NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Demands Trump Administration Comply with Supreme Court Order, Reverse Wrongful Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) joined 141 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. In the letter, the Members requested an immediate update on the administration’s plans to ensure Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return to the United States.

    “The Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return, yet we have seen no meaningful action or heard of any plans indicating their effort to comply. Mr. Abrego Garcia is a legal resident of the United States, and he is entitled to due process under the law,” said Foster. “The administration’s failure to correct this unlawful deportation is both morally indefensible and an overstep of their authority. The administration must act immediately to bring him home and ensure this never happens again.”

    The letter reads: 

    Dear President Trump: 

    We write to you with grave concern about Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. We respectfully request an immediate update on his wellbeing and detailed plans on how all relevant executive agencies plan to ensure his safe return to the United States. 

    As you know, on March 12, 2025, Mr. Abrego Garcia was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with his 5-year-old son in the backseat of his car. Mr. Abrego Garcia was then deported, along with alleged Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members, to El Salvador. It is our understanding that he is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. 

    While Mr. Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador, he had legally been granted withholding of removal in 2019 by a United States immigration court based on his fear of persecution by gangs in El Salvador. He has no criminal record and has been residing in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and family. 

    Your administration has admitted that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal was an “administrative error.” As such, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered, in a unanimous ruling, that your administration must “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s “release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.” This would mean his return to the United States. Despite these clear instructions, the federal district court judge overseeing Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case has indicated your administration has made no effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order.

    As President, you have the authority to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. from El Salvador despite your administration’s insistence otherwise. If there is evidence of any wrongdoing by Mr. Abrego Garcia, he is entitled to a chance to contest such allegations. Mistakenly removing a U.S. resident that has protection from deportation legally granted to him by an immigration court and then making no effort to get him back not only places Mr. Abrego Garcia’s life in danger, but also violates the basic principles of due process and the rule of law. 

    The U.S. government must comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and do everything in its power to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to his family in the United States as quickly as possible. We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and we look forward to receiving your response.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Defense of the Courts and the University

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

    In Defense of the Courts and the University 

    Rep. Ro Khanna | Yale Law School | 4.15.25

    My return today is not one of nostalgia for good pizza or to relive faded dreams. I chose to come to Yale at a serious moment in the life of our Republic because the Woodward Report, issued by this very institution in 1974, defines the paramount duty of the American university: the defense of free expression and free inquiry.

    There are moments in a mature democracy — dating as far back as the prosecution of Socrates — when institutions must stand firm as guardians of free thought against the roar of the crowd.

    This is such a moment.

    In our nation, a mobocratic spirit — fanned by amoral, ambitious men — threatens not only our constitutional way of life but freedom of thought itself. For generations, American power has been checked by the Constitution and the quiet strength of reasoned debate. Politicians have bowed to the courts and stood before the people — not to silence opposition, but to answer it. 

    But today, a great anger grips the public — burned by years of war, wearied by economic stagnation, and fearful that the foreign-born among us now comprise a larger share of our population than at any point in a century. From this disquiet rises not a call to reform, but to dismantle — to cast off the judges in their robes, the scholars in their gowns, and the press with its inconvenient questions. 

    And at the head of this gathering storm stands JD Vance — calling on the President to defy the Supreme Court, and casting universities like Yale, his alma mater and mine, as the enemy.

    He claims that you here at Yale are being corrupted — taught to reject American values — as if he alone possesses the authority to define what it means to be an American, as if the life of the mind is to be excised from our nation’s story. How far we have fallen from the days when Thomas Jefferson chose not to list the presidency on his epitaph, but instead the founding of a university. 

    Jefferson understood that the life of the mind is as vital to liberty as the laws we live by, and that an educated citizenry is essential for democracy to thrive.

    Now, I remember they don’t teach much black letter law at Yale. But the President must obey court orders is about as basic as it gets. Our whole system depends on the idea that the Constitution gives the courts the power to say what the law is in any given case. In Cooper versus Aaron, the Court held that the “Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” and when specific disputes arise, the judiciary gets to decide what the law requires. In Youngstown, the Court made it clear that President Truman was limited by the Constitution and could not seize steel mills for our national defense during the Korean war because Congress did not give him that power.

    This check on executive power has not only kept the President from becoming a king — it is what has made America the most innovative and dynamic free enterprise economy in the world. We saw the fiasco of a President imposing tariffs on a whim. But imagine if he could go further: launch investigations into companies he disliked, void contracts to punish rivals, deport an immigrant business leader for political gain, or pull funding from scientists and scholars who challenge convention. 

    Those who complain that America suffers from too much regulation certainly would not want the system to be replaced with arbitrary decision making by the state. The United States has been successful because the predictability and stability the rule of law provides for long term economic investment. Unlike other nations, our business leaders do not have to worry about capricious rule changes that benefit political elites or worry about their assets being seized.

    And yet, every day that Vance tweets of defying court orders, he chips away at that trust — the invisible thread that binds our economic, social, and political life. Most recently, he defended the deportation of Abrego Garcia to a notorious Salvadoran prison — even after his own administration called it an “administrative error”. When Americans asked for due process, he answered not with reason, but with feigned rage — accusing us of sympathy for a gang member. Nine Supreme Court justices firmly rejected his claim that Abrego had no legal right to be here.

    To stir up public fury by painting due process as weakness is a timeless danger. Lincoln saw it clearly. In his Lyceum Address, he warned against mob vengeance, saying:

    “When men take it in their heads to hang gamblers or burn murderers, they should recollect that… they will be as likely to hang someone who is neither a gambler nor a murderer.”

    Without due process, Vance is as likely to destroy the life of an innocent man as he is to punish the guilty. And he does not seem to care. But Lincoln cared. He warned: 

    “The innocent… fall victims to the ravages of mob law, and thus it goes on, step by step, till all the walls erected for the defense of the persons and property of individuals, are trodden down, and disregarded.”

    We have been fortunate in our history to have leaders — like Lincoln — who appealed not to fury, but to reason. But we’ve also seen leaders, like Vance, who win public adulation by stoking anger and treating legal limits as nuisances to be ignored. Lincoln’s path is harder, slower — but it is truer to our founding, as it defends the sacred right of the individual over the exercise of impulsive power.

    Now, Vance says the President, elected by the people, should tell the Court what the Constitution means — and if the Court disagrees, let them try to enforce their ruling. That the President, as a co-equal, may simply ignore the Court’s judgment of the law. 

    In Vance’s America, the police can knock on any immigrant’s door, deport him to a dictatorship without due process, and then wash their hands of his fate, pretending that America is powerless to free someone outside our border. They did this with Abrego. They did this with Merwil Gutierrez, a 19 year old Venezuelan, who may have had no criminal record and whose heartbroken father is searching for him in vain . JD Vance, your cold indifference to the lives of vulnerable immigrants mocks every principle that this law school was built to uphold.

    Your affiliation with this law school is now a stain on the degree of every Yale graduate. I hope Yalies –alumni, student, faculty and administrators will have the moral clarity to say so plainly.

    But what about Vance’s argument that courts can be wrong?

    Here again, Lincoln teaches us. He did not accept the abhorrent Dred Scott decision as the final word, recognizing that the decision was destined to be overturned, not through blanket defiance of the judiciary, but through a legal crusade for equality. Lincoln’s reverence for the law did not weaken his moral clarity — it deepened it. He showed that his cause was not mere personal conviction, but rooted in the values and documents etched into the nation’s character. He pursued it through argument, elections, legislation, and new judicial appointments. He didn’t trample the Constitution in the name of justice — he worked through the Constitution to achieve justice. 

    And so must we.

    In our system, there is no Executive sovereignty. No Congressional sovereignty. No Judicial sovereignty. There is only popular sovereignty. The people ultimately decide what the Constitution means and what our laws should be. But that power is channeled through a constitutional framework — where the popular will must express itself through an intricate and deliberate system of elections, legislation, court decisions, appointments, and amendments. When Vance urges the President to defy that framework in the name of a false populism, he does not honor the people’s will — he undermines it. Ours is not a system of brute majoritarianism, but of constitutional self-government. To abandon that is a radical rejection of the very design of the American experiment.

    Vance has not only declared war on the courts — but on the universities. And it is no accident. As Stephen Kotkin observed in his study of Stalin, strongmen do not fear recessions or even failed wars as much as they fear the university. The greatest threat to consolidating power is not resistance — it is alternatives. Vance calls the university the enemy because he knows what lives here: historians, economists, law professors, and scientists who threaten him not with force, but with ideas.

    Why else propose raising the endowment tax from 1.4 to 35%, if not from a deep fear that the ideas presented in lecture halls may take root in the hearts of a new generation? That young Americans might see a nation not of grievance, but of promise. That is what Vance fears most—not rebellion, but the birth of new thinking. 

    If ever there were a moment in our nation’s history for the defense of liberalism — as a defense of free thought and the examined life — it is now. Those who sneer at our universities — who mock thinking, learning, and degrees for cheap applause while credentialing themselves — are engaged in rank hypocrisy. They are gatekeepers of privilege, dissuading their fellow citizens from pursuing for their families the very opportunities they seek for their own children.

    I hope university presidents will find their voice, pledging mutual support to each other, by remembering leaders like Yale’s Kingman Brewster, who stood with student protestors even when donors withdrew their support; Harvard’s James Conant, who resisted McCarthyism in the face of pressure from government and alumni; and Chicago’s Robert Hutchins, who defended the independence of scholarship against the demands of powerful business interests. Their place in history was not secured by the size of the endowment they left behind, but by the ideals they refused to abandon.

    President Garber, you’ve shown courage in standing up to the bullies in the White House. I have no doubt that Harvard—with its legacy of liberty predating the founding of our nation—will prevail over the fleeting ignorance of our time. 

    President McInnis, I hope you will follow his lead.

    And let Brewster, Conan, Hutchins, and Garber be an example for each of you. When  a student is snatched from campus and denied due process, speak up. When  a student protestor is harassed for their viewpoint, stand in their defense. When you are told to keep silent about the need for diversity by a potential employer, walk away.

    Each of us must ask: What, in this hour, are we willing to risk? What is needed is not the towering courage of a Socrates, nor even of my grandfather, who spent four years in jail as part of Gandhi’s movement for Indian independence. What is needed now are the small acts of conscience that together shape the soul of a nation.

    We may not have been able to save the deportation of Abrego or Gutierrez, but the louder we speak, the more of us who speak, the longer we speak, the more we become a human shield against an arbitrary state and resist the cold routinization of injustice. This is the time to stand up for a free society. 

    As for me, I have called out the richest man in the world, who responded by declaring on X that my career is over. I have called out J.D. Vance, who said I was a whiny congressman who disgusts him. But I have no regret.

    In speaking out, we can find direction not only from Woodward’s report celebrating free expression but also from his seminal work on the history of segregation, which Dr. King called the “bible of the civil rights movement.” Woodward reminded us that the path to Jim Crow was not inevitable. What was true of the 1890s is true today. To paraphrase Woodward: “There are still real choices to be made, and alternatives to the course that now threatens us are still available”.

    In times of crisis, this nation has often cast aside the old guard and turned to a new generation for new paths. That we were fortunate to witness Lincoln’s unlikely rise in our darkest hour is perhaps the strongest evidence of providence. The fate of liberal democracy now rests not only with those of us in Congress — it rests with you. It rests on whether you will rise to history’s call.

    I believe you will.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Criticizes Administration’s Proposal to Cut Head Start Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids and 89 of her Congressional colleagues criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate critical Head Start programs that promote early childhood development and ease the burden of child care on working families. Multiple Head Start programs in the Kansas City area have already closed this year.

     

    In a letter to President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers demanded answers from the administration about how they intend to fill the gap left by the potential elimination of Head Start and support students, teachers, and parents who benefit from these investments. 

     

    “A shutdown of Head Start programming would have devastating, far-reaching impacts for nearly half a million children, families and local communities,” the Members wrote. “Over 800,000 children benefit from attending 17,000 Head Start Centers across the country, strengthening their early education and providing developmental screenings.”

     

    “Additionally, the National Head Start Association estimates that more than one million parents who use Head Start and Early Start centers would lose necessary child care, impacting their ability to attend in-person work, causing further workforce disruptions,” the Members continued. “The impacts of these cuts would be generational and long-lasting.”

     

    The Members concluded, “While we share the administration’s goal of rooting out waste and abuse in government, attempting to defund early education programming and indiscriminately attacking our nation’s most vulnerable families is not the appropriate way to increase government efficiency.”

     

    As a first-generation college student who worked her way from Leavenworth High School to Cornell Law School, Davids understands the value of quality education for student success and our overall economy. She has long fought to protect education and child care in Kansas and has been a fierce critic of the administration’s efforts to defund the Department of Education. She has visited multiple Head Start programs in Kansas including Kansas City Kansas Public School’s Successful Beginnings, Family Conservancy, the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Project Eagle, and Olathe Public Schools Head Start.

       

    Students in early childhood education programs are less likely to repeat grades, are 25 percent more likely to graduate high school, and are four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in comparison to non-Head Start students. But long-term benefits of Head Start programs are not only limited to educational success. Children in Head Start are healthier and have better social and emotional skills. In adulthood, statistics show that former Head Start students experience greater economic stability and earn higher wages.

    You can read the full letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Responds to Governor Kelly’s Plea, Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Medicaid for Kansas Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids responded to Governor Laura Kelly’s request to Kansas’ Congressional Delegation, echoing Kelly’s call to reject proposed federal cuts to Medicaid that would devastate health care access for Kansas families — especially seniors, children, rural communities, and people with disabilities.

    “I stand with Governor Kelly in urging all federal leaders to reject these devastating Medicaid cuts,” said Davids. “We’re talking about life-saving care for more than 443,000 Kansans — care for new moms, children, and seniors. I’ve fought time and again to protect and expand Medicaid in Kansas because our families shouldn’t have to pay more or travel farther just to get the health care they need.”

    In Washington D.C., Republican leaders are pushing a partisan budget that, according to nonpartisan experts, would slash Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. The proposed cuts could cost Kansas up to $1 billion in the first year alone, jeopardizing hospital operations — particularly in rural areas where 64 percent of hospitals are already at risk of closure.

    Davids has consistently pushed back against extreme efforts to slash Medicaid funding, calling out proposals that threaten coverage for working families while giving tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. Rather, she supports a bipartisan approach that protects Medicaid coverage, lowers costs for hardworking Kansans, and strengthens local economies.

    Davids has been a strong advocate for protecting and expanding Medicaid to ensure Kansans have access to affordable health care. She has:

    • Opposed multiple efforts this year that could slash Medicaid funding, calling for bipartisan solutions that lower costs and improve care rather than threaten Kansans’ health and economic security.
    • Fought to expand Medicaid in Kansas, which would cover an additional 150,000 Kansans and strengthen rural hospitals.
      • A report found that Kansas could increase its economic output by $17 billion and add an estimated 23,000 new jobs if the state chose to expand Medicaid.
    • Prioritized the responsible use of taxpayer dollars by supporting bipartisan legislation to stop improper Medicaid payments for deceased individuals that had gone unnoticed.
    • Supported legislation to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, reducing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes for new mothers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EPA Grants Davids’ Request, Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver to Lower Gas Prices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Sale of E15 fuel lowers costs at the gas pump and supports Kansas’ agricultural professionals

    This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fulfilled Representative Sharice Davids’ request by issuing a national emergency fuel waiver to allow the sale of E15 – fuel blended with 10.5 to 15 percent ethanol – during the 2025 summer season in Kansas.

    Ethanol, made from locally grown crops, is a more affordable alternative to unblended gasoline. This waiver, which has been granted multiple times in recent years, will help lower gas prices for Kansans, support local farmers, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

    “I’m glad the EPA responded to my call to help lower costs for Kansans at the pump,” said Davids. “This emergency waiver will provide some immediate relief, support our local ag producers, and reduce reliance on foreign oil. It’s the right step for now — and I’ll keep working on long-term solutions to bring costs down.”

    For multiple years, Davids has urged the EPA — and sponsored federal legislation — to guarantee the sale of this E15 not only during the summer but also year-round. This would reduce our reliance on foreign oil, build U.S. energy security, and support Kansas agriculture and manufacturing.

    Davids previously visited East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE), a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, as part of her Farm Bill listening tour. EKAE, which received federal funding to assist with business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, has around 40 full-time employees and relies heavily on Kansas corn producers to supply the crops needed to make the biofuel.

    Davids has taken additional actions to lower gas prices for Kansans by:

    • Voting for the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act, which allows retailers the ability to sell higher ethanol-blended fuels year-round,
    • Leading the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that expands access to lower-cost, homegrown fuel,
    • Helping to pass legislation that promotes sustainable aviation fuel, a liquid fuel that achieves significant emissions reduction compared to fossil-based jet fuel,
    • Supporting legislation that expands biofuels infrastructure, opening up new market opportunities for sustainable fuel sources and lowering energy costs for Kansas families,
    • Pushing the President to suspend the federal gas tax, providing immediate relief to Kansans at the gas pump.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Continues Farm Bill Listening Tour in Anderson County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    GARNETT, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Phelon Farms, a corn grower in Garnett, as part of her ongoing Farm Bill Listening Tour. During her visit, she toured the operation, helped apply fertilizer, and held discussions with farm owners and agribusiness leaders, reaffirming her commitment to crafting a bipartisan Farm Bill that addresses the needs of Kansas agriculture.

    With the Farm Bill extended through September 30, 2025, and negotiations ongoing, Davids is using her tour to reconnect with Kansas farmers, producers, and ranchers and gather input on their priorities. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, serves as the Ranking Member of the General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Subcommittee.

    “Farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of our economy and communities, and their voices need to be at the center of the Farm Bill debate,” said Davids. “With so many facing uncertainty from tariffs, supply chain issues, and rising costs, we need to have their backs now more than ever. As I continue meeting with ag leaders across the Third District, I’m focused on making sure this bill supports the needs of every operation — from family-owned farms like Phelon Farms to our specialty crop growers and beyond.”

    “As a farmer, I believe it is vital to work with our elected officials on both sides of the aisle to get a comprehensive Farm Bill passed,” said Adam Phelon, local farmer and Kansas Soybean Association board member. “Whether it be trade, tariffs, regulations, or market development, the decisions made in Washington D.C. affect Kansas farmers on a daily basis. And it’s through conversation and continued work that we hope to find common-sense solutions that are sufficient and beneficial to everyone here in the heartland of America. Having elected officials that choose to stay involved and work to find those solutions is necessary. And that’s why, not only having Representative Davids on the House Ag Committee, but also making these stops to talk to local farmers about these issues should be applauded.”

      

    To prepare for the Farm Bill discussion, Davids embarked on a Farm Bill listening tour, where she visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers, toured a dairy farm in Garnett, and more.

    Davids has consistently pushed back against President Trump’s reckless trade and agriculture policies that have created uncertainty for Kansas farmers. She spoke out against abrupt tariffs, which could raise costs and disrupt markets, and highlighted the $27 billion in agricultural export losses farmers faced under previous Trump-era tariffs. She also condemned the administration’s elimination of key USDA programs that have destabilized local food systems and left school districts and food banks scrambling.

    “Kansas soybean growers anticipate seeing our priorities advanced in the next Farm Bill, including a robust farm safety net and expanded program access that fits unique grower needs,” said Adam Phelon, local farmer and Kansas Soybean Association board member. “We appreciate the influence Kansas’ elected officials serving on agriculture committees have in directing legislation that works in favor of farmers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Davids Speaks with Plane Collision Victims’ Families, Addresses Work to Improve Air Safety

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    WICHITA, KS – Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids traveled to Wichita, KS to speak with families of the recent air collision of Flight 5342 from ICT to DCA with a military helicopter. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, listened to their stories, heard their concerns, and shared her work to help make flying safer. Afterward, she spoke with KWCH on the importance of acting quickly to ensure our skies remain the safest in the world.

    Following the tragic collision, Davids and her Kansas colleagues expressed their steadfast solidarity with the families and communities affected by the tragedy. Also, after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the collision, Davids said “the FAA must act to implement the NTSB’s initial recommendations to prevent future disasters.”

    Davids also condemned the President’s recent decision to fire hundreds of FAA employees and urged U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to immediately implement key aviation safety reforms included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization, which Congress passed last year. That includes hiring more air traffic controllers and updating aging air traffic control technology and systems.

    Key Quotes in KWCH: Congresswoman visits Wichita to speak with families of people killed in Flight 5342 crash, address next steps

    KWCH: What was your reaction when the FAA admitted an Army helicopter took a scenic route, forcing two flights to abort landings just weeks after the January 29th collision?

    DAVIDS: “The simple answer is outrage. As a committee, we need to either come up with new legislation to address issues if there are things falling through the cracks, or do what we can to hold the FAA accountable. I know that… the Secretaries of Transportation, the Acting Administrator of the FAA, and the Secretary of the Department of Defense — they all need to be having those tough conversations. I have concerns about whether, you know, whether and how they’re doing that. But I think that folks are valid and right to be frustrated when they’re seeing news like that come out.”

    KWCH: Given the NTSB included recommendations in their preliminary report, what more can Congress do before the final report is released next year?

    DAVIDS: “I really do think that that is a demonstration of just how seriously everyone is taking this. Because these reports… sometimes… take longer than anyone could think that they possibly should. But it’s because of how technical they get in their investigations. In the meantime, I do think that taking those preliminary recommendations, [and] figuring out what, if any, updates to legislation need to happen.”

    KWCH: Do you think there’s enough support in Congress to fund air safety improvements and modernize outdated technology in response to NTSB recommendations?

    DAVIDS: “My hope is that we’ll be able to continue some of the bipartisan support we’ve seen in previous Congresses. I think that the FAA reauthorization — I wish that it had been on the news more, actually, because of the type of bipartisan support we saw. And in that was support for funding to upgrade our systems — both the airspace, the air traffic control systems, as well as our landing systems and those technologies. [And] funding to really ramp up air traffic control hiring.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Cornyn Celebrates Unanimous Passage of Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) celebrated the Senate unanimously passing his Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would codify President Trump’s Executive Order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Houston to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Refuge. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks prior to him calling up the bill for passage are below, and video can be found here.
    “Jocelyn Nungaray was a 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered just north of Houston last June.”
    “To commemorate Jocelyn’s life, I’ve introduced the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would permanently rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas in her memory.”
    “This bill would actually codify President Trump’s executive order and ensure that future generations will remember Jocelyn for years to come.”
    Background:
    On June 17, 2024, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered in Houston, Texas. Two illegal aliens who were allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been charged with her murder. Jocelyn loved animals and, given the close proximity of her hometown of Houston, it is fitting that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge be renamed in her honor.
    Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, the 39,000-acre refuge is a sanctuary for migratory birds and diverse wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and plays a vital role in coastal conservation, public recreation, and environmental education. Now, it will also stand as a solemn tribute to Jocelyn’s memory and a symbol of the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting American communities. On March 4, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14229 to officially change the name from Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. On March 7, 2025, the refuge was officially renamed after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s implementation order was signed.
    Introduced by Sen. Cornyn earlier this month, the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act would ensure that this renaming cannot be overturned by a future administration by codifying the refuge’s new name into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Tribal Loans for Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Direct Lenders with No Credit Check – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    These loans are ideal for emergencies, surprise bills, or urgent expenditures, with speedy online applications and rapid disbursal of funds. Some lenders even offer tribal installment loans for bad credit, direct lenders, offering borrowers flexible repayment terms.

    Types of Tribal Loans: No Credit Check, Instant Approval

    When searching for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, it’s important to be aware of the various types of loans that you can select and choose the one that best meets your personal financial needs. Through IOnline Payday Loans, lenders can get access to a vast range of tribal loans no credit check products, with many providing instant approval and guaranteed approval with direct lenders.

    These loans are specifically formulated to deliver quick monetary assistance for unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or individual needs without going through the bother of standard credit verification.

    Let us see the most popular forms of tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack available online, in detail:

    1. Tribal Payday Loans No Credit Check

    Tribal payday loans no credit check are quick, short-term, small loans that should be paid back through your next check. They are among the simplest tribal loans to obtain since they do not have many requirements for eligibility and no old credit checks. Perfect for emergencies, they provide guaranteed tribal loans with bad credit options for people in need of immediate financial assistance.

    2. Tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders

    For those who want more flexible repayments over time, bad credit tribal installment loans direct lenders offer the best option. They provide the convenience of borrowing more with the relaxed nature of tribal loans no credit check strategies, dividing repayment into easy installments. They’re best suited for larger-than-usual expenses such as medical expenses or repair of a car.

    3. $500 Tribal Installment Loans Direct Lenders Only

    As the name indicates, these loans provide a virtually guaranteed approval rate for borrowers with low credit scores. $500 tribal installment loans direct lenders only are not based on hard credit checks and usually dodge conventional reporting mechanisms like Teletrack. With IOnline Payday Loans, these loans give a guaranteed and quick funding solution.

    4. Tribal loans no credit check direct lender

    These loans involve working directly with a tribal lender, ensuring faster processing and straightforward terms. A popular option for borrowers looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, these loans eliminate intermediaries, improving approval rates and offering quicker access to funds.

    5. Easy tribal loans for bad credit

    Easy tribal loans for bad credit are designed to be fast and convenient. With straightforward eligibility and instant decisions, these loans are approved and funded within 24 hours. Ideal for paying for sudden or unexpected bills, they are easily accessed through IOnline Payday Loans.

    All these loans work together towards making IOnline Payday Loans one of the Best tribal loans for bad credit lenders in the US today, providing convenient, quick, and affordable financial assistance to those that need it the most.

    How to Apply for Tribal Loans No Credit Check

    It has never been easier to apply for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, thanks to online lending sites like IOnline Payday Loans making the process simple and easy. One of the greatest benefits of tribal loans no credit check is that you do not need to fret about your credit history hurting your chances. Tribal loans are specifically made for fast, easy approvals with little paperwork and convenient online applications.

    Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get tribal loans with direct lender guaranteed approval, no credit check:

    1.   Select the loan amount and repayment period

    First, use the online form to select the amount you require for the loan (up to $5000) and select the payback duration that is suitable for you, between 3 to 12 months. Ensure your repayment schedule is comfortable so as not to complicate matters.

    2.   Organize the necessary information

    Provide the necessary details such as your income, contact information, and banking details. The more accurate the information, the quicker the process will go. Rest assured, your data is confidential and will only be shared with the lender.

    3.   Submit your application

    After filling out your details, submit the application. You’ll receive an approval decision within minutes, usually within 2 minutes, so you won’t be left waiting long.

    4.   Get matched with a lender

    Most applicants are automatically matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval. Even with bad credit, you’ll be connected with a third-party lender willing to offer assistance.

    5.   Review loan offer

    Once you have been matched, you will be offered loans with specific terms. Loan offers will state the repayment terms and charges, and you should read them carefully so that they meet your requirements.

    6.   Sign loan agreement

    After you are satisfied with your loan proposal, you will e-sign the loan agreement. The lender will proceed to process all the information and prepare the funds for disbursement.

    7.   Get funds

    In the majority of instances, once your loan has been approved, you can have access to cash as soon as the next working day. Your lender will inform you of all information regarding how money will be paid.

    Why Are IOnline Payday Loans the Best Choice for You?

    IOnline Payday Loans is one of the most dependable sources for tribal loans no credit check available. They offer fast, safe, and easy loans, so they are an ideal option if you need a loan but have bad credit. The following are the reasons you should choose IOnline Payday Loans:

    1.   No credit checks

    Unlike other lenders who always place too much emphasis on your credit score, IOnline Payday Loans offers personal tribal loans no credit check that mean your bad credit will never prevent you from receiving your loan. Bad credit, or NO credit, will never hinder you from the bad credit guaranteed tribal loans approval.

    2.   Fast approvals and quick funding

    The approval process at IOnline Payday Loans is quick and effective. Approval decisions are made in minutes for most applicants and they will receive their funds the same day or perhaps the following business day. This is an excellent option for fast funding when you need cash quickly, such as a medical bill or other unforeseen expense.

    3.   Flexible loan amounts and repayment terms

    With IOnline Payday Loans, you can tailor your loan to your specific needs. Choose a loan amount of up to $5000 and decide on repayment terms between 3 to 12 months. This flexibility ensures that you’re only borrowing what you need, with manageable terms that work with your budget.

    4.   Simple, easy-to-use online application

    The application process is straightforward and quick. With just a few simple steps, you can apply online from the comfort of your own home. There’s no complicated paperwork or long wait times, just a fast and easy way to access tribal payday loans when you need them most.

    5.   Secure and transparent process

    At IOnline Payday Loans, your privacy is very important. The online platform is secure and confidential to ensure that you never have to worry about your personal or financial information being shared with anybody. Additionally, as per the Law of Truth in Lending, all the Loan Terms are explained to you before you sign on the dotted line. There is no deception in the borrowing process offered by IOnline Payday Loans.

    Ultimately, the features offered by IOnline Payday Loans makes it one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check, and guaranteed tribal loans bad credit. If for any reason you need money quickly, whether it is an emergency or a lack of respect or just want the least hassle possible while obtaining a loan, IOnline Payday Loans can offer you exactly what you need with trust.

    IOnline Payday Loans Application Process

    The application process for IOnline Payday Loans is designed to be straightforward, especially for those seeking tribal loans no credit check. Follow these simple steps to get started:

    Step 1: Select loan amount

    The first step is choosing the loan amount that you need. Whether you need a small sum for an emergency or a larger amount for a more significant expense, tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval ensures you’re matched with the right option based on your needs.

    Step 2: Organize documents

    Prepare the necessary documents such as proof of identity, income, and residency. Since tribal payday loans do not require extensive documentation, this step is simple and quick to complete.

    Step 3: Fill out the application form

    Fill out the easy online application form. The form will ask for personal details and the amount you wish to borrow. This step is quick and designed to minimize your time spent on the process.

    Step 4: Check eligibility

    Once you submit the form, the system will automatically check your eligibility for easy tribal loans for bad credit. Since the approval process is not based on your credit score, you’re likely to be eligible even with a poor credit history.

    Step 5: Get matched with a lender

    If you’re eligible, you’ll be matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack that fits your loan request. This step ensures that you get the best possible loan terms for your situation.

    Step 6: Sign & receive funds

    Once you’re matched with a lender, review the loan offer, sign the agreement, and receive your funds. With tribal loans no credit check direct lender, you can expect fast processing and immediate disbursement, often the same day.

    Following these steps ensures that applying for Best tribal loans for bad credit is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

    Eligibility Criteria for IOnline Payday Loans

    To apply for IOnline Payday Loans, certain eligibility criteria must be met to ensure you are a suitable candidate for their tribal loans no credit check. These requirements are designed to make the application process accessible and secure for applicants, regardless of their credit history.

    • Age: You need to be at least 18 years old. This requirement ensures that you are legally able to enter into a loan agreement and pay back the loan throughout the loan term.
    • U.S. Residency: Loan applicants must be legal U.S. residents to be eligible for tribal payday loans. Because the loan is only available to U.S. residents, this is important.
    • Steady Income: You must provide proof of steady income. This can include a paycheck from full-time work, yourself as a business owner, disability payments, or any reliable source of income. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval usually needs this as evidence that you can pay back the loan.
    • Bank Account: You will need a valid checking or savings account to receive your funds through direct deposit and for loan payments to be made. This allows for more accurate and quicker transfer of funds.
    • No Credit Check: One great feature of easy tribal loans for bad credit is that there is no credit check. Even if you have bad credit or do not have credit, qualifying for guaranteed tribal loans bad credit is still available.

    The eligibility requirements for tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders are uncomplicated. This makes tribal installment loans an attractive way to borrow for anyone that has trouble getting traditional lenders to work with them and their credit score. The eligibility requirements are straightforward and the process allows for quick and easy access to funding without the long waiting, overwhelming obstacles of application, and blurry lines of a credit check.

    Wrapping up

    To sum up, IOnline Payday Loans is definitely one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check if you need fast and reliable financing. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval supports individuals looking for easy access to funds quickly, even if they have poor credit. The process is simple, ensuring the great chance to get approved for one of the easiest tribal loans to obtain.

    Whether you are looking for tribal payday loans or an easy tribal loan for an emergency or other needs, you can trust you will receive fast and efficient service with IOnline Payday Loans. If you are looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, it is worth it to look into this option.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will I actually be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit?

    Yes, you will be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit with IOnline Payday Loans even if you have bad credit. The process is very simple, and uses a common sense approach to ensure everyone gets a chance; and the best part is that you will not need to submit a credit score, and approval is much faster than traditional loans.

    Will applying for my tribal loan affect my credit score?

    No, your credit score would not be affected by applying for a tribal payday loan with IOnline Payday Loans. Since the decision is based on criteria other than your credit score, you won’t have to be concerned with your score and the loan application and approval.

    Are these loans available in every state?

    IOnline Payday Loans is available in most states, however, loan availability may depend on state regulations. We recommend checking the website or contacting customer support for confirmation on tribal loans no credit check availability.

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Ionline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a448455-0257-4c6f-9380-aed09399ca89

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Non-compliant electrical products

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):
     
    Question:
     
    Under the Hong Kong legislation, electrical products supplied in Hong Kong are required to carry a certificate of safety compliance, and energy labels are required to be shown on certain prescribed products supplied in Hong Kong. In the case of regulated electrical equipment, suppliers of such equipment are even required to register with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) as registered suppliers and pay a recycling levy (the levy) to the EPD for the regulated electrical equipment distributed by them. However, it is learnt that quite a number of electrical products purchased online in Hong Kong through cross-border e-commerce platforms have not complied with the requirements of the aforesaid legislation, thus posing potential safety hazards to Hong Kong consumers and causing unfairness to local law-abiding merchants. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the measures taken by the authorities to intercept the import of non-compliant electrical products into Hong Kong in each of the past three years;

    (2) as it has been reported that some cross-border e-commerce platforms intend to set up physical shops in Hong Kong, whereby goods are displayed for customers to experience in person, and customers may conduct transactions on online platforms and have the goods delivered directly by manufacturers outside Hong Kong, whether the authorities have studied if such selling approach has circumvented the existing laws of Hong Kong or if there are grey areas; if it has studied, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; 
    Reply:
     
    President, 
    (1) Since 2019, a Cross-border E-commerce Working Group (the Working Group) was established under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency between the EMSD and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. The Working Group focuses on controlling the risks arisen from cross-border e-commerce platforms, including the reporting of unsafe electrical products supplied through these platforms. Upon receiving notifications, the Mainland Authority will conduct follow-up actions according to the case merits, including proactive measures like order interception and product delisting to prevent unsafe electrical products from entering Hong Kong. The EMSD also co-organises annual policy and regulation briefings with the relevant Mainland Authority to explain to cross-border e-commerce platform businesses, electrical product manufacturers, and testing personnel the relevant laws and instructions for the supply of electrical products in Hong Kong, enhancing their understanding of regulations related to exporting household electrical products to Hong Kong. To date, 12 such briefings have been conducted.
     
    Besides, the EMSD has conducted sample checks on 16 types for 180 household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong in the past three years. It also engages third party testing and certification bodies to conduct testing on the relevant safety standards. Around 160 prescribed products were also checked for compliance with the energy efficiency information on the energy label over the same period. If the relevant products are suspected to be in violation of the Regulation or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, the EMSD will conduct follow-up investigations.
     
    The EMSD also conducts inspections at retail stores supplying household electrical products, local e-commerce platforms, and their suppliers. Prosecutions will be carried out against non-compliant products. In the past three years, around 14 000 inspections were conducted, uncovering about 230 cases of violations of the Regulations or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, which have resulted in fines totalling at around $500,000.
     
    (2) and (3) Regarding the situation described in question (2), the EMSD has maintained communication with cross-border e-commerce platforms in the Mainland to remind them that household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with the local legal requirements. The EMSD will continue to monitor the operations of these platforms in Hong Kong, consult the Department of Justice regarding potential violations of the Regulations and the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, and take further actions including prosecution as necessary.
     
    Regarding the recycling levy arrangement, the EPD has noted recent operational models of certain cross-border e-commerce platform may involve the distribution or sale of regulated electrical equipment in Hong Kong. The EPD has approached the relevant platform to understand the situation and explain the relevant regulations. The platform concerned has also submitted to the EPD the applications for supplier registration endorsement of removal service plan. The EPD will continue to monitor the operational models of these platforms in Hong Kong and follow up on suspected violations.
     
    The EPD and the EMSD have established a communication mechanism since 2024 to exchange intelligence on suspected offences relating to the Regulation, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme and WPRS. A joint enforcement operation was conducted in July 2024, resulting in prosecutions for violations that led to convictions and fines totalling at $22,500 in February 2025. Meanwhile, the EPD regularly inspects suppliers, sellers, and collectors under the WPRS, and has conducted over 1 600 inspections in the past three years, with summons issued to prosecute 28 non-compliant cases.
     
    (4) Over the past three years, the EMSD has not received any reports on unregistered electrical workers installing household appliances arranged by cross-border e-commerce platforms. The EMSD will communicate with cross-border e-commerce platforms about the situation, and will follow up and investigate in accordance with the Electricity Ordinance as necessary.
     
    (5) Having considered the relevant regulatory arrangements in other regions and the need to balance the actual enforcement situations with the prevailing business environment, the Government currently has no plan to amend the relevant regulations to cover the purchase of imported electrical products from cross-border e-commerce platforms and products imported in person. The EMSD will continue to take enforcement actions under a “risk-based” approach, and enhance public awareness of electrical products safety and energy efficiency through education and promotion. The EPD and the EMSD will continue to monitor market developments, review the implementation of the relevant regulations and enhance the enforcement arrangements in response to changing business models.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosks set up at “Smart Silver” Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders community-based help desks (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosks set up at “Smart Silver” Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders community-based help desks     Shop No.01, G/F, Yiu Shing House, Tin Yiu (1) Estate, Tin Shui Wai
        Service hours: 
        9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays;
        10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm on Sundays;
        Closed on Public Holidays.    G/F, No. 103-106, Yan Lam House, Tsui Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O
        Service hours:
        9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm from Mondays to Fridays;
        9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays;
        Closed on Public Holidays.    8 Mei Yuen Street, Sai Kung
        Service hours:
        9.30am to 12.45pm and 2.15pm to 6.30pm from Mondays to Fridays;
        6.30pm to 8.45pm on Fridays;
        9.30am to 6.30pm on Saturdays;
        Closed on Public Holidays.Issued at HKT 12:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji Indians in NZ ‘not giving up’ on Pasifika classification struggle

    By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific Waves presenter/producer, and Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor

    The co-founder of Auckland’s Fiji Centre is concerned that Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific Islanders in Aotearoa.

    This week marks the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji, who departed from Calcutta.

    On 14 May 1879, the first group of 522 labourers arrived in Fiji aboard the Leonidas, a labour transportation ship.

    That date in 1987 is also the date of the first military coup in Fiji.

    More than 60,000 men, women and children were brought to Fiji under an oppressive system of bonded labour between 1879 and 1916.

    Today, Indo-Fijians make up 33 percent of the population.

    While Fiji is part of the Pacific, Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific peoples in New Zealand; instead, they are listed under “Indian” and “Asian” on the Stats NZ website.

    Lasting impact on Fiji
    The Fiji Centre’s Nik Naidu, who is also a co-founder of the Whānau Community Centre and Hub, said that he understood Fiji was the only country in the Pacific where the British implemented the indentured system.

    “It is also a sad legacy and a sad story because it was basically slavery,” he said.

    “The positive was that the Fiji Indian community made a lasting impact on Fiji.

    “They continue to be around 30 percent of the population in Fiji, and I think significantly in Aotearoa, through the migration, the numbers are, according to the community, over 100,000 in New Zealand.”

    Fiji Centre co-founder Nikhil Naidu . . . Girmit Day “is also a sad legacy and a sad story because it was basically slavery.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    However, he said the discussions on ethnic classification “reached a stalemate” with the previous Pacific Peoples Minister.

    “His basic argument was, well, ethnographically, Fijian Indians do not fit the profile of Pacific Islanders,” he said.

    Then-minister Aupito William Sio said in 2021 that, while he understood the group’s concerns, the classification for Fijian Indians was in line with an ethnographic profile which included people with a common language, customs and traditions.

    Aupito said that profile was different from indigenous Pacific peoples.

    StatsNZ and ethnicity
    “StatsNZ recognises ethnicity as the ethnic group or groups a person self-identifies with or has a sense of belonging to,” Aupito said in a letter at the time.

    It is not the same as race, ancestry, nationality, citizenship or even place of birth, he said.

    “They have identified themselves now that the system of government has not acknowledged them.

    “Those conversations have to be ongoing to figure out how do we capture the data of who they are as Fijian Indians or to develop policies around that to support their aspirations.”

    Girmitiyas – Indentured labourers – in Fiji . . . shedding light on the harsh colonial past in Fiji. Image: RNZ Pacific/Fiji Girmit Foundation

    Naidu believes the ethnographic argument was a misunderstanding of the request.

    “The request is not to say, like Chinese in Samoa, they are not indigenous to Samoa, but they are Samoans, and they are Pacific Chinese.

    “So there is the same thing with Fijian Indians. They are not wanting to be indigenous.

    Different from mainland Indians
    “They do want to be recognised as separate Indians in the Pacific because they are very different from the mainland Indians.

    “In fact, most probably 99 percent of Fijian Indians have never been to India and have no affiliations to India because during the Girmit they lost all connections with their families.”

    However, Naidu told Pacific Waves the community was not giving up.

    “There was a human rights complaint made — again that did not progress in the favour of the Fijian Indians.

    “Currently from . . . Fiji Centre’s perspective, we are still pursuing that.

    “We have also had a discussion with Stats NZ about the numbers and trying to ascertain just why they have not managed to put a separate category, so that we can look at the number of Fijian Indians and also relative to Pacific Islanders.”

    Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told RNZ Pacific that as far as Fiji is concerned, Fijians of Indian descent are Fijian.

    Question to minister
    Last year, RNZ Pacific asked the current Minister for Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti, on whether Indo-Fijians were included in Ministry of Pacific Peoples as Pacific people.

    In a statement, his office said: “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is undertaking ongoing policy work to better understand this issue.”

    Meanwhile, the University of Fiji’s vice-chancellor is asking the Australian and British governments to consider paying reparation for the exploitation of the indentured labourers more than a century ago.

    Professor Shaista Shameem told the ABC that they endured harsh conditions, with long hours, social restrictions and low wages.

    She said the Australian government and the Colonial Sugar Refinery of Australia benefitted the most financially and it was time the descendants were compensated.

    While some community leaders have been calling for reparation, Naidu said there were other issues that needed attention.

    He said it had been an ongoing discussion for many decades.

    “It is a very challenging one, because where do you draw the line? And it is a global problem, the indenture system. It is not just unique to Fiji.

    “Personally, yes, I think that is a great idea. Practically, I am not sure if it is feasible and possible.”

    Focus on what unites, says Rabuka
     Fiji is on a path for reconciliation, with leaders from across the political spectrum signing a Forward Fiji Declaration in 2023, hoping to usher in a new era of understanding between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.

    Rabuka announced a public holiday to commemorate Girmit Day in 2023.

    In his Girmit Day message this year, Rabuka said his government was dedicated to bringing unity and reconciliation between all races living in Fiji.

    “We all know that Fiji has had a troubled past, as it was natural that conflicts would arise when a new group of people would come into another’s space,” he said.

    “This is precisely what transpired when the Indians began to live or decided to live as permanent citizens.

    “There was distrust as the two groups were not used to living together during the colonial days. Indigenous Fijians did not have a say in why, and how many should come and how they should be settled here. Fiji was not given a time to transit.

    “The policy of indenture labour system was dumped on us. Naturally this led to tensions and misunderstandings, reasons that fuelled conflicts that followed after Fiji gained independence.”

    He said 146 years later, Fijians should focus on what unites rather than what divides them.

    “We have together long enough to know that unity and peace will lead us to a good future.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on President’s Budget Proposal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education & Workforce Committee, released a statement on President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

    “The president’s budget proposal is reckless and cruel, and would strip services away from millions of Americans,” said Congresswoman Adams. “It includes tens of billions of dollars in cuts to Title I schools, the NIH, and rental assistance—programs that we know work—in exchange for bigger tax breaks for billionaires. Fortunately, Congress, not the White House, sets the budget, and if this bill ever comes before us, I will vote against it.”

    The president’s proposal includes unprecedented cuts that would rob millions of Americans of their food and housing security, healthcare, and educational opportunity.

    “A budget is a reflection of the values you hold, and this budget speaks plainly to who the president is,” Adams continued. “He values making it harder for you to access Medicaid and Social Security. He values tax cuts for his friends over making sure Americans have a place to sleep at night. He values putting money in the pocket of Elon Musk while cutting services to you. He’s laid his values out before us, and I will continue to fight to ensure those values never become law.” 

    His proposed cuts include:

    • $4.5 billion in cuts to Title I schools and K-12 programs.
    • $1.6 billion in cuts to TRIO and GEAR UP, two critical programs for students from low-income households and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
    • $980 million in cuts to the Federal Work-Study Program.
    • $729 million in cuts to Adult Education Programs.
    • $18 billion in cuts to the National Institute of Health.
    • $3.6 billion in cuts to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, slashing their budget in half.
    • $674 million in cuts to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    • $1 billion in cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    • $26.7 billion in cuts to State Rental Assistance Block Grants.
    • $425 million in cuts to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, a critical food assistance and domestic farm program that aids older Americans and food banks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on President Trump’s First 100 Days, Immense Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), released a statement on President Trump’s first 100 days in office and the immense harm him and Republicans in Congress have brought to the residents of NC-12, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the country.

    “After 100 days under President Trump, his term can only be defined by economic hardship, divisive, partisan politics, and letting millions suffer for bigger tax breaks for billionaires,” said Congresswoman Adams. “The last three months have been disastrous, and my constituents have made it clear to me that they are overwhelmingly worse off thanks to this administration. But my Republican colleagues have no issues supporting President Trump’s cruel, unconstitutional actions anyway.”

    “While Republicans cower to the White House, Democrats will continue to work for every single American,” Adams continued. “I will keep fighting their reckless agenda in committee and on the House floor. I will continue listening to my constituents so I can advocate for their needs. And I will continue to work with our partners in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to ensure our community will take care of our neighbors, even when this administration won’t.”

    Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    The Trump Administration has directly harmed hundreds of thousands of people in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District and in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. As Republicans look to pass their partisan budget bill, the harm will only grow.

    Education

    “Education isn’t a privilege, it’s a right and we will not let Republicans take it away from our children,” said Adams. “We are seeing this unconstitutional attempt to dismantle the federal Department of Education fought in court and I will continue to fight these cuts in Congress. Now, more than ever, we need to protect the educational future of our students.” 

    Hunger

    • Elon Musk’s DOGE has made major cuts to food security programs, including $30 million to North Carolina’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.
    • Now, Republicans in Congress are attempting to cut $230 billion in SNAP funding, the largest food security program in the country.
    • 160,000 Mecklenburg County residents receive aid from SNAP and the program carries with it $500 million in economic impacts.
    • This bill would also cut funds to the Free Student Lunch Program which 40,000 CMS students use for a reliable meal.

    “You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry,” said Adams. “At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, Republicans want to cut food security programs from the people who need it most. Our children, our elderly, our disabled, and our working families all rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Democrats will not allow our constituents to starve.”

    Healthcare

    “We cannot let Republicans treat lifesaving healthcare programs like Medicaid as if they’re just budget line items,” said Adams. “2.6 million North Carolinians rely on Medicaid for their health and wellness, providing affordable, accessible care to our most vulnerable. Make no mistake, Americans will die if Republicans cut Medicaid, all so they can give tax breaks to billionaires.” 

    Housing

    • As Charlotte-Mecklenburg faces an affordable housing crisis, the Trump Administration is cutting funds for critical rental and housing assistance.
    • The Republican Continuing Resolution cut rent subsidies and homelessness response grants by more than $700 million.
    • Funding for affordable housing developments remains frozen, throwing these developments into uncertainty.
    • Charlotte’s largest homeless shelter is facing uncertainty and unease due to the Trump Administration’s cuts on housing.

    “While rental and housing costs continue to rise, Republicans want to cut an essential lifeline to affordable housing,” said Adams. “Housing security impacts everything: physical and mental health, job and economic stability, and food security. Yet, the Republican plan is to increase evictions while slashing housing and homeless support. That’s unacceptable. While I fight these cuts in Congress, I’m working with partners at the state, county, and local level to ensure we can continue providing fair housing for the people of my district.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Adams, Figures Introduce Legislation to Protect Federal Funding for Land-Grant HBCUs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, and Congressman Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) introduced the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act. 

    The Land-Grant Institution Parity Act protects federal funding for our land-grant colleges and universities, including the country’s 19 land-grant HBCUs, commonly referred to as 1890 Institutions. This bill comes following the USDA’s suspension and reinstatement of the 1890 National Scholars Program, a scholarship program for 1890 Institution students studying agriculture, food, or natural resources sciences, earlier this year.

    “The Land-Grant Institution Parity Act is an important step to protect funding for our land-grant HBCUs and build equity in higher education,” said Congresswoman Adams. “1890 Institutions have always punched above their weight and provided outsized benefits to their students, their research, and their communities. They know how to do more with less, but they shouldn’t have to. It’s time we ensure these institutions of excellence always receive the funding they deserve.”

    “Earlier this year, the Trump Administration suspended funding for historically Black land-grant colleges, but did not pause the same funding for the predominately white land-grant institutions,” said Rep. Figures. “That is simply wrong, and that decision sent a clear message about the vulnerability of programs designed to uplift underserved communities. Under this bill, funding for land-grant institutions will be treated equally and funds cannot be paused, cut, or eliminated without congressional approval. I’m committed to protecting our HBCUs and the students that they serve.”

    Under the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act, federal officials are prohibited from reducing, eliminating, or suspending funding for 1890 Institutions without authorization from Congress. This bill aims to ensure long-term stability and equity for land-grant HBCUs and other land-grant universities serving underserved communities.

    The original cosponsors for this bill include Reps. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Cleo Fields (LA-04), David Scott (GA-13), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Leader Encouraged by new Executive Order on HBCUs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, and Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan, Bicameral Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, released a statement following President Trump’s executive order on HBCUs.

    “I welcome all and every initiative to support our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities because supporting HBCUs is not a partisan issue,” said Congresswoman Adams. “HBCUs are centers of achievement, excellence, and success, and have always punched above their weight, even in the face of historic underfunding.”

    “In order to win the race in the 21stcentury to remain the world’s leading innovative country, we must have robust investments in our HBCUs through bills like the FUTURE Act and HBCU PARTNERS Act, two bills I fought hard to have signed into law. We also need to ensure our state governments are fully funding our 1890s Land Grant HBCUs, something the executive order stressed the importance of,” Adams continued.

    “We still have more work to do though, especially in holistic infrastructure investments at HBCUs, and I look forward to working with this administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass more impactful, bipartisan legislation for our HBCUs.”

    “I’m a former college professor and I always told my students that we have to have a sense of urgency about the tasks in front of us. We need real timelines, and I am ready to work now. But, I must also say, if the administration dismantles our U.S. Department of Education, the future for HBCUs will further be in question. Let’s work together to ensure these institutions of higher education always remain HBCU Strong,” Adams concluded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Adams, Kamlager-Dove Convene Roundtable to Address Black Higher Education and Strengthening HBCUs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), founder and co-chair of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Congressional Black Caucus Whip, held a roundtable discussion with Reps. Sewell (AL-07), Hayes (CT-05), Sykes (OH-13), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Brown (OH-11), and Figures (AL-02), HBCU leadership, students, and advocacy organizations to highlight the impacts of Trump Administration policies on the HBCUs that have played a vital role in empowering Black students across the country. 

    The roundtable included presidents from Howard University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Virginia Union University and representatives from Texas Southern University, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the 1890 Foundation to discuss student life concerns, academic access and funding, infrastructure and facilities, and the role of the federal government. 

    “HBCUs have always punched above their weight, producing the leaders, innovators, and changemakers who move this country forward,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Despite their success though, they face historic underfunding that force them to do more with less. It’s time we meaningfully invest in HBCUs so they can continue serving their students for generations to come.”

    “Our HBCUs continue to face systemic challenges that impact student success, campus quality-of-life, and institutional growth. Shamefully, the Trump Administration’s attacks on DEI initiatives and higher education funding have only made these challenges worse,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Now is the time for policymakers, education leaders, and students to engage in direct dialogue about solutions to protect and uplift Black students.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Conducts DHS Oversight

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after he and Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei (NV-02) led the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security oversight hearing to collect testimony from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on a range of pressing issues including securing the border, combatting fentanyl trafficking, strengthening personnel recruitment, and protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats:

    “In less than 100 days, we watched our southern border go from chaos to closed. The decisive actions and common-sense measures of the Trump Administration have led to a historic turnaround, driving illegal crossings to record lows and ensuring removal of dangerous criminals. President Trump, Secretary Noem, and the rest of his cabinet have delivered on the promise to have the most secure border in modern American history, and our nation is safer as a result. It is imperative that investments for effective border security and enforcement are strong, and I am dedicated to working with the members on the Appropriations Committee and across the Capitol to ensure the Department of Homeland Security is properly resourced,” said Congressman Cole.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Applauds President Trump on Historic U.S.-UK Trade Deal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement applauding President Trump for his success in negotiating a trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom, which is our fourth largest trade partner:

    “Today, President Trump delivered a historic U.S.-UK trade deal, which every American, no matter political party or ideology, should be happy to see. It will not only provide American companies with unprecedented access to British markets, but it will also bolster our national security. Specifically, this deal will create a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers, many of which I represent in Oklahoma’s Fourth District, as well as maximize the competitiveness and secure the supply chain of U.S. defense manufactures,” said Congressman Cole.

    “Today proves that countries will come to the negotiating table. Congratulations to the Trump Administration, and I look forward to seeing the future trade deals to come,” said Congressman Cole.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ann Wagner on the Passing of Senator Kit Bond

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Ballwin, MO – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the passing of former Missouri Senator Kit Bond.

    “Few people in Missouri politics have had more of a positive influence on our state and the nation than Senator Kit Bond.  A true statesman seemingly from a bygone era in today’s divisive world, Kit Bond devoted his life to public service, working with others to find the best ways to lift up Missouri and the nation, to make it a better place for those he was so honored to serve. He was a cheerful warrior who always had an encouraging word and a smile on his face, even in challenging times.
     
    “After leaving elected office, Kit continued to advocate for our state and the policies he fought for throughout his career.  My happiest phone calls in recent memory were from Kit and Linda inviting Ray and me to dinner.  Sharing stories about Missouri politics, both past and present, spanning three decades, was always the highlight of the evening, and something I will miss dearly.
     
    “At a time when it was hard for women to break into politics, Kit was a forward-thinking visionary who worked to promote and advance the careers of many women entering public service.  I was so honored to serve as Missouri Republican Party Chairman alongside Kit’s incomparable female Chief of Staff Julie Dammann and Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, advancing strong conservative policies that benefitted our state. 
     
    “Ray and I are heartbroken to hear of his passing and our prayers are with his wife Linda, who took such incredible care of him and supported him always, as well as his son, Sam, and the entire Bond family.  Kit was a dear friend, a mentor, and I would not be where I am today were it not for his friendship, advice and support.  I will miss him every day.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OSINT Chair Wagner Leads Member Visit to Defense Intelligence Agency

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. –  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Chair Ann Wagner (MO-02) led a bipartisan group of OSINT Subcommittee members to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to hear how they are using open-source intelligence to support warfighters in their mission and to ensure a robust U.S. national security posture. While at DIA, the Members viewed a demonstration of the defense intelligence enterprises’ OSINT gathering capabilities. 

    “It was impressive to hear how DIA is leveraging Open-Source Information to achieve its mission and most importantly, make sure the warfighter on the ground has the most up to date, accurate information needed to advance U.S. national security priorities and protect those fighting for our freedoms,” said Chair Wagner. “This visit reaffirms what we have been hearing from across the IC—it is absolutely critical to our nation’s security that OSINT is a primary intelligence discipline. Our subcommittee continues to examine how the IC can more effectively and efficiently use Commercially Available Information to create open-source intelligence products and counter our adversaries worldwide. I look forward to continuing this fact-finding mission next month in a subcommittee hearing.”

    “The visit to DIA allowed Subcommittee Members to improve our firsthand understanding about how a key intelligence community element is reinvigorating and prioritizing OSINT for both the defense and national enterprise,” said Ranking Member Houlahan. “We are grateful to Director Kruse for sharing his vision for maximizing the value of OSINT, and the capabilities his team demonstrated show great promise for further leveraging OSINT as an integral part of the intelligence cycle.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Reps. Pocan and Stefanik Reintroduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Improve Training for School Food Service Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, reintroduced the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act, legislation to improve training for food service employees in schools. The legislation would assist in the implementation of existing professional standards for these workers by ensuring that training occurs during work hours and at no cost, and if training is unable to occur during scheduled work hours, the bill makes clear that employees must be informed in advance and compensated appropriately. Representatives Mark Pocan (D, WI-02) and Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21) are introducing companion, bipartisan legislation in the House.
    “School food service workers do the essential work of making sure our kids are fed at school and can focus on their learning instead of an empty stomach,” said Senator Murray. “Our commonsense bipartisan bill would make sure those workers get the training they need during work hours at no cost to them—and that if training happens after work hours, food service workers are fairly compensated for their time. This is about fairness and making sure our schools can recruit and retain skilled food service employees.”
    “Nutritious meals are as important to a child’s development as learning to read, and school food service workers play a vital role in guaranteeing every child gets the healthy food they deserve,” said Rep. Mark Pocan. “The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act will make it easier for workers to complete needed training and ensure food service workers have the skills to safely serve our kids. I’m proud to sponsor this critical bill with colleagues from across the aisle and in the Senate because good food and good jobs should be a part of 21st-century schools.”
    “School meals support learning and student success. Every day, dedicated food service professionals prepare and serve school meals to all of our students, providing the nutrition that is essential for learning and participation. Our food service professionals need appropriate support and training for the expertise required to feed our students,” said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. “The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act will help ensure that our food service professionals have access to training sessions during their paid work days or are compensated if the training has to occur outside of work hours. I am proud to support this legislation that will help ensure our students receive the healthy, nutritious meals they need to thrive.”
    The reauthorization of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 enacted professional standards for food service workers. These standards worked to ensure that school meals are as healthy as possible for students. The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act builds on these standards and would:
    Ensure that training sessions occur primarily during regular, paid working hours;
    Compensate workers for training sessions that must occur outside of work hours;
    Make every effort to inform workers of training sessions that must take place outside of work hours;
    Ensure that school food service workers are not penalized if they are unable to attend training sessions outside of work hours; and
    Promote in-person, hands-on training whenever possible and appropriate.
    The text of the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wagner Bill to Combat China’s Aggression, Support an Independent Taiwan Passed House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after her Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives:

    “It is undeniable that the People’s Republic of China is the single gravest threat to our national security and has its sights set on the full-scale invasion of Taiwan. The United States must not waver in our deterrence of this threat. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the Pacific, and my Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act is a decisive step forward to ensuring peace through strength. This bill will deepen and expand U.S.-Taiwan relations at a critical moment in history.  I look forward to the Senate quickly taking up my legislation and putting this on President Trump’s desk so he can show China just how serious we are about combatting their reckless aggression.”

    Background

    The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act would require the Department of State to conduct periodic reviews of its guidelines for U.S. engagement with Taiwan. These regular reviews and updates must:

    1. Explain how the guidance deepens and expands United States-Taiwan relations, and reflects the value, merits, and importance of the United States-Taiwan relationship;
    2. Give due consideration to the fact that Taiwan is a democratic partner and a free and open society that respects universal human rights and democratic values;
    3. Ensure that the conduct of relations with Taiwan reflects the longstanding, comprehensive, and values-based relationship the United States shares with Taiwan, and contribute to the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Calling on DHS to Reinstate Disaster Mitigation Program Critical to Local Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with over 80 of their colleagues urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports local efforts to protect and harden our communities from natural disaster. The BRIC program provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities, tribal nations, and territories requesting assistance. The lawmakers’ letter emphasizes the urgent need to continue investing in pre-disaster mitigation and community resilience and calls on the Administration to work with Congress to improve the program’s accessibility and efficiency.
    “We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm,” the lawmakers began.
    “The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes,” they continued. “According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures.”
    “We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come,” the lawmakers concluded.
    In addition to Senators Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, and Murkowski, the letter was led on the House side by U.S. Representatives Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.-11), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), and Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01). The letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.-13), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-33), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-03), Donald Davis (D-N.C.-01), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.-22), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Chuy García (D-Ill.-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Marina Islands), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Sarah McBride (D-Del.-01), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.-08), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.-03), Dave Min (D-Calif-47), Blake Moore (R-Utah-01), James Moylan (R-Va.-09), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Richard Neal (D-Mass.-01), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash-04), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.-03), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.05), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), John Rutherford (R-Fla.-05), Linda Sánchez (R-Calif.-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.-07), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Norma Torres (D-Calif-35), David Valadao (R-Calif-22), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-Va.-07), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24), and Robert Wittman (R-Va.-01).
    The full letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson,
    We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm. We acknowledge that the BRIC program, like all grant funding programs, has room for improvement, and we urge you to couple the reinstatement of the program with an opportunity for Congress and FEMA to improve the application review and funding distribution process to more effectively reduce the costs disasters pose to our communities, economies, and livelihoods.
    The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes.
    According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures. BRIC funds are making communities safer in the next storm through projects like upgrading and protecting wastewater and drinking water plants after the facilities suffered repeated flooding, or bridge upgrades and road drainage improvements to improve driver safety. Because of its benefits, the demand for BRIC grants continues to increase, and our states and communities benefit from the reliability of the funding cycles.
    The BRIC program also plays an essential role in helping Tribal Nations and rural communities strengthen their defenses against natural disasters and safeguard critical infrastructure. Through BRIC, Tribes and rural communities can access dedicated funding to strengthen community resilience by investing in hazard mitigation projects—such as flood protection, fire prevention, and infrastructure hardening—that are otherwise difficult to finance in rural or remote settings. Importantly, FEMA supports Tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribes to apply directly for funding, reserving a dedicated Tribal set-aside, and providing direct technical assistance—ensuring Tribes can lead their own planning and mitigation efforts. These investments not only strengthen community resilience but also honor the federal trust responsibility to support the safety, self-determination, and well-being of Tribal Nations.
    At the same time, we acknowledge that the BRIC program should be evaluated for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce the complexities for recipients to access the critical resources. The benefits of the program should not be concentrated in or limited to jurisdictions with dedicated offices and the staff necessary to navigate the grant application requirements. Additionally, the program should be updated with a strategic approach that empowers states and local governments to address degraded and vulnerable infrastructure based on their localized priorities and understanding of risk.
    We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come.
    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ann Wagner to Attend Funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis with Bipartisan Congressional Delegation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Speaker Johnson today announced a Congressional delegation, led by Majority Leader Scalise, along with Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) and a bipartisan group of their House colleagues, is traveling to the Vatican to attend the funeral service of His Holiness Pope Francis. The funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square.

    “I am humbled and honored to represent Missouri on this Congressional Delegation with Leader Scalise to the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis.  It was just a year ago yesterday that Ray and I were blessed to meet with the Holy Father at the Vatican and pray,” said Congresswoman Wagner.  “He has left a legacy of service and selflessness that will echo through future generations.  Tomorrow we will be mourning with those touched by his faith and devotion to the Greater Glory of God.” 

    “Our prayers are with the many Christians who mourn the passing of Pope Francis,” Speaker Johnson said. “It is my honor to send this Congressional delegation, during which participating Members will celebrate the life of Pope Francis and the teaching of the Catholic Church. I’ve asked the House’s highest ranking Catholic, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, to lead this bipartisan group on this faith-filled visit.”

    “I am honored to be asked to lead the Congressional delegation of the House Representatives to attend the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican this weekend. The Holy Father humbly devoted his life in service to the Church, and he was dedicated to spreading the Gospel of the Lord to the world,” said Leader Scalise. “As a lifelong Catholic, I am honored to represent the House in paying our respects and praying for the soul of Pope Francis, as Catholics all around the world grieve, and as Church leaders prepare to elect a new pope in the coming weeks.”

    The Members of the Congressional delegation are:

    1.         The Honorable Steve Scalise

    2.         The Honorable French Hill 

    3.         The Honorable Nancy Pelosi 

    4.         The Honorable Brendan Boyle 

    5.         The Honorable Ann Wagner 

    6.         The Honorable Tom Suozzi 

    7.         The Honorable John Joyce 

    8.         The Honorable Pete Stauber 

    9.         The Honorable Scott Fitzgerald 

    10.       The Honorable Laura Gillen

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Hears Testimony of Trump Defense Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Adam Telle, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Richard Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs during their Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) confirmation hearing. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Telle about how the Army Corps of Engineers can improve dams and waterways in Alabama so that businesses can continue utilizing them to efficiently transport goods. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Anderson about improving morale in the Air Force, and how he will support President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s mission for the Air Force Academy, if confirmed. 
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    ON ADDRESSING ALABAMA’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, gentlemen. Mr. Telle, I enjoyed visiting you in my office, recently, about Alabama’s inland waterways. And last year, we had three of our locks fail in one year. That’s unacceptable.
    Our waterways infrastructure is operating past [its] expected lifespan and will continue to break. We’re having huge problems. Businesses depend upon our waterways to move goods, all the way down to the Port Mobile. What’s your plan to cut bureaucratic red tape and rapidly repair critical infrastructure across the system? Even though we just passed—a couple years ago—trillions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure money. We didn’t see any of that.”
    TELLE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you for the question. And as someone who grew up on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa County, one of your waterways, I understand their importance. They deliver American commerce to the globe. It’s true in Alabama and it’s true throughout the country. It’s unacceptable that our infrastructure is not meeting our current demands. We have got to work across government agencies to make sure we remove red tape, coordinate, [and] communicate with you [and] stakeholders here in Congress who have the ability to help deliver some of these projects. And I look forward to working with you on the locks and other navigation and flood control infrastructure within Alabama.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. We do have a lot of red tape within the [Army] Corps of Engineers—I’ll let you know that. I look forward to working with you. I’ll [let you] know that we gotta get stuff done. We just can’t sit back…”
    TELLE: “Thank you, Senator. Couldn’t agree more.”
    ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AIR FORCE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Anderson, thank for your service. As [a] career officer in the Air Force, I’m sure you’ve had your share of both good and bad base facilities, housing units, [and] commissaries. And I believe that what happens outside of work is just as important as work itself. [Your] quality of life, family, stability, and all those things that go along with it.
    Do you believe that having a lower quality of life leads to decreased morale, readiness, and retention?”
    ANDERSON: “Absolutely, Senator.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. And how do you plan on working with your colleagues in the Air Force staff to address all these issues, because we do have problems?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, you are correct. […] If confirmed, I intend to delve into this issue immediately. My intention is to remain at the headquarters for a period of time in order to come up to speed on these issues, and then to get into the field, if confirmed, and to see these things firsthand. I’ve read about them, and I look forward, if confirmed, by this Committee [to] working with you and with all members of the Committee in addressing these [issues].”
    ON NEW ADMISSIONS POLICY AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. You know, last week, Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum requiring our service academies to adapt admission standards based solely on merit. Thank God. You know, […] recently, the President put me on the Air Force Academy Board [of Visitors], which I’m looking forward to. I’m also Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees our academies. I welcome that change in policy. Under the previous administration we saw our nation’s premier leadership laboratories cower to woke ideologies.
    If confirmed, you will have oversight over the Air Force Academy. How do you plan on ensuring that this memorandum is thoroughly put [into effect at] our Air Force Academy?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, based on my reading of the public media, the Air Force and specifically the organization that I hope to lead, if confirmed, has already moved aggressively on this. My understanding is that there is a certification required back by the end of the month from the superintendent of the academy. But if confirmed, I intend to delve into this completely to ensure fullest compliance with the Executive Orders, direction of the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Air Force as well as the existing law.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. [I] look forward to working with you too, on some things I have in mind for the Academy that possibly we could change. Number one, […] saving money, but also enhance some leadership in the Academy there. I think that we can all get together and make it better. It hasn’t changed in years. We could still go by the same old models. And again, we’re looking for leadership. That’s what the Air Force Academy and all of our academies. Represent, you know, for our military.
    I do have some more questions, but I’m out of time, but I’ll give them to you for the for the record.
    Mr. Chairman.”
    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: Wagner Advances American National Security Interests During Visit to Europe and Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on Open-Source Intelligence Chairman Ann Wagner (R-MO) recently returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to Europe and the Middle East. The purpose of the CODEL was to hear from key U.S. allies on the security challenges they are facing and strengthen U.S. global alliances through strategic engagements. Chair Wagner and the delegation were hosted at a series of meetings with high-ranking country leaders. 

    In the United Kingdom, Chair Wagner met with the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Foreign Secretary. They discussed shared security concerns with the U.S., including the desire to end the war in Ukraine and address Iran’s persistent fueling of terrorism throughout the world by way of its proxies: Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah. 

    In Jordan, the delegation met with His Majesty King Abdullah II and his key high-ranking officials to discuss their top national security concerns and how they view changes in the region. 

    Lastly, the delegation visited Israel during Holocaust Remembrance Day and joined a powerful remembrance ceremony. Chair Wagner met with family members of the hostages taken on October 7th by Hamas terrorists and reinforced the U.S. support for Israel’s efforts to return the hostages. Additionally, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and discuss his continued efforts to return the Israeli hostages, defeat Hamas, and achieve stability in the Middle East. 

    “I held an informative meeting in London with intelligence officials on our shared mission to stand up against the ongoing threats Russia, China, and Iran pose to innocents worldwide.  Our nations comprise a vital partnership where we share intelligence that keeps us ahead of our adversaries so we can confront threats before they reach us here at home. While in London, I was also able to have a productive meeting with St. Louis companies with business overseas where we spoke on our mutual economic interests.  As Chair of the Open-Source Intelligence Subcommittee, in addition to my duties as Co-Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I especially appreciated meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel to underscore our commitment to helping Israel destroy Hamas, deter Iran, and ensure greater stability in the Middle East.  The threats facing the United States are real and they have the potential to threaten the very stability of our world that keeps our children safe,” said Chair Wagner. ” Our allies know the United States is a key partner for economic and security matters, but it was also encouraging to hear them recognize that the United States cannot shoulder the burdens of the world alone. Under the leadership of President Trump, nations across the globe are stepping up to protect our shared interests and defend against our adversaries.”

    View pictures from Chair Wagner’s CODEL here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Fleischmann Introduces Bipartisan Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

    Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) introduced the bipartisan Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act, which would authorize a study to designate a 287-mile trail linking Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina as a National Scenic Trail. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). The trail, which crosses mountains and valleys and passes alongside streams and waterfalls, is on federal land for 95 percent of its length and would be administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

    “I am proud to lead this effort and work with my bipartisan colleagues in the House and Senate to designate the beautiful Benton MacKaye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. The Benton MacKaye Trail is an invaluable part of my district in East Tennessee that thousands of Tennesseans and Americans hike each year, and the trail connects some of the most beautiful and pristine parts of Tennessee with Georgia and North Carolina,” said Congressman Fleischmann. “The Benton MacKaye Trail deserves a National Scenic Trail designation. I call on my colleagues in the House and Senate to act quickly to pass our bipartisan bill and send it to President Trump for his signature.”

    “The Benton MacKaye trail is deserving of consideration as a National Scenic Trail. I’m pleased to join my fellow Tennessean Congressman Fleischmann and Senators Tillis and Warnock on legislation to do just that,” said Rep. Steve Cohen. “National designation would mean increased tourism and enjoyment of the outdoors along the entire 287-mile stretch of the trail.”

    “Completed in 2005, the Benton MacKaye Trail provides an exceptional opportunity for tens of thousands of people to get outdoors each year and experience the stunning beauty of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The legislation introduced today, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025, is a critical step forward in the process of evaluating the trail’s potential to become our nation’s 12th National Scenic Trail,” said Bob Cowdrick, President of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. “This study would help protect our storied outdoor heritage for future generations, support local economies, and provide a wide array of recreation opportunities for everyone from day hikers to thru-hikers and solo trekkers to families. We are grateful to Congressman Fleischmann for championing this effort to preserve a trail that means so much to so many.”

    In addition to Congressman Fleischmann’s support, H.R. 2768 is cosponsored in the House of Representatives by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), and Lucy McBath (GA-06). The bill, introduced by Sen. Thom Tills (R-NC) in the Senate, is cosponsored by Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Calls Out Democrats for Trying to Distract from President Trump’s Wins

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) went to the Senate floor to object to Senate Democrats’ attempts to distract from the numerous wins President Trump has delivered for the American people in the past 72 hours.
    Read excerpts from the speech below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    “Reserving the right to object. As usual, our Democrat colleagues are losing their minds over this situation. But let’s just talk about the facts.
    First of all, this is not a done deal. It’s not happened yet. It’s all talk. But, if reports are accurate, the government of Qatar is considering gifting the United States Department of Defense with an American-made Boeing 747—I’ll repeat that—an American-made Boeing 747 plane for temporary use as Air Force One. It is not for the President’s personal use and he will not be using it after he leaves office. It is customary and totally normal for foreign countries to give our government gifts. The DOJ has already said that this does not violate any law.
    So, why are my colleagues and the woke media having a full-blown meltdown over this situation? Perhaps this is because in the past 72 hours, President Trump has delivered so many wins you can’t count them all. 
    On Sunday, he negotiated a deal with China, [resulting in China] dropping tariffs [by] 50%. On Monday, he secured the release of the last remaining American hostage in Hamas. Edan Alexander has been through hell the past 584 days, and it took President Trump to bring him home. Today, President Trump just announced hundreds of billions of dollars in new investment from the Middle East. And on Thursday, he is forcing a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky to end this brutal war in Ukraine.
    You’d think the media would be celebrating all these wins, along with my colleagues, but as usual, the Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting in the way. I’m convinced that the media and some of my colleagues would rather President Trump lose on everything and our country lose on everything than [see President Trump] be successful. 
    Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, we are all Americans. Sometimes I think we forget that. And we should all be able to celebrate any time a president delivers a win for the American taxpayers.
    And by the way, we are $37 trillion dollars in debt. If another country wants to give us a free plane, saving the taxpayers of this country $400 million dollars, the only thing we should say is ‘thank you.’
    Democrats are rudderless right now. They’re looking for something to hang their hats on. They see that President Trump has done more in four months than President Biden did in four years. So, they wanna make a plane gift from Qatar the next so-called ‘perfect phone call.’
    To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane. They care about their lives and this economy and the things that have been destroyed for the past four years that President Trump is trying to put back together.
    For these reasons, Mr. President, I object.”
    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 Australia: A year and a half of annual real wages growth

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    New data released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that annual real wages have grown for 18 months in a row under the Albanese Labor Government.

    Under Labor, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

    We’re really pleased with today’s figures which show annual real wages have now grown for six quarters in a row, after going badly backwards under the previous Liberal government and falling for the five quarters in the lead up to the 2022 election.

    Australians voted for higher wages at the election, and that’s what today’s numbers show.

    The wage price index grew 0.9 per cent in the March quarter 2025, to be 3.4 per cent higher through the year.

    Real wages grew 1.0 per cent through the year to the March quarter 2025.

    This is the strongest rate of annual real wage growth in five years.

    Annual real wages have grown by more than 0.8 per cent for three quarters in a row, which is the longest consistent run of real wage growth in almost ten years above that rate.

    Since we’ve come to Government average annualised nominal wages have been growing at 3.7 per cent, much higher than the 2.2 per cent under our predecessors.

    The Government’s policies are driving strong and sustainable wage growth for workers.

    We’re acting to boost wages, close the gender pay gap, deliver workplace relations reforms and secure pay rises for some of the lowest‑paid workers in our community. Our support for the lowest paid workers means minimum wage earners are now earning $143.30 per week more than when we came to government.

    At the same time, we’ve overseen the creation of more than 1 million jobs in our first three years, a record for a Parliamentary term and stronger employment growth than any major advanced economy.

    This means under Labor real wages are up, unemployment is low, inflation is down, interest rates have started to fall, every taxpayer is getting a tax cut and living standards are growing again in our economy.

    This is the result of the remarkable progress Australians have made together in the economy over the past three years.

    We know the job isn’t finished because Australians are still under pressure and we know we will be faced with more global economic volatility and unpredictability over the next three years, not less.

    Getting wages moving again is one of the ways we can help households right around Australia prepare for more uncertainty and instability in the global economy.

    We know that productivity growth is the key for strong and sustainable wages growth in the long term and that’s why our five‑pillar productivity agenda across technology, human capital, energy, care and competition is so important.

    MIL OSI News –