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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI USA: GRUVE Lab

    Source: NASA

    The GRUVE (Glenn Reconfigurable User-Interface and Virtual Reality Exploration) Lab is located within the GVIS Lab. It is home to the CAVE, which is predominantly used for mission scenarios and to tour virtual environments of NASA facilities.

    GRUVE allows multiple people to view a visualization in 3D together. These visualizations include 3D models of NASA facilities and intricate images created from collected data. 
    Powerful projectors and mirrors, in combination with an infrared motion tracking system and active-shutter glasses, allow viewers to view 3D models and data in perfect perspective. 3D models effectively pop off the screen and remain proportional no matter where the user with the pair of tracking glasses moves in the environment. 
    The CAVE can be driven by either a Windows or Linux computer system, enabling the team to use the best environment for a given problem and software tool. 

    The CAVE’s technology provides a unique advantage for researchers, scientists, engineers, and others. Seeing and analyzing forces and data that would otherwise not be viewable to the human eye allows the observer to understand their subject matter in more detail. 
    Benefits of GRUVE to research include: 

    Providing an immersive environment: with large screens to fill peripheral vision and stereoscopic projection for a real sense of three-dimensional space, more parts of the brain are engaged, and the user is better able to understand problems and solve them faster 

    More effective collaboration: the ability to see each other in the virtual reality environment makes GRUVE better for collaboration than traditional VR technology 

    Seeing complex data and flows in 3D: this makes it easier for both experts and non-experts to understand the data 

    Providing greater resolution and larger display size: this allows details to be displayed without losing their context 

    Delivering faster and more accurate manipulation and viewing of models, including CAD data, with fewer errors: this results in a faster time to market and less re-work 

    All members of NASA Glenn may use GRUVE for their projects.

    Fluid dynamics analysis (CFD) 

    Point cloud data, e.g., LiDAR 

    Virtual design reviews 

    Virtual manufacturing testing 

    Computer Aided Design (CAD) 

    3D imaging data 

    Training and education 

    Virtual procedures 

    Biomedical research 

    Molecular dynamics 

    Virtual building walkthroughs 

    Showroom “theater” 

    Education and outreach 

    Building Information Management (BIM) 

    Big data and data mining 

    Cybersecurity data analysis 

    Safety systems analysis 

    Microfocus CT scan data 

    Electron microscopy 

    3D photos and videos 

    Point cloud data 

    Volume data 

    Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) 

    Computer Aided Design (CAD) 

    Molecular dynamics 

    Linux CAVE node 

    Windows 10 CAVE node 

    CAVE wall 

    Stereo glasses 

    Audio system 

    Tracking system 

    The Windows node attached to the GRUVE Lab runs middleware software, which enables Unity-developed applications to run in the CAVE. This greatly expands the number of VR applications that can be run. 

    Vrui VR Toolkit-based applications such as LiDAR viewer and 3D visualizer 

    VMD – Visual Molecular Dynamics 

    ParaView 

    COVISE– Collaborative Visualization and Simulation Environment

    The GVIS Lab maintains a large collection of computing, visualization, and user interaction devices including: 

    Virtual reality display devices 

    Head-mounted displays 

    Room-scale CAVE 

    Augmented reality head-mounted displays 

    3D displays 

    Psuedo-3D displays 

    Pepper’s Ghost display 

    Persistence of Vision (POV) LED display 

    Light field technology- based displays 

    Projection devices for projected AR 

    Natural user interface devices 

    Hand gesture recognition devices 

    Motion capture devices 

    Cameras for mixed reality 

    Computing hardware 

    High-end laptops 

    High-end desktops 

    High-end tablets and smartphones 

    Stereo 3D camera 

    180/360 camera 

    Flight simulators 

    3D printers 

    All these devices are available for employees to try and test for possible application to their work. 

    Contact Us 
    Need to reach us? You can send an email directly to the GVIS Team (GRC-DL-GVIS@mail.nasa.gov) or to the team leader, Herb Schilling (hschilling@nasa.gov). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GVIS History

    Source: NASA

    In 1982, a $20 million supercomputer was brought to NASA Glenn. Scientists at NASA Glenn were becoming increasingly reliant on computer simulations to test their experiments. Advancements in computer technology allowed a different type of testing environment — one that revolved around virtual models and data over physical observation. The benefits of this method included a decrease in costs, a decrease in associated risk, faster turnaround, and more data.

    But this method of experimentation created a problem: With data-point counts somewhere in the millions, it was a challenge for scientists to even begin to look at their own collected data. In short, there was simply too much data to be analyzed. To solve this problem, NASA Glenn built the Interactive Computer Aided Research Engineering system (ICARE) in the center’s Research Analysis Center.  
    Taking up several rooms, consisting of 22 total workstations, and costing a grand total of $20 million, the ICARE system was a way for scientists to examine their data through the aid of supercomputer visualizations. Using both graphical and modular methods, ICARE’s visualizations revealed and shared information in ways that traditional methods could not match. 
    The construction and implementation of the ICARE system was revolutionary to both the center and NASA as a whole. Before 1982, NASA already had an established interest in powerful computers; however, the ICARE system took NASA into the era of supercomputing. ICARE also brought increased attention to the value and power of scientific visualization. 

    In 1989, it was time for an upgrade. NASA Glenn wanted the latest scientific visualization technology and techniques for its scientists, so the center expanded the Research Analysis Center to make room for the new Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS). The GVIS Lab acquired cutting-edge graphics technology, including studio-quality TV animation and recording equipment, stereographic displays, and image processing systems. Later, the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 provided funding and opportunities to add high-speed computing, virtual reality, and collaborative visualization to its fleet of tools.

    During this period, the GVIS Lab was responsible for assisting NASA Glenn scientists who needed help visualizing their data. The lab was also tasked with inventing new visualization techniques and promoting NASA Glenn’s activities though tours, videos, and other outreach programs. Some of the techniques the lab developed included particle tracking, iso-surface contours, and volume visualization. Tour guests included school children, corporate VIPs, local and national politicians, TV news media, and researchers from other national labs. Using state-of-the-art recording and editing hardware, the GVIS Lab regularly shared work both inside and outside of NASA.   
    As other labs and researchers began to gain access to their own scientific visualization tools, the GVIS Lab shifted its focus to experimenting with virtual reality- and augmented reality-based visualizations.

    Today, the GVIS Lab has the same mission that it had in 1989: to apply the latest visualization and human interaction technologies to advance NASA’s missions. The team takes pride in pushing the limits of scientific visualization and computer science, helping fellow researchers make sense of their data, and inspiring the next generation through demonstrations and presentations. Computational technology has come a long way since the days of ICARE, but GVIS has continued to explore current and cutting-edge technologies. 
    In addition to scientific visualization and experimental computational technologies, the GVIS Lab now also specializes in virtual design, interactive 3D simulations, natural user interface development, applications of computer science, and mission scenario visualizations. The team uses the latest edition of 3D programs and VR devices to experiment with how these systems can be used to visualize data, pushing their input and output capabilities. 
    With all this technology, GVIS also supports the visualization of a wide variety of 3D data and models such as CAD, point clouds, and volume data. Additionally, the lab is capable of high-impact data visualization, web-based visualization, time-accurate data representation, and designing and testing CAD models in virtual reality.

    Outside of the lab, GVIS has a longstanding history of taking its technology demonstrations across the city, throughout the country, and around the world. The team has extensive experience organizing, presenting, and facilitating STEM-based educational outreach for a variety of different events and venues. Inside the lab, GVIS supports the education and career exploration of its high school and college interns through mentorship, community engagement opportunities, and access to cutting-edge technology.

