP earnings per diluted share (Non-GAAP EPS) for 3Q25 and 3Q24, and (c) NRS’ and Fintech segment’s ‘Rule of 40’ score for 3Q25. These are non-GAAP financial measures intended to provide useful information that supplements IDT’s or the relevant segment’s results in accordance with GAAP. The following explains these terms and their respective reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

    Generally, a non-GAAP measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

    IDT’s measure of Non-GAAP EPS is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income by the diluted weighted-average shares. IDT’s measure of non-GAAP net income starts with net income attributable to IDT in accordance with GAAP and adds severance expense, stock-based compensation, and other operating expenses, and deducts other operating gains. These additions and subtractions are non-cash and/or non-routine items in the relevant fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 periods.

    Management believes that IDT’s Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS are measures which provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses and non-routine gains and losses that may not be indicative of IDT’s or the relevant segment’s core operating results. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, among other measures, as a relevant indicator of core operational strengths in its financial and operational decision making. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS to evaluate operating performance in relation to IDT’s competitors. Disclosure of these financial measures may be useful to investors in evaluating performance and allow for greater transparency of the underlying supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. In addition, IDT has historically reported similar financial measures and believes such measures are commonly used by readers of financial information in assessing performance, therefore the inclusion of comparative numbers provides consistency in financial reporting.

    Management refers to Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the GAAP measures income (loss) from operations and net income, on a segment and/or consolidated level to facilitate internal and external comparisons to the segments’ and IDT’s historical operating results, in making operating decisions, for budget and planning purposes, and to form the basis upon which management is compensated.

    While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or capitalized in prior periods. IDT’s Adjusted EBITDA, which is exclusive of depreciation and amortization, is a useful indicator of its current performance.

    Severance expense is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS. Severance expense is reflective of decisions made by management in each period regarding the aspects of IDT’s and its segments’ businesses to be focused on in light of changing market realities and other factors. While there may be similar charges in other periods, the nature and magnitude of these charges can fluctuate markedly and do not reflect the performance of IDT’s core and continuing operations.

    Other operating expense, net, which is a component of income (loss) from operations, is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS. Other operating expense, net in 3Q25, 2Q25, and 3Q24 primarily includes legal fees related to Straight Path Communications Inc.’s stockholders’ class action and equipment write-offs. From time-to-time, IDT may have gains or incur costs related to non-routine legal, tax, and other matters, however, these various items generally do not occur each quarter. IDT believes the gain and losses from these non-routine matters are not components of IDT’s or the relevant segment’s core operating results.

    Stock-based compensation recognized by IDT and other companies may not be comparable because of the variety of types of awards as well as the various valuation methodologies and subjective assumptions that are permitted under GAAP. Stock-based compensation is excluded from IDT’s calculation of Non-GAAP EPS because management believes this allows investors to make more meaningful comparisons of the operating results per share of IDT’s core business with the results of other companies. However, stock-based compensation will continue to be a significant expense for IDT for the foreseeable future and an important part of employees’ compensation that impacts their performance.

    Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, income (loss) from operations, cash flow from operating activities, net income, basic and diluted earnings per share or other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, IDT’s measurements of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

    The ‘Rule of 40’ score is a metric used to evaluate the performance of SaaS providers. It postulates that a SaaS provider’s revenue growth rate plus its EBITDA margin should equal or exceed 40 percent. The ‘Rule of 40’ is typically used to assess a company’s balance between growth and profitability. A total of over 40 is thought to indicate a healthy combination of expansion and financial stability, making it a useful tool for management and investors to gauge the potential for long-term success and make informed decisions about resource allocation and business strategy.

    NRS’ ‘Rule of 40’ score is computed by adding (a) the growth rate of NRS’ recurring revenue for the relevant period compared to the corresponding year ago period to (b) NRS’ Adjusted EBITDA margin for the twelve month period through the end of the current period. NRS’ recurring revenue is calculated by subtracting NRS’ revenue from POS terminal sales from its total GAAP revenue. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure as discussed above. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by GAAP revenue for the relevant period.

    Following are reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, which are, (a) for Adjusted EBITDA, (i) income (loss) from operations for IDT’s reportable segments and (ii) net income for IDT on a consolidated basis, and (b) for Non-GAAP EPS, diluted earnings per share. Also following is NRS’ ‘Rule of 40’ score computation including the reconciliation of NRS’ Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, NRS’ income from operations.

    IDT Corporation
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
    (unaudited) in millions. Figures may not foot or cross-foot due to rounding to millions

        Total IDT Corporation     Traditional Communica-tions     net2phone     NRS     Fintech     Corporate  
    Three Months Ended April 30, 2025
    (3Q25)    		                                    
    Net income attributable to IDT Corporation   $ 21.7                                          
    Adjustments:                                                
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests     1.3                                          
    Net income     23.0                                          
    Provision for income taxes     7.8                                          
    Income before income taxes     30.8                                          
    Interest income, net     (1.6 )                                        
    Other income, net     (2.6 )                                        
    Income (loss) from operations     26.6     $ 17.3     $ 1.4     $ 6.2     $ 4.3     $ (2.6 )
    Depreciation and amortization     5.2       1.9       1.6       1.0       0.7       –  
    Other operating expense, net     0.2       –       0.2       –       –       –  
    Severance expense     0.2       0.2       –       –       –       –  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 32.2     $ 19.3     $ 3.2     $ 7.2     $ 5.0     $ (2.6 )
        Total IDT Corporation     Traditional Communica-tions     net2phone     NRS     Fintech     Corporate  
    Three Months Ended January 31, 2025
    (2Q25)    		                                    
    Net income attributable to IDT Corporation   $ 20.3                                          
    Adjustments:                                                
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests     1.9                                          
    Net income     22.2                                          
    Provision for income taxes     7.7                                          
    Income before income taxes     29.9                                          
    Interest income, net     (1.4 )                                        
    Other income, net     (0.2 )                                        
    Income (loss) from operations     28.3     $ 18.1     $ 1.1     $ 9.1     $ 3.1     $ (3.1 )
    Depreciation and amortization     5.2       1.9       1.6       1.0       0.8       –  
    Other operating expense, net     0.2       –       0.2       –       –       –  
    Severance expense     0.2       0.2       –       –       –       –  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 34.0     $ 20.2     $ 2.9     $ 10.1     $ 3.9     $ (3.1 )


    IDT Corporation
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
    (unaudited) in millions. Figures may not foot or cross-foot due to rounding to millions

        Total IDT Corporation     Traditional Communica-tions     net2phone     NRS     Fintech     Corporate  
    Three Months Ended April 30, 2024
    (3Q24)    		                                    
    Net income attributable to IDT Corporation   $ 5.6                                          
    Adjustments:                                                
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests     0.8                                          
    Net income     6.3                                          
    Provision for income taxes     3.0                                          
    Income before income taxes     9.3                                          
    Interest income, net     (1.2 )                                        
    Other expense, net     3.3                                          
    Income (loss) from operations     11.4     $ 12.5     $ 0.5     $ 4.8     $ (0.6 )   $ (5.7 )
    Depreciation and amortization     5.1       2.0       1.6       0.8       0.7       –  
    Severance expense     0.8       0.4       0.1       –       –       0.3  
    Other operating expense, net     3.2       –       –       –       0.1       3.2  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 20.6     $ 14.9     $ 2.1     $ 5.6     $ 0.2     $ (2.3 )


    IDT Corporation
    Reconciliation of Earnings per share to Non-GAAP EPS
    (unaudited) in millions, except per share data. Figures may not foot due to rounding to millions.

