NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sport regulation balances fairness and safety

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Statement on Reauthorization of SUPPORT Act Amid Trump Administration Sabotage and House Republican Complicity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement after voting in favor of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act:

    “Today, I voted in favor of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes vital prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that tackle our nation’s opioid crisis, substance use disorders, and pressing mental health needs. Since the SUPPORT Act became law in 2018, these programs have undeniably saved lives, and our commitment to this work must continue.

    However, we cannot overlook the alarming context surrounding this vote. The Trump Administration is actively and unlawfully working to dismantle the very agency responsible for executing the programs we have just reauthorized. They have recklessly terminated hundreds of experienced employees, shut down critical offices established by Congress, and withdrawn over $1 billion that was previously allocated to state and local behavioral health initiatives. This has severely undermined essential prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across the nation. Moreover, the Administration’s proposed budget only exacerbates this crisis, threatening to eliminate nearly all the programs outlined in the SUPPORT Act.

    In a disgraceful display of hypocrisy, House Republicans have chosen to be complicit in this dismantling rather than doing anything to stand against it. Reauthorizing these programs on paper amounts to nothing if we permit the infrastructure that supports them to be obliterated. Just weeks ago, House Republicans passed the largest Medicaid cut in our nation’s history, targeting a program that provides care for 40 percent of Americans grappling with opioid use disorder. These Medicaid reductions will deprive millions of lifesaving treatment, all to fund massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of vulnerable individuals fighting substance use disorders. Voting to reauthorize programs while allowing their infrastructure to be dismantled is simply unacceptable.

    Republicans must finally stand up to the Trump Administration and take decisive action to halt its reckless dismantling of our nation’s support systems. Anything less would render the SUPPORT Act meaningless. Americans facing mental health and addiction crises deserve genuine leadership and steadfast support, not empty rhetoric and political games.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: Value of building work put in place: March 2025 quarter

    Value of building work put in place: March 2025 quarter – information release

    5 June 2025

    Value of building work statistics estimate the value and volume of work put in place on construction jobs in New Zealand.

    Key facts
    In the March 2025 quarter:

    • the seasonally adjusted total building volume was flat compared with the December 2024 quarter – residential rose 2.6 percent, and non-residential fell 3.9 percent
    • total building value was $7.6 billion, down 10 percent from the March 2024 quarter.

    Statistics remain provisional for the latest three quarters and are updated each quarter.

    Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEAC Black Provides Opening Remarks During KEYSTONE Course’s Pentagon Visit

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Headline: SEAC Black Provides Opening Remarks During KEYSTONE Course’s Pentagon Visit

    Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black delivered opening remarks to U.S., partner, and allied senior noncommissioned officers and petty officers during the KEYSTONE class’s visit to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, June 3, 2025. KEYSTONE is the world’s premiere Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education course for service members selected to advise general and flag officers taught by the National Defense University.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Message to the Community Regarding the State Budget

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dear Colleagues,

    The state budget approved this week will provide $113 million less for UConn and UConn Health than what was approved in FY25, and will leave us with the following budget shortfalls in the next two fiscal years:

    Fiscal Year 2026

    • UConn requested a state appropriation of $318.7 million. The approved FY26 budget provides $268.2 million. This will lead to a shortfall of $72 million in FY26 that UConn must mitigate.
    • UConn Health requested $202.8 million. The approved FY26 budget provides $143.5 million. This will lead to a shortfall of $61.8 million that UConn Health must mitigate.

    Fiscal Year 2027

    • UConn requested a state appropriation of $322.3 million. The approved budget provides $253.5 million. This will lead to a shortfall of $87 million for UConn in FY27.
    • UConn Health requested a state appropriation of $214.5 million. The approved budget provides $139.1 million. This will lead to a shortfall of $45 million for UConn Health in FY27.

    [Note: the difference between the amount requested and the amount appropriated does not equal the shortfall amount due to a variety of factors that impact the budget]

    Under this budget, state support will account for 15% of UConn’s budget and 8% of UConn Health’s budget next year. In FY25, budgeted levels of state support as a percentage of the budget were 20% for UConn and 12% for UConn Health.

    The numbers above are preliminary, and the estimated shortfalls may increase based on provisions included in the adopted budget that allow the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to reduce state agency allotments by up to $89.2 million in FY26 and $88.7 million in FY27 to achieve savings.

    The General Assembly will also take up a bill devoted to state bonding, which is expected to include funding for UConn and UConn Health. We will send a separate message specifically about the bond bill after it has been approved.

    Like every state budget, this was the result of a negotiation among leaders in state government following the appropriations process. We know that numerous champions for UConn and UConn Health, both internally and within the General Assembly, worked hard behind the scenes tirelessly advocating for additional funding for the university within the context of the biennial budget and related negotiations.

    It’s important to note that thanks to this advocacy, our appropriations over the next two years are actually higher than they might have otherwise been, and we are grateful for their efforts. It should also be noted that changes are often made to the second year of these two-year budgets, so the numbers for year two may change.

    Despite this, closing a combined deficit of $134 million over the next two fiscal years across both institutions will create significant challenges and we will have to utilize multiple strategies to accomplish this, many of them detrimental to our aspirations, operations, and mission. After all, we do not achieve greater effectiveness or contribute more to our students, patients, Connecticut’s economy, employers, workforce, and communities through deficit mitigation.

    We will share our plans to close these gaps once finalized and will make the leadership team available to answer questions.

    For additional background: Beyond budget reductions, UConn does have “levers” it can use to increase revenue, including raising tuition and fees, expanding enrollment, and taking more out-of-state students – all of which we have done. And while each generates more revenue, they also create new challenges.

    At UConn Health, we have increased clinical revenue by over 100% or $560 million in the last five years, which funds over 60% of UConn Health’s budget.

    Other avenues, such as philanthropy and external grant dollars, are vital to our mission and we have significantly increased our fundraising by $33 million and our research funding by $82 million in recent years.

    But philanthropy and research grants do not make up for reduced operating dollars because they don’t fund basic university operations – they fund the things donors have chosen to fund and fulfill the purpose of the grants. Also, supporting successful research requires investment, so it also comes at a cost.

    UConn does have funds described as “reserves,” but that is a misnomer. This is not a central pool of money like a “rainy day fund,” but dollars that are in hundreds of accounts and budget lines throughout the institution that are used to fund our operations, meet upcoming needs, maintain our bond rating, and invest in the future of our university.

    Much of these funds are already committed. Using it to close deficits – and we will have to utilize a significant amount over the next two years to do that – will create new financial problems that didn’t exist before and new unmet needs. And if these one-time funds become exhausted, they do not automatically replenish, and structural deficits will remain absent increased investments from the state, even with substantial new revenue generation and cost-cutting on our end.

    As a senior team, we are currently discussing our action plan, which will involve pausing the hiring of non-critical, non-revenue-generating roles. We will also be delaying non-essential capital projects that do not generate revenue for one year. Additionally, we are reviewing all our contracts to identify potential savings and are putting a hold on non-essential travel.

    In the coming weeks, the senior team and I will hold town hall meetings and faculty conference calls to share details about the progress of our action plan. We encourage everyone on the front lines to share any ideas for short-term cost savings or ways to enhance revenue. Please feel free to send your suggestions to your supervisor or directly to president@uconn.edu.

    As mentioned, our plans for deficit mitigation will be shared with the community once finalized, and we will be available to answer any questions.

    We appreciate your continued partnership and patience during this time.

    Sincerely,

    Radenka Maric
    UConn President

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Announces Action Against Wisconsin Elections Commission for Lacking Complaint Procedure Required by Federal Law

    Source: US State of California

    Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission regarding its failure to provide a complaint process or hearing for Wisconsin voters, in violation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

    The letter states that the Wisconsin Elections Commission failed to meet HAVA’s requirement of a state-based administrative complaint procedure. Compliance with all federal elections laws is mandatory, and the receipt of federal funds under HAVA is conditioned on compliance with the Act.

    Election integrity and compliance with federal elections laws are essential to protect our constitutional republic. Wisconsin’s refusal to give complainants any recourse to report violations they may have observed or experienced while voting is a significant violation of federal law, and a betrayal of the confidence of the American people.

    “Courts across the land, including our highest court, have repeatedly defended measures to ensure election integrity,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “We have made it our highest priority to identify jurisdictions that fail to follow our elections laws and vigorously enforce the law by all means available.”

    The letter issued today also notifies the U.S. Election Assistance Commission of Wisconsin’s unlawful actions and calls for the withholding of federal funds to Wisconsin for violating HAVA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Hosts Roundtable on Republicans’ Proposed State AI Regulation Moratorium

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (June 4, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a virtual roundtable with advocates to discuss the 10-year ban on state artificial intelligence (AI) regulation proposed by Republicans in the House-passed reconciliation bill. Senator Markey previously delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the provision.
    “Rather than proposing any plan to address the risks and eliminate harms of AI, Republicans are pushing a 10-year AI moratorium that blocks others from acting,” said Senator Markey. “This is irresponsible and unnecessary. This broad language would prevent us from addressing housing discrimination, protecting the environment, safeguarding kids online, and stopping discriminatory hiring practices. Instead, Congress should pass my AI Civil Rights Act — the most comprehensive AI legislation introduced in Congress — that ensures AI serves the public good, not private profit.”
    Senator Markey was joined by Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former Acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media; and Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
    “This moratorium would eliminate all state-level AI regulations for ten years with no federal alternative, effectively giving tech giants a blank check to experiment and deploy technology that has been shown to trample Americans’ civil rights, especially in Black and Brown communities, without any consequences. The moratorium language is broad and clumsy, potentially extending far beyond AI-specific laws and preventing enforcement of longstanding state civil rights and consumer protection laws as applied to modern technology.  This would be a direct attack on our civil rights, turning back the clock, allowing companies to discriminate through technology in ways that they cannot do in other mediums and transactions.  The only resolution here is to reject the moratorium in its entirety,” said Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    “American technological leadership has always emerged hand-in-hand with principled governance and this policy innovation has often been led by the states. A decade-long freeze on guardrails for responsible AI use would abandon the American public–and ignore its concerns–during a critical period of technological development. I commend Senator Markey for defending innovation, rights. and opportunities—because truly innovative technology must be just and fair,” said Dr. Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and former acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    “At a moment when families are looking to their elected leaders to slow down and make sure AI is safe for kids, some Republicans in Congress are moving quickly on a budget bill that, among other things, would ban state AI laws for a decade. This is a gift to Big Tech companies and to the AI industry in particular: no rules, no accountability, and total control. Common Sense Media’s new poll shows that not only is this proposal unsafe — it’s wildly unpopular, too,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.
    “The “moratorium” on states’ ability to regulate AI is a massive hand out to Big Tech. States have stepped up to address discriminatory and untrustworthy AI, but the reconciliation would undercut every single one of those efforts. Instead of shaping legislation to address AI denying people a fair chance to access housing, education, or employment, the reconciliation bill would give AI companies a blank check to harm all of us in those spaces,” said Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Releases EPW Budget Reconciliation Text

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released legislative text within the EPW Committee’s jurisdiction to be considered as part of Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill.

    “This legislative text puts in motion plans that Senate Republicans pledged to take, like stopping Democrats’ natural gas tax and rescinding unobligated dollars from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move our legislative package forward to enact President Trump’s agenda, which the American people overwhelmingly support,” Chairman Capito said.

    • Click HERE to view text.
    • Click HERE to view a section-by-section.
    • Click HERE to view a one-pager.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Blacklisted Firms from Sensitive DOE Contracts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    June 4, 2025

    Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Blacklisted Firms from Sensitive DOE Contracts

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Securing our Energy Supply Chains Act, legislation that would establish a Department of Energy non-procurement list for critical minerals, battery production, and other related energy needs. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) is cosponsoring the legislation.

    “Supply chains for our country’s critical minerals and battery production are a cut-and-dry national security issue. Firms that are banned from doing business with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies should face significant restrictions when working in these sensitive areas,” said Senator Cotton.

    “Organizations that threaten our national security have no business engaging in American energy production,” said Senator Risch. “The Securing our Energy Supply Chains Act protects the energy sector, which is critical to both our economy and security, from bad actors while advancing domestic needs.”

    Full text of the bill may be found here.

    The Securing our Energy Supply Chains Act would:

    • Establish a master energy non-procurement list for DOE projects prioritizing critical minerals and battery production
    • Establish a waiver process for contracts or projects that require exceptions
    • Require a federal study to pull all similar lists of entities of concern from Commerce, DOD, Energy, State, Treasury, DNI, and other agencies and make recommendations for harmonization.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Bill Cuts Drug Prices and Red Tape

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act today to cut drug prices for consumers and increase competition in the pharmaceutical market by categorizing generic-brand “biosimilar” drugs as interchangeable with their name-brand counterparts. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) cosponsored the legislation.
    “Americans are missing out on lower drug prices thanks to bureaucratic red tape that protects big pharma monopolies,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Many consumers would choose a cheaper generic-brand version of their medications, but technicalities from Congress have kept these out of reach. Our legislation will cut the red tape to bring drug prices down, break up the big pharma monopolies, and let Americans make their own medication choices.” 
    “I’m proud to support Senator Lee’s Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. Americans pay too much for prescription treatments because of outdated FDA requirements. This bill would give pharmacists more options, subject to state law, to substitute unaffordable therapeutics with lower-cost alternatives. I offered similar reforms in the past because health care reform starts with giving patients more affordable choices. It’s time we stop letting red tape stand between patients and lower prices.” said Dr. Rand Paul
    “Too many Americans face sky-high prescription drug costs. This bipartisan legislation will cut unnecessary red tape and help biosimilar drugs get to the market faster, creating more competition in the market, and cutting costs for consumers,” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue to work to lower prescription drug and health care costs for Granite Staters and all Americans.”
    “Limited competition drives up drug prices, making it harder for people to afford the medications they need to survive. Expanding access to biosimilar drugs can improve patients’ lives and reduce costs. But too often, access can be limited due to regulatory red tape that scientists agree is not necessary,” said Senator Luján. “This bipartisan bill will help simplify that process while maintaining rigorous safety and effectiveness standards. By increasing competition, this legislation will allow more patients and families to access the treatments they need.”
    “As the FDA has made clear, there is no clinically meaningful difference between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars,” said John Murphy, President and CEO of the Association for Accessible Medicines. “The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act will expand competition and generate savings for patients and taxpayers, while preserving FDA’s ability to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines for America’s patients. The Biosimilars Council and AAM thank Senators Lee and Luján for their work on behalf of American patients and we look forward to working with Congress to eliminate this outdated and unnecessary barrier to lower-priced biosimilar medicines.”
    Background:
    “Biosimilars” – generic alternatives to name-brand medications – have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of biologic drugs through increased competition. Choosing biosimilars over their name-brand counterparts could save consumers an estimated $42.9 billion by 2027. Americans deserve to hold this decision-making power, but red tape around biosimilars keeps them from being widely used. The FDA’s complex approval system has confused physicians, patients, and states about biosimilars’ safety and efficacy.
    Biosimilars must undergo extensive testing to prove they provide no meaningful difference from their name-brand version. Bringing a new biosimilar to market costs as much as $300 million and can take as long as 9 years. Even after this approval, patients may not be able to access biosimilars because Congress created a separate designation: interchangeability. To be classified as truly “interchangeable” with the name-brand version, a biosimilar must undergo further testing called “switching studies.” This type of research has proven unnecessary for biosimilars, as it repeatedly shows no meaningful difference or relevant new data. 
    The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would remove these extra steps so that a biosimilar will immediately be classified as interchangeable upon its initial approval by the FDA. Foregoing unnecessary switching studies would no longer disqualify biosimilars as alternatives to their name-brand counterparts. 
    This legislation will streamline the regulatory pathway for biosimilar approval by aligning the law with the current scientific reality, giving Americans the option to save billions and increasing competition in the pharmaceutical market.
    The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would:
    Amend the federal code to state that all biosimilars, upon approval, shall be deemed interchangeable. The bill still uses the term “interchangeable” because states have crafted their own laws around interchangeability. Retaining that word would provide for minimal disruption to current biosimilar distribution.
    Strike the current requirement in code that has been used to justify switching studies.
    Create a cooldown period for certain biologics that were already granted exclusive interchangeable status. 
    Instruct HHS and FDA to issue or retract relevant guidance. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Work of DOGE Will Live On Through One Big Beautiful Bill, Rescissions Package, Appropriations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and highlighted how Congress can carry on its legacy of reining in frivolous spending through the One Big Beautiful Bill, rescissions package, and annual appropriations process. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “I don’t see the work of DOGE being finished, but rather being the starting place.”

    “The DOGE recommendations now embraced within this rescissions package cuts millions of dollars for Green New Deal style programs not in America, but around the world.”

    “The bill rescinds $6 million appropriated for net zero cities in Mexico, a half a million dollars for electric busses in Rwanda, and $2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa.”

    “It rescinds $4 million for Legume Systems Research and $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.”

    “We also have savings opportunities in the big, beautiful bill. Things like eliminating the Inflation Reduction Act, which was inappropriately named.”

    “The third means by which we are going to begin this process of controlling our out-of-control spending in our national debt is the appropriations process.”

    “While we often think of the appropriations process as strictly a spending process, it does not have to be that way. We can also use this appropriations process to enact further spending reductions.”

    “I hope the House and Senate will take full advantage of each of these three opportunities to begin the process of reducing our deficit and debt.”

    “While the formal Department of Government Efficiency Task Force may have concluded, the work of DOGE lives on.”

    “As a founding member of the DOGE caucus, I’ll keep doing my part, along with all of my colleagues, to bend the spending curve, and I urge all of my colleagues to join us in that effort, particularly by passing this rescissions package, and then eventually in the coming weeks, the big, beautiful bill.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kosovo Draws SDR 80.122 million Under the Stand-By Arrangement

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 4, 2025

    Washington, DC: Following the successful conclusion of Stand-by (SBA) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangements on May 24, 2025, the Kosovo authorities have made use of SDR 80.122 million (€96.22 million) available under the SBA, approved on May 25, 2023.

    The authorities will use the drawing to build buffers against potential shortfalls in external financing in a context of heightened uncertainty, as foreshadowed in their Letter of Intent of April 30, 2025 (see IMF Country Report No. 2025/112).

    Kosovo’s SBA and RSF arrangements provided access to SDR 80.122 million (€96.22 million, 97 percent of quota) and to SDR 61.95 million (€74.39 million, 75 percent of quota) respectively, to support Kosovo’s economic policies. Together with the SBA drawdown and already disbursed RSF resources, Kosovo will have outstanding IMF credit of SDR 142.07 million (€170.61 million).

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/04/pr25181-kosovo-draws-sdr-80-million-under-the-stand-by-arrangement

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Statement on House Passage of SUPPORT Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients & Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025. This legislation helps continue important health programs that fight substance use disorder and promote recovery resources.

    Following House passage of the bill, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “We are seeing real progress in terms of treatment opportunities as well as recovery resources for those affected by substance use disorder. I am proud to support reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act, further strengthening our ability to combat the opioid crisis in Appalachia and giving Americans hope to rebuild their lives.”

    BACKGROUND

    Given the opioid epidemic hitting Appalachia, and Virginia’s Ninth District bordering the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, Congressman Griffith introduced during the last Congress the RECONNECTIONS Act of 2023.

    Language from Congressman Griffith’s bill is now Section 103 of the SUPPORT for Patients & Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025. This section reauthorizes the prescription drug monitoring program, which is an important tool to track where prescription drugs are being dispensed at.

    Congressman Griffith’s recent remarks in the Rules Committee on the SUPPORT for Patients & Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 can be found here.

    SUPPORT for Patients & Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

    Congressman Griffith is the House sponsor of the HALT Fentanyl Act. The HALT Fentanyl Act passedthe House in February of 2025.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Refreshed strategy released to tackle gambling harm

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today announced that the Government has released the refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm.
    “The updated strategy includes a targeted investment of over $81 million to improve access to support, strengthen prevention and early intervention and reduce the impact of gambling-related harm across New Zealand,” Mr Doocey says.
    “We know that simply announcing strategies isn’t enough to make a material difference. We want New Zealanders to see real change and make progress, that is why as part of this strategy we’ve built in an independent review in 2025/26 to track what’s working, and what’s not.
    “The strategy focuses on delivering timely, effective support for individuals, families and communities affected by gambling harm. Key areas of investment include increasing access to treatment and support, improving prevention and early intervention initiatives, and improving the effectiveness of support for those experiencing gambling harm.
    “We know one of the biggest barriers to people accessing support is workforce, that is why the plan includes ways we will grow the gambling harm workforce. We will be creating up to 18 additional clinical internship places.
    “It is expected these interns will be supported to develop gambling harm expertise by working closely with a supervisor in a clinical setting. This approach is necessary to bridge the gap between education and work and will give interns the practical experience needed to help people affected by gambling harm.
    “Not only will this ensure more people can access help, but this will also support people who could otherwise struggle to meet the requirements to become registered clinicians.
    “One in five New Zealanders will be affected by gambling harm in their lifetime—either directly or through someone they know. This can have devastating effects not only on individuals, but also on their families and wider communities.”
    Services will be funded through the new Problem Gambling Levy Regulations, paid by non-casino gaming machine operators, casinos, TAB NZ, and Lotto NZ. Work is also underway on how online casino operators will contribute under upcoming regulations.
    The strategy was developed through a two-stage consultation process and strongly reflects the voices of people with lived experience.
    “I want to thank those who shared their experiences with us. You’ve helped ensure this strategy is reflective of real-life experiences and have helped to ground the strategy with a strong understanding of what support works best for you and our communities,” Mr Doocey says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fifth year in a row of equal gender representation on public sector boards

    Source: New Zealand Government

    For the fifth consecutive year, women’s representation on public sector boards and committees has reached 50 percent or above, with women now holding 52.1 percent of public sector board roles, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says.

    Ms Grigg announced the results of the 2024 stocktake of gender and ethnic diversity on public sector boards and committees at an Institute of Directors event on Wednesday.

    “I am delighted to see that women’s representation in public sector governance remains strong, and that women also continue to be well-represented in Board chair positions – at 44.5 percent.

    “We know that having more women in leadership not only brings about greater diversity but is better for business with a positive impact on financial performance and better decision making.”

    Ms Grigg says that Māori and ethnic diversity on public sector boards has also increased since collection of ethnicity data began in 2019.

    “There are many great women leaders in New Zealand who have achieved amazing things. A big part of what we need to do now is inspire the next generation of leaders, and this includes identifying, supporting, and growing future generations of women in governance.

    “This is a great achievement, but the work is not done. It’s taken a deliberate and coordinated effort to achieve this result, and we continue to focus on ensuring we have gender-balanced boards appointed on merit that result in better governance practices, decision-making and financial performance and, ultimately, better outcomes for New Zealanders.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Vulnerable Missing Person

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police in Christchurch are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vulnerable missing person.

    79-year old Elisabeth went missing last night with a confirmed sighting on Bartlett Street, Riccarton.

    There are also unconfirmed reports of Elisabeth being seen in Moana Vale at around 10am on 5 June.

    Elisabeth is wearing blue pants, a dark coloured long-sleeve top, black shoes and has distinctive long blond/white hair.

    If you see her please call 111 and ref P062766924.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: How we work

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 5 June 2025
    Last updated 5 June 2025

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    We invest government funding in tertiary education organisations (TEOs), monitor their performance, and provide information and advice. We invest over $3.8 billion into tertiary education and the careers system each year. 
    We invest government funding in tertiary education organisations (TEOs), monitor their performance, and provide information and advice. We invest over $3.8 billion into tertiary education and the careers system each year. 

    Our investment supports more than 700 tertiary education organisations across New Zealand to provide all forms of post-secondary-school education, including foundation education, vocational education and higher education (including research). 
    Our investment helps to ensure a network of provision which meets the needs of different learners and communities.
    The scope and breadth of our careers work has expanded to better support the changing nature of work and the future career needs of all New Zealanders between the ages of 7 and 70+. The focus is to help prepare New Zealanders for the future of work and the post-COVID challenges that lie ahead.
    Over the coming years we will focus on equipping New Zealanders with the skills and capabilities to make them career confident and resilient. For our customers this means providing information, tools and support to inform and enable good educational and employment decisions.
    Recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
    The TEC recognises and affirms our responsibility to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi:

    We will give practical effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our work across the tertiary education and careers system.
    We will ensure that our work is consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi-related goals of the Education Work Programme, the Tertiary Education Strategy and Ka Hikitia.
    We acknowledge our responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its entirety including taking into account the interests of whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori.
    In particular, through our Ōritetanga Learner Success work programme, we will give effect to the Crown’s Third Article Treaty obligations to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori as learners. We will work to ensure that all Māori learners receive what they need to be successful, through the intentional design and stewardship of the tertiary education system.
    We will support the Crown to meet its duties to actively protect the taonga of te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori and a strong wānanga system of tertiary educational delivery.

    We are required to give effect to the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES). The TES sets out the Government’s current and medium-term priorities and long-term strategic direction for tertiary education. It is intended to address economic, social and environmental goals, and the development aspirations of Māori and other population groups.
    Performance monitoring
    In addition to our performance monitoring of the tertiary education sector as a whole, our Chief Executive is required to report to the responsible Minister(s) on performance of universities, wānanga and Te Pūkenga – formally the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), the tertiary education institutes (TEIs) reflecting your ownership interest (on behalf of the Crown) in all 12 TEIs.
    Through our work we support learners to understand and take hold of the lifelong opportunities they have to upskill, reskill and adapt to new challenges.
    Delivering for learners also means delivering for communities and employers. We do this by working with these groups to make sure learners are equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to contribute to thriving and resilient communities and an innovative and sustainable economy.
    For more information, please refer to our corporate publications: Annual Report, Statement of Performance Expectations, and the Briefing to the Incoming Minister 2020.

    Related Content

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Providing information and advice

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 5 June 2025
    Last updated 5 June 2025

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    We provide information and advice to the Government and the responsible Minister(s). We also provide information and advice to tertiary education organisations (TEOs), other government agencies and external stakeholders.
    We provide information and advice to the Government and the responsible Minister(s). We also provide information and advice to tertiary education organisations (TEOs), other government agencies and external stakeholders.

    Minister of Education 
    Learner outcomes and TEO performance
    We provide information and advice about learner outcomes and TEO performance, to support people to make better choices about what and where to study, and to encourage improvements in the performance of TEOs.
    The areas we provide information and advice on include:

    The information and advice we provide in these areas includes:

    providing advice on the activities and performance of TEOs and the tertiary education sector
    developing details of how to implement funding mechanisms
    providing information and advisory services to the Minister on the tertiary sector, tertiary education and training issues
    working closely with, and providing advice to, agencies across government, to strengthen connections between tertiary education, the social sector and the labour market
    publishing information on TEOs’ performance, funds, educational performance and research.

    Our performance
    Each year, we report on the performance of our information and advice as part of our Annual Report.
    These reports can be found on the Corporate publications page.

    Related Content

    Key Information Set for Tertiary Education Organisations

    read more

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consultations

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 5 June 2025
    Last updated 5 June 2025

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    From time to time, we review policies, strategies and work programmes to ensure tertiary education remains relevant and of high quality.
    From time to time, we review policies, strategies and work programmes to ensure tertiary education remains relevant and of high quality.

    As part of this process, we often need to consult with relevant parts of the tertiary sector and individuals.
    Current consultations – use the filter on the News and consultations page to find our current consultations, including those we are running on behalf of the responsible Minister.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advice seen by Minister(s)

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Date
    Reference Number
    Title

    19 December 2019
    AM/19/01484
    Aide-Memoir: Discussion paper: establishing a CoVE specialising in Secondary Tertiary Programmes, Multiple Pathways and Transitions (PDF 1.4 MB) 

    5 December 2019
    B/19/01460
    Funding Agreement between the Crown and Lincoln University (PDF 1.3 MB) 

    3 December 2019
    1210568
    Education Report: High-level decisions on the unified funding system for discussion at the strategy session on 12 December (PDF 7.8 MB)

    22 November 2019
    B/19/01385
    Tertiary Education Commission 2019/20 Quarter One Performance Report

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01340
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 658 KB) 

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01339
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 590 KB) 

    15 November 2019
    AM/19/01341
    Expenditure accrual adjustment to Vote Tertiary Education

    13 November 2019
    AM/19/01357
    Overview of standard operating procedures and/or code of practices for TEI accommodation services

    11 November 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Confirmation of Crown capital investment to support the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities (PDF 1.2 MB)

    7 November 2019
    AM/19/01351
    Tertiary Education Institution Accommodation Overview

    1 November 2019
    AM/19/01338
    No recoveries for exceeding prior achievement limit in 2019 for YG and SAC 1-2

    29 October 2019
    B/19/01328
    Tertiary Education Commission Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019

    25 October 2019
    AM/19/01337
    Reform of Vocational Education Programme Governance – Update

    24 October 2019
    E/19/01252
    Ako Aotearoa 2019 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards Evening – 30 October 2019

    23 October 2019
    B/19/01284
    Crown support for Whitireia Community Polytechnic

    15 October 2019
    E/19/01277
    Launch of Drawing the Future event on 18 October at Porirua East School

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01260
    Report to Ministers from the University of Canterbury Futures Governance Oversight Group

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01275
    ITP constitutions for two councils

    9 October 2019
    AM/19/01258
    AgResearch business case for a new building at Lincoln University

    4 October 2019
    E/19/01256
    Opening the 15th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum on Tuesday 15 October 2019

    25 September 2019
    B/19/01192
    Update on Careers System Strategy Engagement Process (PDF 500 KB) 

    20 September 2019
    B/19/01175
    Tertiary Education Commission draft Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019 (PDF 276 KB) 

    19 September 2019
    B/19/01211
    Tertiary Education Report: Draft Cabinet paper on supporting the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities and reallocation of funding to Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 159 KB) 

    17 September 2019
    B/19/01023
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 250 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01210
    Establishing a Stakeholder Advisory Group for Reform of Vocational Education

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01209
    Workforce Development Council and ITO Workstream: Progress update (PDF 861 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    1204429
    Briefing Note: Unified Funding Work Programme: Progress update (PDF 3.6 MB)

    10 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 (PDF 871 KB) 

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01169
    Meeting with Greg Wallace, Chief Executive of Master Plumbers on Thursday 12 September 2019

    6 September 2019
    B/19/01141
    ITP constitutions for seven councils (PDF 297 KB) 

    2 September 2019
    E/19/01158
    Ministerial visit to Unitec Institute of Technology on Tuesday, 3 September 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01065
    Tertiary Education Report: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 487 KB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01086
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 640 KB) 

    21 August 2019
    B/19/01085
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 826 KB)

    19 August 2019
    E/19/01093
    Minister of Education Opening the Primary ITO Symposium on Tuesday 20 August 2019

    8 August 2019
    AM/19/00929
    Fees-free monitoring and addressing non-complying TEOs

    26 July 2019
    E/19/00868
    Ōritetanga Learner Success Conference (PDF 240 KB) 

    26 July 2019
    AM/19/00971
    Talking Points for Cabinet on 29 July 2019 – NZIST Establishment Board Appointment

    25 July 2019
    B/19/00928
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal (PDF 1.5 MB) 

    24 July 2019
    B/19/00882
    Crown support for Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 670 KB)

    20 July 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report (PDF 459 KB) 

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00959
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for Telfrod – Talking point for Cabinet

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00954
    Annotated Agenda – NZ Institute of Skills and Technology Establishment

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00773
    Update on Careers System Strategy and Career Action Plan (PDF 275 KB) 

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00867
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2020 and 2021 (PDF 486 KB) 

    15 July 2019
    AM/19/00800
    Assurance findings for the Reform of Vocational Education Programme

    15 July 2019
    B/19/00763
    2020 Investment Round Update: Indicative Allocations

    11 July 2019
    E/19/00879
    Minister to visit Otago University on 12 July 2019 (PDF 465 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    B/19/00819
    Manukau Institute of Technology– council constitution (PDF 402 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    AM/19/00880
    Compliance monitoring of fees-free tertiary education and prosecution for false statutory declarations

    4 July 2019
    B/19/00785
    TEC 2018/19 Quarter Three Performance Report (PDF 355 KB) 

    3 July 2019
    B/19/00861
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Unitec (PDF 289 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00820
    Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi 2018 Annual Report (PDF 506 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00708
    Publication of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Statement of Intent 2019/20–2022/23 and Statement of Performance Expectations 2019/20 (PDF 274 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00827
    Aide-Memoire: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 303 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators

    28 June 2019
    E/19/00835
    Meeting with Service Skills Institute Incorporated on Monday 1 July 2019

    25 June 2019
    AM/19/00821
    Talking Points for APH on 26 June 2019 – Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (PDF 219 KB)

    20 June 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report

    19 June 2019
    AM/19/00797
    Growing the Food and Fibres Sector – Recommendations for the TEC

    17 June 2019
    E/19/00776
    University of Canterbury – Opening of the Rehua Building on 25 June 2019 (PDF 326 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    E/19/00690
    Meeting with the Commissioner of WelTec and Whitireia (PDF 346 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    AM/19/00749
    Update on Whitireia Community Polytechnic and the Wellington Institute of Technology

    10 June 2019
    AM/19/00739
    Update on the current situation of funding training and education of carers

    7 June 2019
    B/19/00702
    Recognition of Skills Active Aotearoa Limited as an industry training organisation (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00709
    Waikato Institute of Technology Council Constitution (PDF 441 KB) 

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00704
    Unitec Institute of Technology 2018 Annual Report (PDF 408 KB)

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 final full-year enrolments at tertiary education organisations

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00707
    Update on the financial position of ITPs

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00703
    Recognition of the Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand as an industry training organisation (PDF 479 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00701
    Recognition of Primary Industry Training Organisation as an industry training organisation (PDF 897 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    E/19/00705
    Meeting with UCOL on 5 June 2019  (PDF 2.6 MB)

    27 May 2019
    AM/19/00648
    Advice on options to support the University of Canterbury following the Christchurch mosque attacks

    24 May 2019
    B/19/00650
    Ministerial appointment to Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 Final Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00640
    Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection – Final Milestone (PDF 386 KB) Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection Appendix A (PDF 1.6 MB) 

    16 May 2019
    AM/19/00651
    Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki 2018 Annual Report (PDF 516 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00555
    Meeting with Professor Jan Thomas from Massey University on 22 May 2019 (PDF 682 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00644
    Meeting with Southland Federated Farmers

    9 May 2019
    B/19/00613
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two tertiary education councils (PDF 286 KB) 

    8 May 2019
    E/19/00509
    Minister to speak at the Open Polytechnic Graduation on Thursday, 23 May 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB).

    3 May 2019 
    AM/19/00611
    Lincoln University 2018 financial results (PDF 247 KB) 

    3 May 2019
    AM/19/00615
    Ministerial Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

    23 April 2019
    B/19/00527
    Release of the 2018 PBRF Quality Evaluation Results 

    10 April 2019
    E/19/00512
    Meeting with Primary Industry Training Organisation on Thursday 11 April 2019 

    9 April 2019
    E/19/00473
    Meeting with WITT to discuss RoVE on 11 April 2019 

    8 April 2019
    E/19/00482
    Meeting with Andrew Robb from Tai Poutini Polytechnic on 11 April 2019 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00451
    Salvation Army foundation education delivery consultation outcomes 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00469
    Inspiring Futures – Response 

    2 April 2019
    E/19/00465
    Ministerial visit to open new Tech Park Campus development at Manukau Institute of Technology on 5 April 2019 

    28 March 2019
    E/19/00446
    BusinessNZ Major Companies Group – Chief Executive Forum on Friday 5 April 2019 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00448
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to eight tertiary education institution councils 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00442
    Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – council constitution 

    25 March 2019
    B/19/00360
    2018 Interim Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations 

    18 March 2019
    AM/19/00414
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to eight ITP councils 

    14 March 2019
    B/19/00161
    TEC 2018/2019 Quarter Two Performance Report 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00396
    Meeting with The Skills Organisation 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00398
    Meeting with Careerforce Thursday 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    B/19/00381
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two university councils 

    7 March 2019
    B/19/00158
    Careers System Strategy Workstream Implementation Update 

    5 March 2019
    AM/19/00330
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to two TEI Councils 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00166
    Meeting with Competenz Chair and Chief Executive Thursday 7 March 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00234
    Local Government New Zealand Rural and Provincial Meeting 

    27 February 2019
    E/19/00165
    Visit to Telford (PDF 326 KB) 

    26 February 2019
    E/19/00150
    Meeting with primary industry leaders to discuss your vision on Reform of Vocational Education (PDF 269 KB) 

    25 February 2019
    E/19/00246
    Meeting with the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (PDF 2 MB) 

    15 February 2019
    B/19/00082
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal: next steps (PDF 2.3 MB) 

    11 February 2019
    AM/19/0060
    World Economic Forum OECD Release of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs: Trends, Data and Drawings report (PDF 159 KB) 

    7 February 2019
    AM/19/00083
    2018 full-year enrolment reporting timeline (PDF 397 KB) 

    1 February 2019
    B/19/00081
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2019 (PDF 393 KB) 

    February 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Council Appointments for Ara Institute of Canterbury, Eastern Institute of Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology, NorthTec, Otago Polytechnic, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, UCOL and the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (PDF 320 KB) 

    30 January 2019
    B/19/00055
    Appointment of an advisory committee to support the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 202 KB) 

    29 January 2019
    AM/19/00064
    Computer in Homes Tender (PDF 824 KB) 

    28 January 2019
    AM/19/00063
    Meeting with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    21 January 2019
    E/19/00010
    Ara Institute of Canterbury – Manawa and Outpatients facility opening on Thursday 31 January 2019 (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    11 January 2019
    B/19/00028
    Update World Economic Forum: Launch of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs (PDF 554 KB) 

    8 January 2019
    B/19/00007
    University of Auckland – amendment to council constitution (PDF 303 KB) 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Engineers make a big splash, turning water treatment sludge into sustainable concrete

    Source:

    05 June 2025

    Cracked and corroded sewer pipes cost Australian taxpayers almost $70 billion annually.

    Australian researchers are tackling a $70 billion problem facing our nation’s infrastructure by developing an eco-friendly alternative solution to traditional cement sewer pipes that are prone to cracking and corroding.

    By combining sludge – a byproduct of the drinking water purification process – and blast-furnace slag, University of South Australia (UniSA) engineers have demonstrated that a new, corrosive-resistant material is more than 50% stronger than cement and resistant to acid-induced degradation.

    Concrete is widely used for making sewage pipes due to its availability, affordability and structural strength, but it is highly susceptible to acid and microbial corrosion in sewers, requiring ongoing repairs and maintenance that cost Australian taxpayers close to $70 billion each year.

    A new study published in the Journal of Building Engineering evaluates the effectiveness of the alkali-activated materials (AAMs) and demonstrates why they could revolutionise sewage infrastructure worldwide.

    Samples containing 20% to 40% of alum-based water treatment sludge (AWTS) retained over 50% higher compressive strength compared to 100% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), which is used in the production of cement.

    The new material also limited the penetration of sulphur-oxidizing bacteria and slowed acid-reduced degradation.

    UniSA civil engineering PhD candidate Weiwei Duan, whose research is based on this project, says there is another major benefit: finding a cost-effective and environmental use for water treatment residue.

    “Sludge is usually disposed of in landfill sites, which not only reduces available land for other uses, but also harms the environment, creating CO₂ emissions from transporting the waste,” Weiwei says.

    Principal supervisor and lead researcher on the project, Professor Yan Zhuge, says the findings suggest that partially replacing the blast furnace slag with 20-40% of water treatment sludge makes them “promising candidates” for use in sewers.

    “This has the potential to extend the service life of sewage pipes, reduce maintenance costs, and promote the reuse of water treatment byproducts, thus contributing to the circular economy.

    “The construction industry is one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, so if we can cut down on the need for cement, we will be helping to lower carbon emissions,” Prof Zhuge says.

    In May, Weiwei Duan took out the 2025 Australian Water Association’s Student Water Prize for his research – the first UniSA student to receive this national honour in 60 years.

    “Evaluating microbiologically influenced corrosion in alkali-activated materials incorporating alum sludge” is authored by UniSA researcher Professor Yan Zhuge, Weiwei Duan, Dr Yue Liu, Professor Christopher Chow and Alexandra Keegan from the SA Water Corporation. DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112682

    The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contacts for interview:

    Weiwei Duan E: weiwei.duan@mymail.unisa.edu.au
    Prof Yan Zhuge E: yan.zhuge@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Action Against Wisconsin Elections Commission for Lacking Complaint Procedure Required by Federal Law

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission regarding its failure to provide a complaint process or hearing for Wisconsin voters, in violation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

    The letter states that the Wisconsin Elections Commission failed to meet HAVA’s requirement of a state-based administrative complaint procedure. Compliance with all federal elections laws is mandatory, and the receipt of federal funds under HAVA is conditioned on compliance with the Act.

    Election integrity and compliance with federal elections laws are essential to protect our constitutional republic. Wisconsin’s refusal to give complainants any recourse to report violations they may have observed or experienced while voting is a significant violation of federal law, and a betrayal of the confidence of the American people.

    “Courts across the land, including our highest court, have repeatedly defended measures to ensure election integrity,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “We have made it our highest priority to identify jurisdictions that fail to follow our elections laws and vigorously enforce the law by all means available.”

    The letter issued today also notifies the U.S. Election Assistance Commission of Wisconsin’s unlawful actions and calls for the withholding of federal funds to Wisconsin for violating HAVA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NEWS RELEASE: And that’s a wrap on Energy Storage Alberta 2025

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: NEWS RELEASE: And that’s a wrap on Energy Storage Alberta 2025

    The second annual CanREA Summit devoted to the future of energy storage in Alberta was a success in Calgary this year.

    Calgary, June 3, 2025 – More than 200 people attended the Energy Storage Alberta—CanREA Summit and CanREA Connects networking event in Calgary today, a full-day conference examining the myriad ways that innovative energy storage technologies will be critical for Alberta’s energy future.

    “We need more energy storage in Alberta, because we need all the solutions that it brings to the table: Storage provides many different services to the electricity grid, such as time shifting, improving general reliability and reducing system costs. And the cost of storage is decreasing dramatically: battery costs have fallen by more than 90% in the past 15 years. It is time to leverage this to our advantage,” said CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo.

    Energy Storage Alberta 2025 kicked off with a keynote address by Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf. Minister Neudorf shared his perspective on the changes expected with the upcoming REM. He was hopeful about bringing more certainty to investors in the market, and optimistic that the AESO’s process will create a market that would support market participants, such as energy storage.

    CanREA then welcomed AESO President and CEO Aaron Engen, who presented key updates on the AESO’s plans for Alberta’s grid and shared how market participants, including energy storage, play key roles in contributing to the design of the REM and the evolving electricity market.

    The first panel discussion, “Restructuring success: New electricity market and transmission policies in Alberta,” examined what the planned Restructured Energy Market (REM) will look like and how costs will be allocated, focusing on the question: What does this all mean for energy storage over the next five years?

    A special lunch keynote by Greg Lyle, Founder and President of Innovative Research Group, featured insights on the public support for energy storage and infrastructure projects in Alberta—drawing on the latest polling data to show how public attitudes can inform more effective decision-making and policy development.

    Other panel discussions focused on meeting energy demand with new AI data centres and growing populations, reducing constraints to energy storage solutions, exploring the latest advancements in energy-storage technologies, and much more.

    “Our conference focused on how to get storage projects built in Alberta, and how to operate them efficiently once they are in service,” said Bellissimo. “CanREA members are ready and willing to move forward with projects in Alberta and other jurisdictions across Canada, given the right conditions, such as fair transmission costs with longer-term rate stability, and contact mechanisms that incent new storage capacity.”  

    CanREA wishes to thank all attendees, moderators and speakers for helping to make the Summit a success. A special word of thanks to Platinum Sponsor Northland Power, Gold Sponsors Enfinite & Bennett Jones LLP, Silver Sponsor PCL, Bronze Sponsors Fasken, Sungrow Power, Dentons, CIBC & Apsystems, and Iron Sponsor Regulatory Law Chambers.

    Background information

    What is Energy Storage?

    In its simplest definition, energy storage is anything that allows us to store energy in a form that can be utilized in the future—hours, days or possibly months later, depending on the technology.

    Many different energy-storage technologies are in development in Canada, with some already in operation. They include batteries, hydrogen, mechanical storage (pumped hydro, compressed air, flywheels) and thermal methods. 

    Batteries are probably the best-known—and most scalable—form of energy-storage technology. But energy storage is so much more than lithium-ion batteries. Technologies are changing, companies are innovating, and new systems to solve clean-electricity challenges are being deployed every year. Innovative energy-storage technologies include long-duration storage and new battery chemistries. 

    These technologies can do much more than simply store energy: They can provide many key services, including wires services (such as capacity value, peak shaving, voltage support, frequency regulation, and transmission & distribution deferral and congestion management), reliability services (such as regulating reserve, spinning reserve and black start), and market services (such as time shift, arbitrage, demand charge reduction and backup power).

    The many services provided by energy storage are shown in the graphic above, pulled from CanREA’s 2022 whitepaper, “Laying the Foundation: Six priorities for supporting the decarbonization of Canada’s grid with energy storage.”

    Quotes

    “We need more energy storage in Alberta, because we need all the solutions that it brings to the table: Storage provides many different services to the electricity grid, such as time shifting, improving general reliability and reducing system costs. And the cost of storage is decreasing dramatically: battery costs have fallen by more than 90% in the past 15 years. It is time to leverage this to our advantage.” 

    “Our conference focused on how to get storage projects built in Alberta, and how to operate them efficiently once they are in service. CanREA members are ready and willing to move forward with projects in Alberta and other jurisdictions across Canada, given the right conditions, such as fair transmission costs with longer-term rate stability, and contact mechanisms that incent new storage capacity.” 

    —Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    For media interviews, please contact:

    Michaela Ianni, Communications SpecialistCanadian Renewable Energy Association communications@renewablesassociation.ca

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 

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    Event | June 3, 2025Energy Storage Alberta – CanREA SummitAs Alberta continues to reshape its electricity landscape, energy storage is set to play a pivotal role in ensuring the province’s reliable, resilient and affordable energy future. […]

    CanREA Connects—Alberta
    Event | June 3, 2025CanREA Connects—AlbertaThe CanREA Connects—Alberta spring networking reception, held right after the Energy Storage Alberta Summit, offers a prime opportunity to connect with professionals driving Alberta’s renewable energy future. As the province navigates its energy transition, this event is the perfect place to engage with industry leaders, exchange insights and explore solutions in […]

    The post NEWS RELEASE: And that’s a wrap on Energy Storage Alberta 2025 appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Seal Silly Season: Help Us Keep Young seals safe

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Yep, they’re back and turning up in the weirdest places.
    From footpaths to paddocks, suburban driveways to the occasional KFC carpark, young kekeno (New Zealand fur seals) are once again on the move. And as winter settles in, we’re entering peak Seal Silly Season—when juvenile fur seals begin exploring the world beyond their rocky seaside homes. 

    This seasonal flurry of furry adventurers might seem funny (we see you, seal at Bunnings Whangārei), but it also highlights the need for smarter planning as our native marine mammals return to historic habitats—including ones that now have busy roads running through them. 

    Seal at Bunnings Whangarei with worker. Credit: Bunnings

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    Seal at bunnings Whangarei being kept safe until DOC arrives. Credit: DOC

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    Why we need your sightings 

    We have teamed up with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to better understand where fur seals and sea lions are turning up near roads—and why. We’re building a national model of road-related risks for marine mammals, and your sightings can help. 

    “We’re asking people to report sightings of seals, fur seals or sea lions on or near roads,” says DOC Technical Advisor – Marine, Jody Weir. “Even a photo (if it’s safe!) can help us map hotspots and better understand the risks. This is citizen science in action.” 

    Using your reports, alongside existing road and habitat data, together with Waka Kotahi, we will identify areas where future road upgrades—like the seal-saving guardrails installed in Kaikōura—could help reduce risks for both wildlife and people. 

    📷: Rescuing seal from road – DOC

    What is road ecology—and why does it matter? 

    This work is part of a growing science field called road ecology. It’s all about how roads affect the movement and behaviour of wildlife. As kekeno and other marine mammals bounce back from the brink and return to our coasts and towns, this research is more important than ever. 

    Kaikōura has already shown what’s possible. Targeted upgrades to key hot spots—where young fur seals had been clambering onto State Highway 1—have significantly reduced road risks. But we know this isn’t just a Kaikōura issue. 

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    📷: Road to Kaikōura fur seal – Shellie Evans

    The comeback of a taonga species 

    Once rare on the mainland, fur seals and sea lions are now slowly reclaiming their old haunts. It’s one of Aotearoa’s great conservation success stories. But with that success comes new responsibility. 

    “We’re thrilled to see these taonga species recovering,” says Weir. “But we need to adapt alongside them. That means planning for coexistence, especially during Seal Silly Season.” 

    From May to September, young fur seals head off on solo adventures while their mums are out feeding and supporting next year’s pup. It’s a vital stage of development, but it can lead to some strange (and risky) detours. 

    How to help: report a sighting 

    If you spot a fur seal or sea lion on or near a road—or in an unusual inland spot—let us know! Your sightings will help shape the initial national road risk model and guide future conservation planning. 

    📧 Email: seeaseal@doc.govt.nz and report your sighting there.

    OR

    📞 Call: 0800 DOC HOT (362 468), if you see a sea lion or fur seal in distress, harm’s way or entangled, stranded, or deceased.

    📍 Include: 

    • Date of sighting 
    • Description of location and number of animals 
    • GPS coordinates or map pin (if possible) 
    • A photo (if safe to take) 

    Please also report the same details for any dead marine mammals you find on or near roads, and if you’ve seen them in the same place before, let us know when. 

    🗓️ Reports submitted by mid-June 2025 will help inform the first round of analysis—but we welcome sightings anytime. 

    • Never touch or feed a seal—they can bite and it’s against the law. 
    • Stay at least 20 metres away. 
    • Keep dogs on a leash and children close. 
    • Don’t block a seal’s path to the sea. 
    • If a seal is injured, being harassed or in danger, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). 
    📷: Sealion on road – N, Bezemer

    Seal sightings that made headlines 

    These might sound like the setup to a joke—but they tell a real story about how our marine mammals are adapting to a modern, human-dominated landscape. And we need to do the same, with smarter planning and a bit of help from the public. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Amendments protocol

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Amending transactions, balances, and events

    When to amend

    If you discover any material errors or omissions in the balances, contributions, or events you have reported, you must amend your reporting within 30 days of becoming aware of these errors under Section 390-115 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA).

    All monetary reporting errors are automatically considered material unless you’ve engaged with us to assess the specifics of a reporting issue as it relates to individual members and reporting years.

    Materiality is the threshold above which missing or incorrect information is considered to have any impact on the decision-making of the user. For example, if a contribution has been incorrectly classified as an employer contribution and it should have been classified as personal, this impacts you, the member and us.

    Even if the amount is small, if you’re aware of the error it must be corrected. You can’t make a decision based on an amount threshold as you don’t have the full details of the member’s taxation or financial position to understand the impact.

    The obligation to report amendments has no time limitation. It exists regardless of when you become aware of the material error or omission, and is not altered by any subsequent events such as:

    • closure of the member’s account
    • commencement of a pension.

    Example 1: amending errors on closed accounts

    Debra was nearing retirement age and for the last 5 years she had made regular personal contributions to Ridgeway Super to increase her superannuation balance. She retired in August 2023 aged 60 and rolled out her entire balance to Summerleas Retirement Scheme. Unknown to Debra, the staff at Ridgeway Super had made errors in processing her contributions and had not reported any of the personal contributions it received for her.

    Debra visited an accountant in September 2023 who realised she was entitled to a super co-contribution. She checked her records and contacted Ridgeway Super to ask why no co-contribution was received.

    Ridgeway Super accepted that an error was made but told Debra that they could not amend their reporting because her account was now closed. Debra wrote to the ATO to complain about this refusal. We advised Ridgeway Super of its obligation to correct all material errors even after an account is closed and confirmed that amendments can be made to accounts that have been reported closed with us.

    Ridgeway Super lodged the amendments more than 8 months after Debra first brought the error to their attention. We imposed a penalty on Ridgeway Super for failing to notify us within 30 days of becoming aware of a material omission.

    We paid the co-contribution directly to Debra as she had retired.

    End of example

    Correcting systemic reporting errors

    Ensure you have processes in place to identify and correct systemic reporting issues when you’re asked to correct an error for a member. Penalties may apply if you don’t take reasonable care.

    If a member brings an error to your attention, you need to:

    • correct the error for that member
    • check to see if the same error impacts other members so you can proactively fix it for them as well.

    Example 2: correcting systemic errors

    In the previous example, Ridgeway Super checked whether the errors their staff made in processing Debra’s personal contributions had occurred for other members.

    Ridgeway Super discovered another 3,000 members’ personal contributions weren’t reported to us. Ridgeway Super amended its reporting for these cases and developed new procedures to ensure the errors wouldn’t recur.

    End of example

    Only amend to correct a genuine error

    Only amend your reporting where genuine errors have occurred. For example, you shouldn’t amend because a member has decided that they wish to change the amount or character of the contributions they made during the year to avoid an excess contributions tax liability.

    Mistakes and returning contributions

    In limited circumstances, you may be required to amend your reporting when the retrospective operation of the law causes a transaction to be unwound or become void. This may occur when you return contributions credited to a member’s account in restitution of a legal mistake of law or mistake of fact.

    Contributions can’t be returned to a member because they regret making them or because they or their agents made an error in their decision to contribute.

    Whether or not contributions have been returned is not determinative of whether or not they should be reported, or an amendment lodged to remove them from a previous report.

    See ATO ID 2010/104Opens in a new window Excess contributions tax: restitution of a ‘mistaken’ contribution for an example of when a personal contribution will still be included in an individual’s non-concessional contributions for the financial year. This is where the trustee has repaid the contribution to the member in purported restitution of a mistaken payment when in fact there was no case for restitution on the grounds of mistake of law or of fact.

    If you correctly return contributions in accordance with the law of restitution, you must amend your reporting so that the contributions aren’t counted towards the member’s contributions caps. However, in circumstances where the law of restitution doesn’t apply to unwind or void a transaction, you must still report the contributions (and not amend any previous reporting) even if they have been returned.

    We apply considerable scrutiny to situations where contributions are returned to a member or they are re-characterised, after the member realises that they’ve exceeded a contributions cap. Understand your legal obligations in these situations and develop procedures and systems to ensure member requests of this nature are considered very carefully.

    While we scrutinise these decisions, we recognise there are many circumstances where a decision to amend is correct and a failure to do so would be a failure to report correctly.

    Example 3: provider administrative error

    An employer made contributions to a provider for a number of employees in June 2022. The provider’s administrative staff misread the instructions the employer provided with the contributions and allocated too much to one member and too little to another. The error was discovered in December 2022, after the provider had reported to us for each of the affected members.

    The provider had made a mistake of fact, to correct it they transferred amounts between the accounts of the affected members in December 2022. The reallocation of contributions was treated as having retrospective effect back to June 2022. Each member’s reporting was amended to reflect this.

    The fund also needs to amend each member’s account balance as this will impact the calculation of total super balance for the member and what the member sees in ATO online services.

    Example 4: member error in contribution classification

    Walter, a self-employed investor, and businessman made a super contribution to Big Super without the involvement of any other person or entity, using a personal cheque drawing on a bank account in his own name.

    In error, he entered this contribution on one of Big Super’s forms as a contribution made by an employer. He put his name down as both employer and employee and failed to indicate the nature of the contribution. He entered this despite a clear alert on the form that said, ‘All contributions will be treated as super guarantee contributions unless otherwise indicated’. Big Super recorded the contribution as an employer contribution and reported it as such to us.

    Walter received an excess contributions tax assessment based on the reporting that indicated he had exceeded the concessional contributions cap. Walter asked Big Super to amend their reporting. He provided evidence that he had made the contribution himself. Using their internal records, Big Super also considered the obvious errors in the form Walter had given them and the cheque’s drawer.

    Big Super agreed that the contribution had been mischaracterised by them when it was made based on Walter’s error. Even though Walter’s lack of care in completing the form was the source of the error, Big Super recognised its obligation to now amend the reporting involved, correcting what was now known to be a reporting error.

    Example 5: amendment to contribution causing an amendment to account balance and accumulation phase reporting

    In December 2022, a super fund realises that it has incorrectly recorded in its systems a $100,000 contribution from a member as $10,000 and had reported the $10,000 contribution to us on 30 May 2022. The fund reports an adjustment to the contribution by using the delta amount of $90,000 and the original details of the contribution. The fund also needs to amend the member’s balance as this will impact the calculation of total super balance for the member and what the member sees in ATO online services.

    The fund reports the new balance with the effective date of the previous balance to overwrite the incorrect balance. The fund had also reported an accumulation phase value for this member which was different from the 30 June balance and therefore cancels that report and re-reports accordingly. All these amounts are re-reported within the 30-day period the fund must correct an error or omission.

    End of example

    Actioning amendments via different channels

    Originally reported through MATS

    For amounts relating to the 2018–19 year onwards, providers will correct reporting of contributions, annual amounts, acknowledged notices of intent and balances using member account transaction service (MATS).

    Correcting the reporting of retirement phase events, personal injury and or structured settlement amounts, and accumulated phase value (APV) and retirement phase value (RPV), can only be done by cancelling the original lodgment and then lodging a new report with the correct information.

    Correcting annual amounts and balances (excluding APV and RPV) can be done by overwriting the original or cancelling and re-reporting.

    Originally reported through TBAR

    Cancellations are most effective if completed through their original channel. However, anything reported on the transfer balance account report (TBAR) can be cancelled through MATS if both:

    • a member account attribute service (MAAS) has been lodged for that account
    • the information in the cancellation report exactly matches the original lodgment.

    The new report with the correct information can be lodged using MATS.

    If you need to correct retirement phase event reporting for an account which has never been on-boarded to MAAS, the re-reporting will need to occur through the original channel. We are exploring options for these amendments and will provide further guidance when available.

    Originally reported through MCS

    Amendments to anything reported on the member contributions statement (MCS) in the 2017–18 income year and prior years should be done using Online services for business. For more information, see Member contributions statement.

    More information

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Flexible lodgment for those affected by NSW floods

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    If you or your clients have been affected by the recent NSW floods, we have a range of support options available to help you meet your obligations.

    We encourage those who can lodge on time to do so, but where lodgment is not possible, clients or agents within the declared natural disaster area as per Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP)External Link will have until 26 June to lodge the following obligations:

    • May monthly BAS with an original due date of 21 June
    • Income tax returns for the 2023–24 income year for individuals and small businesses (including sole traders and trusts), with a current lodgment due date between 29 May and 26 June 2025
    • individuals and small businesses (including sole traders and trusts) that may already have a lodgment deferral for the 2023–24 income tax return; or May activity statement lodgment obligation, may lodge up to 26 June.

    You won’t be penalised for lodging these obligations by the later date. If you already have a deferral, it will remain in place.

    These concessions automatically apply to agents and taxpayers identified as residing within the declared areas, only for those lodgments as listed above – so you don’t need to contact us for a deferral. There’s an indicator on the accounts of affected clients, which you can identify by running an on-demand Outstanding Lodgment Report for either Income Tax or Activity Statements in Online services for agents, or through practice management software.

    The payment due date for your obligations has not changed. General interest charge (GIC) will apply if payment is not made by the original payment due date.

    If your client is not able to pay by the due date, contact us to discuss their options. We will take an empathetic approach to your situation.

    You can find more information on flood support on our website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The final SG rate increase is coming on 1 July

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The super guarantee (SG) rate will increase to 12% on 1 July 2025. The 12% rate will need to be applied for all salary and wages paid to eligible workers on and after 1 July. This is even if some or all of the pay period it relates to is before 1 July. This is the final scheduled increase.

    Remember to pay SG in full, on time and to the right fund. The next quarterly due date is 28 July. Contributions must be paid quarterly, but can be paid more frequently.

    The super guarantee contributions calculator can help you work out how much SG you need to pay.

    Visit the simple checks for super success checklist for more help in meeting your super obligations.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Amends Call to Special Session

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 4, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe amended his call to convene the One Hundred Third General Assembly in the First Extraordinary Session of the First Regular Session to include legislation that provides additional tools and funding for disaster relief, new property tax relief, a tax incentive program for economic development, and additional funding for critical budget appropriations.

    The Governor’s special message to the General Assembly issued today replaces the previous call issued on May 27, 2025.

    “After productive conversations with members of the Missouri General Assembly this week, we are amending our special session call to allow for additional legislation in the areas of disaster relief, tax policy, and budget investments,” said Governor Kehoe. “We appreciate legislators working together to use this as an opportunity to show up for our communities by acting swiftly to help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.”

    The call now authorizes the General Assembly to:

    1. Enact legislation establishing a tax credit against an individual’s income tax liability for the insurance deductible incurred as a direct result of a disaster for which a presidential disaster declaration has been requested by the Governor, up to an amount of five thousand dollars per homestead per year; the credit to be non-refundable and to be issued only for tax year 2025 with a first-come first-served redemption cap of $90,000,000 tax year 2025 and a $45,000,000 redemption cap for tax years 2026 through 2054; and

    2. Enact legislation enhancing the utility of the Missouri Housing Trust Fund in areas included in a request for presidential disaster declaration by the Governor by (1) expanding eligibility to include persons or families whose household adjusted gross income is equal to or less than 75% of the median family income in the geographic area in which the residential unit is located, or the median family income for the state of Missouri, whichever is larger, and (2) removing administrative burdens and costs to expedite support for such persons and families; and

    3. Appropriate money to the Department of Economic Development for the Missouri Housing Development Commission for general administration of affordable housing activities and for emergency aid in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund transferred to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, to be expended only as provided in Article IV, section 28 of the Missouri Constitution for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026; and

    4. Appropriate money to the appropriate department or departments for a Disaster Relief Fund to provide relief from a disaster for which a presidential declaration has been requested by the Governor in an amount transferred not to exceed $100,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund, to be expended only as provided in Article IV, Section 28 of the Missouri Constitution for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026; and

    5. Enact legislation providing relief from residential real estate property tax for households that have become uninhabitable due to damage incurred as a direct result of a disaster for which a presidential disaster declaration has been requested by the Governor, to be pro-rated for the portion of 2025 in which the household of 2025 in which the household is uninhabitable; and

    6. Enact legislation limiting increases in property tax assessments for residential real property in 2025 to no more than five percent compared to the prior year, with exceptions for new construction and improvements; and

    7. Appropriate money to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for the University of Missouri for the planning, design and construction of the Radioisotope Science Center at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) on the Columbia campus, in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund, to be expended only as provided in Article IV, section 28 of the Missouri Constitution for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026; and

    8. Enact legislation providing for procedures, withholding of county moneys by the Director of Revenue, remedies, and judicial review where the State Tax Commission issues an order requiring a county to equalize or modify assessments; and

    9. Enact legislation authorizing counties to impose a tax credit for increases in real property tax liabilities over five percent per year; and

    10. Appropriate money from funds other than the General Revenue Fund for purposes provided for in the Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 19 in the 2025 regular legislative session, to be expended only as provided in Article IV, section 28 of the Missouri Constitution for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026; and

    11. Enact legislation modifying tax credits for sporting events; and

    12. Enact legislation establishing economic development incentives for athletic and entertainment facility projects of a professional sports franchise that is a member of Major League Baseball or the National Football League; and

    13. Add an emergency clause to necessary legislation enacted by the One Hundred Third General Assembly of the State of Missouri in the First Extraordinary Session of the First Regular Session; and

    14. Such additional and other matters as may be recommended by the Governor by special message to the General Assembly after it shall have been convened. 
     

    To view the special message to the General Assembly, visit this link. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ATTENTION!!!

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    —————
    Members of the @UsAirforce and civilians from the 711th Human Performance Wing stand tall in formation at the @USAFmuseum.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
    —————
    Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!

    Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcxA3GPGnt0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, MAHA, and the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Market Day Report on RFD-TV today to highlight the Senate Agriculture Committee advancing his legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which will put whole milk back in schools. He detailed the next steps to get the bill across the finish line and to President Trump’s desk.
    The Senator also discussed the recent Make America Healthy Again Commission report and President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’

    [embedded content]

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    On the importance of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act:
    Senator Marshall: “This is so important to me, to my family. My dad grew up on a dairy [farm] where every day for 25 years, they milk cows twice a day. And some of your listeners know exactly what that’s like, but milk is the most nutritious drink known to mankind, and for whatever reason, the federal government took whole milk out of our schools over a decade ago.
    “Because of that, we have a generation of young adults now whose bones will never reach their peak mass. We’re going to have an epidemic of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Look, whole milk just tastes better. So we need to focus on the quality of the nutrition as opposed to just the calorie count. And again, milk [is] the most nutritious drink known to mankind.”
    On the next steps for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act:
    Senator Marshall: “I think very easily we could go to the Senate floor and ask unanimous consent, and as long as not one senator stands up objects to it, we’ll get it across the Senate floor. Hopefully, they can do a similar effort over on the House side and get it to the President’s desk. So we’ll do our very best to give the President a win here.”
    On the MAHA Commission report:
    Senator Marshall: “As you look at that MAHA commission report, I didn’t write it, but certainly I agree with the same goals that they have, that we want healthy, nutritious food out there for everybody, a special emphasis on children…
    “My emphasis is soil health. Soil health is where agriculture meets healthy food. Healthy soil means healthy food. And so many of our farmers are out there doing regenerative agriculture. They’ve been doing it for decades. We’ve got to share what we’ve been doing. You know, you showed a little aerial report of a person using drones to grow more with less to grow more. Instead of blanketing that field with the fungicide, they were able to spot-spray it.
    “… Regenerative agriculture, healthy soil, what that means to me is, number one is using no-till farming, coming back and using the least amount of fertilizers, pesticides. That means precision agriculture. It means putting a cover crop on and then grazing cattle over it, maybe bringing in some manure from the local dairy or the local feedlot as well, and then measuring the quality of that soil as well, and showing our customers out there… they’re who is driving this, I’m not driving this, the MAHA moms out there that are driving this, and I know that American agriculture is doing incredible jobs in this area, and they but they need to be reimbursed for it, because it’s expensive to undertake all these efforts.”
    On the hurdles President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ may face:
    Senator Marshall: “Well, there’s always hurdles. We have 53 Republican senators and 53 opinions. But it’s important for your listeners to know why this is so important to them. This will take care of the reference price issues on the title one, funding, and open the doors for us to be able to get the Farm Bill across the finish line. 
    “From the business tax perspective on this, we’re going to take care of permanently, the 199a, which your listeners will be excited about, as well as the R and D deduction, capital appreciation, bonus depreciation as well, and writing off their interest expenses. So all those are important to every one of your listeners and making those permanent will be so, so important to the financial viability of the future farmers of America.”

    MIL OSI USA News –