    Contact Us 
    Need to reach us? You can send an email directly to the GVIS Team (GRC-DL-GVIS@mail.nasa.gov) or to the team leader, Herb Schilling (hschilling@nasa.gov).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USBR Seal Team Fix Challenge

    Source: NASA

    When a reservoir conduit cannot be closed, thousands of cubic feet of water can roar through uncontrolled, threatening public safety, irreplaceable reservoir storage, and power generation. Seal Team Fix invites engineers, fabricators, and creative problem-solvers to stop that torrent in its tracks. Your mission: design a rapid-deploying, temporary seal that can be deployed to a submerged 3- to 25-ft diameter conduit opening, accommodate differential pressure, and achieve a 95–98 % flow reduction – without leaning on trash racks or other non-structural surfaces. The competition unfolds in three phases: a short-format concept white paper, a funded prototype build, and a lab-scale hydraulic demonstration.
    Award: $575,000 in total prizes
    Open Date: July 22, 2025
    Close Date: October 14, 2025
    For more information, visit: https://www.herox.com/SealTeamFix

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, JAXA XRISM Satellite X-rays Milky Way’s Sulfur

    Source: NASA

    An international team of scientists have provided an unprecedented tally of elemental sulfur spread between the stars using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft.
    Astronomers used X-rays from two binary star systems to detect sulfur in the interstellar medium, the gas and dust found in the space between stars. It’s the first direct measurement of both sulfur’s gas and solid phases, a unique capability of X-ray spectroscopy, XRISM’s (pronounced “crism”) primary method of studying the cosmos. 
    “Sulfur is important for how cells function in our bodies here on Earth, but we still have a lot of questions about where it’s found out in the universe,” said Lía Corrales, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Sulfur can easily change from a gas to a solid and back again. The XRISM spacecraft provides the resolution and sensitivity we need to find it in both forms and learn more about where it might be hiding.”
    A paper about these results, led by Corrales, published June 27 in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 

    [embedded content]
    Watch to learn how the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) satellite took an unprecidented look at our galaxy’s sulfur. XRISM is led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in collaboration with NASA, along with contributions from ESA (European Space Agency).NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    Using ultraviolet light, researchers have found gaseous sulfur in the space between stars. In denser parts of the interstellar medium, such as the molecular clouds where stars and planets are born, this form of sulfur quickly disappears. 
    Scientists assume the sulfur condenses into a solid, either by combining with ice or mixing with other elements. 
    When a doctor performs an X-ray here on Earth, they place the patient between an X-ray source and a detector. Bone and tissue absorb different amounts of the light as it travels through the patient’s body, creating contrast in the detector.
    To study sulfur, Corrales and her team did something similar. 
    They picked a portion of the interstellar medium with the right density — not so thin that all the X-rays would pass through unchanged, but also not so dense that they would all be absorbed.
    Then the team selected a bright X-ray source behind that section of the medium, a binary star system called GX 340+0 located over 35,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Scorpius. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Renters, Students, Self-Employed Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Renters, Students, Self-Employed Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Renters, Students, Self-Employed Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Tennessee renters, students and self-employed in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson counties may be eligible for money to help with personal losses from the April 2-24 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding

    The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Aug

    19

    Money is available to help with rent or temporary housing costs like a hotel

    Renters, students and self-employed may also be eligible for money for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses including:Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as clothing, textbooks, school supplies, and furniture and appliances a renter owns

    FEMA does not cover furniture or appliances provided by the landlord

    Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required for self-employment

    Replacement or repair of a primary vehicle

    Disaster-related uninsured medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses

    How to Apply for FEMA AssistanceApply online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    In-person help is available at any Disaster Recovery Center for submitting applications, getting updates and asking questions

    Find a center here: DRC Locator (fema

    gov)

    Video: What to Expect Before Applying for FEMA Assistance | ASL | SpanishVideo: Next Steps After Applying for FEMA Assistance  | ASL | SpanishDisaster Recovery CentersHours: 9 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

    Monday – Friday9 a

    m

    to 2 p

    m

    SaturdayClosed SundayLOCATIONS:Dyer County: Bogota Community Center, 78 Sandy Lane, Bogota, TN 38007Hardeman County: Safehaven Storm Shelter, 530 Madison Ave W

    , Grand Junction, TN 38039McNairy County: Latta Theatre, 205 W

    Court Ave

    , Selmer, TN 38375Montgomery County: Montgomery County Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, TN 37040Obion County: Obion County Library, 1221 E

    Reelfoot Ave

    , Union City, TN 38261
    kwei

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    Wed, 07/23/2025 – 12:41

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA to spend additional $800M on infrastructure improvements this year

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Skip to content

    WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced it will realign an additional $800 million this fiscal year as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program, which makes infrastructure improvements to health care facilities to ensure safe and effective patient care.

    The extra funding means more resources to repair and update aging VA facilities and technology.

    The extra money will be spent on a variety of improvement projects at various VA health care facilities, including:

    • Boiler and chiller systems
    • Electric infrastructure improvements
    • Elevators
    • Heating ventilation and air conditioner systems
    • Sprinklers and fire alarms
    • Renovation of clinical/support spaces
    • Utility system upgrades
    • Medical equipment sites
    • Electronic Health Record Modernization infrastructure

    “This is another step forward in our efforts to make VA work better for the Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Improved facilities, equipment and infrastructure help improve care for Veterans, and these additional funds will enable VA to achieve that goal.”

    The additional funds will come from savings gleaned from various VHA reform efforts. The additions will bring total NRM program spending for fiscal year 2025 to $2.8 billion — a nearly $500 million increase from fiscal year 2024.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LUKE PRESENTS ON AGRICULTURE AT NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS FORUM

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LUKE PRESENTS ON AGRICULTURE AT NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS FORUM

    LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LUKE PRESENTS ON AGRICULTURE AT NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS FORUM  

    Hawai‘i’s Agricultural and Biosecurity Efforts Highlighted Nationally 

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

    July 23, 2025 

     

    HONOLULU — Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke recently returned from the 2025 Annual Meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), held in Lake Tahoe, where she presented on Hawai‘i’s agricultural innovation and biosecurity efforts. 

     

    Luke joined Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke in a peer panel discussion titled “Protecting and Promoting Your State’s Natural Assets.” She spoke about Hawai‘i’s unique agricultural landscape as the most isolated population center in the world and the importance of investing in local food production, specialty crops, and robust biosecurity measures to reduce reliance on imported food. 

      

    “Hawai‘i is the only state in the nation that grows coffee commercially, and we have a unique opportunity to share our world-class products from coffee and cacao to tropical fruits and flowers with the rest of the country,” said Lieutenant Governor Luke. “While we currently import nearly 90% of our food, strong partnerships with local farmers, collaboration across states, and support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are helping us move toward greater food security and resilience.” 

     

    She also emphasized the need for continued collaboration with the USDA to ease regulatory barriers around the import and export of Hawai‘i-grown products. During the session, she fielded questions from fellow lieutenant governors on opportunities for interstate collaboration, federal partnerships, and strategies for scaling agricultural innovation in isolated and rural communities.

      

    The NLGA annual meeting brings together lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command from across the United States and its territories to exchange best practices and collaborate on shared policy priorities, including economic development, infrastructure, and natural resource management. 

      

    For more information about the NLGA Annual Meeting, visit www.nlga.us. 

     

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – Enforcement Measures Increasing as Sacred Falls Remains Closed, July 22, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – Enforcement Measures Increasing as Sacred Falls Remains Closed, July 22, 2025

    Posted on Jul 23, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

    DAWN N.S. CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    ENFORCEMENT MEASURES INCREASING AS SACRED FALLS REMAINS CLOSED

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 22, 2025

      

    HONOLULU –Despite clearly posted park closure and hazardous conditions signs, people are continuing to ignore the risks and enter Sacred Falls State Park. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) recently received information and video of numerous young adults exiting the closed area by climbing over a locked gate.

     

    A tragic rockslide claimed eight lives on Mother’s Day 1999 and the site has been off limits ever since. Even with numerous past press releases, clearly posted signs warning of dangerous conditions and numerous past incidents involving injuries, some people continue to gamble with their safety and their lives by entering Sacred Falls. 

     

    “How many times do we have to tell people to stop going into Sacred Falls?” asked DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla.  “I have directed the Oahu Branch to take strong enforcement action on any closed area violations at Sacred Falls, including arresting violators,”  he said. DOCARE is increasing patrols of the area.

     

    “People who enter Sacred Falls are not only endangering themselves, they also endanger the safety of first responders if they get into trouble”, Redulla added. “This risk to our responders, including DOCARE officers is intolerable and violators who are found entering or exiting the closed area will be dealt with accordingly.” 

     

    Violations of the State Park administrative rule pertaining to entering a closed area is a petty misdemeanor. Potential penalties include a $1,000 fine or up to 30 days in jail.

     

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    Video – Sacred Falls – Please Turn Back (May 17, 2020): https://vimeo.com/419650794

     

    Video – Sacred Falls Enforcement (May 9, 2020): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/li2qo1ld0ahqsl3txmunv/Sacred-Falls-Enforcement-May-9-2020.mov?rlkey=2i27lvmxbbm6h3hc2cenlw7t7&st=fiqrykir&dl=0

     

    Photographs – Sacred Falls (May 9, 2020): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/srxuqy3jbkiaxbo30lvhs/ALAdBu3h5abme5DIybkf5LE?rlkey=mafu00gary7g727d8bsn8rz6r&st=maarbiiw&dl=0

     

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Patti Jette                                                                                         

    Communications Specialist                                                          

    Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources                           

    808-587-0396                                                                                  

    [email protected]                                                           

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following increased CHP operations, California sees 13% reduction in stolen vehicles statewide

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 23, 2025

    What you need to know: The number of reported stolen vehicles in California has dropped by 13% – the first year-over-year decrease since before the pandemic.

    Sacramento, California – California continues to lead the way out of the COVID-induced crime surge, as the number of vehicles stolen statewide has dropped by 13% from 2023 to 2024 – the first year-over-year decrease since 2019. Of those vehicles stolen, nearly 92% of cars, trucks and SUVs successfully recovered.

    We continue to put the safety of California communities first. Through strategic funding and partnerships with local and state law enforcement partners, we are putting a brake on lawlessness and criminals disrupting our way of life.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Of the stolen vehicles in California, nearly 94% cars and 90% personal trucks and SUVs were recovered. 

    Significant regional investment by the state

    Through expanded regional efforts with the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies, Governor Newsom sought to strengthen efforts to fight vehicle theft through crime suppression operations in key areas, including Oakland, Bakersfield and San Bernardino. These ongoing regional operations have shown positive results throughout the broader communities in Alameda, Kern and San Bernardino counties. Working closely with local law enforcement agencies, auto thieves, repeat offenders and organized crime groups have been disrupted, and their activities have been thwarted. 

    As a result of these public safety collaborations, each of these counties saw a significant drop in vehicle thefts in 2024:

    • Alameda: down 18% from 2023 
    • Kern: down 28% from 2023
    • San Bernardino: down 11% from 2023

    Other notable drops by county in stolen vehicles from 2023 includes:

    • Imperial: down 13%
    • Orange: down 16%
    • Riverside: down 24% 
    • Sacramento: down 23% 
    • San Diego: down 11% 
    • San Francisco: down 17%
    • Santa Barbara: down 29%
    • Tulare: down 22%
    • Yolo: down 24% 

    “We are proud to see fewer vehicles being stolen across the state,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to stop these crimes, protect California’s communities and hold criminals responsible.”

    Automobiles are a vital part of daily life for work, school and family. When a vehicle is stolen, it impacts more than just property—it can take away a person’s freedom and sense of security. View the 2024 report on stolen vehicles and their recoveries here.

    Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.

    California has invested $1.6 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

    Last August, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history. Building on the state’s robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California’s crime rate remains at near historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.

    Recent news

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New operation to uncover fake paintings supported by Eurojust

    Source: Eurojust

    Following a successful major operation in November 2024 to uncover fake paintings, Eurojust has supported the Italian authorities with a new action to retrieve over one hundred false artworks worldwide. In this recent operation, 104 forged paintings of Picasso, Edvard Munch and Paul Klee were seized and brought to Italy. Eurojust assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders to Germany and Spain, in order to retrieve the fake artworks and prevent them from being sold in auctions.

    In 2022, the Italian Carabinieri’s specialised Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage started investigations into a specific group of forgers, who counterfeited works of the three painters. The Italian-based culprits used a special graphic design program to print images of the originals on matrices. These were then printed on paper with falsified watermarks and copied signatures of the painters.

     

    To give the fakes a semblance of authenticity, the paper for the prints underwent artificial ageing treatments through coffee or tea baths. Accompanied by forged certificates of free circulation, in order to circumvent authenticity controls by experts, the counterfeited artworks were sent to auction houses outside Italy.

    The investigations by the Carabinieri Command prevented certain fakes from being sold in Germany and Spain, through auction houses. Without this intervention and the support of Eurojust, the forgers would have gained at least EUR 1 million. The Italian authorities requested the support of Eurojust last year, following the successful previous operation to uncover an estimated 2 000 fake paintings.

    The operations were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

    • Italy: Carabinieri – Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
    • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Stuttgart
    • Spain: Investigative Court no. 9 of Barcelona; Mossos d’Esquadra – Central Brigade for Cultural Heritage

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: International Court of Justice’s landmark opinion bolsters fight for climate justice and accountability  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) first Advisory Opinion clarifying the obligations of states in respect of climate change, Mandi Mudarikwa, Head of Strategic Litigation at Amnesty International, said: 

    “Today’s opinion is a landmark moment for climate justice and accountability. The ICJ made clear that the full enjoyment of human rights cannot be ensured without protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment. The world’s highest court stressed that states have a duty to act now, regulate the activities of private actors and cooperate to protect current and future generations and ecosystems from the worsening impacts of human induced climate change. This unprecedented opinion will bolster the hundreds of ongoing and upcoming climate litigation cases around the world, where people seek justice for the livelihoods that have been snatched away and the damage caused by major polluters.  

    Today’s opinion is a landmark moment for climate justice and accountability. The ICJ made clear that the full enjoyment of human rights cannot be ensured without protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment.

    Mandi Mudarikwa, Head of Strategic Litigation, Amnesty International

    Candy Ofime, Researcher and Legal Advisor in the Climate Justice Team at Amnesty International, said: 

    “In light of the polluters pay principle, the ICJ established that states’ failure to take action to protect the climate system— including through continued fossil fuel production, licencing or the provision of subsidies to fossil fuel companies—may constitute an internationally wrongful act. Despite big polluters’ suggestion to the contrary, the ICJ recognized that it is scientifically possible to determine each state’s contribution to the climate crisis, taking into account current and cumulative emissions. States, particularly historically high greenhouse gas emitters, must take responsibility and repair the climate harms they have caused and provide guarantees of non-repetition.”  

    Following in the footsteps of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the ICJ reaffirmed that climate change can lead to the forced displacement of people seeking safety, including across borders, emphasizing that in such circumstances, non-refoulement protections applies. 

    The ICJ recognized that climate change constitutes “an existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life and the very health of our planet”. It stressed that a complete solution to this “life-daunting” and “self-inflicted” crisis does not only require contribution of all fields of knowledge but also “human will, at individual, social and political levels to change our current way of life to secure a future for ourselves and those who are yet to come.” Delivering a message to the climate justice movement worldwide, the ICJ expressed “hope that its conclusions would inform and guide social and political action to address the ongoing climate crisis.”  

    Amnesty International expresses the utmost gratitude to the Pacific Islands students whose innovative and inspiring global advocacy was critical in making today a reality.   

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Wales: Welsh government accused of funding companies exporting arms to Israel despite public assurances

    Source: Amnesty International –

    FOI reveals £500,000 grant to weapons supplier  

    Weapons components supplied for F-35s and Apache gunships 

    ‘Public money must never help fuel war crimes’ – Glenn Page 

    Amnesty International has condemned the Welsh Government for awarding public funds to a weapons manufacturer that exports military equipment to Israel – despite First Minister claims to the contrary.  

    In December 2024, the First Minister told the Senedd: “No Welsh Government financial support has been provided to companies in Wales who export arms to Israel since the 7 October attacks.” 

    But Freedom of Information requests submitted by Amnesty reveal that the Welsh Government awarded £500,000 in grant funding to SENIOR, a company that exports military equipment directly to Israel, including component parts for F-35 fighter jets and Apache gunships. 

    Glenn Page, Amnesty International’s Government and Political Relations Manager in Wales, said: 

    “The Welsh Government has quietly funded a company supplying weapons to Israel – despite mounting evidence of war crimes and genocide being committed by Israel against Palestinian people in Gaza.  

    “This directly contradicts what the First Minister told the public. It’s deeply concerning that we only know this because of FOI requests – not because of transparency from the Welsh Government. 

    “Public money must never help fuel war crimes. There must be full transparency and accountability, beginning with an urgent, long-overdue review of public funding and investment, and the immediate introduction of a robust framework for human rights due diligence.”

    Further FOI requests by Amnesty exposed that the Welsh Government does not conduct human rights due diligence checks before awarding public money to private companies. This means there are no guarantees that public money isn’t supporting weapons used in potential breaches of international law.  

    Earlier this year, the Senedd reiterated its support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and urged the Welsh Government to “review public sector procurement and investments to ensure that ethical standards are upheld.” Despite supporting this call, no review has taken place. 

    Amnesty International is calling for the Welsh Government to: 

    • Support an end to arms exports to Israel  
    • Conduct an urgent and transparent review of all public funding, procurement, and investment policies. 
    • Introduce mandatory human rights due diligence checks for any company receiving public money. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rosen in Las Vegas Sun: Trump’s New Extreme Law Is A Big Betrayal For Southern Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    LAS VEGAS, NV – This week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) penned an op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun highlighting the devastating impacts that Donald Trump’s extreme tax and spending bill will bring to Southern Nevada. With the help of Republicans in Congress, Trump pushed through a bill that will gut access to healthcare services, cut funding for hospitals and food assistance programs, and even harm Nevada’s gaming industry. 
    Las Vegas Sun: Trump’s new extreme law is a big betrayal for Southern Nevada
    By Senator Jacky Rosen
    Key Points: 

    Earlier this month, Republicans in the House and Senate forced through President Donald Trump’s extreme tax and spending law — a devastating betrayal of hardworking Nevadans.
    As one of your U.S. senators, I believe public service is about delivering results that improve people’s lives, and that’s why I am outraged by a law that guts critical programs for hardworking families so Washington Republicans can hand out massive tax breaks to billionaires.
    Thanks to Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which is really a big, ugly betrayal, more than 100,000 people in our state will lose access to affordable health care, and more than a dozen hospitals in Southern Nevada are facing millions of dollars in funding cuts.
    … according to a new report, University Medical Center stands to potentially lose $45 million from this extreme law. When hospitals lose funds, they can be forced to reduce services, hours or even close down, which hurts everyone. 
    By cutting Medicaid, Trump and congressional Republicans are making it harder for every Nevadan, regardless of whether they rely on Medicaid or not, to access the life-saving care they need.
    Trump’s bill also makes major cuts to SNAP — a food assistance program that helps nearly 1 in 6 Nevadans put food on the table. SNAP also funds a significant number of local food banks in our communities that Nevadans rely on to get a meal.
    This extreme law also includes a hidden provision targeting Nevada’s gaming industry. Under this new law, those who lose money playing blackjack, poker or other casino games will now owe taxes on money they lost. You read that right: Nevadans would be forced to pay the government taxes on money they didn’t win. It’s outrageous, and it will hurt our gaming industry — decimating our tourism industry along the way. This month, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and I tried to repeal this absurd provision by passing our bipartisan bill to fix it, but Senate Republicans blocked our efforts.
    We should be making life easier for people, ensuring that hardworking families can have a fair shot at living the American dream. It’s not about putting one group over another; it’s about giving people an equal chance at success. That means lowering costs for families and holding big corporations accountable for price gouging; cutting taxes for the middle class and closing loopholes exploited by billionaires; and addressing crises like the lack of affordable housing so everyone can put a roof over their heads without breaking the bank.
    Republicans’ tax and spending law fails every one of these tests. It slashes key lifelines for working people in order to hand out billions to the ultra-wealthy. That is not just bad policy — it’s shameful. As your senator, I will keep fighting to mitigate the harm of this reckless budget. I will work with my colleagues to stand up for Nevada families and push for policies that put people first.
    I urge every Nevadan to stay engaged, speak out and join me in this fight. Together, we can protect our families, defend our communities and keep the promise of the American dream alive for everyone who calls Nevada home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bill to Lower Costs for First-Time Homebuyers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to lower costs for first-time homebuyers. The current housing affordability crisis has hit Nevada particularly hard—Las Vegas home prices are at an all-time high. The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act will create a tax credit worth up to 10 percent of a home’s purchase price, up to $15,000, for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. This credit would be available at the point of sale to help individuals and families without sufficient funds for a down payment to afford a home.
    “The Trump Administration’s reckless policies are raising housing costs across the board and making it more difficult for hardworking Nevadans to achieve the American Dream,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce a bill to help lower costs and make it easier for first-time homebuyers to afford a down payment. I’ll keep fighting to lower housing costs for hardworking families in our state.”
    Senator Rosen has been fighting to lower housing costs for Nevadans. She recently joined a bipartisan bill to help lower housing costs and incentivize housing development in Nevada. Senator Rosen has also pushed the Trump Administration to reverse course on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico to prevent housing prices from rising even further. She also led her colleagues in a letter to Senate appropriators requesting they fund the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs and Supportive Housing program. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Baldwin Unveils Package of Bills to Lower Costs for Wisconsin Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – As costs for working families rise under the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a package of bills to address the ongoing affordability crisis in Wisconsin. Baldwin’s affordability agenda will lower the cost of purchasing a home for first-time homebuyers, ensure families can find and afford high-quality child care, and crack down on big corporations’ price gouging.
    “President Trump promised to lower costs for Wisconsinites, and instead he’s launching a trade war, kicking hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites off their health insurance, and making life more expensive for hard-working families,” said Senator Baldwin. “Wisconsin families deserve some breathing room and deserve an agenda that works for them – not just for those in power, the wealthy, or well-connected. That’s why I’m pushing a package of commonsense bills that will help lower the costs of some of the biggest expenses in families’ budgets each month – housing, child care, and household goods.”
    Below are the bills that Senator Baldwin and her colleagues introduced:
    First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act
    The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act would lower the cost of purchasing a home for first-time buyers by establishing a refundable tax credit worth up to 10 percent of a home’s purchase price – up to a maximum of $15,000 – for first-time homebuyers. Under the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, taxpayers would have the option of receiving the credit at the time of purchase by working with their mortgage issuer. Alternatively, taxpayers could elect to treat the purchase of their home as occurring in the prior taxable year to receive the credit before tax season if they are unable to qualify for the credit at the point of sale.
    The median sales price of homes in Wisconsin increased by more than half (53.3%) in just five years. During those years, the state’s median household income increased by only 19.7%. The National Association of Home Builders has estimated that the material costs to build a new home might increase by as much as $10,000 due to Trump’s tariffs.
    Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025
    The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025 would prohibit corporate price gouging by authorizing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases, regardless of a seller’s position in a supply chain. The bill would help enforcers establish when price gouging is occurring during a significant shift in the market and outline a standard of what a violation is. It would also create an affirmative defense to protect small businesses that raise prices in good faith to earn a profit, while establishing presumptions against dominant companies that brag about exploiting American consumers or exercise unfair leverage to get ahead. Additionally, the bill would strengthen requirements for public companies to disclose changes in pricing strategies during market shocks in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
    Child Care for Working Families Act
    The Child Care for Working Families Act would tackle the child care crisis head-on: ensuring families can afford the child care they need, expanding access to more high-quality options, stabilizing the child care sector, and helping ensure child care workers taking care of our nation’s kids are paid livable wages. The legislation will also dramatically expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers. Under the legislation, the typical family in America will pay no more than $15 a day for child care—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family will pay more than 7 percent of their income on child care. The bill would also address child care deserts by providing grants to help open new child care providers in underserved communities and to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers. Additionally, the legislation would ensure child care workers are paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience. On average, Wisconsin child care for an infant costs $12,567 annually, or $1,047 per month.
    Bill text for the Price Gouging Prevention Act can be found HERE and a one-pager HERE.
    Bill text for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act can be found HERE.
    Bill text for the Child Care for Working Families Act can be found HERE and a pager HERE.
    A full video from Senator Baldwin’s press conference is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW: Government Watchdog Finds Trump Administration Illegally Froze Funding to Head Start Nationwide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, released the following statement after a nonpartisan, independent government watchdog found that the Trump Administration illegally withheld funding from Head Start facilities nationwide earlier this year, forcing some to close:

    “This report proves what we’ve known all along: the Trump Administration broke the law and tried to take away preschool and child care services from Wisconsin’s working families because President Trump thinks the funding provided to the federal government is a slush fund for his personal use. It’s not. We have three branches of government, and when Congress approves funding, that is the law of the land that the President must follow. When funding to Head Start was frozen earlier this year, Donald Trump left families nationwide high and dry as preschool programs were forced to shutter, staff were laid off, and parents in some cases drove hours to find replacement child care,” said Senator Baldwin. “This non-partisan report shows that the Trump Administration not only turned their backs on thousands of working families, but they also think they are above the law. No one is above the law, and I’ll continue standing up and speaking out for Wisconsin families when President Trump breaks the law and tries to take away programs Wisconsin families rely on.”

    Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that found the Trump Administration and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) illegally impounded funding approved by Congress for Head Start programs. This impacted Head Start programs across the country, causing at least one Wisconsin Head Start program to shut down earlier this year.

    Senator Baldwin has been pressing the Trump Administration for months to answer for this illegal funding freeze. In April, she led a group of 41 Senators in calling out the Trump administration’s direct attacks on Head Start and demanding his Department of Health and Human Services immediately release Head Start funding, reverse the mass firing of Head Start staff, and stop gutting the offices that help ensure high-quality child care is available for thousands of children and families across the country. She also pressed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy on this frozen funding at a Senate hearing in May. She visited a Head Start facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin to talk with families, leadership, and staff about the impact of the illegal funding freeze after they were forced to close their doors earlier this year.

    Read the full report from GAO here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Baldwin, Collins Take Action to Help Provide Clean Drinking Water for Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or the Healthy H2O Act, to provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals and non-profits in rural communities. Wisconsin continues to identify new sources of contaminated water and soil from chemicals like PFAs, but many smaller communities lack the resources to conduct testing to identify them and mitigation to remove them.
    “All Wisconsin families, businesses, and communities should trust that the water coming out of their faucets is safe to drink, but across our state, rural communities are struggling to identify and treat chemicals like PFAs that endanger our health, especially for children,” said Senator Baldwin. “My bipartisan legislation ensures our small and rural communities aren’t left behind and makes sure they have what they need to find and get rid of dangerous chemicals and keep our families healthy.”
    “Maintaining and upgrading water and wastewater systems is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of our communities,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation will help reduce health-based contaminants like PFAS in drinking water, increase consumer confidence, and protect public health.”
    The Healthy H2O Act would provide grants for water quality testing and the purchase and installation of point-of-use or point-of-entry water quality improvement systems that remove or significantly reduce contaminants from drinking water. Grants would be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture directly to individuals and to non-profits in rural areas, specifically to those in communities with a population under 10,000, to help people test their water and install a water treatment product if needed. According to the most recent census, Wisconsin has 714 towns that have populations under 10,000.
    Across the United States and in Wisconsin, communities face threats to their drinking water from a number of contaminants, including lead, arsenic, nitrates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium-6, and others. The Healthy H2O Act will provide grants for those living in rural communities to increase access to the many technologies for testing and water treatment at the point of use.
    The Healthy H2O Act is supported by the Water Quality Association, American Supply Association, Plumbing Manufacturers International, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, National Groundwater Association, High Performance Building Coalition, NSF International, Water Systems Council, Water Well Trust, The Groundwater Foundation, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, International Code Council, DigDeep, California Ground Water Association, Eastern Water Quality Association, Florida Groundwater Association, Florida Water Quality Association, Illinois Association of Groundwater Professionals, Iowa Water Quality Association, Kentucky Groundwater Association, Michigan Ground Water Association, Michigan Water Quality Association, Minnesota Water Quality Association, Minnesota Water Well Association, Montana Water Well Drillers Association, Nebraska On-Site Wastewater Association, Nebraska State Irrigation Association, Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, Nebraska Well Drillers Association, Ohio Water Quality Association, Ohio Water Well Association, Pacific Water Quality Association, Pennsylvania Groundwater Association, Texas Water Quality Association, Virginia Water Well Association, Water Council of Milwaukee, Water Quality Association of Wisconsin, and Well Drillers Association of Wisconsin.
    Companion legislation was introduced today in the U.S. House by Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and David Rouzer (R-NC-07).
    The full text of this legislation is available here. A one-pager on this legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Portmahomack to Tain bus pilot to start

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council has announced that a 2 day a week pilot bus service from Portmahomack to Tain will start on Thursday 24 July.

    The 416A service will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

    The first bus of the day will depart from Main Street Portmahomack at 9:40, stopping at Tarrel 9:45am and Shore Road in Inver at 09:51 before arriving in Tain at 10.00am. Another two journeys from Portmahomack will depart at 13:40 and 17:40.

    The two return journeys each Tuesday and Thursday from Tain to Portmahomack depart at 13:15 and 17:15.

    During the summer school holidays, the service will be jointly delivered by The Highland Council and by Rapsons. From Tuesday 19 August, the service will be delivered entirely by Rapsons.

    Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “As this new twice a week bus is a pilot, people living and visiting in these communities are very much encouraged to use the service. As a bonus, during the school holidays, we will not be charging, so everyone can travel back and forth between Portmahomack and Tain for free.”

    “The pilot will run for 3 months, after which we will assess usage patterns and user feedback.”

    23 Jul 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Take that! Tourism campaign a hit with Aussies

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The ‘Everyone Must Go’ campaign encouraging Australians to pick New Zealand for their next holiday has hit its results out of the park, bringing in thousands of visitors in a boost for regional economies and tourism operators. 

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says ‘Everyone Must Go’ was initially targeted at 6,750 additional arrivals over the autumn but ended up significantly exceeding expectations. 

    “‘Everyone Must Go’ has been a winner,’” Louise Upston says.

    “Tourism NZ stats released to me show it delivering an additional 7,981 visitors to smash its initial forecasts. It also attracted significant attention on both sides of the Tasman, and got Kiwis and Aussies talking about New Zealand as a destination.

    “Tourism is a key part of our plan to grow the economy, create jobs, lift wages and help Kiwis get ahead.  ‘Everyone Must Go’ is a great example of the sector and Government working together to achieve these goals. 

    “We knew Aussies would recognise it as a great opportunity. Just like they grabbed Phar Lap and pavlova, it’s proved the same story with ‘Everyone Must Go.’

    “A key part of this campaign’s success were the deals the tourism industry came to the party with.  This team approach showed we can deliver great results for the sector when Government and industry are joined up and working towards the same goals.”

    More than 800 deals from 450 operators across accommodation, transport and experiences were available during the campaign. 

