Category: DJF

MIL-OSI Security: NATO Deputy Secretary General discusses a stronger and fairer NATO, and deterring aggression, at LANDEURO symposium

Source: NATO

On Thursday (17 July 2025), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska addressed the LANDEURO symposium of The Association of the United States’ Army, discussing the role of the Allies’ armed forces and industry in deterring aggression.

Thank you, General Brown.

And good afternoon, everyone.

It’s great to be here in Wiesbaden, home to the US Army’s Europe and Africa Headquarters.

And a critical hub for America’s efforts to ensure stability across the region, but also beyond.

Wiesbaden also houses our NATO command, the Security Assistance and Training command for Ukraine.

With hundreds of personnel from NATO and partner countries who work hard, every day.

To support Ukraine and to coordinate thousands of movements of military supplies, so that Ukraine can fight for it’s freedom, for peace, and for security.

So what a better place to discuss the role of our armed forces and industry in deterring aggression.

Let me start by thanking the organisers, the Association of the United States’ Army, for bringing us together to discuss this and many other important topics.

Less than a month ago, leaders of all Allied nations gathered for the NATO Summit in The Hague.

And they all had one clear objective.

How to keep one billion people living in NATO countries safe today.

And how to deter any possibility of aggression in the future.

How to make sure that our Alliance can fulfil and I would say continue, in the next 75 and more years, to fulfil our sacred mission.

What we saw in The Hague at the NATO Summit was bold decisions from our political leaders.

A strong demonstration of our transatlantic unity and resolve.

Allies have managed to agree on a very ambitious Defence Investment Plan, a new one, The Hague one,

to invest 5 percent of GDP for our security by 2035.

And this really is a game-changer.

And I shouldn’t be saying this in this room, because you can understand how much of an impact will this have for our deterrence and our defence.

It will massively increase NATO’s strength and war-fighting capabilities.

And it will definitely ensure that we continue what we do best, and this is deliver peace, but through strength.

At least 3.5% of GDP out of the 5% target will be spent on so called core miliary requirements.

They will be spend on what one can say is the heavy metal of our armed forces — many of you here today.

And this is the heavy metal that you all need to deter and defend.

Among all these capability requirements that all Allies have agreed to even a month before the Hague Summit,

What we have included in this number is a five-fold increase of our air and missile defence systems,

thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks,

and millions more artillery shells,

and drones, and air jets.

All these things contribute to the capability targets that we need, and the capability targets that require 3.5% of GDP so that they can be financed in due time.

At the same time, Allies agreed to spend 1.5% of GDP on defence and security related expenses.

This means more money to support our militaries and societies to become more secure.

In a world where microchips matter as much as the latest missiles every part of our society and our economy must step up for security.

From strong cyber defences to secure supply chains.

From greater resilience to more investment in roads, railways and ports for the sake of our defence plans.

This is all about making sure that we can get our forces to the right place at the right time, but equipped with the right capabilities.

It’s also about responding to the world as it is now, not as we wish it to be.

Preparing for war costs money, 5% is a lot of money.

But not preparing for it will cost us far more, both in terms of money and in terms of lives. We are no longer fighting wars of choice, where everything is plannable and we set the timetable.

It is our adversaries that are setting the pace of production and defining the moment.

Russia is rearming faster than many people have imagined.

It is enabled by Chinese technology, Iranian drones, and North Korean missiles but also boots on the ground.

What’s more, Putin has shown that he will not hesitate to use military force to achieve his goals.

China is also carrying out its own massive military modernisation.

It is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, completely unconstrained by any arms control agreements.

It is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and sharpening its tools of economic coercion in the Euro-Atlantic.

And while all this is happening, we also cannot underestimate the persistent instability in the Middle East,

divisive rhetoric in the Western Balkans,

and the ongoing threats of terrorism.

So as the world becomes more dangerous, more turbulent,

NATO must become stronger, fairer and, and this is the right place to use the word, more lethal.

To leave no adversary in any doubt that we will do what it takes to protect and defend each other.

A couple of weeks ago, we bid a fond farewell to General Cavoli, who as you know wore two hats.

He was both NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, our SACEUR, but also Commander of the US’s European forces.

And let me use this opportunity to say that he has played really a fundamental role in transforming the Alliance, even prior to the NATO Summit.

He has really supported us in fostering a stronger bond between NATO’s Supreme Allied Headquarters in Mons, SHAPE, and the United States’ European Command in Stuttgart.

General Cavoli made sure that we have robust regional plans to defend every inch of Allied territory.

And that we continue to modernise NATO’s multi-domain warfighting capabilities.

From the seabed to outer space, we cannot afford to have any weak links.

The conflicts in Ukraine, but also the instability and the conflicts in the Middle East have transformed modern warfare.

In Ukraine, we have seen tactics and trench-warfare from the last world wars, combined with the completely new technology from the next.

Ukraine has pioneered the use of drones, I was able to see remarkable examples for this, but not only in the air domain.

But also to neutralise the threat of the Russian army in the Black Sea.

And to strike Russian military targets far beyond the frontlines.

Both Russia and Ukraine have carried out kinetic and non-kinetic attacks — across land, sea, air, cyber and information space — and all of this simultaneously.

This was done to certain extent in devastating ways.

And we need to therefore think differently about how we operate.

Not in silos — but really seamlessly across all domains — and at the same time.

So when we develop our capabilities, this is the thinking, this is the logic.

This is the philosophy that we have to take into account.

We also need to think about how we integrate the latest technologies with conventional capabilities to gain the maximum effect.

And this was very much what SACEUR and SACT worked on in the last years.

But this is why we were also delighted to welcome General Alexus Grynkewich as our new Supreme Allied Commander.

He has championed innovation and developed cutting-edge capabilities for our armed forces.

His appointment demonstrates the United States’ ironclad commitment to our shared security.

As America continues to put forward its brightest and best in service of the United States of America, but also in the service of the Alliance.

At the Summit, we heard really strong statements from the US leadership, from President Trump, but also from the two Secretaries and all the representatives.

How dedicated and how committed they are to NATO and to our collective defence.

The US continues to stand foursquare with its NATO Allies.

Because it is good for America’s security and it is vital for the transatlantic security.

The US has played and continues to play an indispensable role in our Alliance.

Providing critical enablers, reinforcements, and of course its nuclear deterrence – the ultimate guarantor of our security.

At the same time, America’s Allies, European and Canada, are stepping up.

All Allies, all 32 of them, will spend 2 percent of GDP on defence this year, as we have agreed time ago in Wales.

And many are already going much further and much faster.

Some of them have stepped up and approached 5% even before the Summit. And this is remarkable leadership.

They are making sure that we have collectively what we need to deter and defend.

That’s why the other major focus of the Summit in The Hague was defence production.

Because cash alone does not deter our adversaries. It does not by itself provide security.

But concrete capabilities do.

Our adversaries won’t be deterred just because of our statements, because of our pledges, because of our words.

But by strong defences, well-equipped troops, and the latest weapons systems.

This is why the Secretary General has been tireless in his efforts to engage not only with Allied leaders or with the militaries, but also with defence industries on both sides of the Atlantic.

He has been urging them to open new production lines, put in the extra shifts, really ramp up production.

But also to boost innovation and come up with capabilities that are actually meaningful today and tomorrow.

And they are.

They are really prepared for this game-changing environment around us.

Across the Alliance, industry has opened hundreds of new production lines and expanded existing ones.

We are now on course to produce more ships, more planes and ammunition than we have done in decades.

But we still need to do more.

NATO Allies today are home to world-class defence companies – some of them present today here with us – the best researchers, and the most innovative entrepreneurs.

But we need to do these things more, better and faster to drive even more production both on the American but also on the European side of the Atlantic.

And, again, we need to think differently about how and who we partner with.

This means working with everyone from the defence primes to civilian start-ups to integrate the latest technologies into our defence.

But it also means working together not among us in the Alliance, but also with our partners, from Ukraine, European Union, to the Indo-Pacific. All of them joined us for the Hague Summit and we agreed to do more, together, including or especially focusing on defence production.

There is so much we can learn from Ukraine, and we already are learning.

We have opened a new joint centre in Poland, the so-called JATEC [the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre] to do that exactly. To help Ukraine, but also, in the same way use the experience so that we can create stronger deterrence and defence.

We are also determined to work even more closely with our partners — Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — including on defence production.

They are the source of so many of today’s cutting-edge capabilities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

NATO is the strongest and most successful defensive Alliance in history of mankind.

We have done that. We have secured. We have protected one billion citizens.

Because we combine the finest armed forces, with the most innovative economies.

And because of our solemn promise to protect and defend each other.

So this sense of unity, solidarity, joint work is very strong and continues to be very important for us.

So let me end by thanking all of you here for the vital role you have played in our security.

I know I can count and we can count on you to keep our Alliance strong and our one billion people safe.

Thank you very much for your attention and I look forward to our discussions.

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Supreme Court news coverage has talked a lot more about politics ever since the 2016 death of Scalia and GOP blocking of Obama’s proposed nominee

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joshua Boston, Associate Professor of Political Science, Bowling Green State University

Reporters used to treat the Supreme Court as a nonpolitical institution, but not anymore. Tetra Images/Getty

The U.S. Supreme Court has always ruled on politically controversial issues. From elections to civil rights, from abortion to free speech, the justices frequently weigh in on the country’s most debated problems.

And because of the court’s influence over national policy, political parties and interest groups battle fiercely over who gets appointed to the high court.

The public typically finds out about the court – including its significant decisions and the politics surrounding appointments – from the news media. While elected officeholders and candidates make direct appeals to their voters, the justices and Supreme Court nominees are different – they largely rely on the news to disseminate information about the court, giving the public at least a cursory understanding.

Recently, something has changed in newspaper coverage of the Supreme Court. As scholars of judicial politics, political institutions and political behavior, we set out to understand precisely how media coverage of the court has changed over the past 40 years. Specifically, we analyzed the content of every article referencing the Supreme Court in five major newspapers from 1980 to 2023.

Of course, people get their news from a variety of sources, but we have no reason to believe the trends we uncovered in our research of traditional newspapers do not apply broadly. Research indicates that alternative media sources largely follow the lead of traditional beat reporters.

What we found: Politics has a much stronger presence in articles today than in years past, with a notable increase beginning in 2016.

When public goodwill prevailed

Not many cases have been more important in the past quarter-century or, from a partisan perspective, more contentious than Bush v. Gore – the December 2000 ruling that stopped a ballot recount, resulting in then-Texas Governor George W. Bush defeating Democratic candidate Al Gore and winning the presidential election.

