NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hamas says it is committed to working with mediators on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GAZA, June 25 (Xinhua) — Palestinian movement Hamas on Wednesday said it remains actively involved in ongoing mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

    In its press release, Hamas said it was committed to engaging with mediators and responding constructively to any serious proposals that could lead to a comprehensive agreement and stop what the movement called “aggression and war of extermination” against the Palestinian people.

    Hamas stressed the need for a lasting ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, the beginning of the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and a prisoner exchange deal.

    The movement blamed the delay in reaching an agreement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the latter of “obstruction and delay” for the sake of “personal political goals” and “reinforcing the illusion of total victory” through military means.

    The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump announced “significant progress” on a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported without giving details. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In January-May 2025, Armenia’s foreign trade turnover decreased significantly

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Yerevan, June 25 (Xinhua) — Armenia’s foreign trade turnover decreased by 49 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year and amounted to about $7.9 billion, the National Statistical Committee of Armenia reported on Wednesday.

    Exports during the reporting period decreased by 57.4 percent year-on-year to about $3.02 billion; imports decreased by 42 percent year-on-year to about $4.8 billion.

    In January-May 2025, the economic activity index in Armenia exceeded the data of the previous year by 5.7%. The growth of construction volume was recorded by 17.1%, services (excluding trade) by 10.1% and domestic trade turnover by 4.2%, while the volume of industrial production decreased by 14.1%. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In January-May 2025, Armenia’s foreign trade turnover decreased significantly

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Yerevan, June 25 (Xinhua) — Armenia’s foreign trade turnover decreased by 49 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year and amounted to about $7.9 billion, the National Statistical Committee of Armenia reported on Wednesday.

    Exports during the reporting period decreased by 57.4 percent year-on-year to about $3.02 billion; imports decreased by 42 percent year-on-year to about $4.8 billion.

    In January-May 2025, the economic activity index in Armenia exceeded the data of the previous year by 5.7%. The growth of construction volume was recorded by 17.1%, services (excluding trade) by 10.1% and domestic trade turnover by 4.2%, while the volume of industrial production decreased by 14.1%. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Georgia’s population exceeds 3.9 million people – preliminary census data

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Tbilisi, June 25 (Xinhua) — The country’s population has reached 3,914,000 people, according to preliminary results of the general population census released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on Wednesday.

    Compared to the results of the 2014 census, when the population was 3,713,804 people, the population growth over the decade exceeded 200 thousand people.

    Currently, the female share of the Georgian population is 2,078,000 people /53%/, the male share is 1,836,000 people /47%/.

    The census was conducted from November 14 to December 31, 2024. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Analysis: One Big Beautiful Bill Will Boost Wages, Lower Deficits

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will boost real wages, reduce the deficit, produce meaningful economic growth, and bring stability to the national debt, according to a new analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers.

    Here are the topline findings:

    • Real wages for workers will increase by as much as $7,200 per year.
    • After-tax take-home pay for a typical family with two kids will increase by as much as $10,900 per year.
    • Real investment will increase by as much as 10%.
    • At least 1.1 percentage points added to annual real GDP growth.
    • 7 million jobs will be protected and created.

    Moreover, as a result of President Trump’s economic agenda:

    • The deficits will be reduced by as much as $11.1 trillion — including as much as $5.2 trillion from economic growth, $1.6 trillion from discretionary spending cuts, $2.8 trillion from tariff revenue, and as much as $1.5 trillion from interest savings.
    • The debt-to-GDP will fall to between 88% and 99% — versus rising to 117% if the Trump Tax Cuts aren’t extended in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Latta’s Bills to Unleash American Energy & Power AI Approved By Energy and Commerce Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

    Latta’s Bills to Unleash American Energy & Power AI Approved By Energy and Commerce Committee

    Washington, June 25, 2025

    Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved two bills introduced by Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-5) to unleash American energy as artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve and require increased energy generation: the Electric Supply Chain Act and the Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act. The legislation now awaits consideration on the House floor.   

    The Electric Supply Chain Act directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct regular assessments and submit reports on the supply chain for electricity generation and transmission. The REFINER Act requires the National Petroleum Council to produce a report on the state of petrochemical refineries in the United States.   

    These bills aim to strengthen domestic energy production and infrastructure, priorities Congressman Latta has consistently championed. At today’s full Energy and Commerce markup, he spoke about the importance of supporting these measures. Watch him speak in support of the Electric Supply Chain Act HERE and the REFINER Act HERE. 

    “Generative artificial intelligence isn’t a trend; it’s the backbone of the next industrial era. Countries around the globe are racing to build the full AI stack: data centers, chips, power, and platforms. Here in the United States, we must ensure that we have the right policies in place to have enough energy to power AI and make America an attractive place to build the entire AI supply chain. I’m grateful to my colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing my two bills to not only support progress in the AI space but also strengthen American-led energy production across the board,” Latta said.    

    Read more about the Electric Supply Chain Act HERE.  

    Read more about the REFINER Act HERE.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten Introduces Package of Legislation to Reform American Democracy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    June 25, 2025

    Casten seeks to increase the size of the House and Senate, and rebalance the Supreme Court’s power

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced a package of legislation to reform American democracy by increasing the size of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, as well as restoring the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to better align with Article III of the US Constitution.

    A one-page summary of the legislation can be found here.

    The legislation – two bills and a constitutional amendment – would:

    • Establish 12 at-large senators to be elected through a national popular vote

    • Add approximately 230 additional Members of the House (if it had been implemented after the 2020 census)

    • Rebalance the power of the Supreme Court by creating a 13-judge multi-circuit panel to hear cases where the United States or a federal agency is a party

    Prior to Rep. Casten introducing similar legislation in 2023, there had been no attempts in Congress to expand the Senate or reinstate the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The last time the House was expanded was in 1911. After an inability to settle disputes over reapportionment after the 1920 Census, the size of the House was arbitrarily locked in place at 435 in 1929.

    An overview of the legislation can be found below, including bill text and section-by-sections of the legislation.

    “The fundamental promise of our democracy is to fulfill the will of the people,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “In modern times, we have failed to meet that promise. There is a growing list of issues – from climate action to gun control to health care to voting rights – where the federal government has consistently ignored the priorities of the majority of Americans, and often acted in direct contradiction. This failure not only breeds cynicism but ultimately risks the very survival of our government. We must act against the counter-majoritarian institutions of our political system and seek to reestablish the government as a stalwart for the people.

    “The Equal Voices Act will increase the size of the House to be in line with the growing population of the United States. Not only will this bill create smaller districts to allow Members to be more responsive to the needs of their constituents, but it will also rebalance inflated representation between districts and allow for greater diversity that is more representative of our great nation. On top of that, it will grow and equalize the Electoral College, better aligning outcomes with the national popular vote.

    “Our Founders purposefully constructed the Senate to act as a counter-balance to the will of large, populous states. This may have been effective in their time, but it no longer meets the needs of our country. A government that doesn’t represent the people cannot sustain the support of the people. My amendment establishes 12 at-large senators to be elected through a national popular vote. By creating this bloc of senators, comprising roughly 10% of the body, who are directly responsible to the public will, the Senate will be forced to move its agenda towards the will of the majority.

    “The current judicial system allows biased parties to game the system, seeking out judges who allow them to further policy objectives instead of blindly seeking justice. This distorts the actual and perceived fairness and independence of the Court and must be remedied. The Constitution gives Congress the power to address the structural concerns of the Supreme Court, and we must do so. It’s time for Congress to restore the Court’s jurisdiction to align with Article III of the Constitution and eliminate the current elements that allow the Court to be gamed for political advantages.”

    “These are bold but necessary measures that seek the norms of modern American politics to remedy longstanding problems in our institutions and return power to the will of the people. This is the next step in our quest to form the more perfect union of our Founders’ dreams.”

    House Reform – Equal Voices Act

    Bill Text  | Section-by-Section and Summary

    • This bill directs that after the first census following enactment, the size of each Congressional District be limited to approximately 500,000 people.

    • States with populations which do not neatly fit into 500,000-person districts may opt to create multi-member districts using ranked choice voting.

    • This would bring the size of House districts in line with US population growth since the last expansion of the House in 1911 and reduce disparities in district size across states.

    • If this method of apportionment had been implemented after the 2020 census, a congressional district would have added 228 new members in the 2022 election, growing to 689 total seats.

    • By increasing the size of the House, this would also expand and rebalance the Electoral College, bringing outcomes more in line with the popular vote.

    Senate Reform – Amendment to the US Constitution

    Bill Text | Section-by-Section and Summary

    • This is a constitutional amendment to establish 12 at-large senators to be elected through national popular vote.

    • All voters eligible to vote in presidential elections will be eligible to vote for these senators.

    • This would also establish 12 at-large Electors who shall cast their votes in the Electoral College for the winner of the national popular vote.

    Supreme Court Reform – Restoring Judicial Separation of Powers Act

    Bill Text | Section-by-Section and Summary

    • Restructures the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States to align with Article III of the Constitution.

    • Allows for any party to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to be heard and determined by a district court of three-judges.

    • Creates a 13-judge multi-circuit panel to hear cases that the United States or a Federal agency is a party, cases concerning constitutional or statutory interpretation of Federal law, or cases clarifying the functions or actions of an executive order.

      • This panel will consist of 1 judge randomly selected from each circuit court of appeals (minus the federal circuit) and 1 chief judge randomly selected from the same circuit courts of appeals.

      • Each judge of the multi-circuit panel shall serve during the period beginning at 10amET on the first Monday in October and ending at 9:59amET on the first Monday in October of the following year.

      • A supermajority of not less than 70% of judges shall be required to affirm any decision which holds that any Act of Congress is unconstitutional, unlawful, or otherwise invalid.

    • Actions before a court of the United States seeking injunctive relief restraining the enforcement of any Federal statute, regulation or order against a nonparty will be transferred to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit.

    • The SCOTUS, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Multi-circuit panel will have to issue a written explanation supporting decisions which shall be published on the respective websites and must be signed by the judge or judges.

     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Herds of Special Interest one step closer

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Legislation to clarify how Herds of Special Interest (HOSI) operate in National Parks has passed its first reading in Parliament today, Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager says.
    “The Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill will ensure the legislation for HOSI is clear and unambiguous. It will support the designation of a wapiti deer HOSI in Fiordland National Park and will allow hunter-led conservation groups to manage deer numbers in our national parks, creating opportunities for local hunters and tourism and driving more economic growth in the region,” Mr Meager says.
    “HOSI are another tool to effectively and sustainably manage deer, tahr, and other valued introduced species on our conservation estate. By utilising hunter-led conservation groups we can manage deer numbers down to healthy, sustainable levels, whilst better protecting our biodiversity and controlling dangerous predators which kill our native birds.
    “The National Parks Act’s requirement to ‘exterminate’ introduced animals as far as possible is at odds with the purpose of designating a HOSI, which is to manage game animals for hunting purposes while preserving conservation outcomes.
    “The Game Animal Council Act always intended for HOSI to be allowed in national parks. By introducing this bill, we aim to provide clarity and certainty for all involved. The legislation will retain the requirements for HOSI to be consistent with New Zealand’s wider conservation framework, including the preservation of indigenous habitats and natural features.
    “The bill has been referred to the Environment Select Committee for consideration, and the public will have the opportunity to submit. I look forward to hearing from everyone who is keen to better manage the impact of valued introduced species on our conservation estate.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Learner Success Community of Practice

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Employability Ecosystems – Part 1: Improving learner outcomes through links to industry
    Dr Roy Priest, Associate Professor at Birmingham City University (BCU), gives an overview of their Employability Ecosystems that improve learner engagement, and support successful graduate outcomes by embedding employability into the curriculum and connecting learners with industry throughout their programme of study. 
    Set in the heart of Birmingham, with a focus on practice-based learning, this public university has over 30,000 learners from over 100 countries. Around half of their learners come from the most deprived neighbourhoods of Birmingham. A significant proportion of learners are the first in their family to attend university and commute from home.  
    The BCU’s Employability Ecosystems maximise the potential for ongoing connection between learners, industry-based professionals and tutors through informal frameworks. It’s a holistic approach encompassing research, knowledge transfer, curriculum development, course and programme marketing. Roy discusses what this approach looks like in practice and the support BCU has put in place for academic staff to enhance learner outcomes through informal engagement with industry.
    [embedded content]

    Employability Ecosystems – Part 2: Informal networks to support graduate outcomes
    Dr Roy Priest, Associate Professor at Birmingham City University (BCU) shares insights into three informal network initiatives – Industry Mentors Forums, Special Interest Groups, and Formal and Information Industry Advisory Boards.
    [embedded content]
    DREAM Convening
    The annual DREAM Convening is Achieving the Dream’s (ATD’s) flagship event. It attracts influential leaders and practitioners from more than 300 US-based community colleges and organisations who exchange ideas about evidence-based reform strategies that transform higher education and impact learner success.
    Achieving the Dream
    Te Rito Maioha
    Nikki Parsons, Te Rito Maioha General Manager Workforce and Learner Engagement, shares her reflections on the 2024 DREAM conference. She talks about how Te Rito Maioha, a private training establishment, is applying the knowledge she has gained to help their learners to be successful in their tertiary study.
    [embedded content]
    Skills Group
    Jon Smith, Skills Group General Manager Academic Skills and Quality, shares his three takeaways from the 2024 DREAM conference. He talks about introducing the Achieving the Dream 2.0 Capability Framework model into the Skills Group, and their robust conversations on what they need to do to build a student success model. The Skills Group is a private training establishment.
    [embedded content]
    English Language Partners
    A key takeaway from the 2024 DREAM conference for Rachel O’Connor, English Language Partners Chief Executive, is the importance of having and applying an equity mindset throughout your organisation – from how you use data to how you train your people. Rachel talks about how English Language Partners are applying the knowledge she’s gained, and using data to support equity and address learner success.
    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Supermarkets warned about unfair practices

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has written to the major supermarkets to restate the basic expectation that they take all steps needed to comply with the Fair Trading Act and ensure Kiwi shoppers are not subjected to misleading price claims. 

    “Supermarkets have statutory obligations under the Fair Trading Act to ensure that pricing information is accurate and does not mislead consumers.

    “I am disappointed that I have to spell out to some of New Zealand’s biggest and most sophisticated retail operators – Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island, and Woolworths – that they should have in place processes to prevent inaccurate pricing, institute and publicise refund policies, and train staff to ensure that when errors are reported, fixes occur system-wide. Compliance with the law should be a basic expectation. 

    “I am concerned to hear from the Commerce Commission and Consumer New Zealand that misleading promotional practices and common pricing errors are still occurring within New Zealand’s major supermarket chains.

    “These include customers being charged more at the checkout than the advertised price, specials being advertised that don’t represent a saving on the normal price,  and multibuys that are more expensive than if the products are individually purchased.

    “This week it was reported that two PAKnSave supermarkets that are part of Foodstuffs North Island have pleaded guilty to multiple charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act. The Commerce Commision has also filed proceedings against Woolworths for misleading consumers about prices. 

    “I will not comment on ongoing court proceedings. However, it is clear that as participants in a sector that generates revenue of $27 billion a year, the major supermarkets have the resources to treat their customers fairly. 

    “It should not be customers’ responsibility to alert stores to pricing discrepancies. Kiwi shoppers have the right to expect that the price they pay at the checkout is the same as the price they see in the aisle. 

    “I have asked the major supermarket chains for an update on the actions they are taking to address these issues. It is in their and New Zealand shoppers’ interests that they be clear about what they are doing to ensure shoppers are not misled. 

    “I am considering introducing tougher penalties and potential changes to ensure the provisions of the Fair Trading Act are more readily enforced. 

    “I note that the maximum penalty for a breach of the Fair Trading Act in New Zealand is a fine of $600,000 whereas in Australia the courts can impose a penalty of up to $A50 million.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Virgin Islands Private Nonprofits Affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Virgin Islands of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto occurring Aug. 13-16, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the areas of Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas and Water Island.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature with financial losses directly related to the disaster. Example of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Virgin Islands Private Nonprofits Affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Virgin Islands of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto occurring Aug. 13-16, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the areas of Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas and Water Island.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature with financial losses directly related to the disaster. Example of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Tennessee Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms and Tornadoes

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – In response to a Presidential disaster declaration for public assistance issued June 19, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Tennessee affected by severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2–24, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickman, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Steward, and Tipton.  

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for both business physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible PNPs cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help PNPs get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low as 3.625%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 19, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 19, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Tennessee Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms and Tornadoes

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – In response to a Presidential disaster declaration for public assistance issued June 19, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Tennessee affected by severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2–24, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickman, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Steward, and Tipton.  

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for both business physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible PNPs cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help PNPs get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low as 3.625%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 19, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 19, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Pennsylvania of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring on Nov. 19, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Pennsylvania counties of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia and the Delaware county of New Castle as well as the New Jersey county of Gloucester.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.62% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Pennsylvania of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring on Nov. 19, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Pennsylvania counties of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia and the Delaware county of New Castle as well as the New Jersey county of Gloucester.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.62% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Maryland Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Maryland of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring Nov. 19.

    The disaster declaration covers the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot as well as Kent County in Delaware.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.65% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Maryland Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Maryland of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring Nov. 19.

    The disaster declaration covers the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot as well as Kent County in Delaware.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.65% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Connecticut Private Nonprofits Affected by August Severe Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Connecticut of the July 25 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storm, flooding, landslides, and mudslides occurring on Aug. 18 – Aug. 19, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties in Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven.  

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for both business physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low as 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 25, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 180, Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 180 would amend the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) to permit the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award competitive grants to state, local, and tribal governments for purchasing devices that prevent secondary exposure to fentanyl and other lethal substances. Under the bill, grants also could be used to train first responders on the use of those devices.

    The underlying authorization for COSSUP expired in 2023. The Congress has continued to provide funding for the program and provided $189 million for the program in 2024. In this estimate, CBO is estimating the cost of the amounts necessary to implement the new activities specified in the bill and not the cost of reauthorizing COSSUP.

    Using information from DOJ about awards in recent years for similar activities under COSSUP, CBO expects that about four governments would each receive grants of roughly $2 million each year under the bill. On that basis and based on the historical spending pattern for similar grant programs, CBO estimates that implementing S. 180 would cost $28 million over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 750 (administration of justice).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 180
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Estimated Authorization

    *

    7

    7

    7

    8

    8

    37

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    4

    7

    8

    8

    28

    * = between zero and $500,000.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeremy Crimm. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Larry Walker III Applauds $4.4 Million in State Support for Dodge County Road Improvements

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (June 20, 2025) — Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry) today celebrated the announcement of a combined $4.4 million in grant and loan funding awarded to Dodge County through the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB), administered by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA). The investment includes a $2 million grant and a $2.43 million low-interest loan to fund the Dodge County Road Improvement Program, a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at rebuilding, resurfacing, and expanding key roadways across the county.

    “This is a major win for Dodge County and the hardworking Georgians who rely on safe, well-maintained roads every day,” said Sen. Walker. “These funds will go a long way toward improving transportation safety, supporting economic activity and addressing the wear and tear that comes from increasing freight traffic. I’m proud to join Gov. Kemp and my colleagues in the General Assembly to help make sure rural communities like Dodge County aren’t left behind when it comes to infrastructure investment.”

    The Dodge County Road Improvement Program includes three major projects:

    • Paving of Bill Mullis Road from Roddy Highway to SR 87 (3.7 miles);
    • Full-depth reclamation of Milan Eastman Road from SR 117 to SR 280 (8.2 miles), repairing damage from heavy freight use;
    • Resurfacing Zion Hill Church Road from Antioch Church Road to Coody Road (4.5 miles).

    By combining these road segments into one large-scale project, Dodge County is able to accelerate its timeline by nearly a decade and reduce overall unit costs, ensuring taxpayer dollars go further.

    Gov. Brian P. Kemp and SRTA announced this year’s GTIB awards on Tuesday, highlighting a record $26.5 million in funding across 13 local transportation projects. The 2025 cycle includes the largest combined rural investment in the program’s history at $13.3 million.

    Since its creation in 2010, GTIB has awarded more than $240 million in grants and loans, supporting transportation projects with a combined value of over $1.2 billion.

    For more information on the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank, visit www.srta.ga.gov/gtib.

    # # # #

    Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Reinbeck Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Second Time

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    A Reinbeck man who obtained a significant quantity of methamphetamine from a source of supply that he had met in federal prison was sentenced June 23, 2025, to 20 years in federal prison.  

    Austin David Hansen, age 39, from Reinbeck, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 23, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having previously been convicted of a serious drug felony.  

    Information disclosed at Hansen’s sentencing hearing and other hearings related to this case showed that, beginning in December 2023, and continuing to May 22, 2024, Hansen worked with a California source of supply that Hansen had met in federal prison to ship methamphetamine and marijuana packages in the mail to post office boxes in Reinbeck, Dike, and Waterloo, Iowa.  After the methamphetamine and marijuana packages arrived at the Iowa post office boxes, Hansen worked with others to distribute the methamphetamine and marijuana to individuals in the Northern District of Iowa.  Hansen then sent packages containing thousands of dollars of drug proceeds to the source of supply in California.  In total, the California source of supply sent at least 37 packages to the Northern District of Iowa, and Hansen sent the source of supply over $260,000 of drug proceeds.    

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized a package from California and intended for one of the post office boxes, and it contained over 5,000 grams of methamphetamine.  On May 22, 2024, officers executed several search warrants in this case, including at Hansen’s residence.  At Hansen’s residence, officers seized over 600 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, over $12,000 in United States currency, and receipts of all the money packages Hansen sent to the source of supply in California.  

    Hansen had previously been convicted of a federal drug trafficking crime and sentenced to federal prison in November 2011.  

    Hansen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Hansen was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a ten‑year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Hansen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

     The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the United States Postal Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mid‑Iowa Drug Task Force; the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office; the Iowa State Patrol; and the Santa Ana, California Police Department.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24‑CR‑00044‑CJW.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a drug safety expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Terri Levien, Professor of Pharmacy, Washington State University

    A discredited study published in 1989 first alleged a link between thimerosal and autism. Flavio Coelho/Moment via Getty Images

    An expert committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines is meeting for the first time since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly replaced the committee’s 17 members with eight hand-picked ones on June 11, 2025.

    The committee, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, generally discusses and votes on recommendations for specific vaccines. For this meeting, taking place June 25-26, 2025, vaccines for COVID-19, human papillomavirus, influenza and other infectious diseases were on the schedule. According to an updated agenda, however, the committee is now also scheduled to hear a presentation on a chemical called thimerosal and to vote on proposed recommendations regarding its use in influenza vaccines.

    Public health experts have raised concerns about the presentation, noting that anti-vaccine advocates continue to promote confusion regarding the purported health risks of thimerosal despite extensive research demonstrating its safety.

    I’m a pharmacist and expert on drug information with 35 years of experience critically evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications in clinical trials. No evidence supports the idea that thimerosal, used as a preservative in vaccines, is unsafe or carries any health risks.

    What is thimerosal?

    Thimerosal, also known as thiomersal, is a preservative that has been used in some drug products since the 1930s because it prevents contamination by killing microbes and preventing their growth.

    In the human body, thimerosal is metabolized, or changed, to ethylmercury, an organic derivative of mercury. Studies in infants have shown that ethylmercury is quickly eliminated from the blood.

    Even though thimerosal is no longer used in childhood vaccines, many parents still worry about whether it can harm their kids.

    Ethylmercury is sometimes confused with methylmercury. Methylmercury is known to be toxic and is associated with many negative effects on brain development even at low exposure. Environmental researchers identified the neurotoxic effects of mercury in children in the 1970s, primarily resulting from exposure to methylmercury in fish. In the 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration established limits for maximum recommended exposure to methylmercury, especially for children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

    Why is thimerosal controversial?

    Fears about the safety of thimerosal in vaccines spread for two reasons.

    First, in 1998, a now discredited report was published in a major medical journal called The Lancet. In it, a British doctor named Andrew Wakefield described eight children who developed autism after receiving the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. However, the patients were not compared with a control group that was vaccinated, so it was impossible to draw conclusions about the vaccine’s effects. Also, the data report was later found to be falsified. And the MMR vaccine that children received in that report never contained thimerosal.

    Second, the federal guidelines on exposure limits for the toxic substance methylmercury came out about the same time as the Wakefield study’s publication. During that period, autism was becoming more widely recognized as a developmental condition, and its rates of diagnosis were rising. People who believed Wakefield’s results conflated methylmercury and ethylmercury and promoted the unfounded idea that ethylmercury in vaccines from thimerosal were driving the rising rates of autism.

    The Wakefield study was retracted in 2010, and Wakefield was found guilty of dishonesty and flouting ethics protocols by the U.K. General Medical Council, as well as stripped of his medical license. Subsequent studies have not shown a relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism, but despite the absence of evidence, the idea took hold and has proven difficult to dislodge.

    The Wakefield study severely damaged many parents’ faith in the MMR vaccine, even though its results were eventually shown to be fraudulent.
    Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank, Getty Images

    Have scientists tested whether thimerosal is safe?

    No unbiased research to date has identified toxicity caused by ethylmercury in vaccines or a link between the substance and autism or other developmental concerns – and not from lack of looking.

    A 1999 review conducted by the Food and Drug Administration in response to federal guidelines on limiting mercury exposure found no evidence of harm from thimerosal as a vaccine preservative other than rare allergic reactions. Even so, as a precautionary measure in response to concerns about exposure to mercury in infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public Health Service issued a joint statement in 1999 recommending removal of thimerosal from vaccines.

    At that time, just one childhood vaccine was available only in a version that contained thimerosal as an ingredient. This was a vaccine called DTP, for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Other childhood vaccines were either available only in formulations without thimerosal or could be obtained in versions that did not contain it.

    By 2001, U.S. manufacturers had removed thimerosal from almost all vaccines – and from all vaccines in the childhood vaccination schedule.

    In 2004, the U.S. Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee reviewed over 200 scientific studies and concluded there is no causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Additional well-conducted studies reviewed independently by the CDC and by the FDA did not find a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or neuropsychological delays.

    How is thimerosal used today?

    In the U.S., most vaccines are now available in single-dose vials or syringes. Thimerosal is found only in multidose vials that are used to supply vaccines for large-scale immunization efforts – specifically, in a small number of influenza vaccines. It is not added to modern childhood vaccines, and people who get a flu vaccine can avoid it by requesting a vaccine supplied in a single-dose vial or syringe.

    Thimerosal is still used in vaccines in some other countries to ensure continued availability of necessary vaccines. The World Health Organization continues to affirm that there is no evidence of toxicity in infants, children or adults exposed to thimerosal-containing vaccines.

    Terri Levien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a drug safety expert explains – https://theconversation.com/a-preservative-removed-from-childhood-vaccines-20-years-ago-is-still-causing-controversy-today-a-drug-safety-expert-explains-259442

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a drug safety expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Terri Levien, Professor of Pharmacy, Washington State University

    A discredited study published in 1989 first alleged a link between thimerosal and autism. Flavio Coelho/Moment via Getty Images

    An expert committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines is meeting for the first time since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly replaced the committee’s 17 members with eight hand-picked ones on June 11, 2025.

    The committee, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, generally discusses and votes on recommendations for specific vaccines. For this meeting, taking place June 25-26, 2025, vaccines for COVID-19, human papillomavirus, influenza and other infectious diseases were on the schedule. According to an updated agenda, however, the committee is now also scheduled to hear a presentation on a chemical called thimerosal and to vote on proposed recommendations regarding its use in influenza vaccines.

    Public health experts have raised concerns about the presentation, noting that anti-vaccine advocates continue to promote confusion regarding the purported health risks of thimerosal despite extensive research demonstrating its safety.

    I’m a pharmacist and expert on drug information with 35 years of experience critically evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications in clinical trials. No evidence supports the idea that thimerosal, used as a preservative in vaccines, is unsafe or carries any health risks.

    What is thimerosal?

    Thimerosal, also known as thiomersal, is a preservative that has been used in some drug products since the 1930s because it prevents contamination by killing microbes and preventing their growth.

    In the human body, thimerosal is metabolized, or changed, to ethylmercury, an organic derivative of mercury. Studies in infants have shown that ethylmercury is quickly eliminated from the blood.

    Even though thimerosal is no longer used in childhood vaccines, many parents still worry about whether it can harm their kids.

    Ethylmercury is sometimes confused with methylmercury. Methylmercury is known to be toxic and is associated with many negative effects on brain development even at low exposure. Environmental researchers identified the neurotoxic effects of mercury in children in the 1970s, primarily resulting from exposure to methylmercury in fish. In the 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration established limits for maximum recommended exposure to methylmercury, especially for children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

    Why is thimerosal controversial?

    Fears about the safety of thimerosal in vaccines spread for two reasons.

    First, in 1998, a now discredited report was published in a major medical journal called The Lancet. In it, a British doctor named Andrew Wakefield described eight children who developed autism after receiving the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. However, the patients were not compared with a control group that was vaccinated, so it was impossible to draw conclusions about the vaccine’s effects. Also, the data report was later found to be falsified. And the MMR vaccine that children received in that report never contained thimerosal.

    Second, the federal guidelines on exposure limits for the toxic substance methylmercury came out about the same time as the Wakefield study’s publication. During that period, autism was becoming more widely recognized as a developmental condition, and its rates of diagnosis were rising. People who believed Wakefield’s results conflated methylmercury and ethylmercury and promoted the unfounded idea that ethylmercury in vaccines from thimerosal were driving the rising rates of autism.

    The Wakefield study was retracted in 2010, and Wakefield was found guilty of dishonesty and flouting ethics protocols by the U.K. General Medical Council, as well as stripped of his medical license. Subsequent studies have not shown a relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism, but despite the absence of evidence, the idea took hold and has proven difficult to dislodge.

    The Wakefield study severely damaged many parents’ faith in the MMR vaccine, even though its results were eventually shown to be fraudulent.
    Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank, Getty Images

    Have scientists tested whether thimerosal is safe?

    No unbiased research to date has identified toxicity caused by ethylmercury in vaccines or a link between the substance and autism or other developmental concerns – and not from lack of looking.

    A 1999 review conducted by the Food and Drug Administration in response to federal guidelines on limiting mercury exposure found no evidence of harm from thimerosal as a vaccine preservative other than rare allergic reactions. Even so, as a precautionary measure in response to concerns about exposure to mercury in infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public Health Service issued a joint statement in 1999 recommending removal of thimerosal from vaccines.

    At that time, just one childhood vaccine was available only in a version that contained thimerosal as an ingredient. This was a vaccine called DTP, for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Other childhood vaccines were either available only in formulations without thimerosal or could be obtained in versions that did not contain it.

    By 2001, U.S. manufacturers had removed thimerosal from almost all vaccines – and from all vaccines in the childhood vaccination schedule.

    In 2004, the U.S. Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee reviewed over 200 scientific studies and concluded there is no causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Additional well-conducted studies reviewed independently by the CDC and by the FDA did not find a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or neuropsychological delays.

    How is thimerosal used today?

    In the U.S., most vaccines are now available in single-dose vials or syringes. Thimerosal is found only in multidose vials that are used to supply vaccines for large-scale immunization efforts – specifically, in a small number of influenza vaccines. It is not added to modern childhood vaccines, and people who get a flu vaccine can avoid it by requesting a vaccine supplied in a single-dose vial or syringe.

    Thimerosal is still used in vaccines in some other countries to ensure continued availability of necessary vaccines. The World Health Organization continues to affirm that there is no evidence of toxicity in infants, children or adults exposed to thimerosal-containing vaccines.

    Terri Levien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a drug safety expert explains – https://theconversation.com/a-preservative-removed-from-childhood-vaccines-20-years-ago-is-still-causing-controversy-today-a-drug-safety-expert-explains-259442

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: National Defense Area established in South Texas

    Source: United States Spaceforce

    The U.S. Air Force will manage a new NDA covering approximately 250 miles of the Rio Grande River in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, Texas, on land transferred from the International Boundary and Water Commission through the General Services Administration.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The future of peacekeeping starts today

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    The communities who are served by UN Peacekeeping are at the heart of its efforts to build lasting peace. But for peacekeepers to continue to do their vital work, we need to ensure peacekeeping is fit for the future and that local and global partnerships remain strong.

    More on peacekeeping: peacekeeping.un.org

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62RQNvGCG44

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Hirono Demand Answers on Trump Rescinding Emergency Reproductive Care Guidance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 25, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawai’i, today demanded answers from the Trump Administration about its decision to rescind Biden-era guidance that reaffirmed the obligation of hospitals to provide life-saving, emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

    Passed into law in 1986, EMTALA requires any hospital receiving Medicare funding to provide necessary stabilizing treatment for any individuals experiencing a medical emergency, including abortion care. The law clearly mandates that hospitals offer abortion care in cases where it is deemed medically necessary to prevent serious harm to patients.

    However, since the Supreme Court handed down the disastrous Dobbs decision three years ago, more than 20 states have passed laws to ban or severely restrict access to abortion, creating chaos and confusion over conflicting state and federal laws and resulting in countless women being denied lifesaving care – despite an obligation by hospitals to provide necessary emergency abortion care under federal law, no matter which state they operate.

    “While EMTALA remains binding federal law, the rescission will create further confusion for hospitals and providers, especially in states with abortion bans, and will result in medically-necessary care being withheld from pregnant patients in crisis,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “When doctors are forced to navigate the complex legal interplay of state abortion bans and federal EMTALA protections, pregnant people experience care delays and may receive substandard care.”

    The senators asserted that by rescinding this guidance, HHS has further complicated how hospitals and doctors navigate existing health care law, needlessly putting pregnant women at severe risk of harm, medical complications, lasting health consequences, and even preventable death.  

    “This abrupt decision will further the chaos and confusion that hospitals, physicians, and patients have experienced since the Dobbs decision and will result in negative and deadly consequences for women and families across the United States,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    In addition to Wyden and Hirono, the letter was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Tammy Duckworth,D-Ill., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.

    Wyden has been a longtime advocate in the Senate for upholding abortion access, including the federal protections granted under EMTALA.  In December 2024, Wyden released the results of an investigation into eight hospitals that delayed or denied reproductive care in violation of EMTALA. In March, he condemned Donald Trump’s Department of Justice for dropping a case brought by the Biden administration that challenged Idaho’s extreme abortion ban. 

    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Third Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned, Merkley and Wyden Join Bill to Restore Abortion Access Nationwide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 25, 2025

    Women’s Health Protection Act comes as Trump and Congressional Republicans move to restrict a woman’s right to choose and toward a national abortion ban

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. 

    The bill’s introduction comes as the Trump Administration further attacks reproductive freedom and Congressional Republicans barrel ahead with a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood. Put together, Trump and Congressional Republicans’ assault on Americans’ reproductive rights is ripping away millions of women’s access to abortion care and right to control their bodies.

    “Politicians have no place in the exam room,” said Merkley. “The freedom to be in control of your own body is an essential freedom. Here in America, everyone should have the same right to make medical decisions about their own body, and to access the care they need—including reproductive care—free from political interference. The Women’s Health Protection Act codifies Roe v. Wade into law and protects access to the full scope of reproductive health care.”

    “Three years after gutting Roe, Donald Trump and Republicans across the country aren’t slowing down on their efforts to strip women of the right to make their own health care decisions,” said Wyden. “This bill will take the much-needed step of codifying reproductive health care protections under Roe once and for all, and stop Republicans in their crusade to put a politician in every exam room and bedroom in America. I am proud to join my Democratic colleagues in making sure every woman in red and blue states alike once again has the right to choose their future.”

    President Trump appointed the Supreme Court Justices who ruled in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case to overturn Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of precedent. Since the Dobbs decision, 19 states have banned abortion or severely restricted women from being able to access the procedure, leaving one in three American women without access to safe, legal abortion care. Additionally, state legislatures across the country have introduced hundreds of bills to codify medically unnecessary restrictions that limit access to abortion care. 

    In his second term, President Trump has continued to relentlessly attack reproductive rights, including freezing Title X funding for clinics that offer reproductive care, cutting Biden-era emergency abortion protections, pardoning anti-abortion extremists, and fighting to defund Planned Parenthood. Additionally, the House-passed Republican budget bill kicks 16 million people off their health insurance and defunds Planned Parenthood—threatening the closure of 200 health centers across the country and putting access to vital reproductive care for millions of families at risk.

    The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 creates federal rights for patients and providers to protect abortion access. Specifically, the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 would:

    • Prohibit states from imposing restrictions that jeopardize access to abortion earlier in pregnancy, including many of the state-level restrictions in place prior to?Dobbs, such as arbitrary waiting periods, medically unnecessary mandatory ultrasounds, or requirements to provide medically inaccurate information.
    • Ensure that later in pregnancy, states cannot limit access to abortion if it would jeopardize the life or health of the mother.
    • Protect the ability to travel out of state for an abortion, which has become increasingly common in recent years.

    Merkley and Wyden are cosponsors of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, which is led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Patty Murray (D-WA). The legislation is supported by the entire Democratic caucus, including Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D- DE) Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    Full text of the bill is available by clicking here. A one-pager on the bill is available by clicking here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Sen. Johnson’s Resolution Designating July as National Sarcoma Awareness Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Senate passed U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) resolution designating July as National Sarcoma Awareness Month. The resolution raises awareness of sarcoma, a form of cancer, and honors the life of Melissa Locke and the many other Americans that this disease affects.

    “I am pleased that my resolution passed the Senate in honor of Melissa Locke and the countless other Americans who have struggled with this life-threatening disease. I hope we can continue to increase awareness of this complex form of cancer that is diagnosed thousands of times each year,” said Sen. Johnson.

    Sen. Johnson with Melissa and Brendan Locke 

    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Aftermath of Iran Strikes, Reed Urges Trump Admin. to Strengthen Cybersecurity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. cyber officials and private experts are warning that Iran and Iran-linked groups may try to target the U.S. with a range of cyberattacks that could cause serious damage and disruption to private and public sector interests.  In the wake of U.S. airstrikes on Iran, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin through the National Terrorism Advisory System, which read: “Low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against U.S. networks.”

    In addition to these warnings, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is urging the Trump Administration to take action to bolster the nation’s cyber defenses and assist American industries and municipalities that may be targeted for attacks. 

    “As sophisticated cyber threats mount, we should be surging resources and reinforcements to America’s cyber defenses.  We’ve got to secure our infrastructure and protect critical systems.  Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has undermined the capacity and capabilities of our country’s most critical cybersecurity agencies,” said Senator Reed.

    Reed warns that the Trump Administration’s partisan efforts to purge the federal workforce and slash the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — America’s primary cyber agency — is putting U.S. national security at risk.  CISA is the frontline federal agency in charge of defending federal networks, state and local governments, and critical infrastructure against cyber threats.  CISA’s mission includes ransomware defense, supply chain resilience, and public-private coordination.

    The Trump Administration has targeted CISA for downsizing, already forcing out over 1,000 CISA employees – roughly one-third of CISA’s workforce.  The drastic staff reductions coupled with proposed future budget cuts jeopardize America’s ability to effectively repel, thwart, and deter cyberattacks; defend federal networks; and support critical infrastructure operators.

    Reed stated: “As the cyber threat level is rising from Iran, affiliated hacktivists, and other adversaries, the Trump Administration is gutting CISA and taking down our best defenses, leaving America dangerously exposed to cyberattacks.  The Trump Administration must stop undermining the capacity of America’s cyber defense agency.  I urge the Trump Administration to take immediate action to rehire technical cyber talent, restore CISA funding, and reinstate key cyber defense programs immediately.  We need to ramp up in the weeks and months ahead and be vigilant in defending against offensive cyber operations by Iran or their partners.”

    The Trump Administration is seeking to reduce CISA’s budget by over $490 million – reducing the agency’s operational funding obligations from $2.38 billion to $1.96 billion.  This includes dismantling and eliminating several key programs entirely, such as the agency’s Election Security Program and the innovative Cyber Safety Review Board.

    Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is targeting other key U.S. cyber defense assets for major budget cuts, including:

    • The FBI, which leads domestic cybercriminal investigations, would have its budget reduced $560 million, alongside a loss of nearly 1,900 staff.
    • The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Security Division, which handles foreign intelligence surveillance policy and various counterintelligence operations, would have its budget reduced by $14 million, accompanied by a reduction of full-time employees.
    • The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, which oversees cybersecurity for the nation’s electric grid, would see a sharp cut of $43 million and a staffing reduction of more than 30 percent.
    • The National Science Foundation’s computer science research activities would be cut by $606 million, or 64 percent of its budget, in FY26.

    Beyond CISA and domestic cyber defenses, President Trump abruptly fired the previous director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and head of U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh, and his top deputy, without explanation this April, following a meeting with right-wing activist Laura Loomer at the White House.  With support from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Army Lt. General Richard Angle was then announced as the nominee to be the successor for the job.  However, the White House then opted not to move forward with Lt. General Angle’s nomination, without public explanation.

    MIL OSI USA News –