Category: DJF

MIL-OSI Russia: The Central Banks of Georgia and the Republic of Korea have launched a joint project to develop non-cash payments

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

Tbilisi, July 16 (Xinhua) — The central banks of Georgia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have officially launched a joint project to develop non-cash payments aimed at modernizing the payment infrastructure and expanding financial inclusion in Georgia, the National Bank of Georgia reported on Tuesday.

A delegation from the Central Bank of Kazakhstan and the Korea Institute of Financial Telecommunications and Clearing /KFTC/ recently visited Georgia on a working visit. During the visit, a cooperation agreement was signed, which provides for the launch of the above-mentioned project.

The parties expressed confidence that cooperation will make a significant contribution to the development of a modern and inclusive payment system, as well as strengthen economic ties between the two countries. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Scores killed in Sudan’s Kordofan region as fighting intensifies

Source: APO

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Amid ongoing communication disruptions in the area, confirming the exact civilian death toll remains difficult, but reports indicate that at least 300 people – including children and pregnant women – were killed in attacks on villages in Bara locality, North Kordofan State, between 10 and 13 July.

During the same period, a series of attacks – including an air strike on a school sheltering displaced families – reportedly killed more than 20 people, in the villages of Al Fula and Abu Zabad in West Kordofan State.

OCHA is also alarmed by reports of renewed shelling in Al Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, “deepening fears and insecurity among civilians,” the humanitarian coordination agency reported.

Tragic civilian toll

With thousands of people reportedly killed since the beginning of the conflict between former military allies-turned rivals over two years ago, the crisis in Sudan continues to take a devastating toll on civilians.

“These incidents are yet another tragic reminder of the relentless toll the conflict is taking on civilians across Sudan,” OCHA reported.

The office emphasises that civilians and civilian infrastructures – including schools, homes, shelters and humanitarian assets – must never be targeted, and called on all parties to the conflict to “fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Toll from displacement

Described as “the largest as well as the fastest growing displacement crisis globally,” by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in February 2025, displacement continues amid the fighting.

People fleeing North Kordofan, as well as El Fasher in North Darfur State, continue to seek shelter in the rest of Sudan, including Northern State, with humanitarian partners on the ground reporting more than 3,000 displaced people arriving in the locality of Ad-Dabbah since June.

Although some have received food assistance, the steady influx of newly displaced families is putting additional strain on already stretched resources.

With the rainy season approaching, OCHA warned that further hardship is likely, particularly as heavy rain and strong winds destroyed shelters and food supplies for about 2,700 displaced people in eastern Sudan this past Sunday.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Reaches New Settlement to Protect U.S. Workers

Source: United States Attorneys General

The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with H2A Complete II Inc., a Mississippi company, to address evidence that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it unfairly tipped the scales to hire H-2A visa holders over U.S. workers for agricultural employment opportunities.

This settlement is the second since the Department re-launched its Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative. Originally launched during the first Trump Administration, the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative targets, investigates, and brings enforcement actions against employers that intentionally discriminate against U.S. workers due to a preference for temporary visa workers.

Under the settlement, the company will pay $25,000 in civil penalties to the United States, undergo training, revise its employment policies, and not include excessive experience requirements in job postings that are unlawfully aimed at excluding U.S. workers from employment opportunities.

“American workers seeking jobs in their own country deserve priority,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will continue to protect our country’s workers from unlawful discrimination in favor of foreign nationals.”

“DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is protecting American workers from unlawful discrimination by employers that prefer to hire foreign visa workers instead of U.S. workers,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Protecting job opportunities for the American workforce is one of our top priorities.”

The public can call the Immigrant and Employee Rights free hotline at 1-800-255-7688 for workers or at 1-800-255-8155 for employers (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired) for informal assistance; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; email IER@usdoj.gov; or visit www.justice.gov/ier.

MIL Security OSI –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: King on Potential Recissions Legislation: ‘Checks and Balances Essentially have Melted Away’

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today spoke on the Senate floor to speak on the Senate floor against the ‘Recissions Package’ currently being considered. This legislation aims to remove Congressionally-approved funding from critical public services including, but not limited to, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which helps to fund Maine Public broadcasting and public interest newsgathering nationwide, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) which leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage and directs and coordinates the world’s response to health emergencies before they can pose a threat to American lives.

More specifically, King made the point that this bill is a further abdication of congressional authority to fund national priorities, also known in the Constitution as “the power of the purse.”

The full transcript of Senator King’s floor speech from this morning is below.

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“Mr. President, I’d like to talk today about the rescission bill that will be coming before us in the next couple of days, and I want to really cover two points – what is being done in this bill, and how it’s being done. I think they are equally important. In fact, I think perhaps how it is being done is more significant in the long run. The rescission bill talks about essentially two areas, public broadcasting, and USAID. In my view, the rescission, the total rescission of those two agencies, by the way –it is a total rescission— it’s not selective cutting of certain programs or partially, it’s the whole thing, both in the corporation for public broadcasting and USAID, go from bad policy to downright dangerous, and I want to talk about that for a minute.

“Public broadcasting has a unique place in the United States and our media environment in that it is the only media form not driven by advertising and advertising dollars. It cannot be driven by ratings. It therefore is able to provide programming to the American people that they probably almost certainly would not have access to otherwise. It wouldn’t simply find a home on commercial broadcasting because the ratings wouldn’t be there, but that doesn’t mean the programming isn’t important.

“My kids were raised on ‘Sesame Street.’ It made a huge difference in their readiness to go to school, in their understanding of language and numbers, and the whole basis of our education system. ‘Sesame Street’ is a program that wouldn’t find a home on commercial broadcasting. Likely, also with “Nova” with “Nature” and yes, the “PBS Newshour.”

“The [corporate] news business today has become more entertainment because it’s based upon advertising [and] attracting viewers and therefore is more inciteful. And I don’t mean – I mean that c-i-t-e not s-i-g-h-t. More inciting to people’s anger and unrest in order to keep them viewing. Whereas the PBS Newshour is pretty much straight news. It wouldn’t get ratings on MSNBC or Fox News, but it provides a source of news both in terms of nationally, but also in each state.

“The local national public radio “All Things Considered”, those kinds of programming are essential to providing information. Now, some people may think it’s biased. I don’t think anything done by a human is going to be free of any and all bias, but it is pretty much straight news. And it’s an asset to our communities, particularly our rural communities.

“And by the way, this isn’t where we have federal dollars that are supporting all of these initiatives. In fact, the majority of the support for public broadcasting, both television and radio, comes from the public, from contributions. So, in effect, our federal dollars are matched to a very high degree by the public making their own contributions. That’s an indication of how much the public values these wonderful assets to our information environment here in the country. And to cut off federal funding is just — it’s an essential piece of the funding. A lot of it goes to the local stations. We talk about the corporation for public broadcasting, we think of PBS and the national programs, but a lot of this funding ends up going to the local stations all over the country that provide essential sources of information to their public.

“By the way, the costs we’re talking about is ridiculously low. I did the calculation. The relationship between the cost of the public broadcasting to the federal budget is, let’s see, it’s seven cents to $10,000. That’s the ratio. Seven cents out of $10,000. That’s what we’re talking about here, an almost immeasurable part of the federal budget, but the return on investment is enormous. It’s enormous. If this were a gigantic $100 billion program, we’d be having a different kind of discussion, but this is a relatively small program in the context of the federal budget, with a very high return on investment to the American people.

“Now let’s talk about USAID and the [majority] whip was just talking about that. He listed a number of projects that I think are questionable, that I don’t necessarily support, but USAID is an essential part of our foreign policy to help to stabilize unstable parts of the world, to extend America’s soft power, to build America’s brand, and yes, to do some very essential projects. For example, in PEPFAR, which is an initiative of the George W. Bush administration, involving AIDS, the estimate is that that initiative since its beginning in 2005 has saved 25 million lives. 25 million lives were saved by that program that will be destroyed by this bill. You can’t tell me that having that level of benefit to the people of the world does not [result in] the benefit of the United States, the sponsor of the initiative.

“Same thing with malaria. The estimates are that the malaria program, which goes back to I believe it was the Obama Administration, has prevented 1.5 billion cases of malaria, which is a real plague in many parts of the world, and saved 11 million lives. Just those two programs together, those two USAID projects, have saved 36 million lives, and we’re talking about cutting them off. That’s not only bad policy, it’s cruel. It’s cruel, and it undermines the credibility of this country.

“Now, of course, foreign aid has a lot of benefits aside from the ones that I’ve just outlined. By the way, if the Congress and the Administration wants to cull the programs and say we don’t think this one is necessary, this is not a good expenditure of the people’s money, that’s fine. But that’s not what this bill does. This bill throws out the beneficial baby with the questionable bathwater. It is a total abdication of America’s engagement with the world.

“Vaccination campaigns, food security, nutrition programs, disaster response, refugee support. This aligns with our American values. As I say, it’s a relatively small part of the budget. It helps to stabilize fragile states. It cuts the risk of extremism and terrorism and conflict. And James Mattis put it best. General James Mattis, one of the most distinguished military officers of our time, said, ‘If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then you’re going to have to buy me more bullets.’

“That puts it most succinctly, you’re going to have to buy me more bullets, because the programs of USAID tend to stabilize the world and mitigate the tendency toward extremism and violence. And since we have started to gut A.I.D., which was one of the first actions of this administration in January and February, China has stepped into our shoes.

“I’m on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. I have seen and heard testimony that China is basically stepping in where we’re walking away. We are handing Africa and Latin America to the Chinese. In some cases, to the very programs that we were sponsoring. They’re the ones now engaging with local governments, local leadership, getting the credit for helping with these kinds of problems across the world. We’re giving away the goodwill that is part of the American brand. We’re giving away the opportunity to build alliances, to strengthen our influence, especially in competition with regimes like China and Russia.

“It also creates markets for U.S. goods and the U.S. economy. A significant share of the foreign aid ends up going back to businesses and NGO’s here in the United States. So, it actually contributes to our economic development. Countries that are receiving this USAID end up being partners and customers of U.S. goods, products, and services. I mentioned it saves lives, it aligns with our values, and there’s nothing wrong with talking about values. That’s a part of what we should be doing. USAID is doing important work all over the world. I met with USAID people in Kabul, Afghanistan. I met with them in Jordan, where they’re working on a water desalinization project that will literally save Jordan. Jordan is a country that has no water, and they’re facing a tremendous crisis. One of the projects that they’re relying on is a very large water production facility supported by USAID. That’s the kind of project that I think we need to continue.

“Again, I would not say that every single project they’ve sponsored is what I would have agreed upon. That’s our job as oversight bodies, to take a look at the projects being sponsored, the administration can also do that, and they can then cull the projects we don’t think are a useful expenditure of the government’s money, or the people’s money. But not the wholesale destruction of an agency that is critical, I believe, to the foreign policy of the United States.

“So, that’s the picture on these rescissions. I believe the more important question, though, Mr. President, as I’ve mentioned, is how this is being done. The question is, who has the power in our government over appropriations? That’s the fundamental question. Where is the power over appropriations, where do the federal dollars go?

“The answer, of course, is the Congress. Article 1, Section 8. The Congress has the ‘power of the purse.’ The president can submit his budget, and he can submit a budget that zeros out USAID, that zeros out corporation for public broadcasting. But then, the way the process works, we have hearings, we have meetings with the appropriation committee. The appropriators meet, decide, discuss, debate, and come to the floor with a bill that represents the consensus of those on the appropriations committee. And then we consider it here.

“This process that we’re talking about here—this rescission process—turns the whole thing upside down. It basically says the administration can decide programs that are going to go away, and you can take it or leave it, Congress. I believe it shreds the appropriations process. The appropriations committee, indeed, this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.

“The deeper problem, Mr. President, is I believe this is another step in Congress’ abdication of its constitutional authority, which has dramatically accelerated since January. The war power, Article 1, Section 8, an express power of the Constitution, we barely could have a debate about that, and the President attacked another sovereign country, which may have been the right thing to do, but there was no consultation, there was no attempt whatsoever to engage Congress, which has the power over declaring war, before that step was taken.

“Foreign trade, again, foreign trade, trade among nations is the term in the Constitution, is expressly delegated by the Constitution to the Congress, and the Congress has delegated some of that authority to the president, to a president, any president, under emergency circumstances. But this President has expanded emergency to mean just about anything.

“We learned this week he’s talking about a 50% tariff against Brazil because he doesn’t like the way the current government is treating the prior president. Has nothing to do with trade, has nothing to do with trade deficits or the tariffs. It has to do with something the President individually doesn’t like. That’s not the way the systems supposed to work. The up and down rollercoaster we’ve been on with regards to tariffs is a perfect example of why one person shouldn’t have this authority. This should be something done thoughtfully and systematically here in the Congress. Under Article 1 Section 8, to debate and decide what appropriate tariff levels there are across the world and not this helter skelter up and down changing every other day that has not only affected inflation in this country and brought it up, but it’s also created enormous uncertainty both in our markets and across the world. And finally, we see the power of the purse, Congress’s fundamental responsibility.

“And by the way, Mr. President, as I talk to my colleagues, particularly my Republican colleagues, about this issue over the last several months, one of the common refrains is, don’t worry, we don’t have to buck the President because the courts will take care of it. The courts will take care of us. They’ll protect us. Well, that ain’t happening. The ridiculous decision of the Supreme Court yesterday on the Department of Education is an indication that we cannot count on the courts to protect us from the depredations of an authoritarian, proto authoritarian regime. They basically said the President can continue to gut the Department of Education because we are going to hear the case later and decide when it comes. They did the same right with birthright citizenship. They punted on the issue and allowed the activities, the authoritarian-like activities to continue before they get to the case in their own good time.

“So we can’t count on the courts. That means we’re it. The Congress, the Senate has to stand up for the Constitution. What this bill is, is another building block in the edifice of authoritarianism that we’ve seen built, that we are seeing built before our eyes. A building block in the edifice of authoritarianism.

“Why is this important? Is this just a dispute between the Congress and the President, politics as usual. Democrats undermining a Republican president, and it’s just going to be all about the midterms and the elections of 2028? No, this is much deeper than that.

“The fundamental premise of the Constitution is the separation of power and the reason it’s there is because history tells us if power is concentrated, it’s dangerous. Madison put it bluntly in the 47th Federalist: ‘The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive and judiciary in the same set of hands may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.’ He used the word tyranny. Madison wasn’t mincing words. History tells us that if you concentrate power in one set of hands it’s dangerous. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We know that from 1,000 years of human nature. And that was exactly what the framers of the Constitution were trying to prevent by this complicated, difficult structure where there’s power in the Congress, power in the states, power in the executive, power in the courts, two houses of Congress vetoes, overrides.

“All of those checks and balances which has become a kind of cliche are there for a fundamental reason, and that’s to protect our liberty. To protect us from the danger of power being concentrated in one set of hands. Now the framers thought that they didn’t have to worry about this, having set up the Constitution the way they did, because they said never will the Congress give up its power. The term they used was ambition must be made to counteract ambition. That there would be institutional rivalry and we would never give up. They didn’t reckon on parties. They didn’t reckon on party primaries. They didn’t reckon on the executive having such sway with the legislative branch that the checks and balances essentially have melted away.

“So this bill is important because of the merits, as I talked about, about the danger of wiping out USAID and all the good it does in the world and the good it does for our country, and also wiping out public broadcasting and all the good that it does, the irreplaceable good that it does for the people in the United States.

“But it’s also more dangerous than ever because it’s one more step, as I mentioned, in the breakdown of the fundamental constitutional structure that says power must be divided, because if it’s concentrated in one set of hands — and I don’t care if it’s Donald Trump or the archangel Gabriel. It’s dangerous to have the power in one set of hands. That’s how we lose our liberty.

“Madison said when the executive and legislative are united in one body, there can be no liberty. Mr. President, we must listen. We must listen to history, to the people that brought us here, the people that brought us this government, the geniuses that formed this structure to protect the liberty of the American people. And it may seem like a small thing. This is one more bill, one more item. But it is one more step, in my view, toward empowering the executive at the expense, not of the Congress, but of the people. But of the people of the United States.

“Mr. President, I don’t know what it’s going to take, but I hope this debate, this discussion will lead us to finally say this is a line too far. We’re going to draw a line here, and we’ll establish a relationship with the president that is cooperative, collaborative, bipartisan, and sharing the power that the Constitution gives to each of us.

“There’s nothing less than the liberty of our people that’s at stake. I therefore urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and begin a discussion in the appropriations process as to these two elements and how they should be structured and funded. That’s the way it should be done, not by the dictate of a President, of one who is trying to collapse the authority in our Constitution into his own hands. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Hosts Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank Delegation, Commits to Strengthen Regional Investment Collaboration

Source: APO

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The President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr George Agyekum Donkor, has paid a courtesy visit on His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio at his state house office, where he noted that “Your Excellency, all macroeconomic indicators have been doing well. A sign that your government is doing well. Congratulations.”

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development is the leading regional investment and development bank, owned by the fifteen-member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Introducing the delegation to the President, the Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, revealed that the team is in the country based on an initial engagement the bank president had with President Bio, where an open invitation was extended for his visit to Sierra Leone.

In his address, the Bank President congratulated President Bio on his recent appointment as chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority. “Your Excellency, I want to thank you for the warm hospitality my team and I received in Sierra Leone. I also want to formally congratulate you on your position in the high office at ECOWAS.” He said.

“Your appointment is an endorsement of your leadership to deliver and the quality you have to lead the region at a time like this, when it is volatile. But we are sure that you are going to deliver,” he assured. He confirmed the Bank’s commitment and full support towards ensuring that President Bio succeeds during his tenure at ECOWAS.

Dr Donkor revealed that since they arrived in the country, they have met with key ministers of government and have already started conversations on key areas, including roads, tourism, infrastructure, and education, among others, noting that during their stay in the country, they will also be engaging key sector ministers for tangible investment areas.

The bank president pleaded with President Bio in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governance to assist the bank in ensuring it maintains its status as a non-political entity in the sub-region. This, according to the Bank, will help it develop and expand its reach, hence position itself to undertake more development projects in the sub-region.

While welcoming the Bank President and team to Freetown, President Julius Maada Bio thanked the Bank President for fulfilling his promise made during their engagement on the margins the ECOWAS Summit, where he personally requested the visit in order for the bank to deepen its ties with Sierra Leone.

The President expressed hope that during their visit, the bank will be able to engage several sectors, so it will identify outstanding issues that are within its scope. The President expressed his concern about regional economic integration for Sierra Leone and other countries in a wide range of areas because, according to him, “West Africa has great potential, which we want to not only develop but also tap into for our future.”

The President reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to deepening its relationship with the bank, revealing that the University of Kono is one of the top priorities on his agenda, and needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. In terms of roads, President Bio said his government doesn’t want to lead on mere physical infrastructure but rather, “We want to look at both physical and digital infrastructure, as well as that of our ecotourism,” he disclosed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ‘Bad Policy to Downright Dangerous,’ King says on Floor in Preparation for Vote on Recissions Legislation

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today spoke on the Senate floor against the ‘Recissions Package’ currently being considered by the governing body. This legislation aims to remove Congressionally-approved funding from critical public services including, but not limited to, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which helps to fund Maine Public broadcasting and public interest newsgathering nationwide, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) which leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage and directs and coordinates the world’s response to health emergencies before they can pose a threat to American lives.

More specifically, King made the point that this bill is a further abdication of congressional authority to fund national priorities, also known in the Constitution as “the power of the purse.”

Early in the speech, King highlighted the importance of public broadcasting and its impact on the American people.

King began, “Public broadcasting has a unique place in the United States and our media environment in that it is the only media form not driven by advertising and advertising dollars. It cannot be driven by ratings. It therefore is able to provide programming to the American people that they probably almost certainly would not have access to otherwise. It wouldn’t simply find a home on commercial broadcasting because the ratings wouldn’t be there, but that doesn’t mean the programming isn’t important.

King then spoke about international interests that have wide-ranging effects on the health and safety of people here at home.

“Vaccination campaigns, food security, nutrition programs, disaster response, refugee support. This aligns with our American values. As I say, it’s a relatively small part of the budget. It helps to stabilize fragile states. It cuts the risk of extremism and terrorism and conflict. And James Mattis put it best. General James Mattis, one of the most distinguished military officers of our time, said, ‘If you don’t fund the state department fully, then you’re going to have to buy me more bullets.’ That puts it most succinctly, you’re going to have to buy me more bullets, because the programs of USAID tend to stabilize the world and mitigate the tendency toward extremism and violence. And since we have started to gut A.I.D., which was one of the first actions of this administration in January and February, China has stepped into our shoes,” King continued.

King concluded the speech by speaking about the critical separation of powers that is ‘melting away.’

“All of those checks and balances which has become a kind of cliche are there for a fundamental reason, and that’s to protect our liberty. To protect us from the danger of power being concentrated in one set of hands. Now the framers thought that they didn’t have to worry about this, having set up the Constitution the way they did, because they said never will the Congress give up its power. The term they used was ambition must be made to counteract ambition. That there would be institutional rivalry and we would never give up. They didn’t reckon on parties. They didn’t reckon on party primaries. They didn’t reckon on the executive having such sway with the legislative branch that the checks and balances essentially have melted away.” King concluded.

Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution, and the need for Congress to assert its institutional role. Most recently, he invoked former Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith calling on his Republican colleagues to stand up to the President’s threats to democracy. King previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared” and a speech where he shared his growing concerns over the Trump Administration’s usurpation of Congressional authority. Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. More recently, he joined 36 Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sharing the detrimental effects of the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen Highlights Key Investments Secured in Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

**Shaheen secured more than $14.7 million for critical projects across New Hampshire**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Subcommittee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, participated in a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Ag-FDA Appropriations bill. In a unanimous vote, the Committee approved the bipartisan legislation, which would provide $27.1 billion in discretionary funding, including more than $14.7 million for critical projects across the Granite State, helping invest in a wide range of programs benefitting New Hampshire and the country.

“As Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I’m proud to deliver this bipartisan bill that will help address the high costs that so many Americans are facing and invest in rural communities across the nation,” said Ranking Member Senator Shaheen. “The resources we secured will help support our efforts to tackle housing, food and energy costs, ensure New Hampshire’s farmers have the support they need, invest in the outdoor recreation economy, protect public health and more. I’m proud to have shaped this legislation in a way that benefits the Granite State and all of America.”

Summary of Shaheen priorities included in the Agriculture Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026:

Defending Access to Food Assistance

Senator Shaheen has long fought to protect access to food assistance programs that help families put food on the table. In the FY26 Ag-FDA bill, Shaheen helped secure $8.2 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to help low-income families receive healthy, nutritious food products like milk, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and more. Shaheen also helped fund the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides food boxes for low-income older adults across the country.

Shaheen, who is also the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, successfully fought for the inclusion of funding to fulfill America’s commitment to international food aid programs. Specifically, the bill provides $1.5 billion for Food for Peace and $240 million for McGovern-Dole Food for Education—a bipartisan defense of these programs that address world hunger, save lives and create additional markets for American farmers.

Investing in America’s Rural Communities

In the FY26 Ag-FDA bill, Senator Shaheen built on her work to support rural communities across the nation, including to address the affordable housing crisis. The bill fully funds the Rental Assistance program so that participating families can remain housed, provides funding to preserve the existing affordable housing portfolio and makes $1 billion in financing available for very low-income homebuyers, many of whom are first-time homeowners.

Shaheen has continually fought for federal funding to help ensure Granite State communities have the resources needed to tackle the housing affordability crisis. In the FY24 Ag-FDA bill, Shaheen worked to include key provisions from her Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act. Those provisions were continued in the FY26 Ag-FDA bill. Shaheen’s standalone legislation would ensure that hundreds of thousands of low-income tenants in rural areas are able to maintain access to safe and affordable housing.

Shaheen has also led legislative action in the Senate to support energy efficiency projects and initiatives. Shaheen secured $4 million for a new Energy Circuit Rider Pilot program in the FY26 Ag-FDA bill to help ensure communities in rural America can take advantage of cost savings from energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The provision is based on legislation Shaheen recently reintroduced, the Energy Circuit Riders Act, to establish a new grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to help eligible entities hire local, on-the-ground experts that travel to rural communities and provide technical assistance on projects that help spur economic development and reduce energy costs that help ease rural property tax rates. This pilot is modeled after a successful program in New Hampshire through Clean Energy NH.

Protecting Public Health

The FY26 Ag-FDA Appropriations bill also provides vital funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stay ahead of the curve on approving medical products, regulating the food supply and more. Shaheen worked in a bipartisan way to defend the FDA’s budget, providing more than $7 billion in funding for the agency. Shaheen secured the following funding to protect the public health of Americans:

$5 million and report language at the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to develop and validate new surrogate endpoints, including C-peptide, that could help improve health outcomes and reduce disease burden for patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Gives the FDA the authority to seize and destroy illegal tobacco products at ports of entry, requires the Center for Tobacco Products to spend $200 million of their $712 million on enforcement activities and provides $2 million for the Coordination of the Interagency Tobacco Task Force.

Report language encouraging the FDA to prioritize the approval of biosimilar products.

Report language directing the FDA to provide a report on the challenges it faces preventing counterfeit drugs from reaching the market, including recommendations for how to address the problem.

Supporting Farmers with Vital Tools and Groundbreaking Research

Shaheen built on her longstanding work to support New Hampshire’s small and diversified farmers by defending the conservation tools used by the state’s agricultural producers to help protect and sustain their land’s natural resources. The FY26 Ag-FDA bill defends the Conservation Technical Assistance program, funding conservation activities at $949 million. The bill also maintains critical funding for Farm Service Agency staffing in county offices in the Granite State and makes $10.5 billion in farm loans available to help producers access capital across the country.

Shaheen was also able to successfully include $2 million for New England Protected Agriculture research at the Agricultural Research Service. The University of New Hampshire is well-positioned to help lead this effort. This research will help improve cultivation practices and help farmers extend the growing season for fruit and vegetable crops.

Supporting New Hampshire’s Outdoor Economy

Shaheen also secured continued funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program (SNOTEL), including an additional $2 million to continue the ongoing study regarding potential Northeast expansion of this program. Senator Shaheen secured the initial $1 million for this study in FY23 government funding legislation. Shaheen recently introduced the bipartisan Snow Survey Northeast Expansion Act with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) to establish a SNOTEL network across the Northeast to track mountain snow accumulation and precipitation rates.

Senator Shaheen also included the following Congressionally Directed Spending projects for New Hampshire, totaling more than $14.7 million.

Recipient	Project	Account	Funding ($)
University System of New Hampshire	Center for Excellence in Education and Discovery for Plant Science (CEED Plant Science)	Research Facilities Act Program	$1,925,000
Belmont Police Department	Drive to Safety	Rural Community Facilities Program	$73,000
Chesley Memorial Library	Chesley Memorial Library Energy Efficiency and Emergency Power Project	Rural Community Facilities Program	$95,000
Cottage Hospital	Cottage Hospital Asbestos Abatement	Rural Community Facilities Program	$1,725,000
Croydon School District	Croydon Schoolhouse Renovation and Expansion	Rural Community Facilities Program	$1,176,000
Families Flourish Northeast Inc	Interrupting Intergenerational Addiction	Rural Community Facilities Program	$1,000,000
Franklin Pierce University	Renovation and Upgrade to Health Sciences Facilities at Franklin Pierce University, Rindge Campus	Rural Community Facilities Program	$1,000,000
Maplewood Station	Maplewood Station Community Center	Rural Community Facilities Program	$750,000
The Walpole Foundation	Walpole Village School	Rural Community Facilities Program	$830,000
Town of Bethlehem	Bethlehem’s Transfer Station Project	Rural Community Facilities Program	$750,000
Town of Deerfield	George B. White Solar Project	Rural Community Facilities Program	$248,000
Town of Gorham	Replacement of Rescue Truck	Rural Community Facilities Program	$301,000
Town of Hampton	Hampton Public Safety Pier	Rural Community Facilities Program	$125,000
Town of Hancock	Hancock Fire Station Renovation Project	Rural Community Facilities Program	$600,000
Town of Unity	Unity Fire Station and Emergency Community Shelter	Rural Community Facilities Program	$2,100,000
Town of Walpole	Walpole NH Police Station	Rural Community Facilities Program	$2,058,000
TOTAL:			$14,756,000

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.

Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.

100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.

The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.

Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.

“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.

“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.

At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.

“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.

Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.

In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Acting Director Vought,

On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.

Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.

Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.

Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.

In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.

Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
- Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
- Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
- Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
- Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
- Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
MIL OSI USA News –
July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Slam Republican Attempts to Defund Public Broadcasting

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) slammed efforts by congressional Republicans to defund public media and revoke more than $1.07 billion in previously-appropriated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $100 million for Virginia. This move would cut federal support for more than 1,500 public radio and TV stations, nearly half of which serve rural communities.

“In yet another shortsighted effort, President Trump is now trying to gut public radio and broadcast TV news, which deliver impartial news, critical information, and educational programming to communities all across the country. As former governors, we are deeply disturbed by these efforts because we know that public media is often the only source of local news available to rural communities. We also know that public radio plays a key role in public safety, delivering emergency alerts during disasters like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires,” said the senators. “While our Republican colleagues in the House may be comfortable ceding their constitutionally-established authority over to a power-hungry president, we plan to fight this backwards legislation and protect the funding that was approved by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.”

Since 2013, public TV stations have helped the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system deliver emergency alerts to people’s cell phones via the stations’ own transmitters when cell companies’ connections fail. In 2024, over 11,000 alerts were issued by federal, state, and local authorities via the PBS WARN system. Similarly, the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which is managed by NPR, helps send presidential emergency alerts to local public radio stations nationwide—allowing critical communications to reach people, even when the internet or cellular connections fail.

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to approve and appropriate federal dollars. While a sitting president can propose the cancelation of appropriated funding, only Congress has the authority to revoke it, and must do so by passing a rescissions bill. The rescissions package being championed by Republicans comes in response to President Trump’s demand that Congress cancel $9.4 billion in federal funding, including $1.07 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was authorized by Congress in 1967 in order to ensure universal access to non-commercial, high-quality content and telecommunications services. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting delivers funding to more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and TV stations and serves as the largest single source of funding for public radio, television, and related online and mobile services.

The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month, is now under consideration by the Senate.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham confirm increased 50,000 capacity for National League play-off final

Source: Mayor of London

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham have confirmed that capacity for Sunday’s National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium between Oldham Athletic and Southend United has increased from 40,000 to 50,000.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Slam Republican Attempts to Defund Public Broadcasting

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) slammed efforts by congressional Republicans to defund public media and revoke more than $1.07 billion in previously-appropriated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $100 million for Virginia. This move would cut federal support for more than 1,500 public radio and TV stations, nearly half of which serve rural communities.

“In yet another shortsighted effort, President Trump is now trying to gut public radio and broadcast TV news, which deliver impartial news, critical information, and educational programming to communities all across the country. As former governors, we are deeply disturbed by these efforts because we know that public media is often the only source of local news available to rural communities. We also know that public radio plays a key role in public safety, delivering emergency alerts during disasters like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires,” said the senators. “While our Republican colleagues in the House may be comfortable ceding their constitutionally-established authority over to a power-hungry president, we plan to fight this backwards legislation and protect the funding that was approved by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.”

Since 2013, public TV stations have helped the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system deliver emergency alerts to people’s cell phones via the stations’ own transmitters when cell companies’ connections fail. In 2024, over 11,000 alerts were issued by federal, state, and local authorities via the PBS WARN system. Similarly, the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which is managed by NPR, helps send presidential emergency alerts to local public radio stations nationwide—allowing critical communications to reach people, even when the internet or cellular connections fail.

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to approve and appropriate federal dollars. While a sitting president can propose the cancelation of appropriated funding, only Congress has the authority to revoke it, and must do so by passing a rescissions bill. The rescissions package being championed by Republicans comes in response to President Trump’s demand that Congress cancel $9.4 billion in federal funding, including $1.07 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was authorized by Congress in 1967 in order to ensure universal access to non-commercial, high-quality content and telecommunications services. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting delivers funding to more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and TV stations and serves as the largest single source of funding for public radio, television, and related online and mobile services.

The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month, is now under consideration by the Senate.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Caroline Russell AM letter on protecting trans-inclusive public toilets after Supreme Court ruling

Source: Mayor of London

Responding to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act, Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell has written a letter. Caroline Russell has long campaigned for improved access to public toilets, and the letter reflects her continued commitment to inclusive and accessible facilities for all.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oral Statement on Afghan data breach

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Oral statement to Parliament

Oral Statement on Afghan data breach

Statement on a significant data protection breach from February 2022, relating to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement on a significant data protection breach from February 2022, relating to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy. This led to the High Court granting an unprecedented superinjunction. And the previous government establishing a secret Afghan resettlement route.

Today, I am announcing to the House a change in government policy. I am closing this resettlement route; I’m disclosing the data loss and confirm that the Court Order was lifted at 12 noon today. Members of the House, including you Mr Speaker, have been subject to this superinjunction. It is unprecedented.

And to be clear, the Court has always recognised the parliamentary privilege of proceedings in this House and Ministers decided not to tell Parliamentarians at an earlier stage about the data incident, as the widespread publicity would increase the risk of the Taleban obtaining the dataset.

But, as Parliamentarians – and as Government Ministers – it has been deeply uncomfortable to be constrained in reporting to this House.

And I am grateful today to be able to disclose the details to Parliament.

And I trust you, Mr Speaker – and Members – will bear with me, if I take the time to ensure the House now has the fullest information possible, something I discussed with you Mr Speaker, yesterday.

Mr Speaker, the facts are as follows…

In February 2022… ten months after the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, introduced the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and six months after the fall of Kabul a Defence official emailed an ARAP caseworking file outside of authorised government systems.

ARAP as the House knows is the resettlement scheme that this country established for Afghan citizens who worked for or with UK Armed Forces over the combat years of Afghanistan.

Both in Opposition – and in Government – we have backed this scheme and I know ARAP has had full support from across this House.

Now this official mistakenly believed they were sending the names of 150 applicants.

However, the spreadsheet in fact contained personal information associated to 18 714 Afghan who had applied to either the Ex Gratia or ARAP scheme on or before 7 January 2022.

It contained names and contact details of applicants – and some instances, information relating to the applicants’ family members.

In a small number of cases Mr Speaker, the names of Members of Parliament, senior military officers and government officials were noted as supporting the application.

This was a serious departmental error.

It was in clear breach of strict data protection protocols.

And it was one of many data losses relating to the ARAP scheme during this period.

Previous Government Ministers first became aware of the data loss in mid-August 2023 – 18 months after the incident. They became aware of the loss when personal details of nine individuals from the dataset appeared online.

Action was taken to ensure they were swiftly removed, an internal investigation was conducted and the incident was reported to both the Metropolitan Police and the Information Commissioner.

The Met deemed that no criminal investigation was necessary.

And the Information Commissioner has continued to work with the department throughout.

However, journalists were almost immediately aware of the breach and the previous administration applied to the High Court for an injunction to prevent the data loss becoming public.

The Judge deemed the risk warranted going further and on 1 September 2023, granted a superinjunction, which prevented disclosure of the very existence of the injunction.

Mr Speaker, that superinjunction has been in place for nearly two years, during which time 8 media organisations and their journalists have been served to prohibit any reporting.

And no government wishes to withhold information from the British public, from parliamentarians or the press in this manner.

In Autumn 2023, previous Ministers started work on establishing a new settlement scheme specifically designed for people in the compromised dataset who were not eligible for ARAP, not eligible for ARAP but judged to be at the highest risk of reprisals by the Taleban.

It is known as the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR). It was covered by the superinjunction.

The then-Government initially established the ARR to resettle a target cohort of around 200 principals but in early 2024, a combination of the Minister’s decisions on the scheme’s policy design and the court’s views had broadened this category to nearly 3,000 principals.

I want to provide assurance Mr Speaker – both to the House and the British public – that all individuals relocated under the Afghanistan Response Route, ARAP or the Home Office’s ACRS undergo strict national security checks before being able to enter our country.

And the full number of Afghan arrivals under all schemes have been reported in the regular Home Office statistics, meaning they are already counted in existing migration figures.

As Shadow Defence Secretary, I was initially briefed on the ARR by James Heappey – former Armed Forces Minister – on 12 December 2023; and issued with the super injunction at the start of the meeting.

Other Members of the present Cabinet were only informed of the evidence of the data breach, the operation of the ARR, and the existence of the super injunction on taking office after the General Election.

By this time, the ARR scheme was fully established and in operation. By this time it was nearly two and a half years since the data loss.

I have felt deeply concerned about the lack of transparency to parliament and the public.

I felt it only right to reassess the decision-making criteria for the ARR.

So, we began straightway to take a hard look at the policy complexities, costs, risks, court hearings and the range of Afghan relocation schemes being run across government.

Cabinet colleagues endorsed the need for new insights in the scheme in the Autumn last year while the scheme kept running.

In December 2024, I announced a streamlining of the range of government schemes we inherited into the Afghan Resettlement Programme, to better establish

value for money, establish a single set of time-limited entitlements and support to get families resettled.

And I would on behalf of the House, Mr Speaker, like to thank our colleagues in local government, without whom this unified resettlement programme would simply not have been possible.

And at the beginning of this year, I commissioned Paul Rimmer – a former senior civil servant and ex-Deputy Director of Chief of Defence Intelligence – to conduct an independent review.

This Review was concluded and reported to Ministers last month.

Today, I am releasing a public version of the Rimmer Review and I am placing a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

I am very grateful to him for his work.

Mr Speaker, despite brutal human rights abuses in Afghanistan, the Rimmer Review notes the passage of time – nearly four years after the fall of Kabul – and concludes…

First and I quote.. there is little evidence of intent by the Taleban to conduct a campaign of retribution against former officials…

Second…those who pose a challenge to the Taleban rule now are at greater risk of a reaction from the regime…

Three… and the wealth of data inherited from the former Government by the Taleban would already enable them to target individuals if they wish to do so which means fourthly he concludes, and I quote it is “highly unlikely” that merely being on the spreadsheet would be the piece of information enabling or prompting the Taleban to act.

However, Rimmer is clear – he stresses the uncertainty in any judgments… and he does not rule out any risk. Yet he concludes given this updated context, the current policy we inherited appears an “extremely significant intervention” to address the potentially limited net additional risk the incident likely presents.

Mr Speaker, the Rimmer Review is a very significant, but not the sole element in the Government’s decision to change policy, to change policy to close the ARR and to ensure that the Court Order is lifted today.

Policy concerns about proportionality, about public accountability, about cost and about fairness were also important factors to the Government.

And this was not a decision taken lightly.

It follows a lengthy process, including the Rimmer review, detailed ministerial discussions, and repeated consultations with legal advisors.

And just as I have changed government policy in light of the Rimmer Review, so the High Court today in light of the Rimmer Review ruled that there is no tenable basis for the continuation of the superinjunction.

Mr Speaker, to date, around 900 ARR principals are in Britain or in transit, with 3 600 family members at the cost of £400 million.

From today, there will be no new ARR offers of relocation to Britain.

From today the route is now closed.

However, we will honour the 600 invitations already made to any named person still in Afghanistan and their immediate family.

When this nation makes a promise, we should keep it.

Today, Mr Speaker, I am also restoring full accountability for the government’s Afghanistan relocations schemes to Parliament.

And I would expect select committees to hold us to account now, through in-depth inquiries.

Let me turn now if I may, to the practical action we have taken, as a result of this policy change and in preparation for the Court’s lifting of the superinjunction today.

Mr Speaker, my first concern has been to notify as many as possible affected by the data incident, and provide them with further advice.

The MOD has done this this morning, although I have to say to this House it has not been possible to contact every individual on the dataset due to its incomplete and out-of-date information.

Anyone who may be concerned can head to our new dedicated gov.uk website wherein they will find:

… more information about the data loss incident…

… further security guidance…

… a self-checker tool which will inform them whether their application has been affected …

… and contact steps for the dedicated Information Services Centre, which the MOD has established.

Mr Speaker, this serious data incident should never have happened.

It may have occurred 3 years ago under the previous government…

But to all those whose information was compromised, I offer a sincere apology today on behalf of the British government.

And I trust the Shadow Defence Secretary – as a former Defence Minister – will join me in this.

Mr Speaker, to date, 36 000 Afghans have been accepted by Britain through the range of relocation schemes.

Britain has honoured the duty we owe to those who worked and fought alongside our troops in Afghanistan.

The British people have welcomed them to our country, and in turn this is their chance to rebuild their lives the chance to contribute to – and share in – the prosperity of our great country.

However, none of these relocation schemes can carry on in perpetuity, nor were they conceived to do so.

That’s why, on 1 July, we announced that we would no longer accept new applicants to ARAP.

However, I will reiterate the commitment we made then to process every outstanding ARAP application and relocate those who may prove eligible.

And we will complete our commitment to the continuing the review of the Triples.

Mr Speaker, I recognise my statement will prompt many questions.

I would have wanted to settle these matters sooner – because full accountability to Parliament and freedom of the press matter deeply to me…

They are fundamental to our British way of life.

However, lives may have been at stake…

And I’ve spent many hours thinking about this decision – thinking about the safety of and the lives of people I will never meet – in a far off land in which 457 of our servicemen and women lost their lives.

So this weighs heavily on me – and it’s why no government could take such decisions lightly, without sound grounds and hard deliberation.

During this last year, we have conducted and have now completed this work.

And I commend this statement to this House.

Updates to this page

Published 15 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.
Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.
100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.
The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.
Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.
“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.
“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.
At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.
“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.
Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.
In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Full text of the letter follows:
Dear Acting Director Vought,
On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.
Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.
Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.
Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.
In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.
Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.
Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.
100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.
The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.
Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.
“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.
“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.
At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.
“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.
Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.
In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Full text of the letter follows:
Dear Acting Director Vought,
On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.
Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.
Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.
Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.
In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.
Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.
Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.
100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.
The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.
Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.
“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.
“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.
At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.
“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.
Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.
In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Full text of the letter follows:
Dear Acting Director Vought,
On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.
Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.
Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.
Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.
In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.
Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.
Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.
100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.
The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.
Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.
“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.
“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.
At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.
“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.
Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.
In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Full text of the letter follows:
Dear Acting Director Vought,
On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.
Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.
Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.
Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.
In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.
Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press Trump Admin. on Reversal of Medical Debt Rule
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 15 million Americans were poised to see their credit scores rise by an average of 20 points under a Biden Administration rule that would have removed medical bills from consumer credit reports. But the Trump Administration reversed course and joined credit reporting agencies in opposing the rule. On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to leave medical debt off consumer credit reports.

Now, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 26 other senators in pressing the Trump Administration for answers regarding the CFPB’s decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025.

100 million people in America — including 41 percent of adults – are burdened by over $220 billion in medical debt, according to KFF Health News.

The American Medical Association contends that medical debt isn’t an accurate barometer of people’s ability to repay other loans, because most bills are a one-time or short-term expense from a hospital stay or accident.

Warnock, Warren, Reed, Whitehouse and their colleagues are demanding the CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.

“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the 30 U.S. Senators wrote.

“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.

At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.

“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,” the senators closed.

Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Banking Committee and has strongly criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to diminish and downsize the CFPB. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. Currently, OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency and has failed to take action to ensure the CFPB protects Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.

In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Acting Director Vought,

On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.

Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.

Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.

Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.

In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.

Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
- Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
- Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
- Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
- Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
- Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
MIL OSI USA News –
July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: A polyclinic has been restored at the central city hospital of Svetlodarsk in the DPR

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

In Donbass and Novorossiya, the Russian construction complex continues to work on the restoration and major repairs of healthcare facilities, after which residents will be able to receive medical care there in modern conditions. Thus, the renovated polyclinic in Svetlodarsk of the Donetsk People’s Republic is ready to receive up to 500 patients daily, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

“A lot of work is being done in the reunited regions to create a social infrastructure that will improve the quality of life and provide services in comfortable conditions. The program for the socio-economic development of Donbass and Novorossiya has a comprehensive approach and includes not only the construction and restoration of buildings, but also tools for attracting specialists who will work, among other things, in the healthcare sector. Speaking about facilities, in Svetlodarsk, for example, a major overhaul of the outpatient clinic at the central hospital was completed. In total, we have about 300 such restored and updated facilities in the reunited regions. Among other things, medical workers are attracted to work in them under the programs “Zemsky Doctor” and “Zemsky Paramedic”. There are more than 100 such specialists today,” said Marat Khusnullin.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that during the major repairs of the 7,000 sq. m. building, under the supervision of specialists from the Single Customer in Construction, the roof, windows and doors were replaced, the interior was finished and the engineering systems were modernized.

“Implementation of programs to support reunited regions remains one of the key priorities of the Russian Ministry of Construction. Particular attention is paid to the development of social infrastructure, including healthcare. From 2022 to 2024, residents were issued 3.6 million compulsory medical insurance policies, which guarantees citizens all the possibilities of the compulsory medical insurance system. This is an important step in integrating historical regions into a single social space of the country,” said Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Almaz Khusainov.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin held a strategic session on the development of the aviation industry

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

M. Mishustin: “Our country has sufficient technological potential, all the resources to make a radical breakthrough in the field of aircraft manufacturing and, as a result, provide our citizens with guaranteed opportunities for convenient flights – comfortable, safe.”

Opening remarks by Mikhail Mishustin:

Good afternoon, dear colleagues!

Mikhail Mishustin held a strategic session on the development of the aviation industry

15 hours ago

Today we will look at important issues in the development of the aviation industry.

The President has set large-scale tasks for the industry to update the fleet of Russian airlines. Without a doubt, our country needs a modern air fleet based on its own technological solutions and a powerful production base.

In the context of sanctions and external restrictions, the creation of a full range of domestic equipment is necessary for the reliable development of connectivity between our regions and the achievement of the strategic goal of increasing the aviation mobility of citizens by one and a half times by 2030.

Of course, for this purpose new comfortable airport complexes are also being actively built, airfield infrastructure is being modernized, air traffic control systems are being improved, which contributes to the expansion of the route network. And as a result, flights on domestic routes are becoming more convenient for more people.

In order to ensure the independence of Russian civil aviation, a specialized federal project has been formed – “Production of Aircraft and Helicopters”. It has become part of the national project of technological leadership “Industrial Support of Transport Mobility”, which was launched, let me remind you, at the beginning of this year. It is planned to allocate a total of 765 billion rubles from the federal budget for its implementation over six years.

First of all, to create aircraft, competitive engines, electronic equipment, various technical systems. And the entire list of science-intensive equipment. We are talking about developing truly unique products that do not yet have Russian analogues, the production of which must be mastered.

Of course, here we are counting on the high efficiency and coordinated actions of our research centers, design bureaus, industry enterprises and many thousands of related companies that are involved in cooperation chains.

I will highlight several key challenges that aviation industry enterprises will have to overcome.

First of all, it is necessary to bring to successful completion the experimental design work on all implemented programs.

There are preliminary results. In particular, yesterday the operation of the onboard radio-electronic equipment was successfully tested during the flight tests of our flagship MS-21. For the first time, a laboratory based on the Yak-40 with a VK-800 engine took to the air, which will be installed on local aircraft – “Baikal” and the joint aircraft with the Belarusians “Osvey”.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the certification of the updated Superjet with the PD-8 engine is expected to be completed no later than December of this year. Just recently, let me remind you, it flew from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Zhukovsky. As did the regional airliner Il-114, which we examined in detail last week while visiting the Innoprom exhibition in Yekaterinburg.

And the MS-21 and Baikal should be ready for serial production – according to the plans we have – in October and December of next year, respectively.

I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues to the fact that specific deadlines need to be set for each type of aircraft. Including for import-substituted versions of the well-known Tu-214 and Il-96-300 models. As well as for our other projects, such as Ladoga and Osvey. And also for promising helicopters of various classes: from the lightest – Mi-34, Ansat, Ka-62 to the heavy ones – Mi-38, Mi-171. It is important that the final economic and flight-technical characteristics of the new Russian equipment correspond to the parameters agreed upon with the airlines.

Another equally serious task is related to the implementation of investment projects to expand production capacity at all enterprises of the cooperation, taking into account the high cost of credit resources today.

In order to provide systemic support for the construction and modernization of plant facilities, the Government approved a comprehensive program for the development of the aviation industry until 2030 three years ago.

Taking into account new challenges, it needs to be revised. It is also necessary to update the aircraft delivery schedules by year, based on the current situation.

I would like to emphasize that we cannot allow any delays that could hinder the growth of passenger traffic. This is a top priority.

Dear colleagues!

I propose to analyze in detail the current status of each project, the results achieved, as well as the existing challenges, and to develop solutions that will allow us to reach large-scale production of a full cycle of aircraft.

Our country has sufficient technological potential and all the resources to make a radical breakthrough in the field of aircraft manufacturing and, as a result, provide our citizens with guaranteed opportunities for convenient flights – comfortable and safe.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak: Joint work of Russia and Nigeria within OPEC makes a decisive contribution to ensuring predictability of the oil market

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Nigeria Olawale Edun.

“Russia values the friendly nature of Russian-Nigerian relations, which are based on the principles of mutual respect and similar approaches to current issues on the international and regional agenda. We see Abuja as a promising partner on the African continent,” said Alexander Novak, opening the negotiations.

The parties discussed full-cycle cooperation in the oil and gas industry: from geological exploration to field development, interaction in the energy sector, industrial equipment supplies, and in the financial and banking sector.

Particular attention was paid to issues of interaction and coordination of efforts within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and OPEC. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized Russia’s commitment to promoting the legitimate interests of gas exporters in global energy markets.

“Our joint work within OPEC makes a decisive contribution to ensuring stability and predictability of the global oil market. The decisions taken are based on real market indicators and trends and are aimed at balancing it in the face of economic challenges. We believe that our collective actions within OPEC and OPEC meet long-term national interests and contribute to strengthening the economies of our countries,” added Alexander Novak.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: 61% of our citizens are involved in regular physical education and sports

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

“Despite external challenges, the industry has been steadily developing. As of June 2025, almost 61% of our citizens are involved in regular physical education and sports. This is the main indicator of the effectiveness of state policy, which was determined by our head of state. Let me remind you that, according to the instructions of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, it should be at least 70% by 2030,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Last year, Russia hosted 645 international and almost 3 thousand national competitions, and held more than 2.3 thousand training camps in Olympic sports. Particular attention was paid to the development of new international formats. Russia hosted the BRICS Games and the Future Games (united participants from 116 countries in 21 phygital disciplines).

The Deputy Prime Minister named support for adaptive sports and veterans of the SVO as a key area of work. This topic was the focus of the meeting of the Council under the President. In 2024, 11 sports competitions were held for veterans of the SVO. In May of this year, the final of the Victory Cup in phygital sports was organized for them. On the instructions of the head of state, complex multi-stage competitions will be held for SVO participants, a comprehensive support system, infrastructure for training and rehabilitation will be built.

In 2025, a comprehensive state program was launched, within the framework of which at least 350 sports facilities will be built annually, and support for children’s sections, coaches, and mass adaptive sports will be strengthened.

“According to Rosstat, the total expenditure on sports in the country is about 700 billion rubles. One of the key tasks is to consolidate all these resources in the sports sphere, including extra-budgetary funds,” noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.

In addition, it is necessary to conduct an analysis of the impact of extra-budgetary sources on achieving the indicators of this comprehensive state program. The Ministry of Sports is preparing a system for rating regions by efficiency in the field of physical culture and sports. It is also important to regularly conduct research on the satisfaction of our citizens with the conditions for engaging in physical culture and sports in the regions.

“The return of Russian athletes to the world arena is our primary task. 67 international federations allow our athletes to compete in their events. Almost 4,000 Russians in 28 Olympic sports have been allowed to participate in international tournaments under the auspices of the federations. Our plans for 2025 include participation in 29 world championships and other major competitions,” said Mikhail Degtyarev.

In 2024, unified federations were created for gymnastics, water sports, canoeing, baseball and softball.

As the Minister noted, one of the most important instruments for strengthening the system will be the Russian Sports Fund, created this year on the instructions of the President. In 2024, the total amount of deductions from gambling on sports exceeded 35 billion rubles.

Special attention is given to our historical regions. The Russian Ministry of Sports will finance capital repairs, construction and reconstruction of sports facilities. Plans up to 2027 include, among other things: construction of 35 FOKOTs and 15 modular sports facilities, equipping 66 sports institutions with equipment.

The Ministry of Sports has approved a list of 24 most accessible sports for organizing free sections and preferential conditions for children from low-income families. An order has been issued by the Ministry of Sports banning application fees for athletes under 18 years of age at interregional and all-Russian competitions.

The GTO complex is an important tool for engaging in sports. 2.7 million people met the standards in 2024, more than 1 million received a gold badge.

On the instructions of the President of Russia, the “Zemsky Trainer” program was launched.

Dmitry Chernyshenko and Mikhail Degtyarev presented state and departmental awards in the field of sports. Among them were the Order of Honor, medals of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st and 2nd class, and others, awarded in accordance with the decree of the President.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: In the Zabaikalsky Krai, repairs have been completed on 30 km of the federal highway R-297 “Amur” Chita – Khabarovsk

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On the federal highway R-297 “Amur” Chita – Khabarovsk in the Zabaikalsky Krai, work has been completed to bring four sections of the road with a total length of 30 km up to standard. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

“This year marks 15 years since the federal highway R-297 “Amur” was launched. This is the only route between two major transport hubs and administrative centers of the country’s regions – Chita and Khabarovsk. As an eastward extension of the federal highway R-258 “Baikal” Irkutsk – Ulan-Ude – Chita, the road connects the western part of Russia with the Far East, and also provides access to the A-360 “Lena” highway to Yakutia and the Magadan Region. Of course, any road surface requires maintenance and timely renewal. And in order for motorists to remain comfortable, repairs have been completed on four sections of R-297 with a total length of 30 km – the road surface has been renewed, culverts have been repaired, and the barrier fence, signal posts and road signs have been restored,” said Marat Khusnullin.

The work was carried out under three government contracts on the following sections: km 115–km 125 near the settlement of Naryn-Talacha in the Karymsky District, km 270–km 275 and km 295–km 297, as well as km 323–km 337 in the Chernyshevsky District.

Additionally, on the section between km 323 and km 337 near Zhireken, a rest area was renovated and sunshades were installed to prevent the occurrence of subsidence or so-called Amur waves, which are formed as a result of the thawing of permafrost soils at the base of the road.

“The Amur Federal Highway is one of the most important elements of the Russian transport system. The average annual traffic intensity on this highway is growing every year. Thus, in 2022 it was about 2.5 thousand cars per day, and in 2024 – already more than 3.2 thousand vehicles. That is why we are constantly working to improve the transport characteristics of the road, including the use of innovative technologies and materials that can increase the durability and safety of the highway,” said Azamat Ilimbetov, head of the Federal State Institution “Zabaikalye Federal Highway Administration”, which carried out the repair of the highway.

Work to bring the route up to standard continues. By the end of 2026, more than 138 km of the R-297 “Amur” highway from Chita to the border with the Amur Region are planned to be repaired (including 30 km already commissioned). This year, a total of 84 km are planned to be commissioned.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: In the Zabaikalsky Krai, repairs have been completed on 30 km of the federal highway R-297 “Amur” Chita – Khabarovsk

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On the federal highway R-297 “Amur” Chita – Khabarovsk in the Zabaikalsky Krai, work has been completed to bring four sections of the road with a total length of 30 km up to standard. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

“This year marks 15 years since the federal highway R-297 “Amur” was launched. This is the only route between two major transport hubs and administrative centers of the country’s regions – Chita and Khabarovsk. As an eastward extension of the federal highway R-258 “Baikal” Irkutsk – Ulan-Ude – Chita, the road connects the western part of Russia with the Far East, and also provides access to the A-360 “Lena” highway to Yakutia and the Magadan Region. Of course, any road surface requires maintenance and timely renewal. And in order for motorists to remain comfortable, repairs have been completed on four sections of R-297 with a total length of 30 km – the road surface has been renewed, culverts have been repaired, and the barrier fence, signal posts and road signs have been restored,” said Marat Khusnullin.

The work was carried out under three government contracts on the following sections: km 115–km 125 near the settlement of Naryn-Talacha in the Karymsky District, km 270–km 275 and km 295–km 297, as well as km 323–km 337 in the Chernyshevsky District.

Additionally, on the section between km 323 and km 337 near Zhireken, a rest area was renovated and sunshades were installed to prevent the occurrence of subsidence or so-called Amur waves, which are formed as a result of the thawing of permafrost soils at the base of the road.

“The Amur Federal Highway is one of the most important elements of the Russian transport system. The average annual traffic intensity on this highway is growing every year. Thus, in 2022 it was about 2.5 thousand cars per day, and in 2024 – already more than 3.2 thousand vehicles. That is why we are constantly working to improve the transport characteristics of the road, including the use of innovative technologies and materials that can increase the durability and safety of the highway,” said Azamat Ilimbetov, head of the Federal State Institution “Zabaikalye Federal Highway Administration”, which carried out the repair of the highway.

Work to bring the route up to standard continues. By the end of 2026, more than 138 km of the R-297 “Amur” highway from Chita to the border with the Amur Region are planned to be repaired (including 30 km already commissioned). This year, a total of 84 km are planned to be commissioned.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The Republic of Abkhazia has joined the Student Tourism program.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Student tourism has become one of the topics sounded at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 10, 2025.

This season, a new international direction has been added to the Student Tourism program – now students, young scientists, postgraduates and residents studying in Russia will be able to choose the Republic of Abkhazia for their trip.

“The Student Tourism program is growing: 260 universities from 85 regions of Russia have joined it in four years. Participants travel not only around our country, but also abroad. Young people can travel to Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and now also to Abkhazia. In turn, more than 1,000 foreign students will visit Russian regions to get acquainted with the domestic education system and scientific agenda. Such trips contribute to strengthening cooperation between our countries and increasing the number of foreign students, as President Vladimir Putin instructed us to do,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The youth and student tourism program (Student Tourism) was launched on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It allows university students aged 18 to 35 to travel, staying in the dormitories of partner universities. Thus, the program assumes the effective use of infrastructure, when the dormitories, which can be vacated during the summer holidays, are occupied by students who come from other regions. The opportunity to communicate with peers is especially important here.

The goal of the program is to create a single space for the cultural, personal, scientific and professional development of Russian youth, as well as familiarization with the domestic education system and science. You can apply for participation on the platform studturizm.rf.

According to the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, the program contributes to the formation of a favorable educational environment and opens up new prospects for cultural and scientific exchange.

“Today, participants of “Student Tourism” can travel to 117 cities in Russia, as well as choose travel destinations beyond its borders. The guys have access to more than 1.1 thousand scientific infrastructure facilities, special educational modules and popular science routes have been launched,” he added.

The involvement of the Abkhaz State University (ASU) in the Student Tourism program started with an international blog tour in Sukhumi. It was organized in July by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science together with the International Youth Center of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba. Presentations of educational opportunities, meetings with university representatives, master classes, and cultural and excursion events were held at ASU. Students and representatives of media centers of Russian universities took part in the blog tour.

Head of the Student Tourism program Svetlana Nekhorosheva notes: “We at Student Tourism believe that students can easily, safely and affordably travel around Russia and the world. Abkhazia is an important partner in the development of youth exchanges and cultural dialogue. The accession of the Abkhaz State University opens up new prospects for students from both countries.”

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Results of monitoring maximum interest rates of credit institutions (07/15/2025)

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Central Bank of Russia –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

1 When determining the maximum interest rate for each credit institution:

— maximum rates on deposits available to any client (including potential ones) without restrictions and preconditions are taken into account. Deposits for selected categories of clients (pensioners, children) and purposes (for social and humanitarian purposes, etc.) are not considered;

— rates with capitalization of interest on the deposit are not taken into account;

— rates that apply under certain conditions (regular turnover on a bank card, constant minimum balance on a bank card, etc.) are not taken into account;

— combined deposit products, i.e. deposits with additional conditions, are not considered. Such additional conditions for calculating an increased interest rate may be, for example, the purchase of investment units for a certain amount, opening an investment account, registration of an investment or savings life insurance program, connection of an additional service package, etc.;

— deposits whose term is divided into periods with different rates are not considered.

The average maximum interest rate indicator is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the maximum interest rates of 10 credit institutions.

2 PJSC Sberbank (1481) – www.sberbank.ru, VTB Bank (PJSC) (1000) – www.vtb.ru, GPB Bank (JSC) (354) – www.gazprombank.ru, JSC Alfa-Bank (1326) – alfabank.ru, JSC Rosselkhozbank (3349) – www.rshb.ru, JSC “Bank Dom.RF” (2312) – domrfbank.ru, PJSC “Moscow Credit Bank” (1978) – mkb.ru, JSC “TBank” (2673) – www.tbank.ru, PJSC “Promsvyazbank” (3251) – psbank.ru, PJSC “Sovcombank” (963) – sovcombank.ru. The monitoring was conducted by the Department of Banking Regulation and Analytics of the Bank of Russia using information provided on the specified websites. The published indicator is indicative.

3 Average maximum interest rates on deposits: for a term of up to 90 days – 17.22%; for a term of 91 to 180 days – 17.39%; for a term of 181 days to 1 year – 16.93%; for a term of over 1 year – 15.08%.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The State Duma approved in the first reading the bill on investment programs in the housing and communal services sector.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

At a meeting on Tuesday, July 15, State Duma deputies supported in the first reading a systemic bill that will help increase investment in the housing and utilities sector and modernize the utilities infrastructure.

The bill was prepared in the context of fulfilling the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attract budget and private funds in the amount of 4.5 trillion rubles for the modernization of critical infrastructure by 2030.

“The bill introduces a rule for resource supplying organizations to approve investment programs. We also link these programs with depreciation already taken into account in the current tariffs. In the absence of legislatively established directions for depreciation, it is impossible to track what purposes it is spent on (major repairs, covering current expenses, or placing funds on deposits), since this remains at the discretion of the resource supplying organization,” Deputy Minister of Economic Development Mikhail Kaminsky noted at the plenary session.

Depreciation charges in the housing and utilities sector are part of the cost of fixed assets that organizations include in their costs to compensate for their wear and tear. Depreciation is already included in the tariffs that the population pays for housing and utilities services, while depreciation can also be used for purposes not related to the modernization of housing and utilities facilities, which leads to insufficient funding of investment programs and accelerated wear and tear of infrastructure.

Now the direction of depreciation to finance investment programs will become mandatory. This will allow the investment resource already included in the tariff to be used for the development of the industry. According to Mikhail Kaminsky, today no more than 10% of organizations have investment programs.

The mechanism of regulatory agreements, which will be extended to the heat supply sector and fine-tuned in water supply, will help support investments in the regions of the Russian Federation. The agreement will establish the procedure for determining and changing tariffs for the heat supply organization, and will record the obligations of the subject of the Russian Federation, the municipality to set tariffs for the entire term of the agreement. This is necessary to attract private investment and provide regions and municipalities with the opportunity to provide budget support measures to resource supply organizations.

“We are thus providing the opportunity to record long-term mutual obligations of resource supplying organizations, regions and municipalities: organizations will receive long-term tariffs that take into account investment programs for a period of at least five years, and regions and municipalities will receive modernized infrastructure facilities,” Mikhail Kaminsky clarified.

The bill also introduces a unified approach to monitoring the implementation of investment programs. Currently, regional state control over investment programs is carried out within the framework of tariff regulation. Now the bodies authorized to do so, which are determined by the region itself, will work according to the rules of the basic law on control. In particular, they will receive the right to inspect the implementation of investment program activities.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak held a meeting on the implementation of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on the implementation of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy”.

It was attended by representatives of federal and regional authorities, the Federal Assembly, the Bank of Russia, public business associations, the state corporation VEB.RF and the Moscow Exchange.

Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development reported on the current status of the implementation of the federal projects “Development of the financial market” and “Increasing investment activity”, respectively, which are part of the national project.

The Ministry of Finance is conducting an information campaign to raise awareness among citizens about the possibilities of investing in long-term instruments. This will increase the number of users of long-term savings programs with state support.

The agency also continues to work to reduce administrative barriers to attract foreign investors willing to invest in the Russian economy.

The President set a goal to increase the volume of investment in fixed assets by 60% by 2030 compared to 2020 parameters, as well as to improve the investment climate. A representative of the Ministry of Economic Development reported that dozens of projects in the field of private-public partnership and in the field of technological sovereignty are already being implemented with the support of the state and the active participation of businesses. 40 major investment projects are being implemented within the framework of the project financing factory. The process of concluding new agreements on the promotion and protection of capital continues, investors are actively using the federal tax deduction.

The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance, together with industry business associations and investment banks, to continue working to achieve the key indicators of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy” and the federal projects included in it in a timely manner.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Booker, NJ Democrats Demand ED Release Funding for K-12, Adult Education Funding

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led his Democratic colleagues in the New Jersey delegation in a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon to demand clarity regarding the Trump Administration’s unlawful decision to withhold nearly $7 billion in Congressionally Appropriated funding for K–12 and adult education programs nationwide, including over $162 million from the state of New Jersey.
“On June 30, 2025, just one day before these funds were supposed to become available, the Department of Education abruptly informed states that they would not receive funding as scheduled on July 1… No timeline was given for when states could expect a resolution. Typically, the Department provides state educational agencies with the formula program allocation tables and access to draw down those funds by July 1, which allows states and districts to plan, budget, and begin spending for the upcoming school year. This decision is financially destabilizing school districts across the country and directly jeopardizes the operation of the upcoming school year,” the lawmakers wrote.
“The withholding of these funds will have a widespread and detrimental impact on school communities throughout New Jersey, with disproportionate harm to high-need districts. The funds currently frozen represent almost 13 percent of the total federal K-12 funding that New Jersey schools received last year. Compounding this issue, New Jersey public school districts finalized their budgets for the 2025-2026 school year this past spring. Any loss of expected funding will create budget shortfalls, forcing districts to cut essential programs designed to serve students, their families, and educators,” the lawmakers continued.
“Congress lawfully appropriated these funds to address critical education needs, including student achievement, after-school enrichment, teacher training, and adult literacy. Withholding these funds is a reckless decision that jeopardizes the education of millions of students, resulting in layoffs, program delays, disrupted planning cycles, and delayed hiring. This also deprives students, especially those in high-need districts, of key academic support. Our schools, teachers, families, and adult learners cannot afford continued uncertainty. We look forward to your prompt response and the immediate release of the funds,” the lawmakers concluded.
To see a district by district breakdown of how the cuts will affect schools across America, click here.
The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Herbert Conaway Jr. (D-NJ-03), Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11).
To read the full text of the letter, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Global demand for meat and dairy set to rise, but climate and nutrition gaps remain
Source: United Nations 2

However, persistent nutritional gaps and mounting environmental pressures reveal a complex path ahead, according to a new study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – an influential international policy forum.

The Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, released on Tuesday, projects a six per cent increase in global per capita consumption of animal-source foods by 2034 – beef, pork, poultry, fish, dairy and other animal products.

The trend is most pronounced in lower middle-income countries, where intake is expected to rise by 24 per cent, far outpacing the global average.

“These projections point to better nutrition for many people in developing countries,” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO.

OECD‑FAO

Agricultural Outlook 2025‑2034

Increased incomes, better diets – but not for all

The surge in consumption in middle-income economies is attributed largely to rising disposable incomes, changing dietary preferences and urbanisation. In these countries, daily per capita intake of animal-sourced foods is projected to reach 364 kilocalories, surpassing the 300 kcal benchmark.

At the same time, consumption in low-income countries will remain low – reaching just 143 kcal per day, less than half the amount deemed necessary for a healthy diet – highlighting stark inequalities in access to nutrient-rich diets and the challenges ahead to ensure everyone is food secure.

Mr. Qu urged greater efforts to ensure people in the lowest-income countries also benefit from improved nutrition and food security.

Production expanding but emissions rising

To meet rising demand, global agricultural and fish production is projected to increase by 14 per cent over the next decade, largely driven by productivity gains in middle-income nations.

Output of meat, dairy and eggs is expected to grow by 17 per cent, while total livestock inventories are projected to expand by seven per cent.

However, these gains come at an environmental cost: direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are set to rise by six per cent by 2034, despite improvements in emissions intensity.

As production becomes more efficient, the emissions generated per unit of output will decline, but the overall footprint will still grow unless additional measures are taken.
OECD‑FAO

Agricultural Outlook 2025‑2034

Other key findings
- Cereal yields to grow 0.9 per cent annually, with harvested area expanding just 0.14 per cent per year – half the pace of the last decade
- By 2034, 40 per cent of cereals will go directly to human consumption, 33 per cent to animal feed, and the rest to biofuels and industry
- Biofuel demand set to rise 0.9 per cent annually, led by Brazil, India and Indonesia
- Sub-Saharan Africa’s beef herd projected to grow 15 per cent, though productivity remains just one-tenth of North America’s
- India and Southeast Asia will drive 39 per cent of global consumption growth by 2034; China’s share falling to 13 per cent from 32 per cent
- High-income countries to see drop in per capita fats and sweeteners intake due to health trends and policy shifts
A win-win: More nourishment, fewer emissions

The report outlines a scenario in which nourishment improves for all, and agricultural emissions are reduced by as much as seven per cent below current levels by 2034.

Achieving this dual outcome would require major investments to improve productivity, alongside widespread adoption of existing low-emission technologies such as precision farming, improved livestock feed and prioritising nutritional production.

Future progress will depend on a blend of policy coordination, technological innovation and targeted investments – especially in countries where the gap between demand and nutritional value is stark.

“We have the tools to end hunger and boost global food security,” said Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD.

“Well-coordinated policies are needed to keep global food markets open, while fostering long-term productivity improvements and sustainability in the agriculture sector.”

Pivotal role for global trade

The Outlook also reiterates the importance of trade, given that 22 per cent of all calories eaten will have crossed international borders by 2034.

“International trade will remain indispensable to the global agri-food sector,” the report stressed.

“Multilateral cooperation and a rules-based agricultural trade are essential to facilitating these trade flows, balancing food deficits and surpluses across countries, stabilising prices and enhancing food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 16, 2025

Category: DJF

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Updates to this page

Increased incomes, better diets – but not for all

Production expanding but emissions rising

Other key findings

A win-win: More nourishment, fewer emissions

Pivotal role for global trade