Bush v. Gore is particularly interesting to us because nine unelected, life-tenured justices functionally decided an election.

The New York Times story about the Supreme Court’s decision in Bush v. Gore indicated the justices’ names and votes but neither the party of the president who appointed them nor their ideological leanings.
Screenshot, The New York Times

Surprisingly, the court’s public support didn’t suffer, ostensibly because the court had built up a sufficient store of public goodwill.

One reason public support remained steady following Bush v. Gore might be newspaper coverage. Although the court’s decision reflected the justices’ ideologies, with the more conservative members effectively voting to end the recount and its more liberal members voting in favor of the recount, newspapers largely ignored the role of politics in the decision.

For example, the New York Times case coverage indicated the justices’ names and their votes but mentioned neither the party of the president who appointed them nor their ideological leanings. The words “Democrat,” “Republican,” “liberal” and “conservative” – what we call political frames – do not appear in the Dec. 13, 2000, story about the decision.

This epitomizes court-related newspaper articles from the 1980s to the early 2000s, when reporters treated the court as a nonpolitical institution. According to our research, court-related news articles in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal hardly used political frames during that time.

Instead, newspapers perpetuated a dominant belief among the public that Supreme Court decisions were based almost completely on legal principles rather than political preferences. This belief, in turn, bolstered support for the court.

Recent newspaper coverage reveals a starkly different pattern.

A contemporary political court

It would be nearly impossible to read contemporary articles about the Supreme Court without getting the impression that it is just as political as Congress and the presidency.

Analyzing our data from 1980 to 2023, the average number of political frames per article tripled. To be sure, politics has always played a role in the court’s decisions. Now, newspapers are making that clear. The question is when this change occurred.

Across the five major newspapers, reporting about the court has gradually become more political over time. That isn’t surprising: America has been gradually polarizing since the 1980s as well, and the changes in news media coverage reflect that polarization.

Take February of 2016, when Justice Antonin Scalia unexpectedly died. Of course, justices have died while serving on the court before. But Scalia was a conservative icon, and his death could have swung the court to the center or the left.

How the politics of naming his successor played out after Scalia’s death was unprecedented.

President Barack Obama’s nomination effort to put Merrick Garland on the court were stonewalled. The Senate majority leader, Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the Senate would not consider any nomination until after the presidential election, nine months from Scalia’s death.

Republican candidate Donald Trump, seeing an opening, promised to fill the vacancy with a conservative justice who would overturn Roe v. Wade. The court and the 2016 election became inseparable.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pay respects to Justice Antonin Scalia, whose 2016 death brought lasting change in newspaper coverage of the court.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Scalia vacancy changed everything

February 2016 brought about an abrupt and lasting change in newspaper coverage. The day before Scalia’s death, a typical article referencing the court used 3.22 political frames.

The day after, 10.48.

We see an uptick in political frames if we consider annual changes as well. In 2015, newspapers averaged 3.50 political frames per article about the Supreme Court. Then, in 2016, 5.30.

Using a variety of statistical methods to identify enduring framing shifts, we consistently find February 2016 as the moment newspapers shifted to higher levels of political framing of the court. We find the number of political frames in newspapers remained elevated through 2023.

How stories frame something shapes how people think about it.

If an article frames a court decision as “originalist” – an analytical approach that says constitutional texts should be interpreted as they were understood at the time they became law – then readers might think of the court as legalistic.

But if the newspaper were to frame the decision as “conservative,” then readers might think of the court as ideological.

We found in our study that when people read an article about a court decision using political frames, court approval declines. That’s because most people desire a legal court rather than a political one. No wonder polls today find the court with precariously low public support.

We do not necessarily hold journalists responsible for the court’s dramatic decline in public support. The bigger issue may be the court rather than reporters. If the court acts politically, and the justices behave ideologically, then reporters are doing their job: writing accurate stories.

That poses yet another problem. Before Trump’s three court appointments, the bench was known for its relative balance. Sometimes decisions were liberal; other times, conservative.

In June 2013, the court provided protections to same-sex marriages. Two days earlier, the court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act. A liberal win, a conservative win – that’s what we might expect from a legal institution.

Today the court is different. For most salient issues, the court supports conservative policies.

Given, first, the media’s willingness to emphasize the court’s politics, and second, the justices’ ideologically consistent decisions across critical issues, it is unlikely that the news media retreats from political framing anytime soon.

If that’s the case, the court may need to adjust to its low public approval.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Supreme Court news coverage has talked a lot more about politics ever since the 2016 death of Scalia and GOP blocking of Obama’s proposed nominee – https://theconversation.com/supreme-court-news-coverage-has-talked-a-lot-more-about-politics-ever-since-the-2016-death-of-scalia-and-gop-blocking-of-obamas-proposed-nominee-259120

MIL OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Van Orden, Landsman, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Veterans’ Access to Non-Opioid Medications

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin 3rd)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ access to non-opioid pain medications.

The opioid epidemic has impacted nearly every demographic in the United States. In response, Congress passed the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act in 2022 so seniors on Medicare have access to and never pay more for non-opioid pain management medications.

To ensure veterans have the same access, Congressman Van Orden and Congressman Landsman have reintroduced the NOPAIN for Veterans Act. This legislation would reform the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles veteran pain management by requiring VA to furnish and cover non-opioid pain management drugs under VA pharmacy benefits if those drugs are covered by Medicare.

Original cosponsors of the legislation include Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ).

“I thank the VA for taking the issue of opioid administration mismanagement seriously and the great strides they have made over the years to improve care for our vets,” said Rep. Van Orden. “Veterans must have access to comprehensive medical treatment plans, and the NOPAIN for Veterans Act will provide pain management alternatives that are safer, more effective, and promote long-term recovery.”

“Our veterans deserve the very best care, which includes access to safer options for managing pain. Our bipartisan bill is a commonsense step to make non-opioid treatments more affordable and available to those who’ve served our country, and a way to prevent addiction before it starts. We can protect our veteran’s health and keep pushing forward in the fight to end the opioid epidemic,” said Rep. Landsman.
“In 2022, Congress took a critical step in our fight against the opioid crisis by passing our NOPAIN Act, providing better access to non-opioid pain medications for seniors,” said Rep. Sewell. “The NOPAIN for Veterans Act builds on our progress, ensuring that such treatments are available to our nation’s veterans as well. By increasing access to non-opioid therapies, we can empower more Americans to effectively manage their pain without risking addiction.”

“Our Veterans deserve access to every effective treatment available – without red tape or delay. The NOPAIN for Veterans Act ensures they get the care they’ve earned, especially when it comes to managing chronic pain with safe, proven non-opioid alternatives. This is a critical step toward improving quality of life while reducing dependence on addictive medications,” said Rep. Bergman.

“Veterans served and sacrificed for our country, and they shouldn’t face barriers to accessing the medications and treatments they need and prefer,” said Rep. Pappas. “Making non-opioid pain management more affordable and accessible to veterans is common sense for their health and for preventing addiction. This bipartisan legislation will close the gap on VA’s non-opioid drug coverage to help our veterans stay safe and healthy.”

“I am proud to cosponsor the NOPAIN for Veterans Act and am grateful to the sponsor for the opportunity to support an effort to protect my fellow Veterans with access to better healthcare options. Far too many of our Veterans have fallen victim to the Opioid epidemic due to lack of access to FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives. That is simply wrong. Our Veterans deserve access to the full suite of non-addictive pain management options and so much more,” said Rep. Hamadeh.

Read the full bill text here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Introduces Bill to Strengthen Global Telecommunications Security
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Bill Keating (MA-09) introduced the Securing Global Telecommunications Act to promote secure, trusted telecommunications infrastructure around the world.

“For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has held the reins on global telecommunications networks—surveilling citizens, cutting off countries’ internet access, and promoting its authoritarian agenda,” said Rep. Young Kim, who serves as chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. “We must work with our allies and partners to protect the technologies the world relies on each day from the CCP. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill with Congressman Keating and will keep fighting to ensure the United States leads in securing telecommunications infrastructure.”

“Today, we are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses and counter those who seek to exploit our telecommunications networks,” said Ranking Member Keating. “Every day, cybercriminals and hostile actors from Russia, China, Iran, and elsewhere target our critical infrastructure and that of our allies and partners. This legislation helps ensure that the United States can continue to promote the use of secure telecommunication infrastructure around the world.”

The Securing Global Telecommunications Act would support U.S. efforts to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure globally by requiring the State Department to:
- Establish a comprehensive strategy to promote secure telecommunications infrastructure, including mobile networks, data centers, and 6G and emerging technologies, around the world;
- Report to Congress on Chinese and Russian efforts to advance their interests at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU);
- Identify key opportunities for multilateral collaboration to strengthen and protect trusted telecommunications infrastructure abroad.
Rep. Kim introduced this bill alongside Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) in the 118th Congress, and it passed the House on September 10, 2024.

Learn more about the bill HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Canada’s proposed Strong Borders Act further threatens the legal rights of migrants
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Shiva S. Mohan, Research Fellow, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration program, Toronto Metropolitan University

Canada’s federal government recently introduced the Strong Borders Act, also known as Bill C-2, that proposes Canada tighten migration controls and modernize border enforcement between Canada and the United States.

Critics have warned the bill “could pave the way for mass deportations” as well as increase precarity for legal migrants.

Read more:
Why Canada’s Strong Borders Act is as troublesome as Donald Trump’s travel bans

Even now, under existing laws, a migrant could be “legal” and still be denied health care, lose their job or effectively be unable to leave Canada for fear of being denied re-entry.

Bill C-2’s expanded enforcement powers and increased risk of status revocation could make these precarities much worse.

This is already the quiet reality for thousands of migrants in Canada under their “maintained status”, formerly “implied status.” This status is a legal provision designed to protect continuity for temporary residents who apply to extend their permits.

Maintained status itself is not the problem. On paper, it offers legal protection.

But in practice, it often collapses because of the ecosystem in which it operates: fragmented institutions, absent co-ordination and lack of transparency.

Maintained status has been narrowed

In May 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) quietly narrowed the scope of maintained status.

Under the new rules, if a person’s first application is refused while they are on maintained status, any second application submitted during that period is now automatically refused.

This effectively strips applicants of legal status, including protections under maintained status, to remain in Canada. The change shows how even compliant migrants can lose status abruptly, further heightening the insecurity built into the system.

This is a clear expression of complex precarity: a condition in which migrants face legal, economic and social insecurity, even when they follow all the rules.

Maintained status is just one example of this larger phenomenon of Canadian policy generating hidden forms of exclusion.

Legal, but not recognized?