    The initial $500,000 campaign spend delivered a solid return on investment, leading to an additional $300,000 to give the campaign a further boost. 

    “This campaign was the first Tourism Boost initiative, and these positive results show that with the right investment in the right markets we will drive economic growth.

    “Every one of those Australian visitors who ate at cafes and restaurants, visited tourist attractions and shopped in our towns and cities has helped the New Zealand tourism sector grow, and boosted the Kiwi economy in the process,” Louise Upston says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USCIS Assists in Investigation Leading to Arrest of Haitian Engaged in Violence and Destabilization of Haiti

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Headline: USCIS Assists in Investigation Leading to Arrest of Haitian Engaged in Violence and Destabilization of Haiti

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided valuable assistance in the investigation that led to Immigration and Customs Enforcement arresting Pierre Reginald Boulus on July 17 for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act by contributing to the destabilization of Haiti.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider Scarlett, Hall Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the nominations of Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Jeffrey Hall to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

    “At this hearing, we will consider the President’s nominations of Katherine Scarlett to serve as Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and Jeffrey Hall to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the Environmental Protection Agency. So, thank you both for your willingness to serve. I want to give a special welcome to Katherine’s family…her husband Brian and her parents are here today, so thank you for joining us. And I know Jeffery has his parents and his wife here with him today, so thank you all for coming and being supportive.

    “Established by the National Environmental Policy Act, also known as NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ as we call it, is part of the Executive Office of the President. The agency is primarily responsible for advising federal agencies on the implementation of NEPA, as well as developing and recommending environmental policies to the President.

    “Katherine is very well-qualified to lead CEQ. In her current role as CEQ’s chief of staff, Katherine has supported the efforts of federal agencies to implement the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act and ensure compliance with recent court decisions as agencies update their individual NEPA regulations and procedures.

    “She also led efforts to modernize environmental review and permitting processes through President Trump’s Permitting Technology Action Plan, recently launching the ‘CE Explorer’ which allows for easy identification of the more than 2,000 categorical exclusions established by federal agencies.

    “During the time of the first Trump Administration, Katherine served in senior roles at CEQ and also at the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. In the four years between her service in the executive branch, Katherine served on my staff here at EPW, playing a key role in shaping bipartisan provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Economic Development Reauthorization Act, and the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act, so thank you for that.

    “As my colleagues know, Ranking Member Whitehouse and I are diligently working on bipartisan legislation to reform the environmental review and permitting processes for all projects. I am hopeful that we can get a bill to the President’s desk for his signature. And when we do, I am confident that it will be implemented faithfully under Katherine’s leadership of CEQ.

    “Today, we will also hear from Jeffrey Hall, thank you Jeffery for being here, President Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. OECA works with EPA regional offices, in partnership with state governments, tribal governments, and other federal agencies to promote regulatory compliance and enforce the nation’s environmental laws and regulations.

    “The office targets the most serious water, air, and chemical pollution violations under laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. In carrying out the EPA’s statutory authority, OECA must operate within the confines of our federal environmental laws, not invent novel violations to penalize regulated entities.

    “The previous administration placed an outsized emphasis on penalizing regulated entities, rather than working with good faith actors in the regulated community to ensure compliance. Mr. Hall will be tasked with striking the right balance between the agency’s efforts to encourage compliance with our environmental laws, and targeting the entities flaunting those laws to ensure Americans have clean air, clean water, and clean land.

    “Mr. Hall’s professional experience gives him the expertise to effectively lead this office. He has worked as a litigator, prosecutor, and legal advisor representing federal agencies, corporations, and individuals in a wide variety of litigation and in both civil and criminal enforcement procedures.

    “I look forward to hearing how Mr. Hall will navigate the Agency’s enforcement and compliance priorities today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Asks Nominees About Implementation of NEPA, Superfund Site Cleanups

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the nominations of Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Jeffrey Hall to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In her questioning, Chairman Capito highlighted the qualifications of the nominees, and asked about implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and prioritizing the cleanup of Superfund sites.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    NOMINEE EXPERIENCE:

    Chairman Capito:

    “You’ve held significant positions in the federal government relating to NEPA, so you know this well and permitting processes. In each of these roles, you’ve developed experience of what’s working and what isn’t. So, given your expertise, what has motivated you to take on this role, and how has your past experience prepared you for this?”

    Katherine Scarlett, nominee to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality:

    “Thank you for that question, Chairman Capito. I was excited to take on this role, mainly because all three branches of the federal government recently have indicated that the NEPA process is broken and needs to be reformed. As I stated my opening statement, I have spent nearly the last decade working on the interagency process and trying to get the environmental review process more efficient and more timely. So, given the directive of Congress, I wanted to return to CEQ so that I could faithfully implement those amendments to National Environmental Policy Act.”

    NEPA IMPLEMENTATION:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Will you commit to faithfully implementing, this is important, I think, to everybody, both sides of the dais here, any additional permitting and environmental review reforms passed into law, consistent with the statutory language and the intent of Congress?”

    Katherine Scarlett, nominee to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality:

    “Yes, Chairman, I do commit to faithfully implementing any new provisions passed by Congress.”

    SUPERFUND CLEANUPS:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Let me ask you about the Superfund cleanups, because you mentioned this in your opening statement, and how to improve. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to improve the CERCLA implementation. We have some Superfund sites…you mentioned they’re on the books for years, and never quite seem to get there. Will you have a direct role in negotiating these agreements, and how would you approach the use of these tools to accelerate our cleanups?”

    Jeffery Hall, nominee to be to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency:

    “Yes, thank you, Chairman. So, Superfund enforcement is a priority of this administration, of the administrator, of the deputy administrator, on down to me when I was the acting assistant administrator, and if confirmed would continue to be a major priority of my tenure. So, I think that we would use all the tools available. I know that this committee had a hearing not too long ago on Superfund and Superfund enforcement, where some of those tools were discussed, including various agreements, like mixed funding agreements. So, I think that we would continue to use all the tools available and push it forward.”

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement.

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Chinese Drone Market Dominance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    July 23, 2025

    Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Chinese Drone Market Dominance

    Washington, DC — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act, or LEAD Act, legislation that would make it easier for American companies to sell unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to American allies and partners.

    “The current restrictions on UAS sales to allies and partners are outdated and put American companies at a disadvantage, all while ceding the market to Communist China. This bill will spur American business and innovation while decreasing global dependence on Chinese military technology,” said Senator Cotton.

    “Drones aren’t just the future of warfare—as we’re seeing in Ukraine, they’re its present, too. Against the backdrop of increasing alignment between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, we must ensure that the United States and our allies and partner have the weapons systems and munitions we need to defend ourselves. This bill is a first step towards the objective of greater military production, integration, and deterrence for the United States and our allies in an increasingly dangerous world,” said Senator Coons.

    “This commonsense legislation would cut red tape to make drone technology more accessible and foster greater strategic defense cooperation with our allies, and I’m glad to support it,” said Senator Cornyn.

    Bill text is here.

    The LEAD Act would:

    • Direct changes to the Arms Control Act, the United States Munitions List, and the Missile Technology Control Regime to require UAS be treated as manned aircraft and separately from missile technology for the purposes of defense transfers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths

    Washington, DC — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving Mothers and Fathers Act, or HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include the spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave. The bill would also establish a tax credit for a woman that suffers the loss of a child in the womb.

    “This bill will make sure families receive the resources they need to help recover from the unexpected loss of a child. No amount of money can replace such a loss, but the legislation will make sure parents have time to begin the recovery process,” said Senator Cotton.

    “It has taken policymakers too long to recognize that parents should be allowed time to heal following a miscarriage or stillbirth. The loss of a child is devastating and heartbreaking for families, and this legislation formally acknowledges their need for time following such a loss,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.

    The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act mirrors a similar bill in Arkansas introduced by State Representative Les Eaves called Paisley’s Law, named in honor of his late granddaughter, Paisley.

    Bill text is here.

    The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act would:

    • Amend the FMLA to include spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualified medical condition for FMLA leave and civil service employee leave.
      • Women and their spouses would be entitled to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for loss of an unborn child.
      • Spontaneous loss of an unborn child is defined in the bill as ‘the loss of a child in the womb that is unplanned and not resulting from a purposeful act.’
      • All requirements related to certification, notice, flexibility and leave substitution are consistent with current standards for claiming FMLA leave.
    • Establish refundable tax credit for any mother, or couple, who suffers a stillbirth.
      • Stillbirth is defined as “the delivery of a child where there was a spontaneous death, not induced by any purposeful act, before the complete delivery from the child’s mother.”
      • A family would be eligible for the tax credit if a stillbirth certificate, under applicable state law, has been issued for the child.
      • These funds could not be used for any abortion procedure

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Joins Cruz, Van Duyne to Introduce Bill to Target NGOs, Stop Radicals Funding Violent Riots

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) in introducing the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act, which would add rioting as defined by the federal anti-riot statute to the list of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act predicate offenses, allowing the Department of Justice to use the full suite of RICO tools against entities who fund or coordinate violent interstate riots:

    “Radical, left-wing groups who fund acts of violence, coordinate attacks against law enforcement, and spearhead the destruction of property must be stopped,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would add rioting to the list of racketeering offenses to crack down on this lawless behavior while ensuring the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceful protest are protected.”

    “Every American has the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest, but not to commit violence,” said Sen. Cruz. “Domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries fund and use riots in the United States to undermine the security and prosperity of Americans. My legislation will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to hold them accountable, and I urge colleagues to pass it expeditiously.”

    “The standard of treating violent, extremist activists as individual criminals must end. It is time we empower our law enforcement with a commonsense tool to treat these violent mobs, their funding sources, and their organizers as the criminal enterprises they are by passing the Stop FUNDERS Act,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “Since the days of the George Floyd riots, to the violence we see across American cities and college campuses today, it is obvious there are well funded, well outfitted, and highly coordinated efforts to plan and execute violent and potentially deadly missions of chaos and mayhem. This is organized crime, and we need to attack it as such.”

    Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Josh Hawley (R- MO) cosponsored this legislation in the Senate.

    Background:

    During the recent riots in Los Angeles, left-wing groups openly coordinated and assisted violent rioters who destroyed property and attacked police. For example, some groups coordinated providing protective equipment to rioters so they could withstand crowd control munitions and assault police. 

    The Stop FUNDERs Act would:

    • Amend 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) to add “rioting,” as defined in the Anti-Riot Act, to the list of racketeering predicate offenses;
    • Enable the Department of Justice to use RICO tools, including joint liability and group prosecution, conspiracy charges, asset forfeiture, and enhanced criminal penalties, against organizations and individuals who repeatedly fund or coordinate violent interstate riots;
    • And deter abuse of nonprofit status and expose hidden financial pipelines behind politically motivated violence.

    This bill is endorsed by Heritage Action and the National Right to Work Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Slams Democrats for Fearmongering About ICE Deporting Criminal Aliens

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) recapped the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration hearing he chaired yesterday entitled, “Biden’s Border Betrayal: Criminal Aliens in America” and called out Democrats for refusing to acknowledge that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is rightly moving to deport the more than 291,000 criminal aliens who are under final orders of removal. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “Yesterday, I chaired a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary entitled Biden’s Border Betrayal: Criminal Aliens in America.”

    “We were honored to be joined by two Angel moms whose children were murdered by criminal aliens.”

    “These families and victims would never have had to suffer such devastating loss were it not for the criminal aliens who never should have been here in the United States in the first place.”

    “Our Democratic colleagues claim to be the party of compassion when it comes to immigration, but they would rather society, and the media, and the Congress turn a blind eye to these victims of criminals who entered the country as a result of open-border policies.”

    “You would think, listening to some of my Democratic colleagues, that ICE is arresting gardeners, cooks, housekeepers, people who are basically just trying to earn a living, but the truth is there are 291,000 criminal aliens in the United States who are under final orders of removal.”

    “That means they’ve exhausted all potential legal remedies to be able to stay here and they have been found not qualified to stay, and they have been ordered removed, but they simply ignored that order by a court.”

    “This doesn’t stop our colleagues across the aisle from claiming that illegal aliens detained by ICE are not being given due process.”

    “Let me be clear about what the law actually says: Aliens who already have final orders of deportation, who are being detained for the purpose of removal, already had their due process.”

    “I would encourage my colleagues on the left to reflect on this before continuing to use the buzzwords ‘due process’ to mislead the American people as they discuss cases that appear sympathetic but where the process that these aliens were entitled to has simply been exhausted, and they lost or they refused to show up in the first place.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India achieves 20% ethanol blending in petrol, five years ahead of schedule

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India has successfully achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of its original target set for 2030, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Wednesday.

    Highlighting the country’s clean energy progress, the minister noted that ethanol blending in petrol has risen from just 1.5% in 2014 to 20% in 2025- a nearly thirteenfold increase over 11 years.

    Puri emphasized that the shift towards ethanol-blended fuel has not only bolstered energy security but also led to significant economic and environmental benefits. Ethanol production has surged from 38 crore litres in 2014 to 661.1 crore litres by June 2025.

    As a result, India has saved approximately ₹1.36 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing its dependency on imported crude oil. At the same time, ₹1.96 lakh crore has been paid to distilleries, fueling the growth of the domestic biofuel industry. Additionally, ₹1.18 lakh crore has been disbursed to farmers, thereby enhancing rural incomes and supporting the agricultural economy.

    The environmental impact has been equally significant. The increased use of ethanol-blended petrol has helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 698 lakh tonnes, contributing to India’s climate goals.

    “India hits 20% ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of target. From just 1.5% in 2014 to 20% in 2025, this clean energy leap has: >> Saved ₹1.36 lakh crore in forex >> Paid ₹1.18 lakh crore to farmers >> Cut 698 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions. PM @narendramodi ji’s vision is powering energy security, farmer income and climate progress,” Puri said in a post on X.

    The ethanol used in blending is primarily derived from crops such as sugarcane, reinforcing the initiative’s role in supporting Indian agriculture.

    Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a price hike for ethanol produced from molasses for the current marketing season. The revised procurement prices for Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme will apply for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25, which runs from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025.

    (ANI)

  • PM Modi arrives in London, begins two-day UK visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in London on Wednesday evening for a two-day official visit to the United Kingdom, marking a key diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing regional cooperation.

    The visit, scheduled for July 23- 24, comes at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and is Modi’s fourth visit to the UK-highlighting the growing depth of bilateral ties.

    “Leaving for the UK, a country with which our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has achieved significant momentum in the last few years. I look forward to my talks with PM Keir Starmer and my meeting with His Majesty King Charles III,” PM Modi said in a post on X ahead of his arrival.

    According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit will focus on reviewing progress under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with special emphasis on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate cooperation, health, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

    The two sides are also expected to discuss key regional and global developments of shared interest.

    The visit is seen as an opportunity to inject fresh momentum into the India-UK CSP, with both leaders set to explore new areas of collaboration. A major focus will be the ongoing negotiations around the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to enhance bilateral trade and economic integration.

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Open Interest on BloombergTV to Discuss Japan Trade Deal, China Negotiations, Appropriations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Open Interest on BloombergTVto discuss President Donald Trump’s new trade agreement with Japan, implications for China, and the Senate’s progress on appropriations and crypto legislation.
    *Click the photo above or here to watch*Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the significance of the U.S.-Japan trade agreement: “I think this is putting us on a completely new playing field with our allies in Japan. I look forward to what we do with South Korea as well. Japan is going to become a major financier of projects that support all of our national security, our economic security, and our national security. When I was Ambassador to Japan, we negotiated two trade deals with the Japanese. These are not easy to do. And my hats off to the team– Secretary [Scott] Bessent, Secretary [Howard] Lutnick, and Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer– they have done a fantastic job and delivered a terrific deal.”
    Hagerty on access for U.S. rice: “The Japanese are difficult to negotiate with, but they keep their word once a deal is made. I know that’s not true in every place in the world, but the Japanese certainly do. I know the negotiations have been tough; I’ve been in rice negotiations with the Japanese in the past. It’s almost a sacred issue in their agricultural sector, but rice has had an incredible run in terms of its price, creating a lot of inflation and pain domestically in Japan. I think this [deal] will be welcomed by the Japanese public to see more rice imported. It will take some of the pressure off the supply constraints that they have right now in the country.”
    Hagerty on the implications the U.S.-Japan deal has on China: “This [deal] absolutely makes a huge difference with respect to China. What China can observe is that our allies are working with us, and we’re doing this in a way that maximizes economic opportunity here in the United States, making our nation stronger. A stronger America means that all of our allies benefit from this. It’s a good deal for Japan. Their stock market is up. Our stock market is up. Everybody’s loving this.”
    Hagerty on future trade benchmarks: “I’m sure people will jump to that assumption [that 15 percent will become the new benchmark tariff level], but they don’t know the specifics of the deal. That will come down to the hard tax, and we’ll see how the negotiations go. I know that Ambassador Greer, Secretary Bessent, and Secretary Lutnick have spent a tremendous amount of time on this deal. Every deal will be unique. It’s going to be hard to superimpose that, but I’m certain that that’s where the industry will sort of target now that they see this come out with Japan.”
    Hagerty on finalizing trade agreements: “Not every single agreement [will be wrapped by Aug. 1], but the ones that matter. They [the White House] have been very focused on delivering agreements with those countries with which we have significant trade deficits. And Secretary Bessent sums it up by saying there are about 18 countries that [trade agreements] matter. I talk often with Ambassador Greer. He’s got term sheets, and he’s been working through a very structured, very disciplined process. I’m optimistic that they will have terms set. I’m not saying they will have the final agreements papered, but the broad terms will be set.”
    Hagerty on Senate August recess, nominee backlog, and government funding: “I think that [recess] is up to [Senator] Chuck Schumer. We’ve had maximum resistance from the Democrat side; they have not allowed a single one of our nominees to go through without putting us through maximum procedural hoops. That’s created a backlog. Every president needs to have their team on the ground and ready to go. Chuck Schumer is going to have to ask himself if he is going to keep kowtowing to the far left, or actually stand up and say: here’s what’s good for America. Let’s get it done. I’m ready to work through the weekend. … It’s important to talk to constituents. They elected us. Many of us are in cycle right now, myself included. But at the same time, we have an obligation and a duty to our constituents to make certain the government is functioning. And this resistance movement that tries to deprive the President of the team that he needs to execute is harmful to the economy. It’s harmful to our national security, so we have to address it.”
    Hagerty on appropriations and shutdown risk: “An important thing that we never worked on when Chuck Schumer was the leader was putting appropriations bills on the floor. That’s happening this week. We’re looking at the Sept. 30 deadline responsibly. We’re trying to put our appropriation bills on the floor so we don’t wind up with an 11th-hour negotiation that winds up with the government teetering on a shutdown. I don’t think we’ll shut down. But again, that’s up to Chuck Schumer and the resistance movement. … I hope that we’ll be able to come to terms with the Democrats. They have not been willing to negotiate so far as we move on our appropriations bill. That really narrows the space that we’ve got to deal with as we come to the Sept. 30 deadline. It’s possible to get appointees taken care of. We don’t need to shut the government down, but it requires cooperation.”
    Hagerty on the GENIUS Act and crypto market structure: “We’re working very hard [on the next phase of digital asset legislation]. We just put out a discussion draft this week on market structure. I’m very proud of my legislation, the GENIUS Act, which opens the door for digital assets in America. Compared to where we were a year ago, it’s a massive change. The U.S. markets are open to digital currencies and blockchain innovation. I’m excited about where we’re going. Our goal is to have this market structure bill move through expeditiously and get it done this fall.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Senate Committee to Hold Hearing on Employee Ownership Highlighting Success of Vermont’s King Arthur Baking Company

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, July 23 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), announced that tomorrow at 10 a.m., the HELP Committee will hold a bipartisan hearing on the need to expand employee ownership in Vermont and throughout the country. Testifying at the hearing will be Brock Barton, the Chief Financial Officer of King Arthur Baking Company, a world famous employee-owned business headquartered in Norwich, Vermont, whom Sanders invited to testify.
    “I am delighted that Brock Barton with King Arthur Baking Company will be testifying in the HELP Committee to highlight the benefits of employee ownership at his company and the need to expand this concept throughout the country,” Sanders said. “King Arthur is not only an enormously successful baking company. What makes it so special is that it is directly owned by its employees, not some multi-billionaire on Wall Street. In my view, we should expand King Arthur’s worker-owned business model throughout the country. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when millions of workers are working longer hours for lower wages, we need to expand economic models that broadly benefit the working class, not just the top 1%. Employee ownership is one of those models. That is why I am proud to be introducing legislation to provide the financial resources workers need to purchase their own businesses through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and worker-owned cooperatives.”
    At the hearing, Sanders will be introducing the Employee Ownership Financing Act, a sweeping legislative proposal that would help American workers buy the companies they work for — giving them a real stake in the profits they help create and a voice in decisions that impact their lives.
    Sanders’ legislation would expand broad-based employee ownership through ESOPs and worker cooperatives that are majority-owned by employees. Studies show that these businesses provide higher wages, better benefits, stronger job retention, and a more secure retirement. They are six times less likely to lay off employees, and companies that include some level of employee ownership are 20% less likely to go out of business than their non-ESOP counterparts. They also help reduce gender and racial wealth disparities — with one recent study finding that employee ownership could quadruple the share of wealth held by the bottom 50% of Americans.
    Despite these clear benefits, growth in employee ownership has stagnated — due in large part to workers’ lack of access to capital. Sanders’ bill would address that directly by creating a $500 million loan program at the Labor Department (DOL) to help workers finance the purchase of their companies.
    The Employee Ownership Financing Act would:
    Establish a $500 million loan fund to help workers purchase companies through ESOPs or worker cooperatives that are more than 51% employee-owned.
    Create a new Office of Employee Ownership at the DOL to administer the loan program and expand education about worker ownership nationwide.
    Amend the WARN Act to give employees the right of first refusal to buy closing business facilities, preventing mass layoffs and keeping jobs in local communities.
    Establish an Employee Ownership Advisory Council to support implementation and oversight.
    Ensure workplace democracy, diversified retirement investment options, fair company valuations, and independence from private equity ownership for all loan recipients.
    Vermont has one of the highest densities of employee-owned businesses in the country, including the most worker cooperatives in America. There are currently more than 40 employee-owned companies in Vermont that employ over 5,000 workers across the state.
    Nationally, there are more than 6,500 ESOPs across the United States, employing nearly 15 million Americans. The plans hold $1.8 trillion in assets. Yet as large corporations continue to outsource jobs and shut down plants, too many workers are left behind. Under Sanders’ proposal, workers would be empowered to purchase profitable facilities slated for closure and preserve good-paying, local jobs.
    “This is not a radical idea,” Sanders said. “It’s common sense. When workers own their companies, everybody wins. Productivity goes up, morale improves, communities stay strong, and economic inequality goes down. It’s time for us to give working people the tools they need to take back some control over their economic lives.”
    The bill builds on the bipartisan WORK Act, which Sanders helped lead to educate retiring small business owners and workers on the benefits of employee ownership. By codifying and expanding that work, the Employee Ownership Financing Act would mark the most significant federal investment in worker ownership in decades.
    Read the bill text here.
    Read a summary of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –