NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI Security: NHCP opens new medical and dental clinic in Camp Del Mar

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton officially opened the new and improved 21 Area Branch Health Clinic aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton’s Camp Del Mar on Sept. 19, 2024.

    The new state-of-the-art facility stocked with up-to-date equipment was constructed through a collaborative effort by Soltek Pacific, HKS-WSP Joint Venture, Holitna, the Defense Health Agency, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest.

    “Replacing a clinic built in 1966, this new clinic embodies the Navy’s and the Defense Health Agency’s dedication to delivering the highest standard of care, using the latest technology and clinical advancements to serve our troops,” said Navy Capt. Jenny Burkett, NHCP director.

    The 21 ABHC provides medical and dental care to the active-duty service members serving aboard Camp Del Mar.

    “This state-of-the-art facility was designed to ensure the readiness of the 5,000 Warfighters across the various tenant commands,” said Navy Capt. Nathan Wonder, NHCP director of branch clinics and master of ceremonies for the event.

    “I would like to recognize and thank the leaders and dedicated teams who made this project possible: our service members, medical and dental professionals, and all the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the Marines and Sailors receive the best care possible,” added Burkett. “Specifically, Branch Clinic staff, Medical and Dental Battalion staff, and staff from the MEF, Division and Marine Logistics Group, who work here in the clinic. At the heart of all we do is the commitment to take care of our people. Every Marine and sailor who walks through these doors can be assured they are receiving world class care.”

    Joining Burkett for the ceremonial ribbon cutting were Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), and Brig. Gen. Nick Brown, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West / Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

    “As we cut this ribbon, and witness the opening of this incredible facility, we are reminded of the powerful role medical and dental care plays in the readiness and resilience of our force. This clinic is both an investment in care and an investment in the future of the Navy/Marine Corps team,” Burkett concluded.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Air, Space & Cyber Conference Wraps, PACAF’s Commitment to Indo-Pacific Continues

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland  –  

    As the curtain closed today on the 2024 Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, one theme resonated throughout the event – Pacific Air Forces total commitment to maintaining a decisive advantage in the Indo-Pacific region amidst growing global threats.

    Over the course of three days, Gen. Kevin Schneider, PACAF commander, laid out a strategic vision that accentuates readiness, innovation, and energized alliances to confront mounting challenges in the region.

    On day one, Schneider addressed the pressing need to enhance Agile Combat Employment. He discussed the ongoing efforts to refurbish remote Pacific locations, recover from natural disasters like last year’s typhoon in Guam, and build integrated air and missile defenses across the theater.

    “We continue to expand agile combat employment, to find ways we can move into austere airfields,” Schneider said. “Getting gas into airplanes is a key piece of that, and I give great credit to our logistics and sustainment professionals who find ways to solve those problems every day.”

    Schneider took the main stage in front of 5,000 people on day two to deliver a keynote address that captured the essence of PACAF’s priorities and the advantages it holds over any adversaries. He began by contrasting his early experiences as an F-16 pilot at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, in the early 1990s, with the challenges he faces today as commander of nearly 50,000 Airmen across the region.

    The keynote highlighted two critical components of PACAF’s strategy: Air Domain Awareness and ACE. Schneider spoke passionately about the need to stay ahead of adversaries through enhanced surveillance and rapid, flexible force deployment. He also noted the three-fold edge PACAF holds over its foes.

    “We have three asymmetric advantages that adversaries could never hope to have,” Schneider said. “One is the growing network of alliances and partnerships that we enjoy. We’re moving beyond bilats into multilateral events to be able to pull more and more partners in. The second is the professionalism, discipline and strength of our people. The third is the inherent strength of the joint force.”

    Throughout the event, PACAF’s role in fostering progress with allies and partners was a focal point. Schneider underscored the importance of complex, multi-national air exercises like Pitch Black, Arctic Defender, Red Flag Alaska, Cope Thunder and Northern Edge, as well as the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium, which brought together 22 international Air Force leaders to strengthen military cooperation.

    On the final day, Schneider participated in a senior-leader panel discussion titled “Exercising for Great Power Competition,” which delved into the importance of high-end training, complex exercises, and key leader engagements in preparing for potential conflicts. The panel brought together commanders from mobility, space, Air Force Reserve, and the Pacific.

    During the panel, Gen. Schneider stressed the critical role exercises play in not only sharpening warfighting capabilities, but also in providing strategic deterrence.

    “The solutions to the challenges in the Indo-Pacific don’t all fall on my shoulders; it is a team effort in terms of problem-solving,” Schneider said. “We [commanders across the U.S. Air Force and Space Force] each have things we contribute to the fight, in terms of training, readiness, and our ability to deter or to fight and win if called upon.”

    Throughout the conference, PACAF’s commitment to innovation and excellence was evident. Schneider repeatedly called for the Air Force community and industry partners to bring their most complex training ideas, research, development projects, and asymmetric capabilities to the region.

    Schneider’s keynote closing remarks remain at the forefront: “Your airmen are absolutely prepared – 24/7/365 – to defend, to deter, and to prevail in the Indo-Pacific.”

    The 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference is over, but the hard work of maintaining a decisive advantage in an age of growing threats continues.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Countries work together in largest Operation Render Safe to remove WWII UXO in Solomon Islands

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SOLOMON ISLANDS  –  

    The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, and Japan recently joined the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force for Operation Render Safe 2024-2 in New Georgia, Solomon Islands, from Aug. 12 to Sept. 27.

    Operation Render Safe is an Australian Defence Force operation that removes the danger posed by World War II-era explosive remnants of war in Pacific Island countries. 2024 marks the 20th year that Operation Render Safe has been conducted.

    The Solomon Islands were a major battleground during the Pacific Island campaign that left behind thousands of unexploded munitions that continue to pose significant risks to the public, hindering development and threatening local livelihoods. These remnants of war have also contributed to dangerous living conditions for local residents, limiting the availability of safe land for agriculture and community expansion.

    This year’s Operation Render Safe was the largest UXO removal effort in the region’s history. 3,240 explosive remnants of war were removed from 219 sites that will directly benefit the local population by providing safer access to land and water resources. The operation’s success will help open the door to future development projects, fostering economic growth and improving infrastructure in affected areas.

    This multinational mission, led by the RSIPF, covered a vast area of 1,600 square kilometers, with 17 multinational explosive ordnance teams undertaking a rolling program of community engagement, reconnaissance, and positive action in both land and maritime domains.

    “Being Army, we’re not really used to being on the water,” said Australian Army Cpl. Daniel Siyogu, an EOD technician with the 6th Engineer Support Regiment. “But we’re getting it done, identifying and disposing of explosive remnants of war on Kolombangara island.”

    Operation Render Safe 2024-2 also featured significant tri-service interoperability between eight contributing nations, ensuring smooth coordination across a wide operational area. The 17 EOD teams, supported by U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, operated over a 350km internal-line supply chain to the rear echelon in Honiara.

    “Working alongside our Allies showcases the importance of our shared goals,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jesus Contreras, an EOD team leader with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3. “Leading a combined team of multinational personnel into the jungles of New Georgia has been a unique and rewarding experience. Working in a joint environment with different SOPs, [standard operating procedures], has been a challenge, but the similarities in our EOD procedures make it easier to cooperate and learn from each other.”

    The involvement of the RSIPF, with their knowledge of the area, was essential in identifying UXO caches, making the operation a success.

    “Getting input from the local community has been critical,” said Royal Canadian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Okahiro. “The people here know where the explosives are, and their guidance allows us to better assess and clear dangerous areas.”

    The operation focused on key areas like Kohinggo and Munda, contributing to improved infrastructure and a safer environment for Solomon Islands communities.

    “Ultimately, it’s about making the region safer and improving the quality of life for the local communities,” said Australian Army Lt. Col. Fabian Harrison, the commanding officer of Operation Render Safe 2024-2. “Through these partnerships and the commitment of all involved nations, we’re achieving that goal.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Managing Director Appoints Yan Liu as General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: IMF – News in English

    September 20, 2024

    Washington, DC: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announced today her intention to appoint Ms. Yan Liu as General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department. Ms. Liu will succeed Ms. Rhoda Weeks-Brown and is expected to formally take up her appointment on October 7, 2024.

    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Yan Liu as General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department,” Ms. Georgieva said. “I have informed the Executive Board of my intention to proceed with this appointment.”

    Ms. Liu joined the Fund in 1999 as Counsel and has risen through the ranks to Deputy General Counsel—the current role in which she leads key strategic initiatives to ensure that the Legal Department continues to fulfill its mandate and contribute to the Fund’s policy work and operations. Ms. Liu works to identify and manage actual and potential risks in key areas such as lending, central banking and payment systems, capital flows, non-performing loan resolution, public financial management, and capacity development.

    Additionally, as a well-recognized expert in sovereign debt, Ms. Liu has played a key role in shaping the Fund’s policies in this area and supporting the Common Framework and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable. She has also provided advice on the Fund’s role in facilitating orderly restructurings in countries such as Argentina, Greece, Ukraine, and Zambia. Furthermore, she was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Fund’s digital money strategy.

    “Yan brings to her new role over 25 years of legal expertise and deep understanding of the Fund policy and operations,” said Ms. Georgieva. “She is a thought leader and a trusted advisor who is also well known for her dedication to mentoring and supporting staff in their career journeys. The hallmark of Yan’s work is her collaborative and constructive approach in service to the institution.”

    Ms. Liu, a Chinese national, received her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois, and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago. She is widely published on various aspects of the law, and policy perspectives on such areas as private debt, sovereign debt restructuring, and good governance. Prior to joining the Fund, she practiced corporate and securities law in the United States.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pavis Devahasadin

    Phone: 1 202 623-7100 Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/Nevs/Articles/2024/09/20/pr24335-imf-md-appointments-yan-liu-gen-sunsel-director-legal-dept

    MIL OSI

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Director Rosie Hidalgo Delivers Remarks at the National Institute of Justice 2024 National Research Conference

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good morning! I want to thank the National Institute for Justice (NIJ) for hosting this panel discussion today commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and for inviting me to participate. I also want to extend my deep gratitude to each of you here for your hard work and dedication; and for coming together to see how we can continue to learn from one another.

    I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and to collaborate with so many dedicated individuals and organizations committed to furthering our nation’s vision for ending sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and other related forms of gender-based violence.

    OVW is tasked with overseeing the implementation of key parts of VAWA, landmark bipartisan legislation first enacted by Congress in 1994. The hallmark of VAWA is a coordinated community response (known as a CCR), which seeks to bring together agencies and community partners across many disciplines to address the needs of survivors. From victim advocates to law enforcement officers and investigators, to healthcare personnel to educational institutions, community-based organizations and judges and courtroom officials, how each person responds often determines how, of if, survivors are able to access safety, justice and healing. Since survivors’ lives do not exist in silos, it is therefore critical that no individual or entity works in a silo because it takes all of us to prevent and effectively address gender-based violence.

    Each subsequent reauthorization of VAWA has provided an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to identify what works well and how we can continue to scale up, as well as identify gaps and barriers that need to be addressed, ensuring that these efforts are rooted in the voices and lived realities of survivors. Research and evaluation play an important role in identifying the gaps and barriers, as well as the promising practices.

    The most recent VAWA reauthorization in 2022 is the most expansive yet, establishing numerous new grant programs and initiatives in order to enhance the ways in which we can support communities to prevent and address gender-based violence.

    Additionally, VAWA funding increased by more than 30% in just the last three years, allowing OVW to distribute a record amount of grant funding. In Fiscal Year 2024, Congress increased VAWA funding to $713 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been appropriated.

    The development of the original VAWA legislation was rooted in the lived experiences of survivors, and their courage and leadership to tell their stories to educate policy makers, as well as advocates who helped raise awareness about these critical issues. These leaders pushed for federal legislation, called for investments in research, advocated for funding to improve services and training and co-created much of the work that informs policy and legislation today.

    Just last week, we met with stakeholders and Technical Assistance (TA) providers at the VAWA 30th anniversary TA event to reflect on promising practices and discuss available data and research and how they continue to shape the evolution of policies and practices.

    Congress has appropriated some VAWA funding each year to support research on gender-based violence at NIJ. Additionally, OVW has had statutory authority since the beginning to use some of its program funds to study emerging issues and evaluate VAWA-funded approaches, including demonstration programs. In 2016, however, OVW launched the Research and Evaluation Initiative with support from NIJ and as a complement to NIJ’s longstanding portfolio of research on gender-based violence. Every year since then, OVW has issued a call for proposals that invites applicants to study a broad range of topics using a wide range of methods. We intentionally keep these grant opportunities very open, seeking to foster practitioner-research partnerships, since practitioners who work closest with survivors know about emerging innovations ripe for evaluation before we do and can partner with researchers to develop research proposals.

    To that end, at OVW, our Research and Evaluation Initiative supports collaboration between researchers and practitioners to study VAWA-funded approaches. We’ve funded studies looking at everything from victim notification protocols for cases in which a sexual assault kit is tested after having been shelved for years, to the evaluation of a therapeutic horticulture program at a domestic violence shelter. We’ve also funded a training program for faith leaders to help them support congregants who disclose domestic violence. We fund projects that employ community-based participatory research, quasi-experimental designs, randomized controlled trials and more. In fact, several of our Research and Evaluation grantees are presenting their work here at this conference!

    Since 2016, the Research and Evaluation Initiative has awarded over 50 grants, totaling more than $21 million, to study ways to improve responses to gender-based violence in victim services, law enforcement, prosecution and the courts. In fact, last year OVW awarded $3.1 million in new research grants. Among these projects is an evaluation of a flexible financial assistance program for domestic violence survivors. This study aims to show how cash assistance can help survivors for whom financial barriers impede their path to safety and recovery, recognizing that survivors often know best what they need. Another study will examine the occupational and economic needs and experiences of domestic violence victim advocates and will use its findings to adapt and pilot an innovative economic empowerment program. Preliminary research on economic empowerment programs has shown positive impacts, including improved financial management and related behaviors.

    We see our evidence-building activities not as a way of limiting the ways people work in their communities to support survivors and hold harm-doers accountable, but rather, to expand that work and better understand how, and why, under what circumstances and for whom certain strategies are helpful.

    We’re especially interested in supporting research that can help us learn from strategies created by and for survivors from historically marginalized and underserved communities. We know that gender-based violence places a disproportionately heavy toll on marginalized communities, often at the intersection with other issues that create additional barriers to seeking effective services and access to justice. It is also from these communities that especially novel and promising ways for reducing risk factors and facilitating protective factors for gender-based violence are emerging.

    As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of VAWA this month, it is an opportunity for all of us to collectively reflect on the substantial progress that has been made — but also how much further we have to go. There have been significant paradigm shifts in society’s perceptions of gender-based violence and our responses to it, but many survivors still encounter significant challenges navigating complex systems and accessing critical resources and support.

    Addressing these gaps and barriers requires consistent, long-term coordination, which is why just last year the White House launched the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with the collaboration of more than 15 federal agencies. The Plan advances a whole-of-government approach to preventing and ending gender-based violence — which we refer to as a “federal coordinated community response” — and it acts as a blueprint that builds on the lessons learned and achievements made through the efforts of survivors, advocates and others in the field.

    The GBV National Plan encourages all federal agencies to strengthen their role in supporting efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence. It also calls for strengthening research efforts to better understand the needs and implement solutions. At OVW, we’re working with our colleagues across government to widen the aperture of the various tools we all use to measure social problems and evaluate ways of mitigating them.

    The GBV National Plan focuses on seven pillars, starting with prevention as Pillar 1. While Pillar 7 of the GBV National Plan focuses on Research and Data, there are clear research implications embedded throughout the other six pillars, as well as opportunities to work across and beyond systems to advance our understanding of what strategies make a real difference for preventing gender-based violence and ameliorating its impacts on people, families and communities.

    We have seen how research has had an impact on the evolution of VAWA, including helping support advocacy for the inclusion of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction to address the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault perpetrated by non-Indian abusers in Indian country; helping provide evidence to strengthen protections at the intersection of domestic violence and firearms; and helping shine a light on the importance of addressing the disproportionate impact of GBV on historically marginalized and underserved populations, to name a few.

    One way that our work has been bolstered by another agency’s research is longitudinal research on the Domestic Violence Housing First model in Washington State that was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Among other promising discoveries from this work, we learned that flexible financial assistance contributes greatly to survivors’ safety and stability. These findings informed OVW’s request for appropriations specifically to stand up a flexible financial assistance program, for which Congress provided appropriations last year.

    Likewise, when we surveyed research on restorative justice to inform our program planning and later relied on it to support our appropriations requests, we looked to research that was funded by the National Science Foundation on a restorative justice-based abusive partner intervention program.

    And speaking of collaboration, I want to extend a special thanks to my colleagues from the NIJ and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). NIJ helped us establish our Research and Evaluation Initiative back in 2015 and 2016, and we work closely with NIJ and OVC to ensure we’re doing meaningful work in the spaces where science and ending gender-based violence overlap.

    I invite all of you to reach out to OVW as we strive to learn more about the protective factors and promising practices that need to be scaled up; the challenges and barriers that victims face; and how can we improve our partnership and strengthen a coordinated community response to more effectively address these issues. We’re also interested in learning more about other research and data efforts focus on helping prevent violence; support survivors to access safety, justice and healing; and equip communities with the tools they need to eliminate gender-based violence.

    As we move forward, we must continue to amplify the voices and leadership of survivors — work you all do every day — to advance a whole-of-society approach that continues to lift these issues out of the shadows, support survivors and hold offenders accountable. It is only together that we can build a world that affirms the dignity, rights and humanity of every individual, a world where gender-based violence is not tolerated, and a world where healing and justice are accessible to all. Thank you.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 625 STOS completes SELM test

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.   –  

    Airmen and Sailors from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., 576th Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., the 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., and the Navy’s Strategic Communications Wing 1, Offutt AFB, completed a simulated electronic launch minuteman (SELM) test at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Sept. 17.

    Twice a year, SELM tests the Minuteman III in its deployed environment at various missile wings without an actual launch occurring.

    “SELM tests the selected ICBMs from day-to-day operation to issuance of the first stage ignition signal,” said Maj. Raun Carnley, assistant director of operations, 625th STOS. “Commands up to and including launch commands are sent to the test configured launch facility from test configured launch control centers and the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) onboard a Navy E-6 Mercury.”

    SELM tests are vital to the health of the ICBM fleet as it ensures the system will do what it is commanded to do if needed and provides sustainment data to Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Strategic Command.

    “As updates to software and hardware are fielded, testing helps verify the system continues to work as designed,” said Carnley. “A SELM test validates the combat capability of our fielded ICBM weapon system…while saving the taxpayer money, and without the risk of escalatory messaging that the equivalent number of operational test launches would require to accomplish the same task.”

    From the 576th FTS running the tests to the 91st MW providing ground operations and maintenance support to SCW-1 providing the aircraft and aircrew, each organization plays a pivotal role to ensure the launch process is reliable and ready.

    A major player in a SELM test is the 625th STOS. The squadron is aligned under the 8th Air Force and provides everything from the targeting package on the missile, to the systems that simulate the flight of the projectile, to the launch track and range safety coordinates, to the training that prepared the team and the ALCS operators that provided the key turn.

    “We ensure the ALCS is able to fulfill its role as the backup to the launch control centers and ground crews in the case it is ever needed,” said Carnley.

    With so many moving parts, scheduling these tests doesn’t occur overnight, they are planned out years in advance.

    “We are currently on a five-year construct,” said Carnley.  “Specific preparations on the side of the 625th STOS start approximately four months in advance to coordinate our pieces of the mission. With two tests a year, as soon as one is complete, planning and preparation for the next one begins.”

    Although a SELM test isn’t as visible as an operational test launch, it provides a great deal of value to the various organizations supporting the mission.

    One such supporting organization is the Joint-Nuclear Operations Center (JNOC) at Barksdale AFB, La.

    The JNOC has six divisions and the ICBM division monitors and observes each SELM test and assists as necessary explained Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Tobey, JNOC senior enlisted leader.

    “Ensuring the sustainment and capabilities of our nuclear forces not only allows U.S. citizens to sleep soundly at night but provides global stability which also helps foster economic prosperity,” said Carnley. “It’s also a message to our Allies and adversaries: The ICBM leg of the nuclear triad is viable and ready at a moment’s notice to defend our freedoms and those of our Allies.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New wave of Copilot innovation coming to education

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New wave of Copilot innovation coming to education

    Enhance your AI journey with Business Chat and Copilot Pages, updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot agents, enterprise data protection, and more.

    We’re introducing a new wave of Microsoft Copilot innovation with Business Chat and Copilot Pages, updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot agents, enterprise data protection, and more. In this blog we’ll share new education insights, recap the latest innovations coming to our customers with Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, and provide resources to support your AI journey.

    AI is reshaping education, and institutions need a plan. With new education insights from the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Survey, it’s clear that AI use in education is here with 71% of education professionals using it at work. At the same time, 63% reported their institutions lack a vision and plan to implement AI, likely contributing to 81% of education professionals not using tools provided to them—but instead choosing to bring their own AI to work (BYOAI).

    Discover insights from the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Survey

    As the future of work and education continues to evolve with AI innovation, it’s increasingly important to ensure that educators and students are engaged and encouraged to build AI literacy. 77% of business leaders say with AI, early-in-career talent will be given greater responsibilities, yet many education professionals express reluctance to admit to using AI and say they don’t know how to use it effectively. Learn more about the need for bridging the AI literacy gap and starting AI conversations in our AI in Education Report.

    Explore the AI in Education Report

    Enhancing Microsoft Copilot with enterprise data protection

    Microsoft Copilot is your AI assistant for education, providing secure access to advanced AI models for free so you can focus on what matters most. We’ll continue bringing new models to Copilot, now including GPT-4o, and capabilities like recent chats to reference or continue previous chats. In August 2024, we shared several additional updates to enhance data security, privacy, compliance, and user experience which begins rolling out today. While signed in with a school account, Copilot will offer enterprise data protection (EDP) in a simplified, ad-free interface that can be accessed at Microsoft.com/copilot, in the Microsoft 365 app, and will soon be available in Microsoft Teams and Outlook. 

    Enterprise data protection means that your Copilot prompts and responses are protected by the same terms and commitments that are widely trusted by our customers—not only for Microsoft 365 Copilot, but also for emails in Exchange and files in SharePoint. With EDP, we secure your data, your data is private, and your access controls and policies apply based on the underlying subscription plan. Additionally, we help safeguard against AI-focused risks such as harmful content and prompt injections, and your data isn’t used to train foundation models.

    Learn more about enterprise data protection
    Microsoft Copilot, now with enterprise data protection and available at Microsoft.com/copilot and in the Microsoft 365 app.

    Education institutions like Wichita Public Schools and Auburn University have already leveraged Copilot to empower students, faculty, staff, and researchers. We look forward to continuing to support institutions worldwide in their mission to provide equitable AI access and learning about where Copilot is improving educational outcomes.

    These updates will be available to all educators, staff, and higher education students aged 18 and older over the next month. We’re also excited to continue our private preview program for students 13 and older, now with enterprise data protection. For more information, review the enterprise data protection FAQ.

    Microsoft Copilot Wave 2 innovation

    Microsoft 365 Copilot, integrated into the apps you use every day and available as an add-on, has added 150 new features and capabilities since general availability and more than 700 product updates based on customer feedback. We’ve announced three key updates: Business Chat and Copilot Pages, transforming Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, and Copilot agents.

    Business Chat and Copilot Pages

    • Business Chat (BizChat) is a central hub that brings together all your data—web data, work data, and line of business data—with the rich capabilities of the Microsoft 365 apps. BizChat is where you can work with Copilot like a partner, turning organizational content into a rich database of information and insight.
    • Copilot Pages is a dynamic, persistent canvas in BizChat designed for AI collaboration to ensure the data in your organization is persistent, accessible, and valuable. You and your team can work collaboratively in a Page with Copilot, seeing everyone’s work in real time. In the coming weeks, we’re also bringing Pages to the free Microsoft Copilot when signed in with a Microsoft Entra account.

    Updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps

    • Copilot in Excel is now generally available with new skills, and we announced Copilot in Excel with Python—empowering anyone to conduct advance analysis or visualize complex data—all using natural language, no coding required. 
    • Copilot in PowerPoint now offers Narrative Builder, helping you to iterate with Copilot to build a great first draft in minutes and with Brand manager, Copilot can leverage your organization’s branded templates.
    • Copilot in Teams can now reason over both the meeting transcript and the meeting chat to give you a complete picture of what was discussed and leave no question, idea, or contribution behind.
    • Copilot in Outlook helps you quickly get to the messages that matter with Prioritize My Inbox, which analyzes your inbox and soon, you’ll even be able to teach Copilot the specific topics, keywords, or people that are important to you.
    • Copilot in Word will enable you to quickly reference not only Word, PowerPoint, PDFs, and encrypted documents, but also emails and meetings, and offers the ability to partner with Copilot inline as you work on specific sections of your document.
    • Copilot in OneDrive is rolling out now and makes it easy to gain insights, summarize, and compare up to five files with a clear, easy-to-ready summary of the details and differences within your files—without opening a file.

    Copilot agents

    • Now generally available in BizChat, Copilot agents run the spectrum from simple, prompt-and-response agents that anyone can build, to more advanced, fully autonomous agents.
    • Simple and secure to manage, all agents have the same Responsible AI and enterprise data protection promises—your data never leaves the Microsoft 365 trust boundary, and everything happens within your tenant.
    • To make it even easier to build custom agents, we announced agent builder. It’s a new, simplified experience that complements Copilot Studio to enable easy creation of custom agents and realize the value of your organizational data.

    Copilot is transforming productivity in the workplace, empowering customers to accelerate research on rare diseases, save customer service agents hours each week, or go from content ideation to production significantly faster, and more.

    In education, institutions like the University of South Florida are preparing students for this new future of work and are already seeing the value for their faculty and staff. We’ll also continue to enhance the value of Microsoft 365 Copilot with capabilities built for students and educators.

    The University of South Florida is preparing students for the future of work and seeing the benefits of Microsoft 365 Copilot for their faculty and staff.

    Get started on your AI journey

    With new innovations and improvements coming every day, one constant is the importance of providing guidance, learning opportunities, and resources. We’ve compiled a relevant list below to help you get started.

    Learn from more educators, and students:

    Explore and share AI resources:

    • Microsoft Education AI Toolkit: Designed to guide school leaders through the process of integrating AI into their school’s operations and building robust plans for your organization.
    • AI for educators learning pathway: Explore the potential of AI in education, enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft Copilot, and equip and support learners.
    • AI Classroom Toolkit: A creative resource that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information to create an immersive learning experience.
    • Microsoft Copilot Scenario Library: Get inspired with guidance by departments such as IT, HR, Legal, Communications, Operations, and more.
    • Copilot technical skilling resources: A collection of kits, learning paths, Microsoft Mechanics videos, resources for developers, and upcoming events for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
    • Worklab: explore the latest research insights on the future of work and generative AI
    • Minecraft Education AI Foundations: A set of accessible, engaging materials for building AI literacy with Minecraft for students, educators, and families.
    • AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit from TeachAI: Designed to help education authorities, school leaders, and teachers create thoughtful guidance.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New wave of Copilot innovation coming to education

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New wave of Copilot innovation coming to education

    Enhance your AI journey with Business Chat and Copilot Pages, updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot agents, enterprise data protection, and more.

    We’re introducing a new wave of Microsoft Copilot innovation with Business Chat and Copilot Pages, updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot agents, enterprise data protection, and more. In this blog we’ll share new education insights, recap the latest innovations coming to our customers with Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, and provide resources to support your AI journey.

    AI is reshaping education, and institutions need a plan. With new education insights from the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Survey, it’s clear that AI use in education is here with 71% of education professionals using it at work. At the same time, 63% reported their institutions lack a vision and plan to implement AI, likely contributing to 81% of education professionals not using tools provided to them—but instead choosing to bring their own AI to work (BYOAI).

    Discover insights from the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Survey

    As the future of work and education continues to evolve with AI innovation, it’s increasingly important to ensure that educators and students are engaged and encouraged to build AI literacy. 77% of business leaders say with AI, early-in-career talent will be given greater responsibilities, yet many education professionals express reluctance to admit to using AI and say they don’t know how to use it effectively. Learn more about the need for bridging the AI literacy gap and starting AI conversations in our AI in Education Report.

    Explore the AI in Education Report

    Enhancing Microsoft Copilot with enterprise data protection

    Microsoft Copilot is your AI assistant for education, providing secure access to advanced AI models for free so you can focus on what matters most. We’ll continue bringing new models to Copilot, now including GPT-4o, and capabilities like recent chats to reference or continue previous chats. In August 2024, we shared several additional updates to enhance data security, privacy, compliance, and user experience which begins rolling out today. While signed in with a school account, Copilot will offer enterprise data protection (EDP) in a simplified, ad-free interface that can be accessed at Microsoft.com/copilot, in the Microsoft 365 app, and will soon be available in Microsoft Teams and Outlook. 

    Enterprise data protection means that your Copilot prompts and responses are protected by the same terms and commitments that are widely trusted by our customers—not only for Microsoft 365 Copilot, but also for emails in Exchange and files in SharePoint. With EDP, we secure your data, your data is private, and your access controls and policies apply based on the underlying subscription plan. Additionally, we help safeguard against AI-focused risks such as harmful content and prompt injections, and your data isn’t used to train foundation models.

    Learn more about enterprise data protection
    Microsoft Copilot, now with enterprise data protection and available at Microsoft.com/copilot and in the Microsoft 365 app.

    Education institutions like Wichita Public Schools and Auburn University have already leveraged Copilot to empower students, faculty, staff, and researchers. We look forward to continuing to support institutions worldwide in their mission to provide equitable AI access and learning about where Copilot is improving educational outcomes.

    These updates will be available to all educators, staff, and higher education students aged 18 and older over the next month. We’re also excited to continue our private preview program for students 13 and older, now with enterprise data protection. For more information, review the enterprise data protection FAQ.

    Microsoft Copilot Wave 2 innovation

    Microsoft 365 Copilot, integrated into the apps you use every day and available as an add-on, has added 150 new features and capabilities since general availability and more than 700 product updates based on customer feedback. We’ve announced three key updates: Business Chat and Copilot Pages, transforming Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps, and Copilot agents.

    Business Chat and Copilot Pages

    • Business Chat (BizChat) is a central hub that brings together all your data—web data, work data, and line of business data—with the rich capabilities of the Microsoft 365 apps. BizChat is where you can work with Copilot like a partner, turning organizational content into a rich database of information and insight.
    • Copilot Pages is a dynamic, persistent canvas in BizChat designed for AI collaboration to ensure the data in your organization is persistent, accessible, and valuable. You and your team can work collaboratively in a Page with Copilot, seeing everyone’s work in real time. In the coming weeks, we’re also bringing Pages to the free Microsoft Copilot when signed in with a Microsoft Entra account.

    Updates to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps

    • Copilot in Excel is now generally available with new skills, and we announced Copilot in Excel with Python—empowering anyone to conduct advance analysis or visualize complex data—all using natural language, no coding required. 
    • Copilot in PowerPoint now offers Narrative Builder, helping you to iterate with Copilot to build a great first draft in minutes and with Brand manager, Copilot can leverage your organization’s branded templates.
    • Copilot in Teams can now reason over both the meeting transcript and the meeting chat to give you a complete picture of what was discussed and leave no question, idea, or contribution behind.
    • Copilot in Outlook helps you quickly get to the messages that matter with Prioritize My Inbox, which analyzes your inbox and soon, you’ll even be able to teach Copilot the specific topics, keywords, or people that are important to you.
    • Copilot in Word will enable you to quickly reference not only Word, PowerPoint, PDFs, and encrypted documents, but also emails and meetings, and offers the ability to partner with Copilot inline as you work on specific sections of your document.
    • Copilot in OneDrive is rolling out now and makes it easy to gain insights, summarize, and compare up to five files with a clear, easy-to-ready summary of the details and differences within your files—without opening a file.

    Copilot agents

    • Now generally available in BizChat, Copilot agents run the spectrum from simple, prompt-and-response agents that anyone can build, to more advanced, fully autonomous agents.
    • Simple and secure to manage, all agents have the same Responsible AI and enterprise data protection promises—your data never leaves the Microsoft 365 trust boundary, and everything happens within your tenant.
    • To make it even easier to build custom agents, we announced agent builder. It’s a new, simplified experience that complements Copilot Studio to enable easy creation of custom agents and realize the value of your organizational data.

    Copilot is transforming productivity in the workplace, empowering customers to accelerate research on rare diseases, save customer service agents hours each week, or go from content ideation to production significantly faster, and more.

    In education, institutions like the University of South Florida are preparing students for this new future of work and are already seeing the value for their faculty and staff. We’ll also continue to enhance the value of Microsoft 365 Copilot with capabilities built for students and educators.

    The University of South Florida is preparing students for the future of work and seeing the benefits of Microsoft 365 Copilot for their faculty and staff.

    Get started on your AI journey

    With new innovations and improvements coming every day, one constant is the importance of providing guidance, learning opportunities, and resources. We’ve compiled a relevant list below to help you get started.

    Learn from more educators, and students:

    Explore and share AI resources:

    • Microsoft Education AI Toolkit: Designed to guide school leaders through the process of integrating AI into their school’s operations and building robust plans for your organization.
    • AI for educators learning pathway: Explore the potential of AI in education, enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft Copilot, and equip and support learners.
    • AI Classroom Toolkit: A creative resource that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information to create an immersive learning experience.
    • Microsoft Copilot Scenario Library: Get inspired with guidance by departments such as IT, HR, Legal, Communications, Operations, and more.
    • Copilot technical skilling resources: A collection of kits, learning paths, Microsoft Mechanics videos, resources for developers, and upcoming events for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
    • Worklab: explore the latest research insights on the future of work and generative AI
    • Minecraft Education AI Foundations: A set of accessible, engaging materials for building AI literacy with Minecraft for students, educators, and families.
    • AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit from TeachAI: Designed to help education authorities, school leaders, and teachers create thoughtful guidance.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chicago Congressman Jonathan Jackson to Meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    Chicago Congressman Jonathan Jackson to Meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday to Discuss Advancing Opportunities for Afro Colombians in Chicago and Abroad

    Chicago Congressman Jonathan Jackson to Meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday to Discuss Advancing Opportunities for Afro-Colombians in Chicago and Abroad

    CHICAGO – U.S. Representative Jonathan L. Jackson (D- 1st Congressional District of Illinois) will meet in the city on Saturday with Colombian President Gustavo Petro to discuss improving opportunities for Afro-Columbians in the nation’s third-largest city and abroad.

    Since the 1970s, the city’s Colombia population has grown from 3,500 to more than 40,000 residents, making Colombians the sixth largest Hispanic community in Chicago.

    Since assuming office in 2022, Petro has visited Chicago seven times. In 2009, Chicago established a sister city relationship with Colombia’s capital city, Bogota. This visit is for the three-day Colombia Grows in Chicago festival, which concludes on Saturday. The festival celebrates Colombia’s rich culture and diversity and unites communities through art, performances, exhibitions, and a panel on migration. Congressman Jackson will meet with President Petro after Petro’s speech.

    “President Petro is a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Congressman Jackson said. “He has the most diverse cabinet in the history of Colombia and the hemisphere. There are some lessons we can learn from Colombia, including how Colombia is addressing its migrant issue because most of the migrants fleeing Venezuela have crossed the border into Colombia. His

    presence in Chicago demonstrates his commitment to addressing the needs of Colombians, and we are here to offer support to help them advance in our world-class city.”

    In 2022, Congressman Jackson attended the inauguration of President Petro and vice president, Francia Marquez, the nation’s first Afro-Colombian woman vice president.

    Last year, he invited VP Marquez to Chicago as the guest speaker in a forum on diversity and how it impacts the African Diaspora.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AMENDS ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY RULES TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

    Source: US State of Maine

    September 20, 2024

    Hallowell, Maine – The Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) recently adopted amendments to its Chapter 815 Rules for electric and gas utilities to provide certain protections for victims of domestic violence. The Commission joins seven other states that have protections for utility customers who have experienced the economic abuse connected to domestic violence.

    “I hope the changes will address any concerns raised during this proceeding to better protect domestic violence victims,” said Chair Philip L. Bartlett, II. We truly appreciate the efforts of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence in raising some very important considerations.

    These amendments provide the following protections to applicants or customers who present an enforceable protection from abuse order to the utility:

    -Certain customer information may not be reported by the utility to debt collectors and credit reporters;

    -A utility may not deny service or require payment of a catch-up amount; and

    -A utility may not demand a deposit under certain conditions.

    A utility with a reasonable belief that a protection from abuse order presented by an applicant or customer is not authentic may require the applicant or customer to submit a court-certified copy of the order.

    The Commission’s Chapter 815 Rules regulate the relationship between electric and gas utilities and their customers, establishing the minimum standards for the provision of service including application for service, deposit requirements and the administration of credit and collection programs. These amendments became enforceable on August 31, 2024.

    Additional information about the case may be found on the Commission’s website:

    CONTACT: Susan Faloon, Media Liaison CELL: 207-557-3704 EMAIL: susan.faloon@maine.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Introduces Legislation to increase Tennessee Valley power generation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    Washington, D.C.  — This week, Congressman Dale W. Strong (AL-05) introduced legislation to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and micro-reactors in the U.S.  

    To achieve this goal, the Department of Energy will be required to construct and demonstrate two near-term SMR or micro-reactor projects that can be fully deployed by 2034. At least one of these projects must be located on or adjacent to an operating or retired nuclear reactor site. 

     

    Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, an unfinished Tennessee Valley Authority asset, is one such site that would qualify under this legislation. 

     

    “North Alabama has seen tremendous population growth and economic expansion in the last two decades, and I am committed to ensuring we make enough power to fuel North Alabama residents and businesses,”said Congressman Strong.“Winter Storm Elliott was a wake-up call for us all. To avoid shortages in the future, we must be constantly investing in modern energy sources to power our economy for the next generation.” 

     

    Fellow North Alabama Representative Robert Aderholt (AL-04) co-sponsored Strong’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Demonstration Act of 2024. 

     

    “Our nation’s energy policy must reflect a commitment to increasing energy production so those in North Alabama, and across the nation, will always have access to power when they need it most,” said Congressman Aderholt.“Residents of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District should never be subjected to a lack of power or lack of economic opportunities due to electric providers not being able to produce adequate energy supplies. This is why this bill is so important. Those in rural areas of the nation, like my district, will benefit greatly from the use of SMRs.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Morgan McGarvey Slams Republican Majority’s Inability to Fund Government

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    September 18, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 18, 2024) – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) released the following statement following his vote against a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at insufficient levels for six months and includes the SAVE Act, one of the most extreme and restrictive elections bills ever considered in the House of Representatives:
     
    “This is not a serious bill, it’s political theater.
     
    Republicans say they’re the party of fiscal responsibility, but for the second year in a row, they’ve failed to pass a budget on time.
     
    In kicking the can down the road once again, House Republicans are hurting our national security, veterans, seniors, low-income families, small businesses, and more.
     
    The House Majority claims to back our veterans, but the funding levels they presented mean our troops don’t get a raise and veterans don’t get the care they need.
     
    House Republicans say they want all eligible voters to be able to vote, but they’re tying government funding to the most extreme and restrictive election bill in history—a dead-on-arrival bill intended to prevent something that is already illegal.
     
    It’s unserious and it’s a waste of time. We should be working to pass a budget that addresses the current needs of our country.
     
    I voted no.”
     
    The continuing resolution failed 202-220, with 206 Democrats and 14 Republicans voting against it. If no budget or continuing resolution is passed by both chambers and signed into law by September 30, the government will shut down. 
     
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Missouri Department of Natural Resources opens 2024-2025 Bus Grant Program

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 20, 2024 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks has opened the Bus Grant Program for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a noncompetitive grant that is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants. The deadline to apply is May 23, 2025.

    The Bus Grant Program is available to public school districts, private schools, charter schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations with 501(c) 3 status. Program funding is available only to Missouri schools and nonprofit organizations.

    Missouri State Parks offers busing grants to underwrite the cost of field trips for schools (pre-K–grade 12) and nonprofit organizations in an effort to connect youth with nature at Missouri’s state parks and historic sites.  

    For more information about this program and to download the Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Application Guidance, visit mostateparks.com/page/94781/missouri-state-parks-bus-grant-program.

    For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Boebert Votes to End Bailouts for Sanctuary Cities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) released the following statement after voting in favor of the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.” The House of Representatives passed this legislation by a vote of 219-186, with 12 Democrats voting to advance the bill. 

    “Kamala Harris’s reign as Border Czar has been one of the most detrimental decisions for our national security in American history. Colorado’s sanctuary policies for illegals encourage the surge from the Southern Border to our communities, like Aurora. 

    That’s why I’m proud to have voted in favor of Congressman LaLota’s ‘No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act’ today. His legislation will prohibit federal funds from being used to bail out sanctuary cities. We need to disincentivize illegal immigration, and this bill is a great step in the right direction,” said Congresswoman Boebert.

    Background, courtesy of the House Majority Whip’s office: 

    This legislation holds sanctuary cities accountable for exacerbating the Biden-Harris Border Crisis and flouting federal immigration law by prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars to fund housing, healthcare, and other benefits for illegal immigrants in such municipalities. 

    • Despite the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act explicitly prohibiting any restriction on communication between state or local entities and federal immigration authorities relating to an individual’s immigration status, many Democrat-led jurisdictions like New York and California refuse to cooperate and enforce federal immigration law.
    • Sanctuary policies incentivize illegal immigration, which has already hit historic levels thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s open borders policies, by promising free taxpayer-funded benefits.  Woke mayors and governors are prioritizing illegal immigrants at the expense of residents, who are facing overburdened schools, hospitals, and other social services. They are also endangering the safety of both community members and the law enforcement officers who protect them by permitting criminal aliens to roam freely.
    • American taxpayers should not foot the bill for Democrat’s radical immigration policies. H.R. 5717 will ensure American families don’t bear this burden by prohibiting sanctuary cities from receiving federal funding intended to be used for the benefit of illegal immigrants, including for the provision of food, shelter, healthcare services, legal services, and transportation.

    Full text of the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act can be found HERE.  

    ###

    For updates, subscribe to Congresswoman Boebert’s newsletter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (22-27 Sept. 2024)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 22 to 27 September 2024. This year, the theme for the debate will be “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”.

    The UNGA was created under the Charter of the United Nations in 1945. It is the decision-making and representative body of the United Nations and now comprises 193 Member States. The UNGA adopts resolutions that help establish the standards of international law, on the basis of representativeness (1 State = 1 vote) and debate.

    During the 79th UNGA High-level Week, Heads of State and Government and other national representatives will gather to set out their priorities and discuss global challenges in order to advance peace, security and sustainable development.

    As the international community faces unprecedented challenges, this major diplomatic event will provide an opportunity for France to reaffirm its commitment to strong and effective multilateralism.

    France’s priorities for this UNGA are:

    • Addressing the main security crises

      France will reaffirm its support for Ukraine, advocate for an end to the crises in Gaza and Sudan, and mobilize to uphold international humanitarian law;
    • Fighting inequality linked to climate change and striving for environmental protection.

      France intends to increase the international community’s ambitions in relation to crucial issues such as the reduction of greenhouse gases, adaptation to climate change, and preservation of the oceans and biodiversity;
    • Fighting hate speech and disinformation

      France and its partners are working to combat disinformation and interference campaigns, which present a challenge to democracy;
    • Reforming the international system’s governance, in line with the Summit of the Future, to lead to institutions that are more efficient, equitable and representative of the diversity of our societies, including by promoting the participation of women in all decision-making processes.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State and federal partners encourage public to attend Jefferson City spin-off study public meeting

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 20, 2024 – Federal and state officials will hold a public meeting for the Lower Missouri River Jefferson City spin-off study Thursday, Sept. 26, in Jefferson City. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the meeting held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 Riverside Drive in Jefferson City.

    During the meeting, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will present all current study information in an effort to make sure all stakeholders are fully aware of the alternatives that have federal interest, as well as the study schedule going forward.

    The purpose of the study is to identify causes and impacts of recurring flooding along the Capital View Levee and the unconstructed, but authorized, Missouri River Levee System L-142 project near Jefferson City. The study area includes the north (left) bank of the Missouri River in the vicinity of mile marker 142.

    The meeting is an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide input regarding the Lower Missouri Jefferson City spin-off study. After the meeting, the Corps of Engineers team will develop the study report and make it available for public comment in November. The public is encouraged to use that opportunity to formally provide feedback before the agency decision milestone in March 2025. ­­

    For more information about the Lower Missouri Jefferson City spin-off study, visit nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Civil-Works-Programs-And-Projects/Lower-Missouri-River-Basin/Jefferson-City-MO-L142/ and dnr.mo.gov/water/what-were-doing/initiatives/lower-missouri-river-flood-resiliency.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Investing in Construction Project on Provincial Road 224

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 20, 2024

    Manitoba Government Investing in Construction Project on Provincial Road 224

    The Manitoba government is investing in making roads safer for Manitobans travelling on Provincial Road (PR) 224 from PR 325 to Fisher River First Nation, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today.

    “Many sections along PR 224 became nearly impassable due to large surface failures caused by the 2024 spring breakup,” said Naylor. “This road is the main access route to Peguis First Nation, Fisher River First Nation and many other communities, and our government is committed to restoring its serviceability.”

    The Manitoba government is investing $18.3 million to reconstruct a 45-kilometre section of PR 224. The project will include excavating failed sections, repairing the subgrade and replacing the surface. Additionally, sections that have not yet failed will receive a thin lift overlay of bituminous asphalt to increase the overall life of the roadway, noted the minister, adding the gravel shoulders along the route will also be reconstructed.

    Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2025, said Naylor.

    Budget 2024 invests $500 million in capital funding to repair and rebuild Manitoba’s highways and public infrastructure to spur economic development and make it easier to get around the province.

    Additional details regarding Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s capital projects can be found on an interactive map at www.gov.mb.ca/mti/mipmap/map.html.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Statement on House’s Passage of The Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding the House’s unanimous passage of H.R. 9106, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024. 

    “I’m pleased the House unanimously passed legislation I cosponsored with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) to give President Trump and all major presidential candidates the same security as the sitting President. There is no greater threat to our democracy than an attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate, right before an election.”

    The legislation will direct the Director of the United States Secret Service to apply the same standards for determining the number of agents required to protect Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grants to Revitalize Communities Across New York

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications for the $50 million Round 9 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative grant program will launch on Monday, September 23. The funding, which was included as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, supports municipalities’ efforts to demolish, rehabilitate, and restore blighted structures and transform them into vibrant residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. The program is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) and, in this round, priority will be given to projects designed to address recovery efforts related to tornado and storm damage that occurred on July 15-16, 2024.

    “We are revitalizing communities across New York State through the Restore New York Communities Initiative – giving towns and cities the chance to build a future that is safer, more affordable, and more livable,” Governor Hochul said. “With Upstate municipalities still working to recover from major damage caused by July’s extreme weather, we’re prioritizing those projects and looking to other transformational opportunities that will better the lives of residents and businesses everywhere.”

    The goal of Restore New York is to help municipalities attract residents and businesses by redeveloping residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Each project should align with the strategic plan of the community’s Regional Economic Development Council and projects should be either architecturally consistent with nearby properties or the municipality’s local revitalization or urban development plan. Communities interested in applying are encouraged to register for ESD’s instructional webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, September 25. An intent to apply form must be received by ESD by Wednesday, October 23. The program application and guidelines will be available Monday.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Restore New York is a pillar of Governor Hochul’s community revitalization efforts and promotes projects that address urban decay to promote vibrant neighborhoods and new and dynamic housing. The funding awarded to municipalities through this program is vital to generating new investments that welcome visitors and new residents and support regional economic growth.”

    Restore New York grants can be used for vacant, abandoned, condemned, or surplus buildings and these properties can be demolished, deconstructed, rehabilitated, or reconstructed. Emphasis will be placed on projects in economically distressed communities, projects that leverage other state or federal redevelopment funds, and the project’s feasibility and readiness. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, and villages within New York State based on the following criteria:

    • Cities with populations over 100,000 may apply for up to $2 million for one project. However, cities with populations exceeding one million residents and counties therein must apply for projects in a distressed area of the city.
    • Cities and villages with populations between 40,000 and 99,999 may apply for one project up to $1.5 million.
    • All other municipalities may apply for one project, up to $1 million.
    • The amount for which a county is eligible to apply is based upon the municipality within which the project is located.

    ESD may award a limited number of Special Project designations. Municipalities and counties with populations of one million or less residents per the latest census may apply for an additional $3.5 million for either a second project, or as part of a larger project in addition to the program’s funding limits. Special Projects are those where the property causes severe economic injury to the community, leaving a highly visible and blighted property or properties in the central business district of a highly or moderately-distressed community, which creates a depressing effect on the overall economic development potential of the community.

    In July, Governor Hochul announced more than $64.1 million in Restore New York grants was awarded to support 43 projects across nine regions of the state. Round 8 included a $10 million Special Project designation to support the demolition of Albany’s Central Warehouse. These projects complement Governor Hochul’s economic development vision by making strategic investments in communities across the state which revitalize the economy and create more opportunities for New Yorkers. The FY25 Enacted Budget also includes $100 million for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and $100 million for NY Forward. These programs help local municipalities promote quality of life, foster socio-economic development, and create more walkable, livable, and safer neighborhoods in every corner of the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Murray, Rosen, Baldwin Lead Introduction of Resolution Affirming Access to Emergency Health Care, Including Abortion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 20, 2024
    Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., today introduced a resolution that would protect the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, for all patients, regardless of where they live. 
     
    The Every Woman Has the Right to Emergency Health Care resolution comes as new reporting from ProPublica shows Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care and resulting in preventable deaths. 
     
    “As Donald Trump brags about overturning Roe, women are dying because they’re not receiving the health care they need. Doctors are fearing jail time for doing their jobs,” Wyden said. “The fight to restore reproductive health care protections and the right of women everywhere to make choices about their own bodies is the fight of a lifetime – we can’t let Donald Trump and Republicans roll back the clock.”
    “I introduced this resolution alongside my colleagues to simply reaffirm the basic principle that when you go to the ER, doctors should be allowed to treat you, and when you need emergency care—including abortion care—no politician should stop you from getting it,” Murray said. “Yet here in America, in the 21st century, pregnant women die—not because doctors don’t know how to save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republicans will let them. Democrats will keep pressing to fully restore reproductive freedoms for every woman in America and we will continue to put a white-hot spotlight on the devastating, deadly fallout of Donald Trump’s abortion bans.”
    “Since Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, extreme abortion bans across our nation are restricting women’s ability to get life-saving care,” Rosen said. “All women, regardless of where they live, should be able to access the emergency medical care they need, which is why I’m helping introduce this resolution. I’ll continue standing up for women’s freedom to make decisions over their own bodies and working to restore Roe.”
    “Under our state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban, Wisconsinites learned firsthand what it meant to not have the right to access lifesaving abortion care. For 15 months, we heard stories about women with unviable pregnancies or suffering miscarriages who were denied care until they were on the brink of death all because Republicans overturned Roe v. Wade. These are not exaggerations, they are real stories about what it means when we strip Americans of their freedom to control their own bodies,” Baldwin said. “I’m in this fight until every woman has the freedom to decide what is best for her health, family, and future, without interference from judges and politicians – and that most certainly means when her life depends on it.”
    Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade more than two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, banned, or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even be charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite federal requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.
    In Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to life-saving emergency care in every state, but instead, the Court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. A total of 121 Congressional Republicans, including 26 Senators, filed an amicus brief arguing incorrectly that federal law does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life. 
    In addition to Senators Wyden, Murray, D-Wash., Rosen, D-Nev., and Baldwin, D-Wis., the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Tom Carper, D-Del., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., George Helmy, D-N.J., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai’i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
    The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
    Last week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, and Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., introduced the House companion to today’s Senate resolution. 
    The text of the resolution is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Eshoo Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Azerbaijani Assault on Artsakh

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

    Washington, D.C. – Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) released the following statement today recognizing the one-year anniversary of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh:

    “One year ago today, Azerbaijan initiated an unprovoked military assault on civilians in Artsakh in flagrant violation of international law. More than 120,000 Armenians were forced to flee their homeland where their families had lived for centuries. They remain refugees today and Azerbaijan has yet to face meaningful consequences for engaging in ethnic cleansing.

    “The U.S. needs to sanction Azerbaijani officials responsible for atrocities, end all U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and provide additional humanitarian aid for Artsakh’s refugees. A just peace in the Caucasus can only be achieved through genuine accountability.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huizenga Bill to Improve Retirement Savings, Strengthen Economic Security, Confront ESG Mandates Passes U.S. House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)


    Huizenga Bill to Improve Retirement Savings, Strengthen Economic Security, Confront ESG Mandates Passes U.S. House | Congressman Bill Huizenga

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huizenga Announces Legislation to Protect Taxpayer Dollars From Funding the Taliban

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)

    Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the introduction of H.R. 9503, the Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act. In May 2024, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that at least $10.9 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars went to the Taliban in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities. Even more troubling, since the Biden-Harris Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the report found that neither the State Department nor USAID have a true accounting of the amount of U.S. taxpayer dollars that were paid to the Taliban by relief organizations operating in Afghanistan and funded by American taxpayers.

    “After leaving billions of dollars in taxpayer funded military equipment in the hands of the Taliban, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to fail American taxpayers,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “It is an absolute disgrace that the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to set up the appropriate safeguards to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not flow into the coffers of the Taliban. With interest payments on our national debt now exceeding what we spend on defense, the federal government must make every effort to end waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act is a commonsense measure that will save millions of taxpayer dollars from being wasted and funding the oppressive Taliban regime.”

    The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act takes the following actions:

    • Prohibits US taxpayer dollars in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities from being paid to the Taliban.
    • Requires the State Department and USAID to promulgate reporting regulations for any payments or withholdings made to the Taliban, state-owned enterprises, or governing institutions in Afghanistan by an implementing partner receiving funding from American taxpayers.
    • Requires the State Department and USAID to amend existing grants and contracts to include language prohibiting these activities.

    Last week, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a report detailing the Biden-Harris Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Read the report here.

    The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act is cosponsored by: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Congresswoman Maria Salazar, Congressman Mike Lawler, Congressman Keith Self, Congressman Jim Baird, Congressman Warren Davidson, Congressman Michael Guest, Congressman Ben Cline, Congressman Ralph Norman, Congressman Randy Weber, Congressman Josh Brecheen, and Congressman Byron Donalds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: West Park Man Pleads Guilty To Filing Thousands Of Fraudulent COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement Claims In The Names Of Homeless, Incarcerated And Deceased Individuals, Agrees To Forfeit Over $5.6 Million And Properties

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Willie F. Murray, Jr. (55, West Park) today pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft offense. Murray has also agreed to forfeit $5,671,611.74 in U.S. currency, $1,578,925.56 from a bank account, and seven real properties located in Punta Gorda, Fort Lauderdale, Belle Glade, Hollywood, and South Bay, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.

    According to the plea agreement, Murray was the registered agent and manager of Lab Tess, LLC, a Florida company that purportedly provided its customers with COVID-19 testing services. In fact, Lab Tess provided no such services. Murray used Lab Tess to submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Health Resources and Services Administration for COVID-19 testing services supposedly provided to uninsured individuals. To complete the scheme, Murray used personal identifying information of individuals incarcerated by the Florida Department of Corrections, individuals falsely reported as having been tested at homeless shelters and electrical substations, and deceased individuals. Murray submitted more than 126,000 fraudulent claims and received reimbursement in the approximate amount of $5,671,611.74, which he used, in part, to purchase real properties in South Florida.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Suzanne Nebesky.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Air Force provides B-21 Raider program updates

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS)  –  

    Department of the Air Force leaders and industry partners provided updates on the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest bomber, during a panel at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 18.

    The B-21 will incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers to become the backbone of the Air Force’s flexible global strike capability. The airframe is a long-range, highly survivable stealth bomber capable of delivering a mix of conventional and nuclear munitions and will be the “air leg” of the nuclear triad, critical to deterring conflict.

    Panelists who provided updates included Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander; Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander; William Bailey, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director; and Thomas Jones, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector president.

    Bailey and Jones provided updates about how the B-21 program is progressing.

    “We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence [and] generate two flight test flights in a given week,” Jones said. “When we started this journey, we made a vow that we were going to design this system to be a daily flyer. It’s been a phenomenal year of progress, and we hope to continue that through the next year.”

    The panelists also described a significant milestone in which the B-21 completed its static test on the G-1 asset, a ground-based test article used to evaluate the structural integrity of the aircraft. This test was essential to “confirming the structural design of the aircraft is sound and validated confidence in the digital models,” Bailey said.

    The aircraft is now going through a fatigue testing campaign.

    Armagost discussed how the B-21 program is preparing for the delivery of the aircraft to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to include laying the foundation for AFGSC squadrons to be sufficiently equipped, trained, and certified for aircraft delivery, while Bailey spoke to the teamwork that has been essential to the program’s development.

    “We’re very clear as a team what the priorities are day after day,” Bailey said. “That collaboration between operators and acquirers has been a key component of this success … that has got to be a consideration [in Great Power Competition].”

    Bussiere addressed current strategic threats posed by adversaries and the necessity of the bomber force, and the future capabilities the B-21 will provide, to keep pace with those threats.

    “We are the free world’s only bomber force. We’re probably not going to see a decreased demand signal from our regional combatant commands on bomber task forces,” Bussiere added. “That demand signal, in my opinion, is only going to go up in the years ahead. As we transition from legacy to new, the B-21 fleet will provide great comfort to our allies and should provide great pause to any potential adversary.”

    He added, “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing right now. Nobody on the planet can build an exquisite, technologically-advanced platform like the B-21, and quite frankly, nobody on the planet can hold at risk what we can hold at risk at a time and place of our choosing.”

    Bailey echoed Bussiere’s comments about the adaptability of the B-21 systems, which were “designed with flexibility in mind.”

    “Agility and flexibility — they can’t just be buzzwords. These are the kind of things that you need to be able to demonstrate over time. Why? Because it’s going to be changing on you, and we’ve had the benefit of employing a lot of those strategies on this program,” Bailey concluded.

    The B-21 program has a production goal of a minimum of 100 aircraft.

    When the B-21 enters the service, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, will be the first B-21 main operating base and location of the formal training unit. The Air Force recently announced the second and third basing locations for the B-21: Whiteman AFB, Missouri; and Dyess AFB, Texas, in that order.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tonko Secures $200K County Grant to Saratoga for Battlefield Interpretation Exhibit

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) today announced that Saratoga County has been awarded $200,000 for a Battlefield Interpretation Grants (BIG) project. He advocated to the National Park Service for Saratoga County to receive this funding for the implementation of technology to establish new, immersive exhibits that will interpret the figures and events that took place during the American Revolution.

    “As we rapidly approach the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, our region will receive national and international attention and increased awareness of its role and importance in the war for our nation’s independence,” Congressman Tonko said. “The grant to Saratoga County will help to better tell that rich local history from diverse new perspectives, which is why I pushed to deliver this federal funding. I’m thrilled that this support has been secured and I won’t stop working to strengthen our national parks so they can continue to foster a sense of place and connection to our communities and to the story of our nation.”

    Phil Barrett, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman said, “The National Park Service Battlefield Interpretation Grant will assist with promotion, education, and appreciation of the important role our area played in the American Revolution. We will also improve infrastructure dedicated to our historic sites and increase heritage tourism as we approach the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga. We are grateful to Congressman Tonko for his support of Saratoga County’s America’s Turning Point initiative.”

    Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission said, “These grant funds from the National Park Service will help the County tell the stories of the Battles of Saratoga to a new generation and reignite enthusiasm for our area’s revolutionary history through interactive experiences that merge modern technology with compelling true accounts of the past. We thank the National Park Service for this grant and Congressman Tonko for his support of Saratoga County’s America’s Turning Point initiative, which aims to transform heritage tourism in our region.”

    CLICK HERE to learn more about the Saratoga County project.

    Tonko has long been an advocate and champion for the preservation of the rich heritage of our Capital Region and our nation. Last Congress, he authored the National Heritage Area Act that reauthorizes all Heritage Areas for the next 15 years and establishes clear, transparent standards that make it easier for communities and local partnerships to develop and maintain the Heritage Areas they cherish. That bill was signed into law in 2023.

    Saratoga is one of a handful of BIG projects awarded across the country to promote a broad and inclusive stewardship of battlefields and sites of armed conflict on American soil. Funding for these grants is provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation without spending taxpayer dollars. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Announces $2.4 Million to Protect Lake Michigan Shoreline, Improve Access in Green Bay

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    GREEN BAY, WI  – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced the City of Green Bay will receive $2.4 million in federal funding to install a wildlife viewing platform and shoreline walk at the Bay Beach Amusement Park on Lake Michigan, enhancing recreation, learning, and community opportunities within the Bay. Funding comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which Baldwin has worked to secure continued funding for in the annual appropriations process and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  
    “Wisconsin’s fresh coasts and the communities on them are not only home to so many Wisconsin families, they are a critical driver for our economy and tourism,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to champion the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and deliver funding that will bring economic, health, and recreational benefits to the City of Green Bay, while preserving our freshwater resources and protecting habitats for generations to come.”
    “The City of Green Bay is thrilled to accept these funds to jumpstart our long-planned efforts to improve our shoreline and provide enhanced access to the Bay, home to the largest freshwater estuary in the world!” said Mayor Eric Genrich. “Special thanks to Senator Baldwin for her steadfast support for our Great Lakes and our Bay, Administrator Regan for his forward-looking leadership, and the Biden-Harris administration for the priority they’ve placed on strengthening local communities across the country.”
    Funding for the City of Green Bay will be used to build a wildlife viewing platform and shoreline walk with a related retaining wall and fence at Bay Beach Amusement Park within the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern, or environmentally degraded sites along the Great Lakes. Once installed, the project will address two Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) associated with Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations, and Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. The project will bring enhanced recreation, learning opportunities, wildlife viewing, fishing opportunities, and waterfront access at the park and within the Bay.
    Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends this critical program for another five years through 2031 and increases its annual funding. The Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also making a $1 billion investment in the Great Lakes to clean up Areas of Concern.
    One independent economic study found that for every dollar the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invests, it produces an additional $3.35 of economic activity. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, more than $816 million in GLRI funding has made over 1,200 projects possible throughout Wisconsin’s Great Lakes basin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Lankford’s Bill to Reduce Dependence on China and Other Adversarial Nations for Critical Minerals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK —The Senate passed legislation authored by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) to reduce American reliance on China and other adversarial nations for critical minerals.

    “The United States should not depend on communist China to keep our critical mineral supply chain running. Relying on China for critical minerals means relying on our adversary for batteries, medical supplies, and military equipment,” said Lankford. “We need to prioritize American-produced energy solutions and give US suppliers a seat at the table.”   

    “America must reduce its reliance on China and other adversaries for critical minerals and rare earth metals in order to stay competitive on the global economic stage —especially when it comes to the future of electric vehicles and the auto industry,” said Peters. “Our nation’s dependence on foreign sources for these materials creates a serious threat to our national and economic security. My bipartisan legislation will mitigate this growing threat by strengthening our domestic supply chain and creating more good paying jobs here at home.”  

    “By relying on China for critical minerals, we continue to put our economic and national security at risk,” Romney said. “Today’s passage of our legislation is a strong step in the right direction to shore up our supply chains and bolster production of critical minerals here in the United States. I hope to see it passed by the House and signed into law by the President soon.” 

    Critical minerals and rare earth metals are used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, military equipment, and other technology that is vital to American economic competitiveness and homeland security. China remains the largest source for more than half of the critical minerals on the US Geological Survey’s 2022 list that the United States imports, such as lithium and cobalt. The Senators’ bill would address this threat to our manufacturing supply chains by creating an intergovernmental task force to identify opportunities to increase domestic production and recycling of critical minerals. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.  

    The Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act creates a presidential task force with representatives from federal agencies who must consult with state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to determine how to address national security risks associated with America’s critical mineral supply chains. The task force will also identify new domestic opportunities for mining, processing, refinement, reuse, and recycling of critical minerals. The legislation would also require the task force to publish a report to Congress and publish findings, guidelines, and recommendations to combat the United States’ reliance on China and other foreign nations for critical minerals.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: 48 hours at the US-Mexico border story Sep 19, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    By Dr. Belen Ramirez, project coordinator with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Arizona

    It’s early morning in Arizona, just before daybreak, and I am driving on an unpaved road along the border wall between the United States and Mexico. It is raining and I can hear thunder in the distance.  

    Driving just ahead of me are volunteers from Samaritans, who for decades have provided water, food, and other essential items to migrants who cross the border into southern Arizona. We’re on our way to the End of the Wall, a volunteer-run makeshift camp located near a gap in the wall that runs along the southern United States border with Mexico.  

    This remote part of the Sonoran desert, where the 30-foot steel bollard wall ends and a chest-high fence continues to mark the border, is a crossing point for people entering the US from Mexico in hopes of claiming asylum. For the past five weeks as a project coordinator with MSF, I have been supporting Arizona-based volunteer groups like the Samaritans who are providing humanitarian aid to migrants and asylum seekers in Arizona, including in the area where the End of the Wall camp is located. 

    Migrants and asylum seekers from Bangladesh and Nepal wait for US Border Patrol to pick them up along the unpaved road next to the US-Mexico border wall in Sasabe, Arizona. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    No typical day

    There is no typical day for those who volunteer at the End of the Wall camp. On some days, volunteers spend just a few minutes with asylum seekers. On other days, they can spend hours with them before US Border Patrol takes them away to their Forward Operation Base in Sasabe, and later to a detention center in Tucson where people can start the legal process for asylum. During this time, volunteers try to make people feel welcome and provide water, food, much-needed psychological first aid, and information about what comes next.

    This morning, we are the first to arrive at the camp. Volunteers get to work and start replenishing storage bins and a cooler with snacks and water bottles, among them 77-year-old Judy Storey, who has been volunteering with Samaritans for seven years. “When it gets really hot, we soak bandanas in ice water and bring them out,” she tells me. “People put it on their heads or around their necks, and it’s been a godsend when it’s in the 90s out here, and they have to wait five hours for Border Patrol.”

    Soon, a group of men and women who have just crossed the border walk in. “Hi, welcome,” we say, “where are you from?” Some respond that they are from Cameroon. “Northwest, Bamenda,” someone explains.  

    Another man says, “We are from Sudan, from Darfur.” He shares that he fled Sudan to neighboring Chad because of the war that started in April 2023. He then traveled for two months, starting in Morocco and then going to Spain, Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, and finally to the US. “I am now on the safe side,” he says.

    I notice that the Sudanese man is shaking. He asks where he is. I tell him he is in Arizona. I make sure he is able to drink water properly before a Border Patrol agent directs him to get in the car. I can only imagine what he went through to make it to this point.

    Outside the tent, other volunteers speak with a group of men and women from Mexico. A few minutes later, around 8:00 a.m., Border Patrol agents arrive to pick them up.  

    Asylum seekers from around the world cross at the End of the Wall camp and other gaps at the border wall in this remote region. They are dropped by guides on the Mexico side of the border and told that they can surrender to Border Patrol to apply for asylum protection in the US. But the nearest Border Patrol station is miles away and asylum seekers must walk for hours through extreme terrain and weather conditions or wait to be picked up by Border Patrol agents.

    Volunteers hand the new arrivals water bottles and snacks for the road. We tell them they are safe and try to explain what will happen next.

    I notice that the Sudanese man is shaking. He asks where he is. I tell him he is in Arizona. I make sure he is able to drink water properly before a Border Patrol agent directs him to get in the car. I can only imagine what he went through to make it to this point. 

    From left: Dr. Ramirez speaks with volunteers from Samaritans at the End of the Wall camp; messages written by a volunteer in several languages on one of the tents at the camp. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    The End of the Wall

    Volunteers from Samaritans, No More Deaths, and Humane Borders cover morning, midday, and night shifts, seven days a week at End of the Wall camp. They often stay until Border Patrol picks everyone up around 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

    There are three tents that provide shade and some protection from the elements; water bottles and tanks that are periodically replenished with drinking water; snacks and diapers in plastic bins. There is also a solar powered internet service that helps migrants and volunteers stay connected with family and emergency services, and porta potties.

    Despite language barriers, and with occasional help from an asylum seeker who speaks English or an online translation app, volunteers provide some guidance about what to do next, what to expect when Border Patrol arrives, and their right to seek asylum.

    Many of the volunteers speak Spanish fluently and can provide this information to asylum seekers who come from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. But since last year, people from countries as far as China, Guinea, Nepal, India, Iraq, Mauritania, and Yemen have arrived. Volunteer groups have gotten some ad hoc translations in Bengali and Arabic, but still, information in more languages is needed. 

    Abdul* reads a document in Bengali with information prepared by volunteers from Samaritans, including his current location, when US Border Patrol will to come to pick him up, and his right to file for asylum. As more people that speak languages other than English continue to arrive at the End of the Wall camp, there is a need for these translations, as many migrants do not speak English. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    Unaccompanied minors

    Often volunteers see unaccompanied minors arriving at the camp. Just the day before, on a very hot summer day, Abdul*, a 17-year-old boy from Bangladesh, crossed into the US at the End of the Wall camp. He looked tired and said he needed to drink water. He said he was hungry and hot.

    Volunteers from Samaritans invited Abdul to come into a tent for shade, water, apples, and other snacks to eat. Sally Meisenhelder, a 77-year-old volunteer with Samaritans, handed him some documents in Bengali about what to expect in the next few hours and after Border Patrol picks him up. These documents have been translated recently to bridge the language gap and provide some basic information to people arriving from Bangladesh.

    That day, I decided to wait for a few hours with Abdul to make sure he felt safe and was not alone for such a long time, waiting for Border Patrol.  

    The boy, Mateo*, was clutching a small plastic bag attached to the rosary around his neck. Inside was a piece of paper with his mother’s phone number written on it. She was in the US waiting for him.

    Through our language barrier, he explained that he flew from Bangladesh to Qatar, then to Paraguay or Uruguay; he was not sure which one. He then flew to Colombia and made his way north to cross the notoriously dangerous Darién Gap into Panama and continued onward through Central America and Mexico.  

    Most of his belongings were stolen in Mexico, he said, including his phone and passport. The only document he carried with him was a piece of paper—his birth certificate.

    Another day that week, there was a group of 11 unaccompanied minors from Mexico and Guatemala at the End of the Wall camp. The youngest one was five years old. Some of the older children, aged 11 and 12, told us that they found him alone and crying when they reached the camp at dawn. They asked him to sit with them and comforted him.

    Ramirez comforts a 3-year-old boy who was just stung by a bee at the End of the Wall camp. The boy’s mom, who is from Guatemala, is holding him, and shared that she fled to the US after she was extorted by gangs. “They told me that I would have to pay, or they would take my children,” she said. United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    The boy, Mateo*, was clutching a small plastic bag attached to the rosary around his neck. Inside was a piece of paper with his mother’s phone number written on it. She was in the US waiting for him.

    When I met him, he kept telling me this paper was for the police. He seemed very worried about it.  

    I was able to call Mateo’s mother on video.  

    I am accustomed to stories of hardship and fear, but I have never gotten used to hearing these stories from children who undergo this traumatic journey, especially those who travel alone.

    “Mommy, mommy,” he said, so happy to see her. Mateo’s mom told him to be brave and not to cry. I explained to both of them that Border Patrol would take the boy to a special center for unaccompanied minors, and that I did not know exactly how long it would be before she heard from officials. I wanted to make sure that she knew he was fine.

    I am accustomed to stories of hardship and fear, but I have never gotten used to hearing these stories from children who undergo this traumatic journey, especially those who travel alone.

    It was just one of those days. We provide psychological first aid to people crossing the border to make sure their basic needs are covered. Connecting with family members to let them know that you are safe is one of the most impactful mental health interventions, especially during the critical moments after a traumatic event. 

    The End of the Wall camp is located across from this gap between the border wall and a chest-high fence. The area is used as a crossing point by migrants and asylum seekers entering the US.
    United States 2024 © Maria Elena Romero/MSF

    Day Two at End of the Wall camp

    On another nontypical day, as I drive toward the End of the Wall camp, I encounter a group of 18 men from Nepal and Bangladesh who have walked about three miles west towards Sasabe along the hilly road next to the border wall. They crossed into the US overnight and kept on walking, and now they are tired and had sat down to rest. The shoes of one of the men had no soles, so he had used his shoelaces to secure the insoles to his feet.

    We give them water and snacks and ask them not to walk anymore, as the road is steep and there is little shade. The sun is about to come up for another hot day.

    Further ahead, I come across another group of nine men from India walking along the road. We tell them to stop walking because it’s dangerous, and to wait for Border Patrol.

    There are also more asylum seekers at the End of the Wall camp. There is a family from Chiapas, Mexico, who told us they fled cartel violence, leaving everything they owned behind. They feared their teenage daughter could be recruited into a prostitution ring.  

    I also meet a young mother from Guatemala and her three-year-old child. She said she used to own a corner store in the capital, Guatemala City, and was extorted by local gangs. “They told me that I would have to pay, or they would take my children,” she says.

    A group of volunteers from Samaritans drives out to check on people who left the camp on foot. Sally Meisenhelder is worried about those walking on the hilly road. “I have written messages in multiple languages on the tent telling people not to walk. They can be hit by a car,” she says. “When you come up over the hills [the driver] cannot see who is on the other side until they start to drop down. That is dangerous. Plus, they can’t make it all the way [to Sasabe].”

    Several cars from Border Patrol arrive on schedule around 8:00 a.m. They ask people to line up and inform us that some of the asylum seekers have been picked up on the road. They ask unaccompanied minors, families, and women to get in the cars first.

    We say goodbye and wish them good luck, waving as they are driven away. After cleaning up, we drive for about 40 minutes to the place we are staying. When we arrive, we get a message from volunteers from Samaritans. More asylum seekers had arrived at the End of Wall camp after we left, and they stayed behind to help.  

    * Name changed to protect privacy.

    Our work in Arizona

    Since early 2024, MSF has worked alongside volunteers from Humane Borders, Samaritans, No More Deaths, and other Arizona-based groups helping asylum seekers and migrants crossing the US-Mexico border in the Sonoran desert. Initially, a small team evaluated medical needs in the region, and suggested ways to develop capacity and increase services and collaboration. In August 2024, MSF resumed its support to local groups. MSF will consider additional support based on the needs that might arise from a surge in numbers of people crossing the border.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine Announce Over $3.5 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Behavioral Health Services in Virginia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA) announced $3,517,754 in federal funding to support behavioral health across Virginia. The funding will help expand mental health and substance use disorder services at community health centers, which are often a primary source of care for individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid. It was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Behavioral Health Service Expansion program.
    “Behavioral health care is a critical part of caring for our communities, and we need to do more to expand access to this support,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding will help community health centers across Virginia reach more Virginians and provide them with the behavioral health services they need.”
    The funding is allocated as follows:
    $600,000 for New Horizons Healthcare in Roanoke
    $600,000 for Neighborhood Health in Alexandria
    $600,000 for Rockbridge Area Health Center in Lexington
    $600,000 for Southwest Community Health in Saltville
    $599,996 for Tri-Area Community Health in Laurel Fork
    $517,758 for Daily Planet Inc. in Richmond
    Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to expand and support behavioral health across the Commonwealth. Last year, Warner and Kaine announced nearly $1.4 million in federal funding made possible by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act they helped pass to expand access to mental health care in Virginia. Warner and Kaine also introduced the CONNECT for Health Act, which would expand coverage of telehealth services, including mental health treatment and treatment for substance use disorders. Earlier this year, Kaine’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize his Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to help reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals passed out of the Senate HELP Committee. The law has already provided $100 million in funding for mental health care for providers across the country, including $5.6 million in federal funding for Virginia providers.

    MIL OSI USA News –