Migrants on maintained status are legally allowed to stay in Canada and continue working or studying under the same conditions as their expired permit. Yet no new permit is issued to confirm this status.

Proof of this legal standing varies depending on how a person applies. Those who apply online may receive a WP-EXT letter confirming their right to continue working. However, this isn’t issued to post-graduation work-permit holders, and expires after 365 days.

Paper-based applicants are advised that no such letter will be provided. Instead, they must rely on a copy of their application, a fee payment receipt or courier tracking information to demonstrate continued legal status.

If no letter is available, or once it expires, IRCC advises applicants to direct employers to the Help Centre web page as proof of their right to remain and work.

These workarounds are legally valid but fall short of what many employers, landlords and service providers consider adequate proof of status.

Read more:
Canada’s new immigration policy favours construction workers but leaves the rest behind

The limits of informal proof

My current ongoing research points to how employers following rigid HR protocols often reject informal documentation. Some migrants even obtain letters from immigration lawyers to explain their legal right to remain and work.

IRCC does not publish public data on the number of people on maintained status or how long they remain in that condition. Some front-line organizations have adjusted their services in response to this gap.

MOSAIC, for example, a major settlement agency in British Columbia, explicitly lists “migrant workers on maintained status” as eligible for support. This signals institutional recognition of the category.

The broader situation, however, reflects a disconnect between legal recognition by the state and practical verifiability in everyday life.

The risk of travel

Travel while on maintained status is legally permitted only under narrow conditions, such as holding a valid Temporary Resident Visa, being visa-exempt or returning from the U.S. under specific circumstances.

But even in these cases, leaving Canada terminates maintained status.

Migrants may be allowed to re-enter as visitors, but they cannot resume work or study until a new permit is issued. This introduces major uncertainties for people who may need to travel for family, emergencies or professional obligations.

Disparities in provincial health access

Access to public health insurance during maintained status varies widely across provinces.

In Ontario, OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) cards are directly tied to the expiration of work permits. Unless migrants know to proactively request extended coverage and can meet specific document requirements, they risk losing health insurance entirely. Even when eligible, coverage is not automatic and may require out-of-pocket payment pending reimbursement.

In Québec, RAMQ (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec) treats migrants on maintained status like new arrivals. They must reregister for coverage and face a three-month waiting period from the time of renewal, regardless of continuous legal presence.

In British Columbia, by contrast, the MSP (Medical Services Plan) offers temporary coverage for up to six months (extendable) to individuals on maintained status, provided they previously held MSP and submit IRCC receipt proof.

This more inclusive approach highlights how uneven provincial co-ordination amplifies the precarity of federal policy.

Infrastructure is needed immediately

Migrants face great risks on maintained status.

Despite investments in automation and digital infrastructure, IRCC continues to experience chronic processing delays, leaving migrants in prolonged uncertainty: legally present, but practically unrecognized.

To address this, Canada needs systems and resources designed to uphold legal recognition in daily life. It needs to:
- Create a secure centralized portal that allows migrants to control who can verify their legal status in real time. The U.K.’s share code platform and the American myE‑Verify system provide clear examples of how this can work, reducing confusion for employers, landlords, and service providers.
- Issue co-ordinated provincial guidance, particularly regarding access to essential services such as health care, so that front-line staff have clarity on migrants’ rights under maintained status.
- Protect continuity of status after international travel, ensuring that those who leave Canada while on maintained status do not lose the ability to return and resume work or study.
As Canada advances legislation like Bill C‑2, we must not ignore the country’s quiet erosion of its existing legal architecture for migrants.

Migrants on maintained status have followed the rules.

If we are serious about building trust in immigration systems, we must commit to infrastructure that is workable, visible and fair.

Shiva S. Mohan receives funding from the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. He has no other affiliations or financial interests that would benefit from this article.

– ref. Canada’s proposed Strong Borders Act further threatens the legal rights of migrants – https://theconversation.com/canadas-proposed-strong-borders-act-further-threatens-the-legal-rights-of-migrants-259349
MIL OSI Analysis –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Colonization devastated biodiversity, habitats and human life in the Pacific Northwest

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Meaghan Efford, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia

Burrard Inlet, known traditionally as səl̓ilwəɬ (Tsleil-Wat) in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, has been the heart of the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) since time immemorial.

An image of part of Burrard Inlet and the City of Vancouver taken from the International Space Station in April 2022.
(NASA)

The inlet is a water system that wraps through and around what we now know today as the city of Vancouver on the coast of British Columbia. The ecosystem is home to essential habitat for species like Pacific herring, Pacific salmon and harbour seals.

Burrard Inlet is also host to many commercial, industrial and urban developments and interests. This includes the Port of Vancouver, one of the largest marine ports in Canada and the terminal end of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Today, more than 2.5 million people call the area home and it’s a popular tourism spot.

This is relatively new, however. Colonization and urbanization have caused intense change and damage since Europeans first settled in the area in around 1792, with most changes occurring since the 1880s.

Through a collaborative research project between the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the University of British Columbia, engineering consultant firm Kerr Wood Leidal and Mitacs Canada, we assessed the impact of colonization on the Burrard Inlet ecosystem since Europeans first settled in the area.

When we look at the cumulative effects of specific events, we are adding the individual impacts of each event together to get a fuller picture of how colonialism impacted the ecosystem.

How we tracked change over time

We chose four sources of stress to the ecosystem to assess for this research:

1) The impact of smallpox on the ancestral Tsleil-Waututh population and the resulting health of the inlet.

2) The impact of settler fisheries, including Pacific salmon and Pacific herring.

3) The impact of settler hunting on land animals, including deer.

4) The impact of urbanization on the health of the ecosystem.

We used an ecosystem modelling software program called Ecopath with Ecosim, and modelled how these events impacted the inlet ecosystem between 1750-1980. We found there was a significant decrease in biomass (how much of a given organism is in an ecosystem) and available habitat.

We focused on 12 animal groups based on another collaborative project that focused on traditional Tsleil-Waututh diets.

To do this, we drew on multiple sources of data, including Tsleil-Waututh traditional ecological knowledge, archeological data, historical and archival work and ecological resources.

By combining these different sources of information, we can address gaps in each data source and weave together information to paint a fuller picture of ecological change over time.

An aerial photo of the Burrard Inlet’s North Shore and the Maplewood Mudflats taken by a Tsleil-Waututh field survey team by drone during a kelp survey in August 2020.
(Tsleil-Waututh Nation)

What we found

Our research highlights how shoreline change from events like the construction of the Port of Vancouver resulted in the loss of more than half of the intertidal habitat that clams, crabs, birds and fish rely on.

Along with over-harvesting, this has resulted in a dramatic population decline for these species. Clams and other bivalves have also become unsafe to eat due to pollution.

Over-fishing has been a huge problem. Forage fish, including Pacific herring, eulachon, surf smelt and Northern anchovy, collectively experienced a 99 per cent decline in biomass.

Pacific herring was completely wiped out by dynamite fishing, and only recently returned.

Pink salmon and chum salmon both experienced more than 40 per cent losses in biomass due to over-fishing. White sturgeon were almost wiped out.

Mammals didn’t fare any better: three-quarters of the deer and elk populations and over one-quarter of the harbour seal population in the area around the inlet were lost to hunting.

Smallpox had a devastating effect on Salish communities throughout the region. The loss of lives caused dramatic change in the ecosystem because it reduced how much food was taken out of the ecosystem significantly.

The smallpox epidemics only touch the surface of how colonization impacted Indigenous lives. Other events that we didn’t include in the model — like the Residential School system and the Reserve System, for example — severely limited or criminalized stewardship activities that Tsleil-Waututh and other Nations have been using to take care of their territory for millennia.

Tsleil-Waututh stewardship and sovereignty

Tsleil-Waututh people are specialists in managing and stewarding the marine, tidal and terrestrial resources of the inlet’s ecosystem. Tsleil-Waututh salmon stewardship sustainably maintained a chum salmon fishery for almost 3,000 years.

The research questions, priorities and direction of our project were established through frequent collaborative meetings. This approach ensured Tsleil-Waututh co-authors and colleagues were involved in every step of the research.

This kind of community-driven work is complex. It is also incredibly valuable for understanding ecosystem change over time. Without the leadership and knowledge of Tsleil-Waututh knowledge-holders, this research would have had massive data and knowledge gaps and the work would have much less significance.

This is an example of transdisciplinary research: research that is interdisciplinary, that draws on multiple disciplines for data and methods and is grounded in community from the beginning.

Our research shows that colonialism has had a devastating impact on habitats and biodiversity in and around Burrard Inlet. This is not just an ecological story, but a human story that speaks to the wide-reaching impacts of colonization. It is an intertwined story that shows how harmful colonization and rapid urbanization can be, both to humans and to the ecosystems we call home.

Meaghan Efford received funding from Mitacs Canada through a collaborative project with Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

– ref. Colonization devastated biodiversity, habitats and human life in the Pacific Northwest – https://theconversation.com/colonization-devastated-biodiversity-habitats-and-human-life-in-the-pacific-northwest-260791

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: [Video] [Galaxy Unpacked 2025] Galaxy and the City: Lighting Up NYC, One Fold at a Time

Source: Samsung

What’s the first city that comes to mind when you think of energy, creativity and culture?

For many, it’s New York City — where skyscrapers touch the sky, scenes unfold on screen and culture thrives in every corner. And now, it’s also the place to get hands-on with Samsung Electronics’ latest mobile devices.

On July 9, the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Watch8 series made their grand debut at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in Brooklyn. But the excitement didn’t stop there.

Just across the East River, the Galaxy Experience Space in SoHo, Manhattan, is now open for visitors to explore the latest Galaxy innovations up close. From immersive product demos to daily workshops and even exclusive influencer meet-ups, the space offers an interactive playground for all things Galaxy.

And the experience goes far beyond four walls. From Flatiron Public Plaza and Union Square Park to Chelsea Triangle and Astor Place, Galaxy Hangouts are popping up all over Manhattan’s most iconic spots. It’s the ultimate city-wide showcase, teeming with the unmistakable energy of New York.

Ready to experience it yourself? Check out the video below and see how Galaxy is unfolding across the streets of New York.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Obernolte, DeGette, Carter, and Peters introduce bill to improve Congressional Budget Office scoring of preventative health savings

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia)

Washington, DC – This week, Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), and Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize how Congress evaluates the fiscal impact of preventive health care policies.

The Preventative Health Savings Act would establish a mechanism within existing law for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to assess long-term budgetary savings from preventive health care legislation over a 30-year window. Under current rules, the CBO primarily scores legislation within a 10-year budget window—an approach that often overlooks the full financial benefits of policies aimed at improving long-term health outcomes.