        3Q25     3Q24  
                     
    Net income attributable to IDT Corporation   $ 21.7     $ 5.6  
    Adjustments (add) subtract:                
    Stock-based compensation     (0.9 )     (2.1 )
    Severance expense     (0.2 )     (0.8 )
    Other operating expense, net     (0.2 )     (3.2 )
    Total adjustments     (1.3 )     (6.1 )
    Income tax effect of total adjustments     (0.3 )     (2.0 )
          1.0       4.1  
    Non-GAAP net income   $ 22.7     $ 9.7  
                     
    Earnings per share:                
    Basic   $ 0.86     $ 0.22  
    Total adjustments     0.04       0.16  
    Non-GAAP – basic   $ 0.90     $ 0.38  
                     
    Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of basic earnings per share     25.2       25.3  
                     
    Diluted   $ 0.86     $ 0.22  
    Total adjustments     0.04       0.16  
    Non-GAAP – diluted   $ 0.90     $ 0.38  
                     
    Weighted-average number of shares used in calculation of diluted earnings per share     25.2       25.5  


    IDT Corporation
    NRS’ ‘Rule of 40’ Score
    For 3Q25
    (unaudited) in millions. Figures may not foot due to rounding to millions.

        4Q24     1Q25     2Q25     3Q25     Trailing Twelve Months (TTM)
    3Q25    		  
                                             
    Reconciliation of NRS’ Income from Operations to Adjusted EBITDA                                        
                                             
    Income from operations   $ 6.0     $ 6.6     $ 9.1     $ 6.2     $ 28.0  
    Depreciation and amortization     0.9       1.0       1.0       1.0       3.9  
    Other operating expense, net     0.2       –       –       –       0.2  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 7.1     $ 7.6     $ 10.1     $ 7.2     $ 32.0  
        3Q25     3Q24  
                     
    NRS’ ‘Rule of 40’ Score                
                     
    NRS recurring revenue   $ 29.4     $ 24.0  
    NRS other revenue     1.7       1.8  
    NRS total revenue   $ 31.1     $ 25.7  
                     
    NRS recurring revenue growth rate     23 %        
                     
    NRS TTM Adjusted EBITDA from above   $ 32.0          
    NRS TTM total revenue     122.7          
    NRS TTM Adjusted EBITDA margin     26 %        
                     
    Rule of 40     49 %        


    Explanation of Key Performance Metrics

    net2phone’s subscription revenue is calculated by subtracting net2phone’s equipment revenue and revenue generated by a legacy SIP trunking offering in Brazil from its revenue in accordance with GAAP. net2phone’s cloud communications and contact center offerings are priced on a per-seat basis, with customers paying based on the number of users in their organization. The number of seats served and subscription revenue trends and comparisons between periods are used in the analysis of net2phone’s revenues and direct cost of revenues and are strong indications of the top-line growth and performance of the business.

    Constant currency as it relates to revenue provides a framework for assessing net2phone’s performance that excludes the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To determine net2phone’s subscription revenue growth on a constant currency basis, current period revenues from entities reporting in currencies other than U.S. Dollars (USD) were converted to USD at the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the prior fiscal year’s comparative period instead of the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the current period.

    net2phone’s operating margin is calculated by dividing GAAP income from operations by GAAP revenue for the period indicated. Operating margin measures the percentage that each dollar of revenue contributes to profitability. Operating margin is useful for evaluating current period profitability relative to sales, for comparisons to prior period performance, for forecasting future income from operations levels based on projected levels of sales, and for comparing net2phone’s relative profitability to its competitors and peers.

    net2phone’s Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing net2phone’s Adjusted EBITDA, a Non-GAAP measure, by net2phone’s GAAP revenue for the comparable quarter or period. Adjusted EBITDA margin measures the percentage that each dollar of revenue contributes to profitability before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other adjustments as described in the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. net2phone’s Adjusted EBITDA margin is useful for evaluating current period profitability relative to sales, for comparisons to prior period performance, for forecasting future Adjusted EBITDA levels based on projected levels of sales, and for comparing net2phone’s relative profitability to its competitors and peers.

    NRS’ Monthly Average Recurring Revenue per Terminal is calculated by dividing NRS’ recurring revenue as defined above by the average number of active POS terminals during the period. The average number of active POS terminals is calculated by adding the beginning and ending number of active POS terminals during the period and dividing by two. NRS’ recurring revenue divided by the average number of active POS terminals is divided by three when the period is a fiscal quarter. Recurring revenue and Monthly Average Recurring Revenue per Terminal are useful for comparisons of NRS’ revenue and revenue per customer to prior periods and to competitors and others in the market, as well as for forecasting future revenue from the customer base.

    BOSS Money transactions are a nonfinancial metric that measures customer usage during a reporting period. BOSS Money’s digital send volume is the aggregate amount of principal remitted by BOSS Money’s digital customers – those using the BOSS Money and BOSS Revolutions apps to originate remittances. Digital send volume is a key metric for evaluating the operational performance of the digital channel of the remittance business, and for comparing the performance of BOSS Money’s digital channel to competitors in the remittance business as well as to performance to other temporal periods.

    # # #  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Insurtech Insights USA 2025: Event Round-Up from Day Two

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Insurtech Insights USA 2025, concluded today at the Javits Center, wrapping up two impactful days of insightful conversations, cross-sector collaboration, and high-level dealmaking. With over 6,000 delegates and more than 400 industry leaders in attendance, this year’s edition firmly cemented the event’s position as the foremost gathering for insurance innovation in North America and the largest ever Insurtech Insights USA conference.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link.

    Reflecting on the success of the event, Kristoffer Lundberg, Founder & CEO of Insurtech Insights, said, “As we close out two powerful days of dialogue, dealmaking, and discovery, one message echoes throughout the Javits Center: insurance is no longer just about risk, it’s about being resilient. From agentic AI to behavioral underwriting, from redefining customer trust to unlocking global M&A potential, this year’s event captured a sector rewriting its operating system. Thank you to our partners, speakers, and 6,000+ attendees for reaffirming that innovation in insurance isn’t a buzzword, it’s our collective mission.”

    Day Two Highlights: AI at the Forefront of Transformation

    The day was packed with several thought-provoking panels, keynotes, and moderated discussion sessions across the six stages. Some of the highlights on the main stage were sessions like “Facing into AI: The Potential and Uncertainty,” a compelling conversation between Lucy Pilko, CEO of AXA XL Americas, and Naveen Agarwal, Senior Advisor at BCG and CEO of NavDots. Together, they unpacked the double-edged nature of AI in insurance, stressing the need for thoughtful implementation as insurers and clients alike navigate the transformative and sometimes uncertain possibilities of AI.

    Later on the main stage, the session “A Year Later for AI and GenAI in Insurance: The Reality and Growing Real Business Value” showcased how far the industry has come in just 12 months. Moderated by Denise Garth, Chief Strategy Officer at Majesco, the panel included Robert Pick, EVP and Chief Information Officer, Tokio Marine North America Services, Manish Sha, President Chief Product Officer at Majesco, and Jim DeMarco, Insurance Advisor Lead, Microsoft. The speakers shared real-world results of AI implementation, with early benchmarking showing up to 10–20x productivity improvements in underwriting and customer service. They also addressed how GenAI is simplifying complex workflows, accelerating onboarding, and helping insurers meet rising customer expectations, especially as nearly 50% of the workforce approaches retirement by 2030.

    In the afternoon, the session “Operationalizing AI in Insurance: Key Considerations for Full-Scale Implementation” drew a packed audience. Moderated by Karlyn Carnahan, Head of P&C Insurance, Celent, the panel featured Dan Moore, Senior Vice President of Claims Shared Services, CNA Insurance, Anurag Bairathi, Chief Claims Officer, Mapfre, and Yuval Man, CEO and Co-Founder, DigitalOwl. Speakers offered practical insights into scaling AI responsibly, underscoring the need for human-in-the-loop processes, AI governance, bias testing, and strong organizational guardrails to ensure safe and effective deployment across underwriting and claims operations.

    The final main stage session, “Regulators & Risk Takers: Aligning Vision for the Future of Insurance,” brought together Commissioners Jon Godfread, Glen Mulready, and Andrew Mais from North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Connecticut, respectively. Moderated by Susan Winkler, VP and Executive Director, Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services, the conversation centered on finding common ground between regulatory oversight and industry innovation. The panelists agreed that open dialogue and coordinated action between regulators and carriers are essential to shaping a future-ready insurance ecosystem in an era marked by climate volatility, AI disruption, and rapid digital transformation.

    The closing of Insurtech Insights USA 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the industry’s journey from legacy operations toward data-powered, customer-centric, and resilient growth models. With AI no longer a concept on the horizon but a force embedded in today’s operations, this year’s conference showcased not just where the industry is going but also the leaders who are already taking it there.

    Registrations for Insurtech Insights 2026 early bird are now open, and you can buy with ease: a 30-day full money-back guarantee.

    About Insurtech Insights USA

    Insurtech Insights USA is the leading global conference for the insurtech industry, bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of insurance. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and disruption, Insurtech Insights USA provides a platform for networking, learning, and driving meaningful change in the insurance sector.

    For media queries and other information, please contact:

    Girish Jaggi
    Senior Account Manager
    The MicDrop Agency
    girish@themicdropagency.com
    +1 (289) 623 3627

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Restoration of Mail Service to Mule Creek

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) called on Acting Postmaster Doug Tulino for the restoration of timely and reliable mail services to Mule Creek, New Mexico where residents have been without consistent postal service for nearly a year.

    “For far too long, Mule Creek residents have been forced to live without basic, reliable mail service,” said Vasquez. “Rural communities in my district rely on the USPS to deliver life saving medications, Social Security checks, and a way to pay bills in places where internet access may be limited. The total neglect of rural areas and the communities that inhabit them is unacceptable.”

    Since the Mule Creek post office was damaged in 2024, USPS has failed to complete necessary repairs and fully restore service. A temporary mobile unit operates for only four hours each weekday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offering limited services. Residents cannot send outgoing packages, purchase stamps, or access the full range of postal operations most Americans rely on without driving over an hour round-trip to the nearest operational post office.

    In his letter, Vasquez called on Acting Postmaster Tulino to provide information on the following:

    • The current status of repairs to the permanent USPS building in Mule Creek, New Mexico
    • Whether and when full mail services will be restored to the community
    • Why USPS has failed to respond to residents’ concerns and what steps will be taken to improve communication moving forward

    “We, Mule Creek residents, are very frustrated with the postal service,” said Jonathan Diener, President of the Mule Creek Community Association. “For almost a year, USPS has not responded to the community’s requests to fix the ongoing issues at Mule Creek Post Office or even been willing to communicate with the community. No response has been made to several letters. Residents have been forced to travel long distances just to access basic mail service. We are grateful to Rep. Vasquez for fighting to fix this issue.”

    Rep. Vasquez continues to press for fairness, accessibility, and investment in postal services to ensure rural New Mexicans are not left behind.

    Full text of the letter can be found below: 

    Dear Acting Postmaster Tulino, 

    I am writing to express my deep concern about the current state of the Mule Creek, New Mexico Post Office. This post office, which serves a rural community, was damaged almost a year ago and is unable to provide usual services or hours. Rural communities like Mule Creek depend on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to provide timely and reliable mail services, and I urge you to respond to the communities’ requests and prioritize restoring full service to the Mule Creek Post Office. 

    The USPS is vital to rural communities across New Mexico. Rural residents, especially seniors and veterans, depend on USPS to receive medications and Social Security checks, pay bills, and receive medications. Businesses in rural areas are also dependent upon postal services to receive supplies and send items to customers, especially when private shipping companies simply refuse to provide service due to the distance and cost.

    I was extremely alarmed by former Postmaster DeJoy’s letter to Congress earlier this year, in which he repeatedly described serving rural areas as “burdensome.” I hope under your leadership USPS will recommit to serving rural Americans. This is not an option, I will not let USPS leave rural communities like Mule Creek behind.

    I am extremely concerned that USPS has failed to restore full service to Mule Creek residents for almost a year. Currently, only a mobile unit operates in Mule Creek. Where residents were previously able to pick up mail 24 hours per day, they can now only pick up from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM – a mere four hour pick up window each week day. Additionally this mobile unit does not provide full services–such as selling stamps or allowing people to send packages–forcing residents to drive over an hour round-trip for these essential services. This is a significant burden for those who rely on these services, especially elderly and disabled members of the community and working families.

    In addition to failing to fully repair the damaged building, USPS has also failed to adequately communicate with local residents. Local residents report that USPS has repeatedly failed to respond to the building owner, even when they secured a contractor to make repairs. The community has also reached out to USPS supervisors about the timeline of the project and have not received a response. This is unacceptable.

    Please respond by July 3, 2025 with the following information:

    What is the current status of repairs on the permanent USPS building in Mule Creek, NM?

    1. Will USPS restore full services to Mule Creek? If so, please provide additional information about when residents can expect service to be restored.
    2. Why has USPS failed to respond to residents’ concerns about the Mule Creek Post Office and how does USPS plan to improve communication with the community moving forward?
    3. Restoring full mail service to Mule Creek is vital to ensuring that USPS is fulfilling its mandate to serve our rural communities. I look forward to your timely response to this issue. 

    Sincerely, 

     

    Gabe Vasquez

    Member of Congress

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Latta’s Bills to Unleash American Energy & Power AI Advanced By House Energy Subcommittee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

    Latta’s Bills to Unleash American Energy & Power AI Advanced By House Energy Subcommittee

    Washington, June 5, 2025

    Today, the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two bills introduced by Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-5) to unleash American energy as artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve and require increased energy generation: the Electric Supply Chain Act and the Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act.   

    The Electric Supply Chain Act directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct regular assessments and submit reports on the supply chain for electricity generation and transmission. The REFINER Act requires the National Petroleum Council to produce a report on the state of petrochemical refineries in the United States.  

    These bills aim to strengthen domestic energy production and infrastructure, an effort Congressman Latta underscored yesterday during a House Energy and Commerce Committee Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of AI permitting reform and reaffirmed the need to ensure U.S. based energy development to support AI’s energy needs. Watch Congressman Latta’s remarks HERE.   

    “Generative artificial intelligence isn’t a trend; it’s the backbone of the next industrial era. Countries around the globe are racing to build the full AI stack: data centers, chips, power, and platforms. Here in the United States, we must ensure that we have the right policies in place to have enough energy to power AI and make America an attractive place to build the entire AI supply chain. I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing my two bills to not only support progress in the AI space but also strengthen American-led energy production across the board,” Latta said.   

    Read more about the Electric Supply Chain Act HERE. 

    Read more about the REFINER Act HERE.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCANDAL: Rep. Lori Trahan & Scandal Star Bellamy Young Take on Migraine Disorders Affecting 40+ Million Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, partnered with Bellamy Young, actress in ABC’s hit show “Scandal,” The Headache Alliance, and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy to announce their coordinated work to introduce the HEADACHE Act, the first standalone federal legislation addressing the epidemic of migraine and headache disorders. The legislation will expand research, improve access to care, and address systemic inequities affecting people living with headache disorders.
    “Headache disorders affect nearly 45 million people in the U.S., including more than 117,000 people in the district I represent,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Behind each of those numbers is a student falling behind in school, a parent fighting to stay employed, or a veteran enduring chronic, debilitating pain. I’m proud to lead the introduction of the HEADACHE Act, a much-needed step toward expanding care, advancing research, and raising awareness for this often-overlooked condition. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind simply because their pain is invisible.”
    “Migraine has shaped not only how I work, but how I move through this world, and I know I’m not alone. For too many, living with a headache disorder means being doubted, dismissed, and left out of the conversation. But those who suffer deserve better. The HEADACHE Act is about building the future we should’ve had all along: one with research, access to care, and understanding. I’m proud to raise my voice for a cause that touches so many millions of Americans,” said Bellamy Young, actress and migraine advocate.
    More than 40 million Americans are living with migraine and headache disorders, which are the leading cause of disability in the world and for women under 50 years old in the United States. Cluster headache, new daily persistent headache, post-traumatic headache, and other migraine disorders are disabling, stigmatized, and routinely overlooked in public health priorities and research funding.
    To raise awareness, The Headache Alliance and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy transformed the National Mall into a sea of purple, with a visual display representing the need for greater federal attention and public awareness for the tens of millions of Americans living with migraine and headache disorders. The installation will remain on the Mall for two weeks.
    “We are so thrilled and honored to bring our message to the National Mall,” said Annika Ehrlich, President of the Board of The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. “This represents two decades of planning and hard work to advance headache policy and advocacy.”
    “We are putting a face, name, and voice to the lived experience of migraine and headache disorders,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. “With the anticipated introduction of the HEADACHE Act and this historic Installation project, we are demanding to be seen, heard, and taken seriously.”
    The HEADACHE Act will be introduced in the coming weeks.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Sorensen Calls on Congress to Fund His Bipartisan Law to Create Jobs, Boost Local Economies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    Congressman Sorensen is Calling on Congress to Provide $50 Million to the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program Established by His Bipartisan ONSHORE Law

    Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging them to fund the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program at the Department of Commerce in the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bills with $50 million. The Critical Supply Chain Site Development Program provides grants to local communities for site readiness improvements, such as connecting sites to utilities, completing environmental reviews, and investing in workforce training.

    “Business in the Quad Cities and beyond are telling me they’re ready to break ground and hire new workers thanks to the passage of my bipartisan ONSHORE Act,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This law has the potential to unlock untapped economic development, but we need to make sure the resources are there to make these new projects a reality. I’m calling on Congress to ensure we fully fund the grant program under the law, so we can help uplift communities across Illinois’ 17th district.” 

    “The Quad Cities is primed for investment, but site readiness is impeding growth,” said Peter Tokar, President & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber. “Like the rest of the country, we are in need of new tools in the toolbox to meet our region’s full economic potential.” 

    “We applaud Congressman Sorensen and the bipartisan coalition that helped pass the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Program into law and the current bipartisan effort to deliver funding for this necessary tool,” said Ryan Sempf, Executive Director Government Affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.

    The program was established by Congressman Sorensen and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-01) bipartisan Opportunities for Non-developed Sites to Have Opportunities to be Rehabilitated for Economic Development (ONSHORE) Act. The law focuses on attracting new manufacturing jobs and businesses to communities like the Quad Cities by addressing the issue of unused sites and making them shovel-ready for development. Local leaders and businesses have said that preparing sites for development is one of the biggest obstacles to attracting manufacturing businesses to the area. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper Slams Trump Administration Policies Threatening Colorado Small Businesses, Public Lands, Rural Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper made stops in Denver, Estes Park, and Evans last week to call out Trump administration attacks on Colorado’s public lands, small businesses, and rural health care. 

    On Tuesday, Hickenlooper held a press conference with Colorado business owners at Four Noses Brewing Company to highlight how the Trump administration’s erratic tariff policies are harming local businesses. 

    “Tariffs cramp businesses and provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable and ends up meaning that people can’t make the investments in their business to grow,” said Hickenlooper. “…I think we are perilously close to sliding into a recession or maybe even worse, stagflation.” 

    Then on Wednesday, Hickenlooper joined Congressman Joe Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands – including Rocky Mountain National Park. 

    Watch the recap HickTok HERE

    “Our lands are under siege… But we fight, we’re beaten, we rise and fight again,” Hickenlooper said at the press conference. 

    He highlighted the damage caused by the DOGE layoffs at the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service, and warned that proposed budget cuts could hamstring wildland firefighting efforts. He also criticized the Trump administration proposals to sell our public lands and emphasized the importance of continued collective action to fight back. 

    Afterwards, Hickenlooper visited Sunrise Community Health at the Monfort Family Clinic in Evans to highlight the dangerous cuts to Medicaid proposed in the House-passed Republican budget. Cuts of more than $700 billion from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage would strip health care from 16 million Americans.

    Check out the event coverage below. 

    WATCH: CBS Denver: Hickenlooper Tours 4 Noses Brewing Company to Highlight Tariffs

    WATCH: ABC Denver 7: Senator Hickenlooper Highlights Tariffs at 4 Noses Brewery 

    WATCH: Fox 31 Denver: Hickenlooper Talks About Tariffs with Area Business Owners

    Colorado Public Radio: Hickenlooper Highlights Trump’s Erratic Trade War

    Colorado Newsline: Colorado businesses struggle amid uncertainty of fluctuating Trump tariffs (Company leaders tell Sen. Hickenlooper they seek stability)

    Colorado small businesses from various sectors have made changes to their operations and even lost customers as a result of uncertainty around Trump administration tariffs. 

    …Hickenlooper said people well versed in economics tell him that “tariffs have never worked” except in specific situations. He said all tariffs do is create “a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable” and prevents businesses from growing and maintaining supply chain relationships. 

    “All these tariffs, in one way or another, they’re not bringing manufacturing back to this country,” Hickenlooper said. “What they’re doing is putting an unbearable burden on small businesses like we see here.”

    Colorado Times Recorder: Hickenlooper Meets With Small Business Owners Who Face Tariff Uncertainty

    Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) met with small business owners from across Colorado today, all of whom emphasized that the uncertainty of federal tariff policy has caused market chaos.

    …“The fact that we have tariffs at a time when most of the people I know who really understand economics believe that tariffs have never worked except in very surgical situations in the past,” Hickenlooper said. “Tariffs [as they are being implemented] provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable and ends up with people being unable to make the investments they need to make for their business to grow. We’ve seen that over the past couple of months. We are perilously close to sliding into a recession or… even stagflation.” 

    Colorado Public Radio: Hickenlooper highlights the tariff pain inflicted on Colorado companies

    President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policy is whipsawing Colorado’s entrepreneurs.

    “Predictability matters,” Sen. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday during a press conference with business owners at 4 Noses Brewing Company in Denver. “Being able to count on your relationships with your supply chain, your wholesalers, your retailers, to build a business. Those are the essential characteristics and we’re losing that literally in the blink of an eye.”

    No corner of the state’s business ecosystem is untouched by President Trump’s on-again-off-again approach to levying tariffs. Hickenlooper was joined by representatives from a diverse set of Colorado companies, including a pet food manufacturer, a craft brewery, an environmental equipment manufacturer and a machine part manufacturer.

    Axios Denver: Colorado breweries fret about tariffs amid trade war

    …Driving the news: U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a former Wynkoop Brewing owner, is raising awareness about the tariffs’ potential to hike the price of ingredients, equipment and packaging.

    “Tariffs cramp businesses and provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable,” Hickenlooper said during a visit earlier this week to Denver’s 4 Noses Brewing, where he sipped a beer fresh from the canning line and listened to local business owners talk about how the tariffs are hurting their businesses.

    WATCH: MSNBC: Long lines, dirty bathrooms, overflowing trash – Trump cuts leave national parks in crisis

    WATCH: Denver 7: Hickenlooper hosts press conference in Estes Park

    Estes Park Trail Gazette: Sen. John Hickenlooper from Lake Estes: ‘Our lands are under siege’

    …With the Rocky Mountains serving as his backdrop, Hickenlooper encouraged backers to take to social media and create a groundswell of support for his bill aimed at establishing a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preventing the use of proceeds from public land sales, and to reduce the federal deficit, according to the bill. 

    “What we need to do is use social media like we’ve never used it before. We need to make sure our networks of people, tell their networks of people, what this really means, what this could do when you cripple an outdoor recreation economy that is actually paying for the maintenance, the preservation, and the access to these incredible public lands,” Hickenlooper said. 

    “Our lands are under siege, between what DOGE has done, the firings, if you add the people at the Forest Service, the National Parks, basically the Department of the Interior, all the different components that it takes to run our parks. That’s 6,000 people that have either been fired or pushed out of their jobs,” Hickenlooper said. 

    “We’re being attacked in every direction, especially in climate change. But we fight, we’re beaten, we rise and fight again.” 

    Colorado Newsline: Public lands advocates fear for Colorado’s national parks under Trump budget proposals

    After the 2013 Colorado floods devastated communities surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, locals worked tirelessly to get their businesses back up and running in time for the peak fall season. 

    The federal government shut down for about two weeks shortly after the flood, but U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who was governor at the time, said Colorado agreed to pay the salaries for every employee in Rocky Mountain National Park so the park could still be open to visitors.

    “That’s the way the state government, the federal government used to work together around public lands, and I think it’s worth revisiting that it was a team effort, that everyone was on the same page,” Hickenlooper said. “The businesses desperately needed that retail period to be open to maximize the largest influx of visitors’ to Estes Park, and we got it.”

    That spirit of cooperation is a far cry from the threatened cuts to National Park Service staff and funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, Hickenlooper and other public lands advocates said in Estes Park Wednesday. Hickenlooper and U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, called on Congress and Trump to reverse the cuts and maintain protections for the country’s public lands.

    …Hickenlooper said over 6,000 people who work to take care of national parks and national forests across different agencies have either been fired or left their jobs. 

    “We’re going to see more risk this summer and this spring from wildfires, from extreme weather,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re going to see more risks than we’ve seen before in all … aspects of the droughts we’ve had and the water we have to use, at a time when we’re dramatically diminishing the number of firefighters we’re going to have available to fight fires in the West.”

    Outside Magazine: John Hickenlooper: The Fight Over America’s Public Lands Has Become “All Out War”

    On Wednesday, May 28, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state congressman John Neguse near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The two lawmakers spoke about the ongoing fight to protect public lands and the federal agencies that oversee them.

    Greeley Tribune: Sen. Hickenlooper visits Sunrise Community Health to discuss Medicaid cuts 

    If lawmakers in the U.S. Senate vote to pass new Medicaid requirements recently approved by the House, Sunrise Community Health CEO Mitzi Moran estimates about a quarter of patients in the nonprofit health care system could lose coverage.

    “Seven thousand to 14,000 of our patients could fall off Medicaid as a result of these changes,” Moran told U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday. “That’s disastrous for them. While they could still come to us because we offer a sliding fee scale, what happens if they have a hospital visit or if they need to see a specialist?”

    Hickenlooper visited the Monfort Family Clinic in Evans on Wednesday to discuss the potential cuts with staff and local members of the health care community.

    …Though patients would still be able to utilize that sliding pay scale even without Medicaid, Hickenlooper and Moran expressed concerns about how these cuts would still jeopardize the clinic. If Sunrise receives less pay for the care it provides, Moran said it would need to become a very different organization to remain operational.

    …Current estimates from the Congressional Budget Office indicate the changes to Medicaid would result in 8.6 million Americans losing coverage, including more than 1 million in Colorado.

    “I can’t believe our House members pushed this budget,” Hickenlooper said.“There are four Republican House members from Colorado, and I know they’ve received calls about Medicaid. If all four of our guys voted together, they could’ve stopped it.”

    Hickenlooper believes his tour of the Monfort clinic and discussions about the bill’s impacts will help in his fight to stop the bill from being passed in the Senate. However, he is unsure whether it will be sufficient to convince enough senators to push back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Repeal the Gun Industry’s Legal Liability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) were joined today, during the first week of Gun Violence Awareness Month, by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) in leading a group of 81 members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits.

    Murphy, Blumenthal, Swalwell, Schiff, Evans, and Thompson announced the legislation today during a virtual press conference joined by leading gun violence prevention advocates: Kris Brown, president of Brady; Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action; and Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and vice president of GIFFORDS Law Center. Video of the press conference is available here.

    “There’s absolutely no reason why the gun industry should get special treatment when it comes to negligence. Their immunity from lawsuits effectively gives them a license to kill. It’s past time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and allow gun violence victims their day in court,” said Murphy.

    “PLCAA is the ultimate sweetheart deal – legal immunity afforded to basically no other industry for a product that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year,” said Blumenthal. “Despite the strength and perseverance of the Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and Highland Park families – and the tenacity of their legal teams – this is a problem that cannot be solved only through the courts. PLCAA must be repealed by Congress.”

    “No industry in American has a liability shield like gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers,” said Swalwell. “The NRA and their GOP stooges made sure that the gun industry has a unique immunity from accountability. This bill ends that ridiculous carve out. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) once and for all, allowing victims of gun violence to bring civil suits against gun producers and sellers. The time has long since come for Congress to be clear – if you put the most dangerous weapons in the hands of the most dangerous people, you will be held accountable.”

    “More than a 100 Americans are killed by a gun every single day in America. And yet, Congress does nothing to hold the gun industry accountable when the negligence of gun makers and dealers is responsible for the tragic consequences their products have on our kids, our families, and our communities. As long as gun violence continues to take the lives of so many in California and across the nation, I will fight to repeal the liability shield that wrongly protects negligent gun industry actors from liability,” said Schiff.

    “Victims and survivors should be able to hold the gun industry accountable in court for negligent behavior. But right now, the gun industry is shielded from any liability when they disregard public safety. That’s wrong,” said Crow. “I’m introducing this bill so we can finally hold the gun industry responsible.”

    “As someone who’s advocated for this concept in Pennsylvania’s legislature and now in Congress, I’m proud to be a co-lead on this bill to restore this basic right of victims and survivors – a right that a heavy-handed federal government took away 20 years ago. So many American gun deaths could be avoided if we held companies accountable for things like illegal sales, defective guns and irresponsible marketing. State attorneys general were able to hold Big Tobacco accountable in the 1990s, and they should be able to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in the 21st century since thousands of lives depend on it. This legislation would be an important tool in the toolbox to protect our citizens from gun violence,” said Evans.

    “In the 20 years since PLCAA was passed, it’s become clear that negligent gun manufacturers and dealers have taken advantage of the law. Responsible manufacturers and dealers don’t need this legal protection – and irresponsible ones are hiding behind it. As a hunter, combat veteran and responsible gun owner, I’m proud to work with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell to introduce this sensible legislation,” said Thompson, Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

    When Congress passed PLCAA, its supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This legislation allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.

    In 2005, the National Rifle Association (NRA) identified PLCAA as their “number one” legislative priority, and the NRA celebrated the passage calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

    U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the bill.

    U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.-04), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.-01), Don Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio-11), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Danny Davis (D-Ill.-07), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.-04), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas-07), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.-02), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.-02), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.-03), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-05), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.-10), David Scott (D-Ga.-13), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02) also cosponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Justice Advance American Energy Dominance, Prioritize Consumer Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in introducing the Energy Choice Act of 2025. The Biden administration and many blue states took energy freedom away from consumers by restricting specific sources of energy—effectively targeting natural gas and fossil fuels. This legislation would bar states and local governments from taking away consumer choice and work toward advancing President Trump’s vision of unleashing American energy. 
    “For four years, Joe Biden and woke Democrats took a sledgehammer to American energy production,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We need to rein-in blue states who caved to the climate-cult and imposed ridiculous regulations that are deeply unpopular with hardworking Americans. Thankfully, President Trump is working around the clock to unleash America’s energy potential. I’m proud to join my colleagues to support President Trump, restore American energy dominance, and preserve consumer choice.”
    “I am an energy guy from an energy-rich state. I know how important freedom of energy production is – which is why I’m proud to introduce Energy Choice Act of 2025. President Trump has stated the need to unleash American energy, and this bill helps facilitate just that. We have too great an energy crisis in this country, and we don’t have the luxury of picking the winners and losers when it comes to energy production. Americans ought to have the right to choose what is best for their energy needs,”said Sen. Justice.
    American Exploration and Production Council, American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, Americans for Prosperity, Consumer Energy Alliance, Energy Marketers of America, GPA Midstream Association, GPSA Midstream Suppliers, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Oil and Energy Service Professionals, National Energy and Fuels Institute, National Propane Gas Association, Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors – National Association, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance have endorsed the bill.
    U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) is leading the effort in the House of Representatives.
    Read full text of the bill here. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey Hosts Listening Session on the Impacts of Republican Attacks on Digital Equity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Senate Republicans recently voted to repeal an FCC rule increasing access to Wi-Fi hotspots for students and educators at home
    Washington (June 5, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, hosted a virtual listening session Wednesday to hear from digital equity advocates about the impacts of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut funding for digital equity programs in Massachusetts and across the country. From the administration’s termination of Digital Equity Act funding, to Republican efforts to block E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi hotspots for students and educators at home, these actions have had dire consequences for efforts to close the digital divide. More than 200 digital equity champions from across Massachusetts joined the Senator’s listening session to share their stories.
    “Trump’s decision to cancel funding for Digital Equity Act grants is reckless, short-sighted, and illegal,” said Senator Markey. “These grants were promises — real, actionable investments in real communities to bridge the very real gaps in internet access, digital skills, and opportunity. I appreciated listening to and learning from the many digital equity advocates in Massachusetts about the impact these cuts will have on their organizations and the populations they serve. I will carry their stories with me in our fight for a just digital future.”
    “Everyone deserves access to the internet. It’s essential for being able to participate in our economy and utilize the resources and services that so many of us rely on,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “It’s terrible that the Trump Administration is blocking our efforts to bring internet access to veterans, rural communities and individuals with disabilities across the state. They need to restore this funding.”
    “Massachusetts is committed to empowering our most vulnerable citizens with digital skills training, devices and other resources to thrive in our digital society,” said Michael Baldino, Director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. “As we work to achieving universal access to reliable broadband service, we are disappointed that the federal government has stripped critical funds that are necessary for us to implement our statewide digital equity plan.”
    “Through Ameelio’s work, correctional staff see how connection to the outside world betters everyone behind bars – the incarcerated people and their fellow officers alike,” said April Feng, CEO of Ameelio. “When people are connected to those who they love and those who love them, to the best parts of their lives, they have hope. And that hope will sustain them to serve their time meaningfully, go to school, find a job, build a home, and enable a future. Investing in digital equity behind the walls is not just a matter of improving conditions for incarcerated individuals — it is a public safety and economic imperative.”
    Senator Markey is the House author of the E-Rate program, which has invested nearly $62 billion to connect schools and libraries to the internet across the country. Massachusetts schools and libraries have received more than $895 million from the E-Rate program and another $97 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7 billion program that Senator Markey created within the American Rescue Plan to provide devices and connectivity for students and educators at home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Markey, Baldwin, Rep. Carter Announce Legislation to Protect Public TV Channels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF)
    Washington (June 5, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Representative Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, today announced the introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act, legislation that would undo rulemaking from the first Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that effectively limited the resources available for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels.
    Under the Communications Act, cable companies negotiate franchise agreements with local governments to provide cable services in a community. The Act caps franchise fees that a cable company pays to the local government at 5% of revenue. This revenue helps fund PEG stations, as well as other community services such as public libraries and emergency responders. In addition, cable companies historically paid up to 5% cap and provided additional, in-kind support to the community, such as free cable service to schools or access to building studios. In 2019, the FCC issued a new rule that counted those in-kind contributions towards the 5% cap, meaning cable companies could reduce their cash payments by claiming the value of those services. With fewer cash resources, local governments were forced to choose between investing in PEG programming or supporting other public services. The result has been less funding for PEG stations.
    “Millions of Americans rely on community television to keep up with the news that matters most to them, stay plugged into enriching, educational programming, and hold their local governments to account. But the Trump administration has forced communities across the country to pull the plug on public programming,” said Senator Markey. “At a time when news and media have become more consolidated than ever before, I am proud to partner with Senator Baldwin and Representative Carter to reintroduce the Protecting Community Television Act to uphold local access to public, education, and government channels for every household in our country.”
    “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill and stand with communities that depend on local media to stay informed, connected, and heard. PEG channels are lifelines for civic engagement and public education, especially in times of crisis, and they shouldn’t be collateral damage in a corporate accounting maneuver. This legislation restores the original promise Congress made: that local governments should have the tools they need to meet community needs without being forced to choose between vital services and local voices,” said Congressman Carter.
    The legislation is endorsed by Democratic Leader Schumer (D-N.Y), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Me.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
    The Protecting Community Television Act is endorsed by Alliance for Community Media, National Association of Counties, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National League of Cities, MassAccess, and Maine Community Media Association.
    “The Alliance for Community Media welcomes the re-introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act and want to thank Senator Markey and Representative Carter for their support for community access television. Passage of the Act will reduce fees that drain away monetary support for local community media channels across the country. At a time when we have fewer and fewer local journalists and reliable local information sources, cities and towns need community access television more than ever, and this bill will help sustain our operations,” said Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media.
    “Counties rely on public communications channels to disseminate local news and updates to residents in a timely manner,” said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties. “By preserving monetary support for public, educational and government channels through franchise fees, counties would ensure that essential local content remains accessible to residents. Counties thank Senators Ed Markey and Tammy Baldwin for introducing the Protecting Community Television Act and urge its swift passage”
    “The Protecting Community Television Act (PCTA) is elegant legislation that seeks to protect benefits consistent with the Cable Act and cable franchising principles since 1984.  In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order that undermines this ability by redefining the term “franchise fees” as used in the Cable Act and substituting its definition for that written by Congress in 1984. The Protecting Community Television Act remedies that altered meaning by protecting local public, educational and community access television so folks in communities across the country can continue to access relevant and timely local news that they rely on. Thanks to Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) for continuing to advocate for the PCTA, which reaffirms Congress’ original intent to protect the long-standing ability of local governments to manage public property and provide for local media through public, educational and governmental access channels (PEG Access) in cable franchise agreements,” said Mike Lynch, Legislative Director for National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Introduces Legislation to Secure America’s Satellite Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Chair of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan Secure Space Act of 2025. The legislation aims to strengthen America’s national security by preventing foreign adversaries from accessing and compromising America’s satellite systems.
    U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is co-leading the bill with Fischer. Companion legislation – sponsored by House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) – passed the U.S. House on April 28, 2025.“Americans rely on crucial communications services provided by our satellite systems now more than ever. That’s why we must prevent foreign adversaries like Communist China and Russia from undermining our ability to utilize these services safely and reliably. My bill strengthens our communications infrastructure against these vulnerabilities to make Americans’ network access more secure,” said Fischer.
    “As satellite technology continues to advance, so do the threats to our national security. The Secure Space Act blocks satellite licenses for untrusted entities and protects our skies from foreign adversaries. This bill would help protect U.S. innovation and defend our communications networks from foreign entities that seek to hijack our future,” said Luján. Background: 
    The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity or its affiliates that produce or provide communications equipment or services deemed a national security risk. 
    It amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to extend this prohibition to both geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems and includes gateway stations within its scope. It applies to new licenses and authorizations issued after the bill’s enactment and requires the FCC to establish implementing regulations within one year.
    Click here to read text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Appoints Group Chief Financial Officer Ayo Adepoju as Group Executive Director

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LOMÉ, Togo, June 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Board of Directors of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) (www.Ecobank.com), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayo Adepoju, the current group chief financial officer (CFO), to the Board as Group Executive Director, effective June 4, 2025. 

    Ayo brings two decades of broad-based leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge as a proud product of the Ecobank Group. His expertise spans financial management, capital markets, strategic planning, capital raising and structuring, treasury management, investor relations, business performance management, governance, enterprise transformation, financial due diligence, internal control, and risk-based audit. 

    As a distinguished finance executive, he has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s financial transformation, capital strategy, and long-term resilience. Since joining Ecobank in 2012, he has held several key leadership positions, including Group Financial Controller, Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, and currently Group CFO. 

    Over the years, Ayo has led numerous strategic initiatives, including landmark capital market transactions such as Eurobonds, Basel III-compliant instruments, and sustainability-linked debt. These efforts have significantly enhanced Ecobank’s presence in international capital markets and strengthened transparency and investor engagement. 

    Prior to joining Ecobank, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos, serving in the Financial Services Practice. 

    Commenting on the appointment, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, Chairman of the Ecobank Group, stated: “On behalf of my fellow directors, I commend Ayo for his outstanding performance and warmly welcome him to the ETI board. His proven leadership has fostered trusted relationships with the Board and made this appointment both natural and strategic for the Group’s future. I believe that Ayo embodies Ecobank’s renewed talent philosophy, a homegrown leader with global exposure and a compelling track record. His intellect, integrity, and impact-driven leadership have long been evident. His appointment to the Board is a testament to our belief in recognizing and elevating excellence from within.” 

    Jeremy Awori, Group Chief Executive Officer, added: “Ayo has played a critical role in strengthening Ecobank’s financial resilience and enabling sustainable business growth. His ability to manage complexity, innovate in financial strategy, align finance with enterprise-wide transformation, and lead collaboratively has made him a critical member of our executive team. I look forward to deepening our partnership as we drive forward our Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy.” 

    Ayo holds a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, USA. 

    He has completed executive education programs at Wharton, London Business School, and most recently in 2024, the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. An official member of the Forbes Finance Council, he is also a published author and respected thought leader in finance and organizational strategy. 

    This appointment reinforces Ecobank’s continued commitment to nurturing internal talent and promoting leadership excellence across Africa.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in COVID-19 Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Damisha Brown, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Brown received $15,625 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

    According to court documents and statements made in court, co-defendant Kisha Sutton conspired with Brown and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Sutton submitted a PPP loan application on Brown’s behalf on April 25, 2021. The application listed Brown as a sole proprietor hair dresser who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. The application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, stating that the applicant had earned $75,000 in 2020. As part of her guilty pleas, Brown admitted that she never earned $75,000 as a hair dresser in one year and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with her application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan.

    A PPP lender in California approved Brown’s loan application. The $15,625 in loan proceeds was deposited in Brown’s personal bank account on April 30, 2021. Brown admitted that she knew the $15,625 represented proceeds from the fraudulent PPP loan. Between April 30 and May 27, 2021, Sutton received $3,500 from Brown as her share of the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds. Brown transferred the money to Sutton using a digital wallet application. Brown admitted that she transferred the $3,500 as Sutton’s compensation for facilitating the submission of her fraudulent loan, in keeping with their agreement. Brown further admitted that she spent the remainder of the loan proceeds on ineligible personal expenses.

    The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other eligible expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.

    Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Brown also owes $12,125 in restitution.

    Brown and Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, are among seven individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. On March 25, 2025, co-defendant William Powell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and co-defendant Jasmine Spencer pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bank fraud. Powell, 35, of Huntington, and Spencer, 32, of Charleston,  are scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2025. The indictment against Sutton and the other defendants remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).

    United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon and former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson have prosecuted the case.

    Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 5th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation to Combat Obesity Epidemic

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to combat the obesity crisis in the United States by providing regular screenings. The bill would also prevent diseases associated with obesity through expanded coverage of new health care specialists and chronic weight management medications for Medicare recipients.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diseases associated with obesity such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer are the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would work to directly prevent these comorbidities.

    The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.).

    The following organizations have endorsed the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pas, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Group Association, American Psychological Association, American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, American Society for Nutrition, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Black Woman’s Health Imperative, Boehringer-Ingelheim, ConscienHealth, Currax, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, Eli Lilly and Company, Endocrine Society, Gerontological Society of America, Global Liver Institute, Healthcare Leadership Council, HealthyWomen, Intuitive Surgical, MedTech Coalition for Metabolic Health, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, National Consumers League, National Council on Aging, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, Novo Nordisk, Obesity Action Coalition, Obesity Medicine Association, Ro, Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, The Obesity Society, Trust for America’s Health, WW Weight Watchers International, and YMCA of the USA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Auburn Team Wins 2025 NASA Moon and Mars Design Competition

    Source: NASA

    A team from Auburn University took top honors in NASA’s 2025 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition Forum, where undergraduate and graduate teams competed to develop new concepts for operating on the Moon, Mars and beyond. 
    Auburn’s project, “Dynamic Ecosystems for Mars Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) Testing, Evaluation, and Reliability (DEMETER)” advised by Dr. Davide Guzzetti, took home top prize out of 14 Finalist Teams from academic institutions across the nation. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University took second place overall for their concept, “Adaptive Device for Assistance and Maintenance (ADAM),” advised by Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh. The University of Maryland took third place overall with their project, “Servicing Crane Outfitted Rover for Payloads, Inspection, Operations, N’stuff (SCORPION),” advised by Dr. David Akin, Nich Bolatto, and Charlie Hanner. 
    The first and second place overall winning teams will present their work at the 2025 AIAA Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery (ASCEND) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in July. 

    The RASC-AL Competition, which took place from June 2-4, 2025, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, is a unique initiative designed to bridge the gap between academia and the aerospace industry, empowering undergraduate and graduate students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges in space exploration. This year’s themes included “Sustained Lunar Evolution – An Inspirational Moment,” “Advanced Science Missions and Technology Demonstrators for Human-Mars Precursor Campaign,” and “Small Lunar Servicing and Maintenance Robot.”  
    “The RASC-AL Competition cultivates students who bring bold, imaginative thinking to the kinds of complex challenges we tackle at NASA,” said Dan Mazanek, RASC-AL program sponsor and senior space systems engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “These teams push the boundaries of what’s possible in space system design and offer new insights. These insights help build critical engineering capabilities, preparing the next generation of aerospace leaders to step confidently into the future of space exploration.” 
    As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the RASC-AL Competition stands as an opportunity for aspiring aerospace professionals to design real-world solutions to complex problems facing the Agency. By engaging with the next generation of innovators, NASA can collaborate with the academic community to crowd-source new solutions for the challenges of tomorrow. 
    Additional 2025 Forum Awards include: 
    Best in Theme: Sustained Lunar Evolution: An Inspirational Moment 

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 

    Project Title: Project Aeneas 

    Advisor: Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh 

    Best in Theme: Advanced Science Missions and Technology Demonstrators for Human-Mars Precursor Campaign 

    Auburn University 

    Project Title: Dynamic Ecosystems for Mars ECLSS Testing, Evaluation, and Reliability (DEMETER) 

    Advisor: Dr. Davide Guzzetti 

    Best in Theme: Small Lunar Servicing and Maintenance Robot 

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 

    Project Title: Adaptive Device for Assistance and Maintenance (ADAM) 

    Advisor: Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh 

    Best Prototype: South Dakota State University 

    Project Title: Next-gen Operations and Versatile Assistant (NOVA) 

    Advisor: Dr. Todd Letcher, Allea Klauenberg, Liam Murray, Alex Schaar, Nick Sieler, Dylan Stephens, Carter Waggoner 

    RASC-AL is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying disciplines related to human exploration, including aerospace, bio-medical, electrical, and mechanical engineering, and life, physical, and computer sciences. RASC-AL projects allow students to incorporate their coursework into space exploration objectives in a team environment and help bridge strategic knowledge gaps associated with NASA’s vision. Students have the opportunity to interact with NASA officials and industry experts and develop relationships that could lead to participation in other NASA student research programs.   
    RASC-AL is sponsored by the Strategies and Architectures Office within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, and by the Space Mission Analysis Branch within the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley. It is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace.   
    For more information about the RASC-AL competition, including complete theme and submission guidelines, visit: http://rascal.nianet.org. 
    National Institute of Aerospace

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom provides eligible homeowners $20,000 through new CalAssist Mortgage Fund for California disaster survivors

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 5, 2025

    What you need to know: California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on June 12, 2025, to provide $105 million in relief offering up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed in recent disasters, including the Los Angeles firestorms.

    LOS ANGELES — California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on June 12, 2025, to provide grants up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable in recent fire, floods, and other disasters. This includes those individuals whose homes were destroyed by the LA-area firestorms earlier this year.

    “Homeowners whose home was destroyed in a recent fire, flood or other disaster deserve support in their recovery. We know that recovery takes time, and the state is here to support. Today, California is extending this ongoing support to disaster victims in Los Angeles and beyond, by assisting with mortgage payments to relieve financial pressure and stress as families rebuild and recover.”  

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    This new disaster mortgage relief program, managed by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), will be paired with $25 million in additional housing counseling support through CalHFA’s National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program, and none of the funds impact the proposed 2025-2026 budget.

    The CalAssist Mortgage Fund provides relief for the most vulnerable homeowners whose homes have been destroyed or left uninhabitable as the result of a disaster that received a State of Emergency proclamation by the Governor or a Major Disaster Declaration approved by the President between January 2023 and January 2025, such as the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, Park Fire and San Diego floods.

    When applications open on June 12, eligible homeowners can apply for grants covering up to three months of mortgage payments, up to $20,000 total.

    “When disaster strikes and families lose their homes, every step toward recovery makes a meaningful difference,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “The CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide more than $100 million in valuable support to help ease the financial pressure survivors face, giving them a little more breathing room as they navigate the challenging path of rebuilding their lives.”

    How to access funding

    To provide time for affected homeowners to get prepared to apply, application and eligibility information about the CalAssist Mortgage Fund is now available at CalAssistMortgageFund.org. These grants do not have to be repaid and applying to the program is free. Grants will be sent directly to the approved homeowner’s mortgage servicer.

    “For communities affected by disasters, the CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide homeowners with financial assistance that allows them to focus on healing and recovery,” said Rebecca Franklin, Chief Deputy Director at CalHFA. “Hard-working families across the state, from Altadena to Chico, deserve relief as they work to recover from these devastating events.”  

    Homeowners can call the CalAssist Mortgage Fund for in-depth, one-on-one assistance with preparing and completing their application. Call 800-501-0019 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, homeowners can also access free support and services from HUD-certified housing counseling agencies.

    The Governor previously had secured commitments from more than 400 financial institutions, including five major lenders (Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo), to offer homeowners impacted by the L.A. wildfires a 90-day forbearance of their mortgage payments, without reporting these payments to credit reporting agencies or charging late fees.

    Fast-tracking rebuilding efforts 

    Governor Newsom has provided unprecedented support to assist Los Angeles’ recovery from this year’s firestorms. In addition to recently announcing a new AI tool to supercharge the approval of building permits, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. Additionally, he signed an executive order to cut more red tape and continue streamlining rebuilding, recovery, and relief for survivors. The Governor also issued an executive order removing barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly. 

    Giving survivors a stronger voice in recovery

    To help provide the Los Angeles community with a stronger voice in the rebuilding and recovery efforts, Governor Newsom launched Engaged California, a new platform that gives Californians a unique opportunity to share their thoughts and connect with other people on topics that are important to them. It creates new opportunities for Californians to connect with their government to inform and shape policy through honest, respectful discussions. The program was launched in February with the first use case focusing on the impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California added a record of nearly 7,000 megawatts of new clean energy capacity in 2024, marking the largest single-year increase in state history and the third consecutive year of unprecedented growth. SACRAMENTO – California has achieved…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California leads the nation in strong gun safety laws, correlating with thousands of lives saved. Sacramento, California – Year after year, California is ranked as the #1 state in the country for its strong gun safety laws — along with some…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – For the second year in a row, California ranks highest on Fortune 500’s list as the state with the most corporations generating the largest revenues. As host to 58 Fortune 500 companies, California leads the nation – followed by Texas with 54 and New…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moran Leads Effort to Secure Future of Red River Army Depot

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) issued the following statement regarding the future operations of the Red River Army Depot (RRAD).

    Washington, D.C. ­— Today, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) issued the following statement regarding the future operations of the Red River Army Depot (RRAD). Earlier this week, Congressman Moran led a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth detailing the critical role that RRAD plays in military preparedness and the need to continue supporting RRAD operations and personnel. This letter, which was co-signed by 11 other members of the Texas Congressional Delegation, stated in part:

    “As Congress works to help fulfill President Trump’s vision of peace through strength, it is critical that we place renewed emphasis on our nation’s maintenance and repair depots that directly support America’s soldiers, sailors, and airmen. For that reason, I strongly urge the Department of Defense to continue operations at Red River Army Depot at full operational capacity—and to actively pursue new mission-critical opportunities that expand its role in our national defense strategy.

    RRAD is not only a cornerstone of America’s military logistics capability, it is also a model of cost-efficiency. Unlike many government facilities, RRAD is funded entirely by the workload it receives from military branches and commercial partners—making it self-sufficient, accountable, and agile. It doesn’t waste taxpayer dollars. It maximizes them.

    We are actively pursuing conversations with the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, and Army Chief of Staff General Randy A. George. While we await a formal response to our letter, I remain committed to safeguarding RRAD’s mission and ensuring it remains a key pillar of our national defense infrastructure.

    We thank the Department of Defense for its continued dedication to national security and stand ready to work together to strengthen our industrial base, protect the jobs of thousands of skilled Texans, and fulfill our shared mission of peace through strength.”

    This week’s letter from Congressman Moran to Secretary Hegseth comes just ahead of the recent visit to Washington, D.C. by representatives from the Texarkana area, who are advocating directly on behalf of RRAD’s mission and future growth. Congressman Moran and his staff have worked closely with these local leaders to support their visit and ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army.

    “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Moran and our congressional delegation for their steadfast leadership and unwavering advocacy on behalf of Red River Army Depot,” said David Orr, Texarkana City Manager. “Their efforts highlight just how essential RRAD is—not only to the strength of our local economy, but to the readiness of our nation’s armed forces. I am proud to stand alongside them in urging continued investment in this world-class facility. Together, we are ensuring that Texarkana remains a vital partner in supporting the brave men and women who defend our freedom.”

    Robin Hickerson, President and CEO of the Texarkana USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, added: “Red River Army Depot is a critical part of both our local economy and our national defense. It provides quality jobs for families across the region and plays a key role in supporting our military readiness. Our Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee is honored to visit Washington, D.C., to advocate for the Depot, and we are beyond grateful to Congressman Moran for his unwavering commitment to RRAD and its mission.”

    The full letter can be read here.

    Background:

    Congressman Moran and his colleagues from the Texas Congressional Delegation recently submitted a unified letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other senior officials, stressing RRAD’s strategic value and calling for continued and expanded operations at the site.

    Located on 15,375 acres in Northeast Texas and housing over 1,400 buildings with more than 8 million square feet of industrial space, Red River Army Depot is a pivotal asset within the Army’s organic industrial base. As the designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, RRAD provides indispensable repair and remanufacturing support for critical military systems including the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

    Beyond the Army, RRAD also delivers support to the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy—making it a vital hub of inter-service readiness. Its 3,500-member workforce is lean, experienced, and capable of rapidly scaling operations to meet the evolving needs of our warfighters—having done so during previous combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now again as it provides assistance to U.S. allies in Israel and Ukraine.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Secure America’s Satellite Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, introduced the bipartisan Secure Space Act of 2025 to protect America’s satellite systems from foreign threats and strengthen national security.
    Companion legislation – sponsored by House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) – passed the U.S. House on April 28, 2025.
    “As satellite technology continues to advance, so do the threats to our national security. The Secure Space Act blocks satellite licenses for untrusted entities and protects our skies from foreign adversaries,” said Senator Luján. “This bill would help protect U.S. innovation and defend our communications networks from foreign entities that seek to hijack our future.”
    “Americans rely on crucial communications services provided by our satellite systems now more than ever. That’s why we must prevent foreign adversaries like Communist China and Russia from undermining our ability to utilize these services safely and reliably,” said Senator Fischer. “My bill strengthens our communications infrastructure against these vulnerabilities to make Americans’ network access more secure.”
    Background:
    The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity or its affiliates that produce or provide communications equipment or services deemed a national security risk.
    The legislation amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to extend this prohibition to both geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems, including gateway stations. It applies to new licenses and authorizations issued after the bill’s enactment and requires the FCC to establish implementing regulations within one year.
    Click here to read text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –