Category: DJF

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Questions FDA’s Acting Director About Steps to Remove Harmful Ingredients from OTC Drugs and Replace Animal Testing with AI

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today questioned Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, Acting Director at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during the most recent Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing.

Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full exchange with Dr. Corrigan-Curay.
Highlights from the hearing include:
On inactive ingredients in over-the-counter drugs:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s talk about inactive ingredients. As you know, the OTC monographs only list active ingredients. A lot of MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] moms out there are concerned about inactive ingredients, artificial flavors, sweeteners, etc. What is going on in the world of over-the-counters [medications] as far as identifying those inactive ingredients, and is there an effort to get the ones that are not safe out of these over-the-counters?”
Dr. Corrigan-Curay: “Thank you for that question. We certainly, anytime we identify that there’s an issue with an inactive ingredient, we would review it and we would look to make changes in that inactive ingredient. We do have ways and guidances. We just did one on color additives to allow firms to a pathway if they want to change their inactive ingredients or their color additives, and we can get back to you with more information.”
On animal studies and AI:
Senator Marshall: “Alright, let’s talk about… studies. More and more, it would seem that AI can replace animal studies. And probably even more accurate. So often you read, well, what works, what happened in monkeys and dogs, has nothing at all to do with the biology of human beings. Is there any effort in your department to convert over to AI and do less animal studies?”
Dr. Corrigan-Curay: “Thank you. We’re engaged on the new initiative to reduce animal studies in monoclonal antibodies, and we previously have been working on looking for alternatives to animal studies. We already do. We no longer use animal studies for eye irritation or skin irritation, and we certainly will, you know, are looking at both AI as we’re looking at these non-animal approaches. There are still challenges in coming out with validated studies, when you’re looking at you’re looking for an effect that would affect multi-organ systems. That doesn’t mean that we won’t get there, and we’ll continue to work on that.”
Senator Marshall: “Okay, again, if there’s a way that you could measure that and show us – we were doing so many animal studies five years ago, this is how many we did last year, this is how many we’re doing this year. You know, prove to me that you’re making progress in that, that would be very helpful.”
Dr. Corrigan-Curay: “We can get back to you.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Applauds Key Union Endorsements of Credit Card Competition Act

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) issued the following statement today after numerous major unions, representing over four million American workers, endorsed the Credit Card Competition Act – legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly.
“Visa-Mastercard and Wall Street banks are charging American families the highest swipe fees in the world — nearly five times higher than those in other countries,” said Senator Marshall. “These excessive fees cost the average hardworking American household over $1,200 a year. No one understands the burden of these costs better than our trade unions, and I’m proud to have their support as we fight to bring fairness and competition back to the payments market.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), wrote a letter detailing their endorsement, saying:
“We, the undersigned labor unions, who together represent over 4.5 million American workers, write to express our support for the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) and urge its passage into law.
“While our memberships are diverse, hail from different industries, and different parts of the country, all unions know that working people are reeling from an affordability crisis on everyday goods. This crisis is especially challenging for low-wage workers who often need to make necessary purchases like gasoline, groceries, and clothing on credit cards.
“We embrace the Credit Card Competition Act as a means to return more buying power to hard-working Americans by curbing the outrageous rise in fees charged by Visa and Mastercard to merchants in the United States.
“In the past decade, the fees charged by the two dominant credit card companies have nearly tripled. And because almost 90% of Visa/Mastercard credit cards are issued by the largest 10 banks, some of whom also sit on the boards of Visa and Mastercard, arguments about the risk of swipe fee reform to small community banks ring hollow.”
Read the full letter here.
Background:

Building off of debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, the bill would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that the largest credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of at least two networks over which an electronic credit transaction may be processed.
Visa and Mastercard wield enormous market power in credit cards; according to the Federal Reserve, they account for nearly 576 million cards, or about 83 percent of general-purpose credit cards.
Visa’s and Mastercard’s market power and network structure have enabled them to impose fees on U.S. merchants that are among the world’s highest, charging a total of $93 billion in U.S. merchant credit card fees in 2022.
These fees include interchange or swipe fees, which Visa and Mastercard require merchants to pay to issuing banks, as well as network fees that Visa and Mastercard require merchants to pay directly to them.
Consumers ultimately pay for these fees in the price of the goods and services they buy.
The legislation is estimated to save merchants and consumers $15 billion each year.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Helps Secure Helene Recovery Funding for North Carolina

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis applauded the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) announcement of its Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity, which allocates approximately $1.45 billion in federal funding for disaster-impacted communities, including those in Western North Carolina affected by Helene.

“This critical EDA funding will help ensure that communities in Western North Carolina still reeling from the impacts of Helene have the resources they need to recover and rebuild stronger than before,” said Senator Tillis. “I remain fully committed to making sure North Carolina receives its fair share of this funding and that Western North Carolina is made whole again.”

The announcement follows a bipartisan letter led by Senator Tillis and members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation to the Trump Administration urging the U.S. Economic Development Administration to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity as quickly as possible.

Background:

Senator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall.

On October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm.

On October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation.

On October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance.

On October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session.

On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator.

On November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later.

On November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.

On November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

On November 21, 2024, Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

On December 5, 2024, Senator Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

On December 10, 2024, Senator Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation.

On December 18, 2024, Senator Tillis committed to filibustering any continuing resolution that did not include disaster aid for Western North Carolina.

On December 21, 2024, Senator Tillis voted to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that included more than $100 billion in disaster relief for states and communities hit by natural disasters, including North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.

On January 7, 2025 Senator Tillis announced $1.65 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.

On January 24, 2025, Senator Tillis released a statement thanking President Trump for his visit to Western North Carolina to survey the devastation left behind by Helene.

On January 31, 2025, Senator Tillis introduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, legislation that excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any qualified catastrophe mitigation payment made under a state-based catastrophe loss mitigation program.

On March 11, 2025 Senator Tillis reintroduced the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to simplify the application process for federal disaster recovery assistance.

On April 1, 2025 Senator Tillis sent a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to work with Congress to quickly distribute the more than $23 billion Congress passed in December to assist farmers, ranchers and rural Americans in responding to devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.

On April 3, 2025 Senator Tillis (R-NC) introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.

On April 24, 2025 Senator Tillis introduced the Helene Recovery Small Business Act and the Loans in Our Neighborhoods (LIONs) Act of 2025, legislation that would provide much-needed relief to small businesses as they work to recover from the devastation of Helene.

In addition to Senator Tillis’ legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Klobuchar Lead Senate Spotlight Forum on Devastating Impact of GOP SNAP Cuts
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

Spotlight Forum Follows CBO Analysis Warning That Millions of Food-Insecure Americans Will Face Higher Food Costs;

Lawmakers, Experts Warn of National Hunger Crisis and State Budget Shortfalls Under GOP Proposal

More photos available HERE.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, led a Senate Spotlight Forum titled “Hunger by Design: The GOP’s Assault on SNAP,” bringing together national experts and advocates to highlight the dangerous consequences of Congressional Republicans’ proposal to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $300 billion.

SNAP is a lifeline for over 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. The forum followed House Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal of American families – cutting SNAP by 30% – the largest cut in the program’s history. These cuts will raise grocery costs for more than 4 million Americans in need by taking away or reducing their food assistance.

“The House Republican bill proposes the deepest cuts to SNAP in American history – gutting $300 billion in nutrition assistance and forcing states to take on more than $150 billion in costs. This would dismantle one of our most effective anti-poverty programs and hurt millions of Americans – including children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities,” said Senator Luján. “In New Mexico, I’ve heard directly from food banks, farmers, and families already stretched thin. These cuts would only make it harder for them to get by.

“I was honored to lead this forum alongside Senator Klobuchar and to stand with my Democratic colleagues in fighting these extreme GOP cuts. I was especially proud to elevate the voice of Katy Anderson from Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, who brought critical insight into how these cuts would impact communities on the ground. The testimony of our witnesses reminded us what’s really at stake – and why we have to keep fighting,” continued Senator Luján.

“House Republicans’ bill will rip the rug out from under families who count on SNAP to put food on the table. It will mean more seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities will go to bed hungry,” said Senator Klobuchar.

“The House Republican bill will upend state budgets – forcing states to make impossible choices between food assistance and other priorities, like education, health, and public safety. It will devastate our farmers, who stand to lose $35 billion in revenue over the next decade. It will mean more food pantries with empty shelves. These cuts will cost jobs and wages for everyone who is a part of the food system – from truck drivers to local grocers. SNAP supports nearly 390,000 jobs and $20 billion in wages every year for workers. We are fighting this in the Senate every step of the way,” continued Senator Klobuchar.

Witnesses warned that the House bill would reduce or terminate food assistance for millions and shift over $150 billion in costs to states, forcing them to cut benefits or restrict eligibility. These changes could strain state budgets, particularly when combined with similar proposed Medicaid cuts.

The forum featured testimony from:
- Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Margaret Walker Alexander Professor, Northwestern University
- Barbara C. Guinn, Commissioner, NY State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
- Katy Anderson, Vice President of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy, Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
- Jade Johnson, Mother and Student
“SNAP provides very important help to a very wide range of Americans who struggle to put food on the table. The provisions in the recently passed House bill would cause substantial harm to children, older Americans, and low-wage workers. This new requirement for states to pay for up to 25% of SNAP benefits would substantially reduce the effectiveness of the program in times of economic downturn,” said Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach in her opening statement.

“The cuts put forward by the recently passed House reconciliation bill would harm individuals and states nationwide by forcing billions of dollars in annual cost shifts alongside unprecedented administrative hurdles that will harm households that rely on SNAP,” said Barbara C. Guinn in her opening statement.

“SNAP continues to be our country’s most important and effective anti-hunger program. It plays an important role in New Mexico, with 21 percent of the state’s residents relying on the program in order to ensure access to food. More than 61 percent of participants are in families with children, 31 percent are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and 43% are in working families. The vast majority of SNAP recipients in New Mexico and across the country are children and seniors,” said Katy Anderson in her opening statement.

“SNAP benefits are the only way we can regularly afford to put food on the table. I would never have time to work a third job to make up for the loss of my SNAP benefits and care for my child effectively. With costs going up on things like rent and other basic necessities, my income gets completely eaten up before I am able to even think about buying food,” said Jade Johnson in her opening statement.

The lawmakers and experts warned that an estimated 500,000 children would lose school meals tied to SNAP eligibility; emergency food providers, already stretched thin, would be unable to meet the increased demand; and farmers, rural grocery stores, and small businesses would see declines in revenue.

Since its creation, SNAP has operated with a consistent national benefit structure that ensures Americans, no matter where they live, can access basic nutrition. The proposed changes would undermine that structure and deepen hunger across the country.

Footage of the full forum can be found HERE.
MIL OSI USA News –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Whitehouse, Durbin, Blumenthal, Coons Question DOJ Decision to Shutter Specialized Unit for Cracking Down on Transnational Crime
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program has helped arrest fentanyl traffickers, seize hundreds of tons of narcotics, and confiscate billions in dirty money

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi questioning the Department of Justice’s plan to end the successful Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program.

“As the Department’s website notes, OCDETF ‘is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation.’ OCDETF oversees coordination of thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to implement a national strategy to dismantle transnational drug cartels, the financial networks that support them, and the flow of drugs from these cartels into the United States,” wrote the senators.

The OCDETF program is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. In just the past two months, OCDETF program resources have been used to secure prison sentences for two individuals operating a clandestine fentanyl lab in South Carolina and to take down three prolific Chinese money launderers who pleaded guilty to laundering tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. Many OCDETF investigations target the cartels’ financial networks, an often-overlooked component of the U.S. strategy to combat drug-trafficking organizations. In Fiscal Year 2023, OCDETF investigations resulted in forfeitures and seizures totaling more than $423 million.

Reporting from Bloomberg in May revealed that the Trump Administration plans to eliminate the OCDETF program, including its support for specialized investigators and prosecutors, in a move that would kneecap America’s ability to dismantle cartels trafficking illicit fentanyl.

“We seek to fully understand the Department’s plans to cease OCDETF operations. We also seek to ensure that the federal government continues to have a coordinated strategy for working with state and local stakeholders to investigate and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations operating in, or financing the operations of organizations that operate in, the United States,” added the senators.

The senators requested answers to the following questions by June 13, 2025:
1. How many cases has OCDETF led, or supported with funds, intelligence, or other resources, that disrupted fentanyl traffickers’ production, distribution, financing, or money laundering networks?
1. Does the Department intend to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations? If so, please specify how.
1. If the Department intends to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations:
1. Why is the Department choosing to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations?
1. How will the Department ensure that ongoing OCDETF investigations and prosecutions continue uninterrupted?
1. According to GAO, “OCDETF cases must have a financial component” to facilitate the targeting of financial networks underpinning drug trafficking organizations. How will the Department ensure that OCDETF-enabled inter-agency coordination on investigations into the financial networks of fentanyl traffickers and transnational criminal organizations continues uninterrupted?
1. How will the Department ensure that federal, state, and local law enforcement relying on OCDETF’s Fusion Center intelligence products are not hampered by a cessation or reduction of OCDETF operations?
1. Does the Department intend to designate another entity to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of transnational criminal organizations, unrelated to low-level offenders? If so, which entity?
The text of the letter is below and a PDF is available here.

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to request information on the Department of Justice’s plans to terminate its Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. On May 5, 2025, Bloomberg reported that DOJ has begun the process of “closing down” OCDETF and “zeroing” out its budget in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

As the Department’s website notes, OCDETF “is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation.” OCDETF oversees coordination of thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to implement a national strategy to dismantle transnational drug cartels, the financial networks that support them, and the flow of drugs from these cartels into the United States. By leveraging resources from its participating and partner agencies, OCDETF can pursue investigations into the highest-level criminal actors behind these drug crime networks.

OCDETF’s intelligence products and insights enhance the capacity of federal, state, and local law enforcement. In FY 2023, OCDETF Fusion Center analysts disseminated 4,141 intelligence products to 36,693 law enforcement personnel across the country. These resources buoy state and local agencies that may otherwise lack the expertise or funds to launch longer, more complex investigations.

According to DEA, “since OCDETF’s inception tens of thousands of arrests have been made and hundreds of tons of narcotics and billions in currency, real property, and conveyances have all been seized.” And as the Department of Justice noted upon the 40th anniversary of President Reagan’s establishment of OCDETF, “[s]ome of the department’s most notable successes against drug cartels have resulted from OCDETF coordinated investigations and prosecutions.” These successes include “taking down the powerful Colombian cartels of the 1980s, the notorious and violent Mexican cartels . . . in the 1990s; and the methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and opioid threats from all over the world in the last two decades.”

OCDETF investigations continue to deliver. This month, DOJ announced that “three members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organizations plead[ed] guilty to laundering tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds.” In April, DEA reported that two individuals operating a clandestine fentanyl lab in South Carolina “were each sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.” OCDETF resources were used for both cases.

Many OCDETF-supported investigations that result in financial forfeitures or seizures channel money into government funds, which can be used to pay for the expenses associated with forfeiture operations, as well as certain investigative costs. In FY 2023, closed OCDETF investigations resulted in forfeitures and seizures totaling $423.1 million. These benefits are in addition to money judgments resulting from ODCETF investigations, which ranged between $125 million to over $750 million from FY 2019 to FY 2023.

We seek to fully understand the Department’s plans to cease OCDETF operations. We also seek to ensure that the federal government continues to have a coordinated strategy for working with state and local stakeholders to investigate and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations operating in, or financing the operations of organizations that operate in, the United States. Thus, we request that you provide answers to the following questions.
1. How many cases has OCDETF led, or supported with funds, intelligence, or other resources, that disrupted fentanyl traffickers’ production, distribution, financing, or money laundering networks?
1. Does the Department intend to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations? If so, please specify how.
1. If the Department intends to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations:
1. Why is the Department choosing to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations?
1. How will the Department ensure that ongoing OCDETF investigations and prosecutions continue uninterrupted?
1. According to GAO, “OCDETF cases must have a financial component” to facilitate the targeting of financial networks underpinning drug trafficking organizations. How will the Department ensure that OCDETF-enabled inter-agency coordination on investigations into the financial networks of fentanyl traffickers and transnational criminal organizations continues uninterrupted?
1. How will the Department ensure that federal, state, and local law enforcement relying on OCDETF’s Fusion Center intelligence products are not hampered by a cessation or reduction of OCDETF operations?
1. Does the Department intend to designate another entity to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of transnational criminal organizations, unrelated to low-level offenders? If so, which entity?
Please provide your response to our questions no later than June 13, 2025.
MIL OSI USA News –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Representative Smith statement on SUPPORT Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rep. Smith (D – Wash.) released the following statement regarding the SUPPORT Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today.

“Today I voted for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would renew funding for drug prevention and treatment programs, as well as key mental health initiatives, and behavioral health care programs.

“Improving our response to mental and behavioral health is a key priority of mine. This bill has historically provided a bipartisan investment in addressing these issues. I am glad to support the authorization of important disorder treatment programs and opioid response grants.

“Unfortunately, this historically bipartisan bill is being knee-capped by an Executive Branch that has unlawfully gutted the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which would be responsible for running these vital programs. The Administration is also preparing to eliminate 40 different mental health and substance use programs, including eight programs reauthorized by the SUPPORT Act.

“It is incredibly hypocritical of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to vote for this bill while maintaining ardent support for the cutting of SAMHSA and other programs by the “Big Ugly Bill” and the Trump Administration.

“Congress must take the problems of mental and behavioral health care seriously. I urge all who also vote “yea” on this bill to also take a long, hard look at the proposed cuts to SAMHSA and HHS from the Trump Administration. This bill could do important things to address substance use disorders, the opioid crisis, and our mental and behavioral health care crisis, if only the Trump Administration would faithfully implement it.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Time’s up for anti-farmer activism – ACT welcomes Fish & Game reforms

Source: ACT Party

ACT’s Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron has welcomed long overdue reforms to Fish & Game New Zealand, saying the days of licence fees being weaponised against farmers are finally coming to an end.

“For too long, Fish & Game has acted like a rogue lobby group by using hunters’ and anglers’ fees to wage war on the very people who care for our waterways because they’re the ones out there buying the licences,” says Mr Cameron.

“In Southland, farmers have been treated like villains. Local Fish & Game councils have backed court cases that would force thousands of farmers to get resource consents just to keep farming – massively increasing costs and red tape.

“That kind of activist overreach has destroyed decades of goodwill from farmers who’ve voluntarily allowed public access to their land.

“These reforms focus Fish & Game on its actual job: supporting hunting and fishing, not harassing the rural communities who make those activities possible.

“Fish & Game was never meant to be a political battering ram for anti-farming ideology. It exists to serve licence holders – and many of those are farmers.

“ACT is proud to back these changes and proud to stand with rural New Zealand.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Manslaughter charges for three people related to the Loafers Lodge fatal fire

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Timothy Leitch – Wellington Area Investigations Manager:

Today, Police have charged three people with manslaughter in relation to the fatal fire at Loafers Lodge on 16 May 2023.

Two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman will appear in the Wellington District Court later today, each facing charges of manslaughter.

Police have spoken to a third man and expect to also charge him with manslaughter in the coming days.

A dedicated team at Police has been working since the tragedy to establish if the state of the building and the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the fatal outcome.

The people we have charged today were involved with the management and operation of the building, and Police allege they were responsible for aspects of the building’s fire safety system.

Police previously charged a 50-year-old man with murder in relation to deliberately lighting the fatal fire. This matter is before the High Court, with a trial scheduled to start on 25 August 2025.

Police, Fire and Emergency and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment would like to take this opportunity to remind all those who own or manage a building, particularly buildings with sleeping accommodation, of their responsibility to ensure those who occupy their premises are protected from fire.

• Ensure your obligations are met under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 by having the necessary evacuation procedures in place, and an approved evacuation scheme if you have a ‘relevant building’.

• Ensure the means of escape from fire for your building are maintained as outlined in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018.

• Where applicable, ensure you understand the maintenance requirements for the specified systems outlined in your building’s compliance schedule as required under the Building Act 2004, particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm.

• If you are the owner of a tenanted residential property, ensure your fire safety obligations are met under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

The loss of life and injuries experienced during this fire were preventable, and Police would like to acknowledge the long-term impact, on those who lost loved ones, the residents who lost their friends, their home and treasured personal property, as well as the many others that have been affected by the far reaching and devastating event.

As this matter is now before the courts, police will not be commenting further.

Media reference material:

Evacuation Schemes and Procedures

Evacuation Schemes and procedures | Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Building Act 2004

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2004/0072/latest/dlm306036.Html

Compliance Schedule information

https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/sign-off-and-maintena…

Managing your BWoF | Building Performance

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/DLM94278.html
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/laws-and-bylaws/
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/smoke-alarms/

ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Statement from the family of Liam Hockings

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to the family of Liam Hockings:

As a family, we are still coming to terms with the devastating loss of Liam, who tragically lost his life in the Loafers Lodge fire. He would have turned 53, just a few days ago.

Liam was much loved – an intelligent, caring, and unforgettable character. His absence has left a huge void in our lives and in the wider Newtown community that knew and cherished him.

We are aware that charges have now been laid by NZ Police against people involved with the management and operation of Loafers Lodge. While nothing can bring the victims back, we support this step toward accountability.

This tragedy has highlighted serious concerns about the safety and conditions of some accommodation, particularly for vulnerable people in our communities who are often housed in buildings like this. Everyone deserves a safe place to live – regardless of their circumstances – and we urge all those who own, operate, or manage buildings to take their responsibilities seriously. Buildings must be safe, compliant, well maintained. Lives literally depend on it.

We also want to acknowledge the tremendous professionalism, integrity, and compassion shown by the New Zealand Police and the investigative team. Their diligence and care throughout this process has meant a great deal to us.

Our hearts go out to the families of the other victims who are grieving alongside us.

We hope that, through this process, Liams death will not have been in vain, and that it may lead to real, lasting change that protects others in the future, so that no other family has to endure what we have.

We ask for privacy as we continue to grieve Liam and we will be making no further comment at this time.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Aroha in action: generations share mahi and vision at 2025 Symposium
Source: Auckland Council

Aroha for the Manukau Harbour was on display at the highly successful 2025 Manukau Harbour Symposium, hosted by the Manukau Harbour Forum in Green Bay over Kings Birthday weekend.

More than 30 speakers – from rangatahi to specialist experts, mana whenua, scientists, conservation advocates, volunteers, Watercare and Auckland Council staff and elected members – updated the convention on their mahi and shared their stories of hope for the harbour’s future.

Jon Turner, Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum said there was so much knowledge and experience, both on the stage and in the room.

“Everyone working around the harbour knows there is a great deal of work to do, but today left myself and others feeling inspired and hopeful.

“It was a conversation across generations and disciplines, with many of the speakers laying down a wero (challenge) to the audience.”

The day included the presentation of the new Ngā Tohu o te Manukau – Celebrating Harbour Champions Awards.

Seven recipients received awards:
- Tohu Tiaki Taiao – Restoration (Group) Award: The CREST
- Tohu Mahitahi – Collaboration Award: Te Korowai o Papatūānuku – a partnership project of Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua and Āwhitu Landcare
- Tohu Whai Wāhi – Individual Awards : Siobhan O’Grady and Paul Arthur
- Highly Acclaimed: Manukau Harbour Restoration Society, Row Robinson and Kathy Nielson.
A range of community groups hosted information booths about their projects, along with Watercare and Auckland Council’s Marine Biosecurity team.

The Symposium is supported by the Manukau Harbour Forum, a joint committee formed by the nine local boards of Auckland Council that surround the harbour. It advocates for better resourcing and a stronger focus on this taonga.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand to host consultations on Bougainville at Burnham

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand will host post-referendum talks between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.

The ‘Burnham Consultations’ will be held at Burnham Military Camp at the request of Sir Jerry Mateparae, as independent moderator. The discussions will be led by Sir Jerry and his United Nations team.

“New Zealand looks forward to welcoming parties to the Bougainville Peace Agreement back to Burnham — 28 years after we last hosted peace talks there,” Mr Peters says.

“Our involvement is to provide the venue and environment necessary for substantive discussions on Bougainville’s political future.

“Reaching a mutually agreed outcome is important for Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, and the wider region, as is upholding the integrity of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, to which New Zealand is a witnessing signatory.”

Representatives will travel from Port Moresby to Christchurch on Friday to attend the talks.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Invest New Zealand Bill — In Committee—Clauses 1 and 2 – 001500

Source: New Zealand Parliament

Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green): Thank you, Madam Chair. We understand what the purpose is, because we had a discussion about this last night. But just following on from the previous speaker, the Hon Damien O’Connor, who was the previous trade Minister—and he captured it quite nicely—we already have a number of one-stop shop agencies for this. What is unique about this particular one?

I want to go on to the commencement date first, which is 1 July 2025. I want to check with the Minister, the Hon Tama Potaka: we’ve heard from the Minister previously on some of the work that is being done, potentially, in the background. But I think what we haven’t heard, succinctly, is a response to the question that was asked around the transition measures and whether they will be in time for 1 July, particularly from the perspective of collective agreements in terms of the Public Service perspective. So that’s my question in terms of the commencement date—whether 1 July is feasible or whether we should be looking at pushing the 1 July date out further.

But just now coming to the title of the bill, I know that we talk about “Invest New Zealand”, but what we’ve heard from the Minister—and, to be honest, every three questions that we ask, we get maybe one answer and the other two left unanswered; you know, we still haven’t heard exactly what was the advice given from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and we still haven’t really heard why the regulatory impact statement and the Budget had different amounts allocated to Invest New Zealand.

We are really curious as to whether “Invest New Zealand” is actually the best name for this, because there seems to be a half-heartedness when it comes to this particular bill and this particular agency, and there’s going to be a lot of confusion, and, to the Minister’s own words, “opaqueness”, when it comes to the way that agencies can be set up. Fundamentally, when we’re looking at the title of this bill, I wonder if the Minister in the chair would consider, from all of the things we’ve discussed, the lack of reassurance we have received from the Minister that this is indeed something that is going to be good for New Zealanders and for New Zealand in general. We’ve heard things and we’ve heard more concerns and more questions than actual responses, and the previous speaker, the Hon Damien O’Connor, mentioned that this is essentially going to be a real estate agency that’s going to sell off New Zealand one bit at a time.

So I wondered if a better title for this bill, rather than “Invest New Zealand”, would be “Divest New Zealand”, because that’s what, fundamentally, the concerns around this agency are going to be. We are actually no longer supporting New Zealand entrepreneurship and also innovation, but, instead, we expect overseas companies, carte-blanche, without any sort of precautions and provisions—we didn’t hear anything around how they’re going to ensure, from a procedural perspective, from an operational perspective, that there is not going to be any sort of anti-competitive measures, anti – money-laundering measures, or any of those things. Yes, I admit that they’re part of domestic legislation, but the fact is that just because the law is in place does not mean that the agency is well equipped to ensure that they are followed.

So I personally think that “Divest New Zealand” is a better term for us to use. But other ones—to be fair, if the Minister thinks that “Divest New Zealand” is a bit too on the nose and too similar to “Invest New Zealand”, we can look, I think, at changing the title to “Country for Sale”, because that seems kind of appropriate as well, or even just “Selling New Zealand Out”.

I think the other appropriate title, when we’re looking at the title of this—again, although we do see in the departmental report some of the advice that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has undertaken in terms of our Te Tiriti obligations, we’re still not entirely convinced, particularly in light of some of our trade agreements but also in light of some of the current trajectory that the Government is going in. I think if we really want to signal to the world that we are a country that upholds indigenous rights, “Invest Aotearoa” would be a more appropriate title.

So I would like to hear from the Minister as to whether he would consider any of those titles and the change to the commencement date.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Wednesday, 4 June 2025 (continued on Thursday, 5 June 2025) – Volume 784 – 001501

Source: New Zealand Parliament

Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green): Thank you, Madam Chair. We understand what the purpose is, because we had a discussion about this last night. But just following on from the previous speaker, the Hon Damien O’Connor, who was the previous trade Minister—and he captured it quite nicely—we already have a number of one-stop shop agencies for this. What is unique about this particular one?

I want to go on to the commencement date first, which is 1 July 2025. I want to check with the Minister, the Hon Tama Potaka: we’ve heard from the Minister previously on some of the work that is being done, potentially, in the background. But I think what we haven’t heard, succinctly, is a response to the question that was asked around the transition measures and whether they will be in time for 1 July, particularly from the perspective of collective agreements in terms of the Public Service perspective. So that’s my question in terms of the commencement date—whether 1 July is feasible or whether we should be looking at pushing the 1 July date out further.

But just now coming to the title of the bill, I know that we talk about “Invest New Zealand”, but what we’ve heard from the Minister—and, to be honest, every three questions that we ask, we get maybe one answer and the other two left unanswered; you know, we still haven’t heard exactly what was the advice given from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and we still haven’t really heard why the regulatory impact statement and the Budget had different amounts allocated to Invest New Zealand.

We are really curious as to whether “Invest New Zealand” is actually the best name for this, because there seems to be a half-heartedness when it comes to this particular bill and this particular agency, and there’s going to be a lot of confusion, and, to the Minister’s own words, “opaqueness”, when it comes to the way that agencies can be set up. Fundamentally, when we’re looking at the title of this bill, I wonder if the Minister in the chair would consider, from all of the things we’ve discussed, the lack of reassurance we have received from the Minister that this is indeed something that is going to be good for New Zealanders and for New Zealand in general. We’ve heard things and we’ve heard more concerns and more questions than actual responses, and the previous speaker, the Hon Damien O’Connor, mentioned that this is essentially going to be a real estate agency that’s going to sell off New Zealand one bit at a time.

So I wondered if a better title for this bill, rather than “Invest New Zealand”, would be “Divest New Zealand”, because that’s what, fundamentally, the concerns around this agency are going to be. We are actually no longer supporting New Zealand entrepreneurship and also innovation, but, instead, we expect overseas companies, carte-blanche, without any sort of precautions and provisions—we didn’t hear anything around how they’re going to ensure, from a procedural perspective, from an operational perspective, that there is not going to be any sort of anti-competitive measures, anti – money-laundering measures, or any of those things. Yes, I admit that they’re part of domestic legislation, but the fact is that just because the law is in place does not mean that the agency is well equipped to ensure that they are followed.

So I personally think that “Divest New Zealand” is a better term for us to use. But other ones—to be fair, if the Minister thinks that “Divest New Zealand” is a bit too on the nose and too similar to “Invest New Zealand”, we can look, I think, at changing the title to “Country for Sale”, because that seems kind of appropriate as well, or even just “Selling New Zealand Out”.

I think the other appropriate title, when we’re looking at the title of this—again, although we do see in the departmental report some of the advice that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has undertaken in terms of our Te Tiriti obligations, we’re still not entirely convinced, particularly in light of some of our trade agreements but also in light of some of the current trajectory that the Government is going in. I think if we really want to signal to the world that we are a country that upholds indigenous rights, “Invest Aotearoa” would be a more appropriate title.

So I would like to hear from the Minister as to whether he would consider any of those titles and the change to the commencement date.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tgd Cuts, LLC Initiated Voluntary Recall of Cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., Which Had the Potential to Be Contaminated with Salmonella

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

Summary

Company Announcement Date:
June 04, 2025
FDA Publish Date:
June 04, 2025
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:

Recall Reason Description
Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Company Name:
TGD Cuts, LLC.
Brand Name:

Brand Name(s)
Multiple brands

Product Description:

Product Description
Fresh cucumbers and salsa and salads containing fresh cucumbers

Company Announcement
TGD Cuts, LLC of Jessup, MD has initiated a voluntary recall of the specific tub and tray items listed below because they contained cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., which had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometime fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare instances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
This recall includes the tub and tray items listed below with use by dates ranging from 5/20/2025 – 5/28/2025. Products were distributed to retail and foodservice locations in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina. No other products were affected.
There have been no reported illnesses to date associated with the affected items. These products are beyond their usable shelf life and are no longer expected to be in commerce.
TGD Cuts, LLC takes the safety and integrity of the products it sells seriously. If customers have product affected by this voluntary recall, they should discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact the company at (410)-799-5700 M-F between the hours of 6:30am-3:00pm EST.
TGD Cuts, LLC Contact Information mediarelations@classproduce.com(410)-799-5700Monday thru Friday 6:30am–3:00pm EST
Attention Customer Care
Jennifer Henderson-AdamsM-F 6:30am-2:00pmExt. #4305
Stephanie LyonsM-F 7:30am-3:00pmExt. #4308

Item
UPC
Use By/Julian Date Start
Use By/Juliant Date End

Salsa, Hot 6/12 oz.
840219170534
5/25/2025
5/25/2025

Salsa, Mild 6/12oz.
840219170541
5/24/2025
5/25/2025

Salsa, Mild 5lb.
840219140445
25134
25136

Salsa, Mild 5lb.
840219140445
5/27/2025
5/28/2025

Cucumber Sliced/Grape Tomato 50/2oz.
840219184784
5/22/2025
5/23/2025

Cucumber Sliced Unpeeled 5lb.
840219160733
25129
25129

Cucumber Sliced Unpeeled 50/2oz.
840219170657
5/19/2025
5/19/2025

Cucumber Spears 50/2oz.
840219179971
5/19/2025
5/19/2025

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (May 2025) | FDA

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Jennifer Henderson-Adams
(410)-799-5700 Ext. #4305

Product Photos

Content current as of:
06/04/2025

Regulated Product(s)

Follow FDA

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Firehook of Virginia Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sesame in Classic Sea Salt Crackers

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

Summary

Company Announcement Date:
June 04, 2025
FDA Publish Date:
June 04, 2025
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:

Recall Reason Description
Undeclared Sesame

Company Name:
Firehook of Virginia
Brand Name:

Brand Name(s)
Firehook

Product Description:

Product Description
Crackers

Company Announcement
Firehook of Virginia is recalling one lot of Firehook brand Classic Sea Salt Organic Crackers because they may contain undeclared sesame. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
The Firehook artisan baked Classic Sea Salt Crackers 8oz come in a clear package with a Best By Date of 09/29/25, and a UPC code 8 99055 00063 5.
The crackers were sold at retail stores in CT, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VA.
The recall was initiated on 5/30/2025 after it was discovered that the sesame-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of sesame. Subsequent investigation indicates that the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging processes causing the wrong labels to be applied to the product.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Please see the pictures below for further identification.
Consumers who have purchased 8 ounce packages of Firehook brand Classic Sea Salt Crackers with a Best By Date of 9/29/25 are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-888-580-0745 Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm EST.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Firehook of Virginia
888-580-0745

Media:
Brent Fowler
888-580-0745

Product Photos

Content current as of:
06/04/2025

Regulated Product(s)

Follow FDA

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Public Servants Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

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

MIAMI – Angelo Stephen, 33, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, and George Arestuche, 47, a former Miami-Dade County Aviation Department employee, were sentenced in separate cases after pleading guilty to defrauding COVID-19 relief programs.

Angelo Stephen

On May 22, Stephen was sentenced to four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $75,513 in restitution by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Chief Judge Altonaga also entered a forfeiture money judgment against Stephen in the additional amount of $71,166. The sentence follows Stephen’s conviction for wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), as well as his participation in two bank account takeover schemes.

During his change of plea hearing, Stephen admitted that on August 4, 2020, he submitted a false and fraudulent EIDL application in his own name to the Small Business Administration (SBA), claiming to be an independent contractor and the sole owner of a business that provided event planning and entertainment services with 10 employees. The EIDL application falsely certified that for the applicable 12-month period, the business had approximately $62,018 in gross revenue and a cost of goods sold of $0. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen received $20,000 in EIDL proceeds from the SBA.

Stephen additionally admitted to fraudulently obtaining two PPP loans. On April 24, 2021, Stephen submitted a first-draw PPP loan application, claiming to be the sole proprietor of a non-existent business with $106,554 in gross income in 2020. In support of the application, Stephen submitted a fraudulent IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen received $20,833 in PPP loan proceeds from an SBA-approved lender. On May 11, 2021, Stephen submitted a second-draw PPP loan application, making the same false claims about his nonexistent business that was supported by submission of the identical false Schedule C. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen obtained $20,833 in PPP loan proceeds from a different SBA-approved lender.

Stephen also admitted to taking part in two bank account takeover schemes. On March 30, 2023, Stephen received a $20,000 wire transfer from the account of an unsuspecting victim in Virginia. Stephen quickly withdrew all illegally obtained money through a series of cash withdrawals and Zelle transfers to others. In the second takeover scheme, Stephen and his accomplices obtained new checks from the credit union account of a different unsuspecting victim. Stephen subsequently used one of those checks to obtain $8,500 in cash that he was not entitled to.

George Arestuche

On May 28, Arestuche was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck to five years of probation to include 210 days in home detention and ordered to pay $114,679 in restitution, plus community service. The sentence follows Arestuche’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent application for an EIDL.

According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, Arestuche and a co-conspirator devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by submitting a false and fraudulent application for Arestuche to obtain an EIDL and EIDL advance. As part of the conspiracy, Arestuche agreed to pay the co-conspirator a large fee.

On July 9, 2020, Arestuche’s co-conspirator submitted a false and fraudulent EIDL application to the SBA on behalf of Arestuche, claiming that Arestuche was an independent contractor and the sole owner of an automotive repair business with 10 employees. The EIDL application falsely certified that for the applicable 12-month period, the business had $600,000 in gross revenue and a cost of goods sold of $184,000. In reality, Arestuche was not an independent contractor and did not own any type of business. The EIDL application was supported by a fraudulent IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. As a result of this false and fraudulent EIDL application, Arestuche obtained $149,900 in EIDL proceeds and a $10,000 EIDL advance from the SBA. Arestuche subsequently paid his co-conspirator $17,275 for helping him fraudulently obtain the money from the SBA. Since pleading guilty, Arestuche has paid $50,000 in advance restitution payments.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; acting Special Agent in Charge Amber Howell of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s Fraud Detection Office (DOJ-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region; acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami; and Inspector General Felix Jimenez of the Miami-Dade County Office of Inspector General (MDC-OIG) made the announcement.

DOJ-OIG and SBA-OIG investigated the Stephen case. SBA-OIG and the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the MDC-OIG, investigated the Arestuche case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted both cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling forfeiture matters in the Stephen case.

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.

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

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20014 (Stephen) and 25-cr-20001 (Arestuche).

###

MIL Security OSI –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Eight Sentenced in Eastern Panhandle Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Operation
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eight people have been sentenced for their roles in an Eastern Panhandle drug trafficking organization.

The indictment, returned in January 2024 against Gary Brown, Jr. and eighty-one others, charged that the defendants caused substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to be distributed in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.

Those sentenced this week include:
- Eric Garner, also known as “Pops,” age 58, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 300 months.
- Gary Rodriguez, also known as “Mr. T,” age 34, of Lanham, Maryland, was sentenced to 240 months in prison.
- Benjamin Paul Knotts, age 49, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was sentenced to 235 months in prison.
- Damian Costello, age 28, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced to 180 months in prison.
- Michael Bradley Decker, age 44, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced to 97 months.
- Gary Brown, III, age 20, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 36 months.
- Wendy Diane Crites, age 58, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.
- Michael Regale Luckett, age 47, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison.
Of the 82 defendants, 81 have been convicted. Including this week’s eight, 70 defendants have been sentenced. One defendant, Charles Delroy Singletary, age 44, of Baltimore, Maryland, remains a fugitive.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia).

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

MIL Security OSI –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: SEAC Black Provides Opening Remarks During KEYSTONE Course’s Pentagon Visit

Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

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 Security OSI –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Sentenced To 20 Years For The Sex Trafficking Of Two Minors And Producing Child Sex Abuse Material

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Dontae D. Burton (40, Tampa) to 20 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a minor and production of child sex abuse material. A federal jury found Burton guilty on January 15, 2025.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Burton arranged commercial sexual activity for two minors, ages 16 and 17, by creating and posting ads for them on adult escort websites. Burton handled all communications with clients, scheduled dates, determined the amount of money to be paid for the sex acts, and transported the victims to and from the dates. Burton managed the money and kept approximately half of what the clients had paid for the sex acts. Burton also recorded and edited a video of one of the victims performing a sex act on him.

“This sentence reflects the severity of Dontae Burton’s crimes of exploiting two vulnerable minors for commercial sex and creating child sexual abuse material in the process,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa assistant Special agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Protecting children from predators who traffic and abuse them remains one of HSI’s highest priorities, and we will continue to pursue justice for the victims.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

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

MIL Security OSI –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Key Unions Announce Endorsement Of Durbin, Marshal Credit Card Competition Act

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

June 04, 2025

The Teamsters, RWDSU, SEIU, and UFCW announced their support for the bipartisan legislation in a letter to Durbin and Marshall

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today announced that key unions, representing 4.5 million American workers, have endorsed their Credit Card Competition Act, which would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market that is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) wrote a letter detailing their endorsement, emphasizing that swipe fees harm hardworking Americans.

“Unions understand Americans’ concerns about inflation and the rising costs of necessities like groceries and gas. As Americans are trying to make ends meet, the biggest Wall Street banks, Visa, and Mastercard, are lining their pockets by charging outrageous swipe fees on each credit card transaction. For the benefit of working Americans being charged for swiping their credit card, we must inject competition into the credit card market,” Durbin said. “I wholeheartedly welcome the endorsement of these unions who are looking out for their members and American consumers.”

“Visa-Mastercard and Wall Street banks are charging American families the highest swipe fees in the world — nearly five times higher than those in other countries,” said Marshall. “These excessive fees cost the average hardworking American household over $1,200 a year. No one understands the burden of these costs better than our trade unions, and I’m proud to have their support as we fight to bring fairness and competition back to the payments market.”

“While our memberships are diverse, hail from different industries, and different parts of the country, all unions know that working people are reeling from an affordability crisis on everyday goods. This crisis is especially challenging for low wage workers who often need to make necessary purchases like gasoline, groceries and clothing on credit cards,” unions wrote in their endorsement letter. “We embrace the Credit Card Competition Act as a means to return more buying power to hard working Americans by curbing the outrageous rise in fees charged by Visa and Mastercard to merchants in the United States.”

Building off debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, Durbin and Marshall’s Credit Card Competition Act would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that the largest credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of at least two networks over which an electronic credit transaction may be processed. The legislation is estimated to save merchants and consumers $17 billion each year.

Visa and Mastercard wield enormous market power in credit cards; they account for more than 726 million cards or about 84 percent of general-purpose credit cards. Visa’s and Mastercard’s market power and network structure have enabled them to impose fees on U.S. merchants that are among the world’s highest, charging a total of $101 billion in U.S. merchant credit card fees in 2023. Thesefees include interchange or swipe fees which Visa and Mastercard require merchants to pay to issuing banks, as well as network fees that Visa and Mastercard require merchants to pay directly to them. Consumers ultimately pay for these fees in the price of the goods and services they buy.

A copy of the endorsement letter is available here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Meets With Three Federal Judges To Discuss Judicial Security

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

June 04, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after discussing judicial security with Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, Judge Mark Norris of the Western District of Tennessee, and Judge Esther Salas of the District of New Jersey, whose son was murdered at the family’s home by a former litigant who posed as a deliveryman:

“President Trump is openly threatening judges with over-the-top rhetoric and even calling for their impeachment for ruling against him. Just as bad: Republicans seem to be keeping quiet about—or even enabling—his threats. If President Obama or President Biden had said these things, Republicans would’ve thrown a fit.

“Americans are welcome to disagree with judicial decisions on the merits, but we must all agree that we cannot undermine our Constitution by allowing threats to the officers of our judicial branch in an attempt to weaken it.

“Judges Salas, Bloom, and Norris are helping to shed light on the threats faced by our judges in a heightened political environment, and I thank them for having the courage to speak about their experiences and carry on the legacy of Judge Salas’s son Daniel.”

New reporting found that USMS has seen a spike in threats against federal judges, including 197 federal judges threatened between March 1 and May 27 of this year. One report identified more than 600 posts on social media and right-leaning message boards since February targeting family members of judges who ruled against the Trump Administration—with the posts viewed more than 200 million times. Another report described federal judges and their family members receiving anonymous deliveries to their homes intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge’s address or their family members’ addresses. Some of these deliveries were made using the name of Judge Salas’s son.

The spike in threats coincides with escalating, threatening language by President Trump and his allies, including calls for impeaching judges who don’t rule in the President’s favor.

Durbin has urged Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel to investigate the ongoing and increasing threats against federal judges. Durbin asked for a response by May 20, but has yet to receive one.

In 2023, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation provided additional intelligence analysts and deputy Marshals to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and allowed judges to remove sensitive personal information from government websites and private publications.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Disability Taskforce extended as Budget funding boosts system

Source: New Zealand Government

The Disability Support Services Taskforce will be extended for a year to continue its progress in stabilising the disability support system and shaping it for the future.
Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says the Taskforce has been extended to 30 June 2026, with its work further enhanced by a billion-dollar funding boost announced in last month’s Budget.
“This Government is committed to the ongoing support of the disability community and delivering better outcomes for disabled people, their families and carers,” Louise Upston says.
“We’ve demonstrated this in Budget 2025, where the DSS Budget received $1 billion in additional funding over four years – that’s about $250 million a year of new money.
“This includes $60 million a year in residential care funding increases and about $190 million a year for increases across all DSS services for cost pressures, including care in the community.
“We are making good progress in delivering for disabled people, and the Taskforce will continue to play a key role.
“In August 2024, the Independent Review made recommendations to manage increasing cost pressures faced by DSS.
“The Taskforce was established to lead the implementation of these recommendations. That important work is progressing well, and I am now looking to the Taskforce to lead more work to further strengthen the system.
“The Taskforce has already made significant progress to stabilise DSS, including:

reviewing pricing and contracting arrangements for residential care, which are being implemented following Budget 2025
improving systems and processes for assessing performance and forecasting expenditure
reviewing needs assessment and allocation, and flexible funding settings so they better meet the needs of disabled people, their whānau and carers.

“My expectation is that DSS will continue to involve the disability community in discussions about how disability support services are delivered. I’ll have more to say on the next phase of work in the coming months,” Louise Upston says.
Notes for Editors
New funding for DSS in Budget 2025 included:

$1 billion over four years towards meeting the increasing costs of disability support services (including $240 million for residential care) and to support more people to access those services.
$10 million over two years to address the increasing costs for services and support for people with an intellectual disability and complex care needs who live in secure or supervised care under the High and Complex Framework. This will also fund critical workforce training initiatives and essential infrastructure, including repairs and maintenance upgrades.
$9.5 million over four years to recognise and respond to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. This includes work to strengthen how DSS audits the quality of its services, critical incident and complaints management processes and systems, and to contribute to other cross agency work to improve recordkeeping and the capability of the disability workforce.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road Closure – St Johns, Auckland

Source: New Zealand Police

District:

Auckland City

Due to a motor vehicle crash, St Johns Road, Auckland is closed between College Road and Felton Matthews Road.

The road will be closed for at least 2 hours while Police enquiries into the crash occur.

ENDS

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: USMS Inaugural Heroes Blood Drive Honors Four Fallen on April 29, 2024

Source: US Marshals Service

On April 7, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) held a blood drive at its headquarters in Arlington, VA. The blood drive and its timing were set up to honor four law enforcement officers who were killed on duty in North Carolina just one year ago, on April 29, 2924.

Joshua Eyer, William Alden Elliott, Samuel Poloche, and Thomas “Tommy” Weeks Jr. were executing a fugitive apprehension operation as part of the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force when the suspect shot out, injuring eight law enforcement officers and ultimately killing four. This attack is believed to be the deadliest against U.S. law enforcement officers in eight years. Officers Sam Poloche and William Elliot both were part of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, Officer Joshua Eyer was from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Tommy was a Deputy U.S. Marshal working in the Western District of North Carolina.

To honor their service, and to help collect blood that can be used to help others critically injured, the USMS hosted the inaugural Heroes Blood Drive. Donating blood is important, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Whether from surgery, chronic illness treatment, or traumatic injuries, people need blood that can only come from donations.

While the initial goal for the USMS blood drive was 35 donations, these expectations were quickly exceeded. People from the USMS, the State Department, the Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Investigations donated. Even with having to delay the start of the blood drive due to inclement weather, 76 donations were made that day. Additionally, 58% of those who donated were first time donors with the Red Cross.

The USMS also hosted a partner blood drive in North Carolina in the Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force space a few weeks later. They had 33 units of life saving blood donated that day. Of those, a high percentage were first time donors and five were Power Red donations. Power Red donations collect double the amount of red blood cells while the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. This allows for a donor to double the impact of their individual donation.

The inaugural Heroes Blood Drive had an impressive showing to commemorate the fallen heroes with a righteous cause. Those donating blood were also able to learn live saving first aid and CPR skills. With the tremendous success of this year’s Heroes Blood Drive, everyone hopes to see a similar, if not larger, turnout next year.

If you were unable to participate in the blood drive at USMS HQ or Charlotte, and would like to donate in honor of any of our fallen heroes, you can sign up to donate at your local Red Cross here: https://rcblood.org/4iToXtg.

MIL Security OSI –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Remembers Tiananmen Square Massacre

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

Washington, DC – Today, House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40) and Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution to remember the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989, and condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s continued crackdown on human rights and basic freedoms in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong.

“Tiananmen Square showed the world 36 years ago that Chinese Communist Party leaders will do anything to maintain power and control, even at the expense of their own citizens’ lives. The courageous victims remain in our hearts and reaffirm our fight for freedom on the world stage, especially as the CCP continues to get away with torturing Uyghurs, imprisoning Hong Kongers, stealing our intellectual property, and conducting mass surveillance on the Chinese people,” said Chairwoman Kim. “This bipartisan resolution sends a unified message that the United States Congress supports fundamental human rights and freedoms for the people of China and Hong Kong.”

“As we mark the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, we remember the countless individuals who risked—and in many cases lost—their lives in the pursuit of democracy and basic human rights,” said Ranking Member Bera. “Decades later, the Chinese Communist Party continues its relentless crackdown on dissent—jailing human rights lawyers, silencing journalists, persecuting religious and ethnic minorities, and dismantling democratic institutions in Hong Kong. This bipartisan resolution sends a powerful message: the United States Congress stands with those fighting for freedom, dignity, and democratic values in China and Hong Kong.”

Read the resolution HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kim, Raskin Introduce Legislation to Feed Shelter Animals, Support Shelters and Prevent Waste

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize pet suppliers to donate leftover and usable food and supplies to animal shelters.

The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act could help the recovery of millions of pounds of pet food to feed shelter animals. In addition to food, the law would make it easier to donate beds, blankets, crates, leashes, toys and more gear for animals in need. This legislation is especially crucial as animal shelters face rising operational costs.

“Across the country, many animal shelters face food and supply shortages while over a million pounds of useable pet supplies are wasted each year. The BARK Act will help reduce this waste, supply shelters in need, and feed animals,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I am happy to lead this commonsense bipartisan effort to support shelters and reduce waste in landfills.”

“Every day, viable pet food goes to waste and blankets, crates and other supplies end up in the trash,” said Rep. Raskin. “Our legislation helps suppliers and people donate leftover food and supplies rather than toss them out. I’m glad to partner with Rep. Kim to ensure perfectly good pet supplies go to shelter animals in need.”

“I’ve seen the bags of perfectly usable pet foods that retailers put in the trash—all of which could benefit an animal in a shelter,” said Sally Tom of Silver Spring, Rep. Raskin’s constituent and the inspiration behind the BARK Act. “After taking this problem to my Congressman, Jamie Raskin, he immediately crafted the BARK Act to help pet retail stores send shelters, rescue groups, and most importantly, millions of hungry animals the food they need. Let’s rescue food for the rescues!”

“The ASPCA applauds Representatives Raskin, Kim, and McBath, as well as Senators Warnock and Tillis for reintroducing the BARK Act, which will make it easier for individuals and businesses to donate food and supplies to nonprofits and government agencies that care for dogs, cats, and other vulnerable animals in need,” said Maggie Garrett, vice president of federal affairs for the ASPCA. “This bill will help shelters across the country who are facing an ongoing capacity crisis, caused by animals staying in shelters longer, staffing and veterinary shortages, and an increase in the number of animals with significant medical and behavioral needs.”

“The BARK Act is a commonsense way to boost pet food and supplies for animal shelters” said Tracie Letterman, Vice President, Humane World Action Fund.“This bill gives rescued animals a chance to find their forever families by helping those animal shelters struggling to operate.”

“Pets are an essential part of our families, and the BARK Act will make it easier for organizations to accept and distribute donations of pet food and supplies to people in need of support”, said Amanda Arrington, Vice President of Access to Care, Humane World for Animals. “We applaud Reps. Kim and Raskin for expanding the availability of these donations as it will make it easier for more pets to stay in their loving homes.”

“The Pet Food Institute, whose members make the vast majority of dog and cat food and treats in the U.S., applauds Rep. Jamie Raskin for reintroducing the BARK Act, which will make it easier to donate pet food and supplies to our nation’s animal shelters, while reducing waste,” said PFI’s president and CEO, Dana Brooks.“Helping eliminate barriers to donating pet food will ensure shelters are better able to provide pets awaiting their forever homes with the complete and balanced nutrition that cats and dogs need to live long and happy lives.”

The following organizations endorse the BARK Act: Best Friends Animal Society, Pet Food Institute, ASPCA, Humane World Action Fund, and Maryland Nonprofits.

Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are introducing companion legislation in the Senate. 

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Cruz Introduce Resolution Designating June as “Life Month”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing a resolution to designate June as “Life Month” to celebrate the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

“Life is God’s greatest gift,” said Lummis. “Wyoming fiercely defends the sanctity of human life, and I am proud to reaffirm America’s commitment to the unborn. We must protect our most vulnerable, and this designation is a powerful reminder that every life is worthy of protection.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Jim Justice (R-WV).

This resolution is supported by ADF, Heritage Action, SBA Pro-life, National Right to Life, Human Coalition, Heartbeat International, Family Research Council, Students for Life, Americans United for Life, Family Policy Alliance, Concerned Women for America, Catholic Vote, March for Life, 40 Days for Life, National Pro-Life Alliance, NIFLA, Citizens for Life, Christian Broadcasting Network, Focus on the Family, Liberty Counsel Action, and Eagle Forum.

Read the full resolution here.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over half a million more children to get free school meals
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Over half a million more children to get free school meals

New entitlement to free school meals for all children in household on Universal Credit.
Over half a million more children will benefit from a free nutritious meal every school day, as the government puts £500 back into parents’ pockets every year by expanding eligibility for free school meals.

From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals. This will make life easier and more affordable for parents who struggle the most, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to break down barriers to opportunity and give children the best start in life.

The unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

Since 2018, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty have been unable to access free school meals.

The government’s historic new expansion to those on Universal Credit will change this and comes ahead of the Child Poverty Taskforce publishing its ten-year strategy to drive sustainable change later this year. It comes on top of targeted support for families being hit the hardest with the cost-of-living crisis, with urgent action including raising the national minimum wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 families through the Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.

My government is taking action to ease those pressures. Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.

This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

It is the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty, and today this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.

From free school meals to free breakfast clubs, breaking the cycle of child poverty is at the heart of our Plan for Change to cut the unfair link between background and success.

We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us to deliver excellence everywhere, for every child and give more young people the chance to get on in life.

The Government is also offering more than £13 million in funding to 12 food charities across England to redistribute thousands of tonnes of fresh produce directly from farms to fight food poverty in communities.

The Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme is helping farms and organisations to work collaboratively to ensure edible food that might have been left in fields instead ends up on the plates of those who need it, including schoolchildren.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

Poverty robs children of opportunities and damages their future prospects. This is a moral scar on our society we are committed to tackling.

By expanding Free School Meals to all families on Universal Credit, we’re ending the impossible choice thousands of our hardest grafting families must make between paying bills and feeding their children.

This is just the latest step of our Plan for Change to put extra pounds in people’s pockets – a downpayment on our Child Poverty Strategy, building on our expansion of free breakfast clubs, our national minimum wage boost and our cap on Universal Credit deductions through the Fair Repayment Rate.

To ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, the government is also acting quickly with experts across the sector to revise the School Food Standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance.

This new entitlement will apply to children in all settings where free school meals are currently delivered, including schools, school-based nurseries and Further Education settings. We expect the majority of schools will allow parents to apply before the start of the school year 2026, by providing their National Insurance Number to check their eligibility.

Schools and local authorities will continue to receive pupil premium and home to school transport extended rights funding based on the existing free school meals threshold.

This is just the latest step in the government’s Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity, including rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding government-funded childcare to 30 hours a week for working parents and commitment to cap the number of branded school uniform items.

Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said:

This is a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom. Children can’t learn effectively when hungry, so this announcement not only helps to tackle the effects of child poverty, but will also likely help improve education outcomes for disadvantaged young people.

Giving free school meals to all families who are eligible for Universal Credit is also easier for parents to understand, so has the potential to increase take up rates. This is an important milestone in delivering on the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

Kate Anstey, head of education policy at Child Poverty Action Group said:

This is fantastic news and a game-changer for children and families.  

At last more kids will get the food they need to learn and thrive and millions of parents struggling to make ends meet will get a bit of breathing space.

We hope this is a sign of what’s to come in autumn’s child poverty strategy, with government taking more action to meet its manifesto commitment to reduce child poverty in the UK.

From April 2026 until the end of parliament, millions of households are set to receive a permanent yearly above inflation boost to Universal Credit. The increase, a key element of the Government’s welfare reforms to be laid before Parliament, will tackle the destitution caused by years of inaction that has left the value of the standard allowance at a 40 year low by the early 2020s.

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Published 4 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: McDonald meets council officials to discuss Ahoghill Woodland

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Statement by Alderman Stewart McDonald:

“This morning I met with council officials to discuss the ongoing concerns surrounding Ahoghill Woodland Park — an issue that has exercised me for some time.

“Like many in the local community, I was initially encouraged by the plans for the park. However, over the years the project has failed to progress as promised, and there are now clear signs of neglect and disrepair that urgently need to be addressed.

“While some of the damage is due to vandalism — which I am glad is now being tackled — the broader issues require more than short-term fixes.

“One particularly serious concern is the condition of the pond. I have raised this matter repeatedly with officials. Given how overgrown and unsafe the area has become, there is now a real health and safety risk, especially for children who could accidentally fall in. I welcome the council’s confirmation that the pond is to be filled in.

“I continue to believe this site has genuine potential as a valuable asset for local families and visitors alike. But realising that potential will require vision, commitment, and proper strategic planning. I remain determined to fight for the improvements needed to make this park the community facility it was meant to be.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tonko Slams Republicans’ Hypocrisy in Protecting Addiction & Mental Health

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery (ATR) Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Paul D. Tonko, spoke on the House floor today to call out Republicans for failing to respond to Trump administration attacks on addiction and mental health resources.

Tonko’s speech came ahead of the vote on the bipartisan Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. Tonko decried the hypocrisy of Republicans in bringing up this bill to pay lip service to the mental health and addiction crises while at the same time enabling the Trump administration to make devastating cuts to the very programs, services, and staff the SUPPORT Act needs to function, including decimating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Earlier this year, Tonko held a virtual press conference with ten former SAMHSA employees who were fired as a result of cuts from this administration. Participants spoke about the detrimental impact that these cuts will have on addressing mental health, and ensuring access to substance use disorder treatment, services, prevention and recovery.

Tonko’s full remarks can be viewed HERE or read below as prepared for delivery.

SAMHSA’s stated mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring access and better outcomes for all.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the public servants at SAMHSA work every day to prevent overdoses and suicides and save lives.

As a longtime champion for behavioral health parity and access to treatment and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus, bipartisan in nature, there have been a few questions on my mind.

For instance, how many public servants need to be fired at SAMHSA before we say enough?

How many suicide prevention trainings need to be cancelled before Republicans can speak out?

How many lifesaving naloxone trainings need to be cancelled for Republicans to say something… say anything?

How many lives need to be lost before Republicans tell the Trump Administration to stop the decimation of SAMHSA?

I have other questions too, simple ones like how many people work at SAMHSA currently? What divisions have no staff left at all? What programs have they had to cut in local communities?

In February, following the firing of probationary employees, I started asking these questions and since the firing of nearly 50 percent of SAMHSA’s staff I have continued asking those questions.

To date I have gotten zero answers. Zero.

Currently, we have lost 50 percent of SAMHSA staff and it’s not HHS or the Trump administration who shared that with Congress.

We only have confirmation that SAMHSA lost half its staff from the press and from the former SAMHSA employees.

That is unacceptable.

As a Congress if we say we care about behavioral health, then we should be ashamed that we are okay not knowing this. For four months we have been asking questions and instead of answers we have even more concerning questions.

I shared with our Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman that as the committee that has jurisdiction over SAMHSA, how do we not have these answers?

This affects every community in the country and our first action should be finding out these answers. If the administration refuses to come in, then let’s bring in the fired employees.

These people are some of the most dedicated public servants who did this work for all the right reasons and they served an incredible need. On behalf of all Americans, I thank all of the fired SAMHSA employees for their service to our nation. You deserved better. And frankly all Americans deserve better.

Our loved ones should have access to effective addiction treatment, prevention and recovery support and behavioral health support and services.

The recent actions of this Trump Administration are betraying the goal of access to behavioral health treatment and support.

RFK and Donald Trump have proposed to eliminate SAMHSA as an independent agency, burying it in the so-called “Administration for a Healthy America or AHA”

Let’s remember that the whole reason Congress moved SAMHSA into an independent agency was to ensure that behavioral health was prioritized despite the longstanding stigma.

Instead, AHA would take us back to the time that behavioral health is tucked away in another agency and deprioritized.

When the agency is gutted, the programs and the mission suffers, and ultimately, the individuals we are trying to help with their mental health and substance use struggles will simply not get the support they need.

People will die.

I beg my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, let’s reverse course. We have an obligation to protect SAMHSA’s mission and all of our constituents who SAMHSA serves.

Like many of my colleagues, I support the programs in this package; but it’s completely disingenuous and frankly outrageous that Republicans are here today trying to pat themselves on the back as doing something meaningful for those struggling with addiction while the entire agency we are authorizing programs for is being dismantled – the people doing the work we are authorizing have all been fired – and the Administration is proposing even more draconian cuts for mental health and substance use programs in the 2026 budget.

Give me a break.

It’s like we’re trying to heal a bullet wound with a band aid.

So I’m regrettably going to have to vote no and would respectfully ask my Republican colleagues to pause today’s vote and instead focus our intention on responding to the actual crisis at SAMHSA.

Let’s stop this performance and instead let’s do the right thing and walk out right now and meet, make calls and work together to stop this madness. Let’s actually do something to meet this moment before it’s too late and we no longer have an agency focused on behavioral health.

This is a truly a performative vote if Republicans are too scared to say anything when the agency is being decimated and the mission is on the line but they want to go home and say they voted for SUPPORT.

But they won’t mention that it will never be implemented because the funding and staff are gone.

Let’s return to my initial question: how many lives need to be lost before Republicans tell the Trump Administration to stop the decimation of SAMHSA?

If Republicans go forward with this vote today while staying silent as this administration takes the chainsaw to SAMHSA then it’s clear that they are willing to let SAMHSA lose all capacity to serve its mission to save lives.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025