“Our budget process should reward forward planning, not penalize it. By enabling the CBO to account for long-term savings from preventive healthcare, this legislation brings much-needed precision and responsibility to how Congress evaluates public health investments,” said Rep. Obernolte. “It’s a commonsense reform that enables smarter federal health investments to strengthen both our healthcare system and the long-term fiscal health of our country.”

“The Preventive Health Savings Act will save our country money and significantly improve how Congress considers preventive health policy,” said Rep. DeGette. “With better assessments from CBO, there will be more informed decisions on the long-term costs of illness and care. I’m proud to work on this important, bipartisan bill with Rep. Obernolte to bolster our public health and fiscal standing.”

“CBO does not currently have the tools it needs to effectively score health care legislation. By providing it with assessment tools that weigh the value of preventative care, including treatment, prevention, and screening, we will have a more complete understanding of how taxpayer dollars are being used and will deliver better health care policies for patients,” said Rep. Carter.

“Our current budgeting system gives no incentive for Congress to make investments today that will save patient lives and billions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs in the future. That’s because Congress only budgets in today’s money, we can’t account for the financial savings that curing a patient today generates fifteen or twenty years from now,” said Rep. Peters. “The Preventive Health Savings Act is not a silver bullet to fix the way we budget, but it will give Congress better data on how our decisions today impact patients and reduce health care costs in the future.”

By allowing for long-range budget estimates, the bill aims to support evidence-based investments in public health and promote policies that both improve healthcare outcomes and reduce long-term federal health expenditures.

### 

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Africa’s financial sovereignty: Mobilizing institutional capital for development and resilience

Source: APO

As global capital flows evolve and development assistance dwindles, Africa finds itself at a critical point. On 28 May, during the African Development Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings (www.AfDB.org), senior leaders, policymakers and financial experts gathered to chart a new course for the continent’s financial future – one based on mobilizing and deploying African resources and ingenuity.

Organized by the Bank Group’s Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department, in collaboration with the Bank’s Making Finance Work for Africa initiative, this side event brought together leading African experts in a conversation moderated by Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank Group for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement.

With a 10 percent decline in development assistance and a 12 percent drop in foreign direct investment to USD 40 billion {in what period, and what’s the source of the data?}, the urgency of mobilizing domestic resources is pressing. The continent faces an annual infrastructure funding gap of between USD 68 billion and USD 108 billion, while attracting only 2 percent of global investment in this sector {Source?}.

“The real question is not whether the capital exists – it does. The question is how to mobilize it on a large scale for productive, high-impact investments,” said Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization.

He added, “Africa is not poor. Our institutional investors – pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and even central banks – together manage more than USD 2.1 trillion in assets. If just 5 percent of these funds were directed towards infrastructure and the private sector, it would unlock more than USD 100 billion in long-term capital for the continent.”

Partnerships and innovation

The event highlighted some innovative African-led models for mobilizing institutional capital. For example, InfraCredit Nigeria, a pioneering credit enhancement institution, has secured more than USD 300 million in long-term financing in local currency for infrastructure projects.

“The real risk associated with infrastructure assets is often overestimated. We have not recorded any losses on a portfolio of more than 20 projects in 12 sectors in eight years,” said Chinua Azubike, CEO of InfraCredit.

Tafara Ethiopis, Vice President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC, the World Bank’s private-sector arm) for Africa, emphasized the need to strengthen the bankability of projects through more effective risk-sharing mechanisms. “It is essential to calibrate the distribution of risks and benefits between the public and private sectors properly to make projects bankable,” he said.

Speakers also identified obstacles to mobilizing institutional capital and proposed solutions. Boitumelo Mosako, CEO of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), highlighted the central role of good governance and rigorous project preparation in lowering risk and improving investor confidence.

The Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Timi Agama, stressed the importance of building trust through regulatory reforms, investor protection and financial education.

Denis Charles Kouassi, CEO of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Social Security Fund, underscored the importance of aligning pension funds with national development priorities, saying, “All the income we generate is reinvested directly into the national economy to finance our services and boost growth.”

A call for collective action

The Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department of the African Development Bank Group is leading several initiatives aimed at mobilizing African institutional capital, including through instruments such as the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund, and strategic partnerships with regional and global stakeholders.

“Yes, we need governance and accountability. But as Africans, we also need to learn to trust each other,” said Mosako.

“The moment calls for vision. It also calls for innovation. And above all, it calls for action,” Quaynor affirmed, in his concluding remarks. “Let us pool our capital, our ideas, and our will, to build an Africa where infrastructure becomes a lever for prosperity, not a drag on it.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

To view photos from this session, click here (https://apo-opa.co/4f1e4og).

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: www.AfDB.org

Media files

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy votes for rescissions package to eliminate $9 billion in wasteful spending
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

WASHINGTON – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved the Trump administration’s rescissions request to cut $9 billion in wasteful spending from the federal budget identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This package, H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act, which accounts for one-tenth of one percent of the federal budget, returns to the U.S. House of Representatives for final consideration.

“President Trump ran on a platform of reducing the size of government and cutting unnecessary, wasteful spending. Thanks to his bold leadership and the support of the DOGE team, your hard-earned taxpayer dollars will no longer be wasted on this outrageous spending porn. American taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill to fund woke foreign aid or activist media. Their taxpayer money should be spent on initiatives that improve their lives, put more money in their pockets, and protect our great country. I’m eager for the House to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk for his signature,” said Kennedy.

Background:
- The Trump administration’s initial rescissions package totals more than $9 billion in unnecessary spending.
- This package codifies spending cuts identified by DOGE, including $1.1 billion of cuts from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding to NPR and PBS, both politically biased and activist media systems, at taxpayers’ expense and $7.9 billion in radical and wasteful foreign aid spending at the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), among other programs.
Some examples of the wasteful spending porn that the Rescissions Act will cut:
- $18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry.
- $6 million for media organizations and civic life for Palestinians.
- $3.9 million for LGBTQI+ populations in the Western Balkans.
- $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.
- $2.5 million to teach children how to make environmentally friendly “reproductive health” decisions.
- $2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity.”
- $1 million for voter ID in Haiti.
- $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.
- $500,000 for biodiversity in Peru.
Legislative Process:
- The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires the Executive Branch to spend the money Congress allocates each year, even though Congress allocated that money when President Biden was in office and Democrats controlled the Senate.
- Under the Impoundment Control Act, a new administration can attempt to permanently halt previously appropriated spending by submitting a rescissions request for congressional approval.
- President Trump did just that. In his initial rescission request, made in May 2025, he asked Congress to rescind roughly $8.3 billion from wasteful foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting.
- The U.S. House of Representatives approved these initial cuts on June 12, 2025. The Impoundment Control Act only gives Congress 45 days to approve a rescissions request.
The full text of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act, is available here.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Statement On Senate Passage Of The Rescissions Package

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement following Senate passage of a rescissions package that claws back funding for public broadcasting that has already been allocated by Congress.
“I’m appalled that Senate Republicans voted to slash funding for the programs that our rural communities rely on. Our public broadcasting system is one of the few remaining institutions committed to providing free, fact-based programming to every American–regardless of zip code. By rescinding funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), this legislation threatens to gut funding for the local radio and television stations that millions of families rely on for trusted news, high-quality educational content, and lifesaving emergency alerts.
These cuts will have a particularly devastating impact in rural communities, where stations rely heavily on CPB funding to stay afloat and where sources of local news are already limited. Public broadcasters often serve as the only source of information about natural disasters, transportation accidents, national security threats, and public safety matters in areas that face limited connectivity. In emergency situations, the closure of stations and reduction of this programming due to budget cuts could cost lives. On the education front, public television’s early childhood education services help ensure that every family has access to high-quality, non-commercial educational content, regardless of their ability to pay for such services. At a time when misinformation is rampant, taking away this content is dangerous and irresponsible.
Make no mistake; this legislation is not about saving money. Just weeks ago, the same Republicans who now call for cost-cutting at the expense of rural communities voted to give massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and add over $3 trillion to the national debt by supporting President Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ It’s outrageous, and the American people deserve better.
I will keep fighting to protect public broadcasting, support rural communities, and make sure that hardworking families have access to the resources they deserve.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján: GOP Vote to Rip Away Public Broadcasting Funds Endangers Rural and Tribal Communities

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

1500+ Local Public Radio and TV Stations At Risk of Losing Funding

WATCH: Luján Offers Motion to Recissions Package to Protect AMBER & Emergency Alerts

WATCH: Luján Sounds Alarm on Dangerous GOP Plan to Gut Public Broadcasting

WATCH: Luján Joins Democratic Leadership Press Conference on Cuts Package

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted for President Trump’s reckless plan to steal funding from public broadcasting and foreign assistance:

“On the heels of the devastating GOP Budget Betrayal that threatens to strip health care and nutrition assistance from millions of Americans, Senate Republicans have now passed a reckless spending cuts package that slashes funding for public broadcasting, threatens public safety, and undermines our national security. This is a dangerous rubber stamp for Trump’s unchecked power.

“In rural and Tribal areas, when disaster strikes, public broadcasting is often the only source of evacuation notices, shelter locations, and updates from first responders and law enforcement. Yet Senate Republicans voted to steal millions from public broadcasting that help keep our communities informed and safe.

“Even Republican leadership has acknowledged that the Trump administration has no real plan for how these cuts would be implemented. Without fully understanding the consequences, Senate Republicans blindly voted to strip away bipartisan funding and turn their backs on the constituents they were elected to serve.”

Senator Luján offered a motion to the Republican recissions package to protect public broadcasting and the lifesaving emergency alerts it provides. Last week, Senator Luján took to the Senate floor to call out the Trump administration’s plan to defund public radio and television stations nationwide following deadly flooding in New Mexico and Texas. This week, Senator Luján joined Senate Democrats in continuing to sound the alarm on the dangers of cutting previously allocated federal funding for public broadcasting.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – Advancing TARGET Services with DLT transactions: Welcome Address

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Welcome address
The Eurosystem launched a strategy to settle transactions recorded on distributed ledger technology (DLT) using central bank money. The initiative follows a two-track approach – Pontes and Appia – and will be built on the exploratory work on new technologies for wholesale central bank money settlement done with market participants in 2024. Learn more about how this strategy supports the wider EU policies and contributes to a harmonised and integrated European financial ecosystem.

Dimitri Pattyn, Deputy Director General, ECB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB1ccdH_4ts

MIL OSI Video –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – Advancing TARGET Services with DLT transaction: Findings from the Exploratory work

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Findings from the exploratory work
The Eurosystem tested three interoperability-type solutions in 2024 together with 64 participants which conducted 50 trials and experiments, with the aim of exploring the potential use of DLT to settle wholesale financial transactions. Learn more about the results of the exploratory work and the lessons learnt.

Paul Gardin, Market Infrastructure Expert, ECB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5BUSsIIRio

MIL OSI Video –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – Advancing TARGET Services with DLT transactions: Short-term track: Pontes

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Short-term track: Pontes
Deep dive into one of the tracks – Pontes which will provide a short-term offering to the market – including a pilot phase. It will offer euro central bank money settlement, linking market DLT platforms and TARGET Services to settle financial transactions. Learn more about the project roadmap and how you can be involved.

George Kalogeropoulos, Deputy Head of Division, ECB

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

MIL OSI Video –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – Advancing TARGET Services with DLT transactions: Long-term track: Appia

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Long-term track: Appia
The ECB will provide insights on its work on the long-term integrated ecosystem using DLT, the collaboration with public and private stakeholders, and the international dimension.

Holger Neuhaus, Head of Division, ECB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpALWGpS15w

MIL OSI Video –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – Advancing TARGET Services with DLT transactions: Closing remarks

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Closing remarks
Dimitri Pattyn, Deputy Director General, ECB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaB0tn30VnQ

MIL OSI Video –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State attends the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

News story

Secretary of State attends the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush

Tournament returns to Northern Ireland for second time in six years
Caption: Secretary of State Hilary Benn with The Claret Jug trophy and (L-R) United States Ambassador to the UK Warren A. Stephens and Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Ian Pattinson.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn has congratulated the organisers of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, and welcomed the significant benefits it will bring to Northern Ireland, following a visit to the event today (Thursday 17 July).

He said: “This week’s Open championship at Royal Portrush will shine a spotlight on Northern Ireland, showcasing its world-class sports facilities, tourism, and high quality local food and drink.

“It will give Northern Ireland a real economic boost and will set the stage for future investment and opportunities for Northern Ireland.

“To be chosen to host the Open twice in six years is a fantastic compliment, and I congratulate the organisers of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush on having achieved this.”

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Published 17 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: The Honourable Maria V. Carroccia’s Questionnaire
Source: Government of Canada News

Under the new judicial application process introduced by the Minister of Justice on October 20, 2016, any interested and qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for federal judicial appointment by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaires are then used by the Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada to review candidates and submit a list of “highly recommended” and “recommended” candidates for consideration by the Minister of Justice. Candidates are advised that parts of their questionnaire may be made available to the public, with their consent, should they be appointed to the bench. The information is published as it was submitted by the candidates at the time they applied, subject to editing where necessary for privacy reasons.

Below are Parts 5, 6, 7, and 11 of the questionnaire completed by the Honourable Maria V. Carroccia.

Questionnaire for Judicial Appointment

PART 5 – LANGUAGE

Please note that in addition to the answers to the questions set out below, you may be assessed as to your level of language proficiency.

Without further training, are you able to read and understand court materials in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to discuss legal matters with your colleagues in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to converse with counsel in court in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to understand oral submission in court in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
If you have answered yes to all four questions above, for both English and French, please answer the additional two questions below:

Without further training, are you able to write decisions in both French and English? *

Without further training, are you able to conduct hearings in both French and English? *

*Please note that the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs may conduct random verifications and assessments of candidates’ language proficiency as stated in their questionnaire.

PART 6 – EDUCATION

Name of Institutions, Years Attended, Degree/Diploma and Year Obtained:

University of Windsor, 1980-1984 Bachelor of Arts, Honours, English Language and Literature

University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, 1984-1987, Bachelor of Laws

Continuing Education:

n/a

Honours and Awards:

Special achievement, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law 1986-1987

PART 7 – PROFESSIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Please include a chronology of work experience, starting with the most recent and showing employers’ names and dates of employment. For legal work, indicate areas of work or specialization with years and, if applicable, indicate if they have changed.

Legal Work History:

1995-present, self-employed as a Barrister and Solicitor practicing in Windsor, Ontario. Practice restricted to criminal defence;

1990-1995 Gordner, Klein, Barristers and Solicitors, employed lawyer practicing criminal law;

1989-1990 Gignac, Sutts Barristers and Solicitors, employed lawyer practicing criminal law.

Non-Legal Work History:

1980-1987 part-time Pharmacy Assistant, Patterson Big V Drug Store;

1980-1986 part-time waitress, Caboto Club of Windsor.

Other Professional Experience:

List all bar associations, legal or judicial-related committees of which you are or have been a member and give the lilies and dates of any offices which you have held in such groups.

Windsor Essex County Criminal Lawyers’ Association, President 20 1 2-present, past president from 1999-2001

Windsor Justice on Target Leadership Team Committee 2010-2015

Windsor Criminal Justice Modernization Committee, 2015-present

Windsor Bail Committee, (Ontario Court of Justice) 2016-present

Pro Bono Activities:

n/a

Teaching and Continuing Education:

List all legal or judicial educational organizations and activities you have been involved with (e.g. teaching course at a Law Faculty, bar association, National Judicial Institute, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, etc.)

University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Sessional Instructor, Winter Term 2011 (taught course together with Michael Gordner)

Occasional lecturer in various courses at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, most recently on Nov. 1 1, 2018 in a course taught by Justice Sharman Bondy: Law Ethics

Community and Civic Activities:

List all organizations of which you are a member and any offices held with dates.

Member of the Board of Directors, Leone Residence for Women, 2008-present

PART 11 – THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN CANADA’S LEGAL SYSTEM

The Government of Canada seeks to appoint judges with a deep understanding of the judicial role in Canada. In order to provide a more complete basis for evaluation, candidates are asked to offer their insight into broader issues concerning the judiciary and Canada’s legal system. For each of the following questions, please provide answers of between 750 and 1000 words.

1. What would you regard as your most significant contribution to the law and the pursuit of justice in Canada?

I have been practicing criminal law for about 30 years. During most of that time, I have been a sole practitioner or worked in association with other lawyers. I do not work in a large firm. I view myself as a trial lawyer who “works in the trenches”. My contribution to the law is to represent my clients to the best of my ability, whether they are charged with minor offences or the most serious offences.

Over the years, I have conducted countless trials in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court. I have represented many different people from all walks of life. Some of the trials involved minor charges, while others involved very serious charges where the consequences upon conviction were also serious. While the majority of my clients have lengthy criminal records, I have also represented first time offenders, police officers, lawyers, doctors, and other people who are unfamiliar with our criminal justice system.

I have always tried my best to ensure that everyone I represented felt that they were treated respectfully and fairly, no matter what the outcome of their matter. As a sole practitioner, sometimes it’s hard to devote the time necessary to every client, but that’s exactly what you have to do. I have to remind myself that while I may have hundreds of files to deal with, for the individual client, their matter is the only one that matters.

Having said that, I try to maintain a relationship with my clients that allows for communication. In many ways, I am the one who interprets the law for them and explains the criminal justice system to them. Some clients have unrealistic expectations about the outcome of their matter. I have to explain and advise them on their jeopardy, their legal rights, their best course of action. In doing that, I always maintain that I will be honest with my clients, even if the information I am providing to them is not what they want to hear.

I also have several clients that I’ve represented for over 20 years. I have represented and continue to represent 3 generations of one family. These people trust me and rely on me. I deal with people who very often are at a low point in their lives, facing criminal charges.

I am mindful of the fact that I stand between the individual and the criminal justice system. In doing so, I try to conduct myself with integrity and honesty and try to accomplish the best possible outcome for my client in the circumstances of their case.

2. How has your experience provided you with insight into the variety and diversity of Canadians and their unique perspectives?

Practicing criminal law exposes a lawyer to clients from all walks of life. In my work, it is not unusual for me to deal not only with the client, but with their spouses and families. Their needs are individual, but in many ways, there are similarities. I am mindful of an individual’s background and beliefs and try to be respectful of those. My community is multicultural and as a result, I deal with people from a variety of cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. I find that I can learn from my clients just as they learn from me.

I try to accommodate their individual needs as much as is reasonably possible in the circumstances. For example, it is my practice to inquire as to whether or not my client identifies as aboriginal since that is a relevant factor to be taken into account at the bail stage or the sentencing stage in criminal matters.

I must fearlessly advance my client’s case in accordance with his or her instructions while maintaining my obligations as an officer of the Court. I am always mindful of the fact that my client’s perspective is without doubt influenced by his or his background and as a result, I try to make myself aware of his or her background, and I try to ensure that my client has an understanding of the process, whether that involves a guilty plea and sentencing, or a trial.

I believe it is important to have an understanding of the clients you are serving in order to better represent them.

3. Describe the appropriate role of a judge in a constitutional democracy.

All branches of government have a role to play within our democracy. Put simply, the role of a judge is to interpret the law. In the minds of most Canadians, a judge is the embodiment of the law. Therefore, I believe that judges must strive to be above reproach in both their personal and professional lives. They must be fair, open-minded and able to communicate effectively. A judge must be an impartial decision maker.

It is important to remember that judges do not create the law in a constitutional democracy, they interpret the law and apply it appropriately within the confines of the Constitution Act. One of the most important roles of a judge is to determine whether a law is constitutional or whether actions by the state comply with the requirements of the Charter.

4. Who is the audience for the decisions rendered by the court(s) to which you are applying?

The audience for the decisions of the Superior Court of Justice is the average Canadian citizen.

It is my view that a judge’s decision ought to make sense to an ordinary person, not just to lawyers, scholars and other judges. An individual should be able to understand the decision of a judge and the law upon which it is based even if he or she is not well-versed in the law. The law applies to all Canadian citizens, and judges should keep in mind that in order for the ordinary person to understand the judgment of a Court, they must be able to understand the interpretation of the law set out in that decision.

It seems that more recently, Courts have been striving to simplify the language used in their decisions so that an ordinary person can understand them more easily. For instance, the Charter is written in simple language so that it can be easily understood.

The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Regina v. Jordan garnered a lot of public attention. I believe that it was easily understood by the public because the Court established a simple formula to determine what constitutes unreasonable delay in the context of criminal trials. It is cases such as this one which make the law more easily understood by the public.

5. Please describe the personal qualities, professional skills and abilities, and life experience that you believe will equip you for the role of a judge.

I believe that I have an ability to deal with people from different walks of life. In my practice I have dealt with clients, other lawyers, judges, crowns, court staff and members of the public. I do this on a daily basis.

I believe I have an understanding of both sides of the issues in criminal law despite the fact that I have spent my career defending people charged with criminal offences rather than prosecuting them.

I have been the President of the Windsor Essex Criminal Lawyers’ Association for the last 6 years and as a result, I have participated in various committees which were made up of stakeholders in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court, including judges, crowns, police officers, court staff, lawyers, and corrections officials.

This allowed me an opportunity to have input into the decision-making process in both levels of courts and to represent the interests of criminal lawyers on those issues.

I am the mother of two children, and as such, I have developed an ability to balance my professional life with my personal life.

6. Given the goal of ensuring that Canadians are able to look at the justices appointed to the bench and see their faces and life experiences reflected there, you may, if you choose, provide information about yourself that you feel would assist in this objective.

I am the oldest child of immigrant parents from Italy. The first generation of my family born in Canada. My parents were not educated. They did not finish grade school, but they valued education for their children. Their first language was not English. My father was a construction worker; my mother was a homemaker. While I was growing up, I was often their intermediary when dealing with government agencies and English-speaking people.

While they encouraged me to further my education, financially, they were not always able to assist, so I worked part time jobs as a student to pay for my education. They taught me the value of hard work. We have a close-knit and loving large family.

As a female lawyer practicing criminal law, I was one of a very few when I started my practice in 1989, but I found guidance and mentors among the more established, mostly male criminal lawyers in Windsor. They answered my questions and gave me guidance when I needed it. I try to do that now with the new lawyers when I am asked to.

I have represented people who have committed violent acts, people with mental illness and people who are substance abusers. A good criminal lawyer has to have the ability to see beyond the “case” and see the person that they are dealing with. In order to do so, you must have a willingness to listen to your client.

I think it’s important that judges have that understanding of the people who appear before them.

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, Huizenga, Meeks, Shreve Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Export Controls, Keep U.S. Technologies out of Adversaries’ Hands

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), led House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04), House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), and Rep. Jefferson Shreve (IN-06) in introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen export controls enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

The Bureau of Industry and Security is responsible for enforcing export controls on dual-use technologies sold abroad. However, BIS currently operates with only 11 Export Control Officers (ECOs) worldwide to monitor compliance and detect illicit diversions. The Export Controls Enforcement Act addresses this shortfall by codifying the ECO program and requiring BIS to staff no fewer than 20 officers globally. In line with the Administration’s proposed $122 million budget increase for BIS, this legislation ensures that the additional resources are directed toward strengthening export enforcement and protecting sensitive U.S. technologies.

“California is the number one source of semiconductor manufacturing facilities and jobs in the country and plays a crucial role in advancing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “The U.S. cannot win the AI race if we do not safeguard our technological advantage. Pairing investment in U.S. innovation and R&D with effective export controls is critical to maintaining America’s leadership while protecting national security. With BIS’s licensing workload doubling since 2010, this legislation just ensures that BIS has the additional staffing needed to conduct thorough end-use checks, keeping our emerging technologies out of the hands of adversaries.”

“The current enforcement of export controls on sensitive technologies is simply inadequate,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “To protect our national security and preserve our technological advantage over adversarial nations, I am proud to lead the bipartisan introduction of the Export Control Enforcement Act. Currently, the Bureau of Industry and Security maintains only 11 overseas Export Control Officers. These individuals are responsible for conducting in-person end-use checks on tens of thousands of transactions that occur each year. The Export Control Enforcement Act will increase resources in terms of both manpower and capabilities in order to provide greater oversight of America’s most coveted technologies and prevent bad actors from circumventing our export control regime.”

“Without strong enforcement, our export controls are toothless,” said Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. “To tackle the problems of smuggling and evasion, BIS needs more export control agents abroad doing end-use checks on critical US technology. Having only eleven agents abroad is completely insufficient.”

“By strengthening our export control enforcement, we’re prioritizing our nation’s security. Adding additional Export Control Officers will help prevent adversarial nations like China from accessing sensitive U.S. technologies and information,” said Rep. Shreve. “It’s vital that we ensure the U.S. maintains our competitive technological edge over our adversaries. I enthusiastically joined my colleagues in introducing this crucial legislation.”

Bill text is available here.

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Women’s Caucus Co-Chairs Kamlager-Dove and Ross Unveil Policy Agenda to Demand a Better Future for Women; Defend Women and Families
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Thursday, July 17, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), led by Policy Task Force Co-Chairs Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Deborah Ross (NC-02), released its Better Future policy agenda, focused on economic security, affordable and equitable health care, and the safety of all women and girls.

This agenda comes at a time when women and families are under constant attack from the Trump administration and Republicans. From gutting reproductive health care access and cutting Medicaid to slashing food assistance and taking away critical resources for survivors of domestic violence, the Trump Administration and Republicans have launched a full-scale assault on women.

In the face of these relentless attacks from Trump and Republicans, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is not only dedicated to pushing back and defending women, but also paving a path for a better future for all women and girls.

That’s why the Better Future policy agenda calls for clear priorities that will actually help women and families across three pillars:
- Economic Security: Lowering costs, raising salaries, expanding paid leave, protecting Social Security, and investing in care work and women-owned businesses.
- Health Care: Defending reproductive freedom, expanding access to health care including Medicaid and Medicare, and improving maternal health.
- Rights & Safety: Ending gender-based violence, protecting voting rights, and confronting discrimination.
As the Caucus continues to fight back against Trump and Republicans’ attacks on women and families, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is keenly focused on continuing to push for proactive policies that will help women and families achieve a better future.

Read the full agenda here.

Para leer la agenda en español, haga clic aquí.

Democratic Women’s Caucus Executive Steering Committee Members support for the agenda:

“At 96 women strong, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting every single day for the economic security, health, and safety of all women and girls,” said DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “Yes, in this moment we must defend women from Trump’s relentless attacks on our safety, rights, and equal opportunities. But we are also demanding a better future for women and will fight to build a good life for all women. We will never stop pushing for the policies that make life better for women and for all hardworking American families.”

“As the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress continue to attack women and families, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is stepping up to demand a better future for women,” said DWC Policy Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37). “In the wake of record cuts to health care and food assistance, ongoing assaults on our reproductive freedoms, and the largest transfer of wealth in our nation’s history, we must defend our rights and livelihoods while striving for a brighter tomorrow for our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and beyond. American women can trust that the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting for them through the policies outlined in this agenda.”

“At a time when the rights of women and families are under continuous assault by Donald Trump and his allies, the DWC Policy Agenda meets the moment,” said DWC Policy Task Force Co-Chair Deborah Ross (NC-02). “We are laying out clear steps to lower costs, expand health care, and protect women’s reproductive freedom in the face of Republicans’ extreme attempts to roll back our rights. As Co-Chair of the DWC Policy Task Force, I am proud to unveil this agenda and will keep working toward a future where women and girls have the freedom and opportunity to thrive.”

“The Democratic Women’s Caucus is dedicated to building a future where every woman can live, work, and raise a family with dignity and security,” said DWC Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13). “Whether we are working to expand access to reproductive and maternal health care, lower costs for families, protect Social Security, or improve economic opportunity for women, I’m proud to lead these efforts with a coalition committed to putting women and families first.”

“In West Michigan and across the country, women are calling for real solutions—not political stunts. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is answering that call with a bold, unflinching agenda that demands a better future by defending the rights, health, and safety of women and families,” said DWC Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03). “From the grocery store to the doctor’s office to the ballot box, women are feeling the weight of Trump and Republicans’ relentless attacks. We are fighting back with policies that lower costs, expand reproductive freedoms, protect care workers, and ensure every woman has the chance to thrive.”

“I am proud to join my Democratic Women’s Caucus in demanding a better future for women and families. As the Trump administration continues to assault our rights, our health care, and our economic security, we are charting a new path forward. Our agenda is bold and focused on what women need: affordable health care, an economy that works for them, reproductive freedom, and safer communities,” said DWC Communications Task Force Co-Chair Shontel Brown (OH-11).

“When women and families thrive, our communities thrive. But right now, our freedoms, our healthcare, and our economic security are under attack. I’m proud to serve in a leadership position on Democratic Women’s Caucus and to promote this policy agenda demanding a better future for women, children, and everyone across the country to have the freedom, rights and opportunities we all deserve,” said DWC Member Services Task Force Co-Chair Melanie Stansbury (NM-01).

“Women and families deserve more—and we won’t wait for it to be handed to us, we are working for it now,” said DWC New Member Liaison LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). “The DWC’s agenda is a demand for a future built for women where costs come down, care is expanded, and everyone has an opportunity to thrive. We are standing together to create that future, and standing against the extremism of the Trump administration and Republicans who are trying to set back the clock.”

“As a proud member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, I’m committed to demanding a future where the needs of military families, especially women and children, are prioritized. That means improving access to safe, affordable, and high-quality child care and addressing the ongoing health care needs of our service members and their families, including their faster access to obstetric and gynecological care, and adequate medical staffing. These priorities are not just policy, they are essential to the success, readiness, and well-being of the families who serve, support, and sustain our armed forces,” said DWC Servicewomen, Women Veterans, & Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).

“Right now, women and families are under attack by Trump and Republicans in Congress — from our pregnancies to our paychecks — our autonomy is being eliminated. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is drawing a line in the sand: we demand an economy that works for women, health care that protects us, and communities where our rights and safety come first. This agenda represents our commitment to building a future where every woman and family can thrive with dignity and security,” said DWC Equality Caucus Liaison Julie Johnson (TX-32).

“As a proud Executive Steering Committee member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, I’m fighting for women, for families, and for the future we all deserve,” said National Leaders & Advocacy Organizations Liaison Joyce Beatty (OH-03). “Donald Trump and extreme Republicans love to call themselves ‘pro-family’—but ripping away healthcare and food assistance from children and moms, and attacking women’s freedoms, is anything but. You can’t be ‘pro-family’ while pushing policies that hurt moms, kids, and caregivers. Our DWC Agenda delivers what real families need: affordable childcare and healthcare, economic opportunity, reproductive freedom, and safe communities. These are common-sense solutions—and exactly what the majority of Americans support. Because when women rise, America rises.”

“I have always prioritized giving all women—including Latinas—the tools they need to thrive. But with President Trump’s dangerous policies targeting women and families, it’s more important than ever that we defend the progress we’ve made and find real solutions to support women”, said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison Andrea Salinas (OR-06). “As a Caucus, we demand an economy that works for women and families, better health care, safer communities, and fair pay. Upholding these rights will strengthen our communities for everyone, and I am ready to work alongside my colleagues to ensure that every woman can live without worry or fear.”

“With Trump and Republicans’ leading a full-scale assault on our fundamental rights, this moment demands a better future for women everywhere,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “The Democratic Women’s Caucus’ policy agenda lays out how we will continue to fight to support and defend women and families – whether that be by building an inclusive care economy, protecting and expanding reproductive health care, ending gender-based violence, or making gender equality the law of the land. I am proud to work alongside my DWC colleagues as we push back against this hostile Administration and continue to build the more just America that women and families demand and deserve.”

“Every woman deserves the freedom to care for a loved one without risking her job or paycheck,” said DWC Whip Sarah McBride (DE). “Paid family and medical leave isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for working families. As Trump tries to strip away our rights and economic security, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting back with a clear, compassionate agenda that focuses on the needs of women and their families. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to demand the dignity, fairness, and care that every working family deserves.”

“As a mom and a Member of Congress, I know the challenges women and families face every day—whether it’s finding housing you can afford, accessing healthcare no matter where you live, putting food on the table, or securing a good job and quality education for your kids. These are the kitchen table issues I fight for in Congress and back home in Hawaii,” said DWC Progressive Caucus Liaison Jill Tokuda (HI-02). “That’s why I’m proud to support the Democratic Women’s Caucus’ new policy agenda. It recognizes the essential role women play in building strong families, strong economies, and strong communities, and it defends our rights and the resources we need to thrive.”

“Women and families deserve an economy that works for them—not one that works for billionaires. The instability and rising costs created by Donald Trump and Republicans have made it harder for women to care for their families and build a secure future. We are fighting for an economy that prioritizes financial security, dignity, and opportunity,” said DWC Chief Whip Nikema Williams (GA-05). “That means lowering everyday costs, ensuring fair taxes, and protecting the basic programs women rely on. It means addressing workplace inequities like wage gaps and the lack of paid leave. It means expanding access to affordable childcare and long-term care, improving conditions for domestic and care workers, and supporting women small business owners.”

“As a member of DWC’s Executive Steering Committee, I stand united with our 96 members to demand a future where women and families are valued, protected, and empowered. We do not accept the recent attacks on healthcare and food assistance and remain focused on building towards an America that works for everyone, not just the few. Our fight is for fair wages, accessible healthcare, and affordable childcare and long-term care. A country where those who work their entire lives can retire with dignity, where parents feel safe to send their kids to school, and care workers feel valued. I’m proud to join my DWC family in this fight,” said DWC Senate Liaison Debbie Dingell (MI-06).

“At a time when women’s rights and freedoms are under unprecedented attack, I am proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus to say loud and clear: we will not go back. Our agenda is a bold commitment to securing economic justice, protecting access to health care and reproductive freedom, and ensuring that every woman can live in safety and dignity regardless of her income or zip code. While Trump and MAGA Republicans work to rip away reproductive health care, gut women’s health research, and more, we are fighting back. And we won’t stop until every woman has the freedoms and resources to thrive,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28).

“Since I was a kid, I’ve watched the women in my life fight every day to be seen, heard, and valued—for their work, their caregiving, their ideas, and their leadership. I’ve seen moms doing everything they can to provide for their families while being overwhelmed and under-supported. I’ve seen women on job sites doing the same work as men but paid less. Women have been clear about what they need: affordable childcare, access to health care, equal pay, and a cost of living that doesn’t force impossible choices. These aren’t new tasks, they’re long-overdue promises. That’s why I’m proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus to build a safer, more affordable, and equitable future for every woman and girl,” said DWC Whip Emily Randall (WA-06).

“As an OBGYN who has spent my career caring for women, I’m horrified by how women’s health is under attack in every direction from President Trump and his Republican majority in Congress. With attacks on everything from access to reproductive health care, to contraception, to perpetuating our maternal health care crisis, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are rolling back women’s ability to get the basic, essential care they need. I am proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus as we not only fight to defend women’s health – but put forward our vision for how we will ensure every woman can get the care she needs to be healthy and thrive,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Kelly Morrison (MN-03).

Advocate and ally support for the agenda:

“Women – and especially women of color – are under attack,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families Action Fund. “Women working full-time, year-round are still paid just 83 cents for every dollar paid to men; millions of workers lack access to paid family and medical leave and other caregiving supports; Black women face a maternal mortality crisis; and people across the country confront threats of criminalization for seeking abortion and reproductive health care. But instead of working on solutions to improve women’s health and economic security, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have attacked diversity, equity and inclusion programs, gutted federal agencies charged with protecting women and people of color and passed a tax bill that will threaten the physical health and financial security of millions of people. The National Partnership for Women & Families Action Fund is thrilled to endorse an alternative and affirmative agenda from the Democratic Women’s Caucus that centers women and women of color and champions the policies needed to advance women’s economic security, health and safety.”

“GIFFORDS is glad to see public safety as a top priority for the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Under the Trump Administration, women are being put at greater risk every day for gun violence. This dangerous administration has rearmed domestic abusers, made it easier for bad gun dealers to stay in business, and loosened restrictions on weapons like gun silencers and short-barreled rifles. Already, we know that abusive partner’s access to a firearm is a serious threat to victims of domestic violence, making it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. We must put a stop to this epidemic and I look forward to working with the DWC to advance their public safety agenda,” said Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director.

“Gen Z needs our elected leaders to step up and fight for our futures. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is showing us how they plan to fight for us with their Policy Agenda, and Voters of Tomorrow is proud to endorse this platform. We look forward to working with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, their members, and our allies on and off Capitol Hill to advocate for an Agenda that protects and empowers women and girls amidst ongoing attacks on our freedoms,” Grace Friedman, Policy Director at Voters of Tomorrow.

“As an organization focused on advancing public policies that address gender, racial, economic, and social justice, CLASP strongly endorses the Democratic Women’s Caucus Executive Action Agenda. To our collective detriment, our nation’s policies have neglected—and often ignored—the needs of women and their families. The Caucus’s agenda boldly promotes what women need to thrive in today’s unpredictable economy— child care, long-term care, paid leave, just wages, workplace protections, health care, retirement security, and more. CLASP supports this ambitious and necessary set of policies. The success of our nation and economy depends on it,” said Wendy Chun-Hoon, President and Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

The agenda is endorsed by:
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- National Partnership for Women & Families
- National Women’s Law Center
- Family Values @ Work
- The Black Maternal Health Federal Policy Collective
- National Health Law Program
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Equal Rights Advocates
- GIFFORDS
- Reproductive Freedom for All
- MomsRising
- Sexual Violence Prevention Organization
- Voters of Tomorrow
- Center for Law and Social Policy
- Sexual Violence Prevention Association
- Justice in Aging
- Paid Leave for All
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MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Seizures of contraband and unauthorized items at Warkworth Institution

Source: Government of Canada News

July 17, 2025 – Campbellford, Ontario – Correctional Service Canada

Between July 9 and 10, 2025, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, multiple packages containing contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Warkworth Institution, a medium security federal institution.

The items seized included tobacco, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, oxycodone, “shatter” (cannabis concentrate),THC, “grabba” (Jamaican tobacco), cocaine, as well as drug paraphernalia and cell phone accessories. The total estimated institutional value of these seizures is $158,215.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has heightened measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband or unauthorized items into correctional institutions.

CSC has set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.

The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Introduces Sunshine on Solar Lending Act to Provide Transparency and Lower Costs for Consumers
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
July 17, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL) introduced the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act, legislation that protects consumers from loopholes lenders use in solar financing arrangements, resulting in inflated costs, deceptive practices, and financial harm to families seeking to go solar.

The introduction comes after reports of lenders in the residential solar financing industry hiding substantial “dealer fees” that increase the cost of credit to unsuspecting homeowners. Investigations in Texas revealed that solar lenders add 10 to 30 percent in these fees to the loan balance, without clearly informing consumers.

“As more folks consider going solar, a consistent and safe system is needed to eliminate deceptive practices,” said Congressman Castro. “The Sunshine on Solar Lending Act fills current gaps and protects those considering purchasing a solar system and signing a loan. This legislation will empower consumers and protect them from hidden charges that lead to financial harm.”

“Solar panels help consumers reduce their carbon footprints and save money on energy bills, but deceptive lending practices will inevitably lead to fewer Americans embracing this green technology,” Congresswoman Norton said. “Consumers deserve transparency in solar lending practices, and the reforms in the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act will help ensure that Americans interested in purchasing solar systems can do so without being taken advantage of by deceptive lending practices.”

“Solar power is an important tool for energy independence, decreasing greenhouse gas pollution, and mitigating climate financial risk,” said Jessica Garcia, senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform. “Representative Castro’s bill is responsive to the need for more transparent and fair financial contracts for households seeking solar panels.”

“As homeowners turn to solar panels and other home improvements to embrace potential energy savings, unscrupulous lending practices and shady sales tactics increasingly have hijacked their experience,” said Christine Hines, senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. “Rep. Castro’s timely legislation will expose hidden fees and finance charges in solar financing and ensure that ripped-off consumers are empowered to hold violators accountable.”

“Homeowners purchasing rooftop solar face fraudulent and abusive sales,” said Alys Cohen, director of Federal Housing Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center. “This bill will help families understand the solar deals they are getting and protect them from hidden fees and surprise costs. It will also ensure they have help when they face problems with their solar purchase.”

The Sunshine on Solar Lending Act:
1. Closes a loophole that allows lenders to hide substantial “dealer fees” in solar financing arrangements.
2. Ensures that all costs including dealer fees are clearly disclosed to consumers before they commit to purchasing a solar system and signing a loan.
3. Allows harmed consumers to seek justice in court by prohibiting forced arbitration clauses in solar finance contracts.
4. Mandates clear, written disclosures including paper copies for in-person sales.
5. Empowers consumers to make informed decisions by comparing loan-financed costs with cash prices.
The bill is endorsed by the Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA), and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) on behalf of its low-income clients.

The full text of the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act can be found here.

Congressman Castro is committed to protecting consumers who purchase solar panels. San Antonio residents who are facing issues with the solar financing industry are encouraged to get in touch with his District Office by calling 210-348-8216.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Ruiz and Torres Condemn DHS for Blocking Congressional Oversight of Detention Centers
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

Congressional Lawmakers Demand End to Illegal Obstruction and Partisan Discrimination at DHS Facilities
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) and Norma J. Torres (CA-35) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem condemning DHS for unlawfully obstructing and delaying Members of Congress seeking to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities operated by DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers highlighted repeated violations of federal law, specifically Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which clearly prohibits DHS from denying Members of Congress unimpeded access to detention facilities or making changes that alter what is observed during visits.

“As Members of Congress, we visited the Adelanto ICE facility to ensure residents in our districts are not being subjected to inhumane conditions. The Department of Homeland Security’s sudden policy change requiring advance notice is unacceptable, unlawful, and clearly designed to block transparency and accountability,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight. We don’t need permission from DHS to lawfully do our jobs, and we won’t allow the Trump administration to keep moving the goalposts to avoid scrutiny.”

“For weeks, my office has been emailing DHS to schedule a visit, only to be met with shifting policies and ever-changing excuses for why Democratic Members of Congress can’t enter facilities,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “DHS is not above the law. Denying access to Democratic Members while granting Republican Members a free pass is not only illegal—it’s a dangerous abuse of power. Congressional oversight isn’t optional; it’s a constitutional duty. If DHS continues to obstruct and discriminate, then Congress must respond—through investigations, funding restrictions, or whatever tools are necessary to restore accountability and uphold the rule of law.”

The lawmakers are demanding written assurances by Friday, July 18, 2025, that DHS will:
- Cease all unlawful restrictions and partisan discrimination;
- Fully comply with federal law regarding congressional access to facilities; and
- Provide equal and prompt access to all Members of Congress regardless of party affiliation.
Full letter text

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Introduces Bill to Ensure Federal Employees Access to Personnel Records
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the introduction of the Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025, legislation that would prevent the Trump administration from withholding personnel files containing critical documents from current, separated, and retired federal employees. The bill would require federal agencies to provide these records within seven days of the employee’s date of separation.

“In a reckless and egregious overreach of power, the Trump administration has carried out mass firings and used aggressive tactics to intimidate and push federal employees out of their jobs,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “To make matters worse, they have shown a blatant disregard for these workers by delaying or outright denying access to personnel files that contain critical documents needed to file taxes, apply for new jobs, or claim unemployment benefits. I introduced this bill to ensure federal employees can access the records they are rightfully entitled to, without delay.”

“I have heard from federal employees across multiple agencies who have been unable to access their personnel files or who have discovered serious errors in their personnel records with no clear way to correct them,” Brownley continued. “Many were terminated after hours and immediately lost access to their electronic official personnel folders when they were required to return their government-issued devices on the spot. As a result, they were left without the paperwork they need to move forward with their lives, both professionally and personally.”

“Current and former federal employees have long faced challenges accessing their personnel files in a timely manner, for both professional and personal reasons,” said Randy Erwin, National President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). “While OPM has made progress for current employees, the system still falls short for those with limited or unsecure internet access, and completely excludes former employees. This bill is a game-changer, enabling employees and the government to process critical information more efficiently, allowing both to move forward without unnecessary delays.”

“In recent months, numerous high-performing, skilled federal employees faced unwarranted termination by this administration. The process through which they were notified was chaotic and disorganized. Questions were left unanswered, and the necessary documentation related to their termination was not provided prior to their dismissal,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). “The result is disappointing and heartbreaking: separated employees have been unable to file for unemployment insurance, enroll in new health care plans, and access the resources they need to survive in the wake of their termination. We’ve had reports of employees in the middle of cancer treatment losing their FEHBP insurance while unable to enroll in their spouse’s plan because they lack the required paperwork owed to them. I commend Representative Brownley for introducing this bill to ensure federal employees are provided access to their personnel files and appropriate paperwork so that they are not further harmed by these removals. This bill goes a long way to ensuring they are equipped to face the uncertainty that comes with unemployment; passing it is a matter of common sense and basic respect.”

Background

The Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025 will guarantee access to official personnel records for all current and former federal employees — whether separated due to retirement, termination, reassignment to another federal agency, or other circumstances — by:
- Requiring federal agencies to provide a separated employee with a copy of their official personnel file, in electronic and physical form, no later than 7 days after their date of separation
- Requiring the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to furnish a copy of a current employee’s personnel file within seven days upon request
- Entitling any former employees, who were separated prior to enactment, to their personnel files within 21 days of requesting their files be provided by OPM
The Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025 is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Managers Association (FMA), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), IAFF Federal Fire Fighters Joint Council, International Association of Machinists, International Plate Printers Union, National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA), Professional Managers Association (PMA), Senior Executives Association (SEA), National Association of Agriculture Employees (NAAE), National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO), and Patent Office Professional Association.

Read the text of the bill here.

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Issues: 119th Congress

MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: USGS delivers water-quality training in Thailand

Source: US Geological Survey

Participants in the water quality workshop gather on the Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand on 19 June 2025. The reservoir impounded by this dam is managed by the Thailand Royal Irrigation Department (RID) for the benefit of diverse farm communities below. The US Department of State sponsored the workshop, led by the US Army Corps of Engineers and USGS for the benefit of RID.

Subject matter experts Ariele Kramer and Zulimar Lucinda (KS WSC and OK-TX WSC, respectively) shared their experience and insights with USGS water-quality sampling techniques, data standards, and data interpretation with RID counterparts. Matthew Andersen from USGS Office of International Programs organized and administered the engagement for USGS.

Three days of site visits and four days of classroom instruction were employed for the exchange. USACE colleagues shared their experience and insights with sediment management, especially in reservoirs, to complement the USGS material, providing a robust U.S. Government training experience for which RID expressed deep gratitude.

The workshop ended with consensus about a series of additional training and workshops that RID would like to receive, subject to availability of funds.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Former U.S. Department of Energy Official Agrees to Pay $59,000 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

Source: US State of Vermont

Andrew L. Horn, a former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE), has agreed to pay $59,000 to resolve allegations that he violated conflict-of-interest rules prior to his departure from the agency in 2021.

Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests or the financial interests of certain parties with whom they have ties outside the government, including any organization with whom they are negotiating prospective employment. The United States alleges that in January 2021, Horn worked personally and substantially on a particular matter affecting the financial interests of a private company with which he was simultaneously negotiating contract terms to serve as a paid senior advisor following his upcoming separation from federal service. As part of the settlement, Horn has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that his conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees.

“The Office of Inspector General prioritizes the ethical conduct of executive branch officials and thoroughly investigates all allegations regarding potential misconduct with the thorough help of our colleagues at the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe F. Sessions of the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; DOE, Office of Inspector General; and Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Robbin O. Lee of the Civil Division.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Johnson, Baldwin Recommend Judges for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a letter to President Trump to recommend five individuals to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The recommendations came as part of their bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to provide recommendations for nominations during the 119^th Congress for U.S. Attorneys, U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

“I want to thank those on the Commission for the considerable time and effort they volunteer to ensure the Wisconsin federal courts and chambers do not become attractive forum shopping venues for partisan activists seeking a judicial bench open to constitutional overreach. I look forward to the President nominating one of these candidates to the Seventh Circuit,” said Sen. Johnson.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on Republican Rescissions Bill Defunding Public Broadcasting and National Security Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and national security programs, which had previously been appropriated by a bipartisan majority in Congress:

“It’s outrageous that enough Republicans caved to President Trump and OMB Director Vought’s pressure to go back on appropriations deals that a bipartisan majority of Congress had previously agreed to. A deal should be a deal. These cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the State Department, and USAID will make it harder for communities to access critical emergency alerts during disasters, and create more instability around the world by defunding initiatives that protect our national security. Republican efforts to defund faith-based charity organizations are particularly sickening. The Trump Administration and our Republican colleagues are not going to stop here, and we urge every American to continue to speak out against these attacks on the interests of the American people. We will continue to fight against further efforts by the Administration and Republicans to defund critical programs that Virginians rely on.”

The Republican rescissions package cancels funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $100 million for Virginia. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was authorized by Congress in 1967 and supports more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and TV stations, nearly half of which serve rural communities. It also cancels funding for the State Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including for global health programs, faith-based organizations, Afghan refugee programs, United Nations peacekeeping operations, the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and the African Development Foundation. The legislation will impact thousands of Virginia’s federal employees and contractors. A recent study found that if the current cuts to USAID continue through 2030, 14 million people could die.

Sens. Warner and Kaine filed a series of amendments in an attempt to improve the legislation, but none of them were added to the final legislation.

Sen. Warner’s amendment would have reduced cuts to assistance for African nations and helped strengthen trade, counter the malign influence of adversaries, and pursue economic development. The amendment would have helped ensure that China could not capitalize on the sudden vacuum of influence that will ensue if America withdraws its economic development initiatives on the continent.

Sen. Kaine’s amendments included eliminating cuts in funding for the Migration and Refugee Assistance and International Disaster Assistance programs, including funding for faith-based organizations; protecting funding for USAID and the Inter-American Foundation; preserving funding to defend against cyberattacks by Russia and Iran and keep fentanyl out of the United States; and eliminating cuts in funding for CPB for pre-K educational programming and any broadcasts and media stations that disseminate information during natural disasters and national emergencies.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on Republican Rescissions Bill Defunding Public Broadcasting and National Security Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and national security programs, which had previously been appropriated by a bipartisan majority in Congress:
“It’s outrageous that enough Republicans caved to President Trump and OMB Director Vought’s pressure to go back on appropriations deals that a bipartisan majority of Congress had previously agreed to. A deal should be a deal. These cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the State Department, and USAID will make it harder for communities to access critical emergency alerts during disasters, and create more instability around the world by defunding initiatives that protect our national security. Republican efforts to defund faith-based charity organizations are particularly sickening. The Trump Administration and our Republican colleagues are not going to stop here, and we urge every American to continue to speak out against these attacks on the interests of the American people. We will continue to fight against further efforts by the Administration and Republicans to defund critical programs that Virginians rely on.”
The Republican rescissions package cancels funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $100 million for Virginia. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was authorized by Congress in 1967 and supports more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and TV stations, nearly half of which serve rural communities. It also cancels funding for the State Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including for global health programs, faith-based organizations, Afghan refugee programs, United Nations peacekeeping operations, the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and the African Development Foundation. The legislation will impact thousands of Virginia’s federal employees and contractors. A recent study found that if the current cuts to USAID continue through 2030, 14 million people could die.
Sens. Warner and Kaine filed a series of amendments in an attempt to improve the legislation, but none of them were added to the final legislation.
Sen. Warner’s amendment would have reduced cuts to assistance for African nations and helped strengthen trade, counter the malign influence of adversaries, and pursue economic development. The amendment would have helped ensure that China could not capitalize on the sudden vacuum of influence that will ensue if America withdraws its economic development initiatives on the continent.
Sen. Kaine’s amendments included eliminating cuts in funding for the Migration and Refugee Assistance and International Disaster Assistance programs, including funding for faith-based organizations; protecting funding for USAID and the Inter-American Foundation; preserving funding to defend against cyberattacks by Russia and Iran and keep fentanyl out of the United States; and eliminating cuts in funding for CPB for pre-K educational programming and any broadcasts and media stations that disseminate information during natural disasters and national emergencies.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025