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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Inauguration of Cabo Verde’s Technology Park in Praia and Mindelo

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    What:     Event inaugurating Cabo Verde’s Tech Park

    Who:      The government of Cabo Verde and the African Development Bank. 

    When:    Monday, May 5, 2025 (Praia) and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (Mindelo)

    Where:   TechPark CV Main Campus in Praia, Santiago and TechPark CV Mindelo Campus, Sao Vicente 

    The government of Cabo Verde and the African Development Bank will host a high-level event to inaugurate TechPark Cabo Verde, a tech hub established in 2023 that has quickly developed into a thriving technology hub.  

     The event is expected to bring together representatives of the government of Cabo Verde and other African countries, as well as from the United States, the European Union, and Brazil. President Akinwumi Adesina will lead an African Development Bank Group Delegation to the inauguration, which is also expected to attract innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and academics.  

    The three-day program will highlight the future of Africa’s digital economy and Cabo Verde as a pioneer and example to other African countries. It will also highlight how targeted investment in technology infrastructure can drive economic diversification and create opportunities for young talent. 

    It will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions on digital transformation, workshops on emerging technologies, a startup pitch competition, and a cultural evening, hosted across TechPark CV’s auditoriums, conference rooms, and exhibition spaces.  

    TechPark CV has been designed to accelerate Cabo Verde’s economic diversification and digital inclusion by providing modern facilities, training programs, and a dynamic ecosystem for technology-driven enterprises. The event will solidify Cabo Verde’s position as a pivotal innovation hub in the Atlantic region. 

    Under Cabo Verde’s Sustainable Development Plan, the project has been supported by strategic investments from the African Development Bank through a two-phase loan program. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Clackamas Progress Partners announces completion of Oregon’s first P3 courthouse

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORTLAND, Ore., May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clackamas Progress Partners (CPP), a Fengate Asset Management-led (Fengate) consortium, today announced the completion and handover of the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse – the first courthouse to be delivered as a public-private partnership (P3) in Oregon.

    CPP – comprising Fengate (developer), PCL Construction (design-builder), DLR Group (designer), and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) (services provider) – joined client Clackamas County, the Oregon Judicial Department, and public officials on site for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new 257,000-square-foot courthouse.

    Karl Schaefer, Fengate Project Executive for the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse Replacement Project, said:

    “The new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is the epitome of P3 success – complex public infrastructure delivered efficiently, sustainably, and collaboratively with our public sector partners. We are grateful to our valued trade partners for their hard work to deliver this state-of-the-art courthouse on schedule for the Clackamas County community. Our P3 team is honored to have brought this decades-long vision to life for Clackamas County, and we congratulate our client on the official opening of their new home of justice.”

    Fengate is managing this investment on behalf of Fengate Infrastructure Fund IV and its affiliated entities, including an investment by the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.

    W.T. Sermeus, Senior Project Manager at PCL Construction, said:

    “Delivering the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse was a true team effort – one that reflects the power of partnership, innovation, and accountability. From day one, our focus was on creating a high-performing, enduring facility for the County and the justice system it supports. Thanks to our subtrade and design partners whose collaboration made this vision a reality.”

    Billal Hammoud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell’s Building Automation segment, said:

    “The innovative Honeywell automation solutions being used in this new home for justice will help ensure a more efficient and secure environment for Clackamas County residents. We are grateful to Fengate, PCL Construction and DLR Group for the commitment and collaboration that led to the on-time grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility.”

    Erica Loynd, FAIA, Northwest Region Leader and Principal at DLR Group, said:

    “We didn’t just want to build a courthouse. Every aspect of the building focuses on the people within the space, from citizens coming to have one of their most important moments to the staff who spend every day in the building.”

    A landmark for sustainable civic infrastructure, the facility targets LEED Gold certification and is expected to achieve an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 62.2% during operations. With several environmental and social impact accolades, the award-winning facility demonstrates how successful collaboration between the public and private sectors can revitalize and help decarbonize infrastructure in the United States.

    The new facility meets the needs of Clackamas County’s increasing population, which has grown to 430,000 residents in 2025 from less than 50,000 residents in 1936 when the original courthouse was built. Designed to serve the community for decades to come, the courthouse improves the efficiency and safety of the local judicial system with 16 modern courtrooms, 20 judicial chambers, district attorney offices and safe corridors for courthouse users.

    CPP was contracted in 2022 to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the new courthouse for a 30-year period. The partner companies have completed more than 40 courthouse construction projects across their combined portfolios.

    Further information about the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is available here.

    About Fengate

    Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager focused on infrastructure, private equity and real estate strategies, with more than $7 billion of capital commitments under management. The firm has been investing in infrastructure since 2006 with a focus on mid-market greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets in the transportation, social, energy transition and digital sectors. Fengate is one of North America’s most active infrastructure investors and developers with a portfolio of more than 45 assets. Learn more at www.fengate.com.

    About PCL Construction

    PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $8 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.

    About DLR Group

    DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

    Media contact

    Maddison Sharples
    Vice President, Communications and Marketing
    +1 416 254 3326
    maddison.sharples@fengate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: How the TransFi-Circle Partnership Is Unlocking New Use Cases for USDC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW DELHI, India, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In today’s global business environment, managing cross-border payments is often riddled with delays, high fees, and complex regulatory hurdles. Traditional banking systems, especially in emerging markets, often struggle to support fast-growing businesses due to inefficiencies. TransFi, in partnership with Circle, is transforming this landscape by integrating USDC, Circle Mint, and Circle Custodial Wallets into its platform, offering businesses a streamlined way to handle payments, improve treasury management, and execute large-scale payouts efficiently and compliantly.

    Simplifying Treasury Management for Global Teams

    Managing treasury across borders is one of the most challenging aspects of running a global business. Multiple currencies, long settlement times, and the volatility of traditional currencies can make funds management cumbersome. With Circle Mint, businesses now have instant access to USDC liquidity, making global treasury management more straightforward. TransFi leverages Circle Mint’s ability to mint and redeem USDC on demand, allowing businesses to transfer funds in real-time, without waiting for traditional banking processes. This real-time liquidity enhances operational efficiency and helps mitigate currency volatility risks, as businesses can hold stablecoins instead of relying on fluctuating local currencies. Circle Custodial Wallets further enhance this by providing businesses secure storage and full compliance, ensuring visibility and control over their funds.

    Enabling Mass Payouts in a Compliant Manner

    Executing mass payouts—whether for vendors, employees, or contractors—can be complex and costly. TransFi’s integration with Circle Mint and Circle Custodial Wallets enables businesses to execute payouts quickly, securely, and compliantly. By using Circle’s infrastructure, businesses can make instant payouts in USDC and convert funds to over 40 local currencies when necessary. Circle Custodial Wallets ensure compliance with KYC and AML regulations, providing businesses with full transaction visibility and audit trails. Whether paying a global workforce or settling international invoices, TransFi ensures that each transaction is transparent, secure, and compliant, allowing businesses to manage payouts seamlessly across borders.

    Supporting iGaming Flows

    The iGaming industry demands fast and secure payment solutions due to high transaction volumes and the need for real-time payouts. Traditional payment methods often cause delays and incur high fees, leading to frustration for both operators and players. The TransFi-Circle partnership is revolutionizing iGaming payments by enabling wallet top-ups and instant payouts using USDC. Players can fund their accounts instantly through USDC, while iGaming operators benefit from quicker settlement times and lower transaction costs. Circle’s infrastructure ensures these transactions remain secure and stable, with USDC providing a dollar-pegged, transparent, and frictionless alternative to volatile local currencies. Circle Custodial Wallets simplify the management of funds for iGaming platforms, ensuring compliance and reducing the complexity of handling multiple currencies, offering a smooth experience for all users.

    A Transformative Partnership for the Future of Payments

    The TransFi-Circle partnership is more than just about simplifying payments—it’s about redefining the way businesses manage cross-border transactions. With Circle Mint, Circle Custodial Wallets, and USDC, businesses can streamline treasury management, execute mass payouts, and handle payments in industries like iGaming, all within a secure, compliant, and efficient ecosystem. This collaboration marks the beginning of a new era in global payments, where businesses can operate faster, reduce costs, and eliminate traditional barriers. By embracing Circle’s infrastructure, TransFi is enabling businesses to scale globally, securely, and seamlessly, without the limitations of outdated financial systems.

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: TransFi
    Contact Person Name: Farhan Ahmed
    Email ID: farhan@transfi.com
    Company Website: https://www.transfi.com/

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by TransFi. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/377c025b-57fd-46e9-861d-cbd276cf774d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $22 Million Renovation to Dietz Stadium

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of renovations to Robert H. Dietz Memorial Stadium in the City of Kingston as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The $22 million project, which was kick-started with $2.5 million from the City of Kingston’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, included interior and exterior Grandstand renovations with upgraded locker rooms and athletics facilities, new track and turf field, greener and more accessible parking areas, new concession areas and restroom facilities, a new scoreboard and LED stadium lighting.

    “The revitalization of Dietz Stadium marks a new era for the City of Kingston – where state-of-the-art athletic facilities meet community pride and regional opportunity,” Governor Hochul said. “Through our Downtown Revitalization Initiative, we’ve transformed this historic venue into a modern hub for sports, recreation and public gatherings, all while preserving its legacy and strengthening accessibility, sustainability and economic vitality for generations to come.”

    Dietz Stadium is a 2,000-seat facility with an outdoor field and track that is a major venue for organized sports both locally and regionally. The stadium is used daily for Kingston City School athletics for practices and competitions. The stadium is home to Kingston Stockade Football Club, a semi-professional soccer team, and hosts several regional and statewide competitions each year, including the New York State Field Band Conference’s Fall Fanfare. The stadium grounds, pool, basketball court and track are popular for recreational use by the public.

    The Dietz Stadium renovation project was part of a multi-phased, comprehensive restoration of the larger complex, which included the Andretta Pool Improvements Project that began in spring 2020 and was completed in 2023. Improvements included a new roof and masonry repairs at the pool house, pool lining repairs, a new pump and filter, and a splash pad.

    The Dietz Stadium improvements included:

    • Exterior renovations of the grandstand, including improved accessibility, a 50-yard line access tunnel to the locker rooms, new benches, and press box upgrades
    • Interior renovations of the grandstand, including upgrades to the restrooms, new locker rooms, new mechanical/electrical services, coaches offices, training room, and improved storage facilities
    • New track surfacing, new turf field, and new LED stadium lighting
    • New scoreboard with large screen broadcasting
    • All new underground utilities: water, sewer, storm, electric & communications
    • Removal of the old concession building and admin building and construction of a new 100’ x 36’ open-air pavilion with food truck hook-ups, concession booth, and referee locker room
    • Visitor side concession area with two restrooms
    • Expanded grassed practice area with a track & field equipment storage building
    • New gated ticket booth grandstand entrance
    • Bus parking at stadium entrance, new parking lots with green infrastructure
    • Improved access loop road and sidewalks around the stadium
    • Two-way access/egress to Hurley Avenue as well as Joys Lane
    • Relocated basketball court with benches and lighting
    • Pedestrian access/egress walk to Joys Lane near Forsyth Nature Center
    • New stadium perimeter fencing
    • Improved Wi-Fi and security cameras
    • Landscaping, including 120+ new trees

    Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Dietz Stadium is a tremendous asset to the City of Kingston, and we are proud to celebrate its official reopening after extensive renovations and improvements. This is more than just a stadium, it is a neighborhood hub where families gather, students grow and residents show community pride. Congratulations to the City of Kingston on their continued efforts toward creating a more vibrant and thriving city!”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Projects like this are at the heart of our community redevelopment efforts and encourage new investments that support regional economic growth. Dietz Stadium is a Kingston landmark, and the upgrades made possible through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative will ensure that it continues to welcome fans and athletes for generations to come.”

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “When ‘climate smart’ cities like Kingston prioritize green infrastructure improvements and sustainable solutions, like these at Dietz Stadium, the entire community benefits. DEC is proud to partner with the Department of State and our fellow state agencies to support this exciting renovation project and contribute to the city of Kingston’s ongoing efforts to enhance resiliency and improve quality of life for everyone who calls this community home.”

    Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “The transformation of Dietz Stadium is a powerful example of how strategic investments in green infrastructure can revitalize community spaces while protecting our environment. EFC is proud to support projects like this that not only enhance public amenities but also advance New York State’s resilience and sustainability goals through cleaner water management and improved accessibility.”

    Representative Pat Ryan said, “I pushed hard for this project, both as County Executive and as a member of Congress – I’m incredibly proud to announce renovations are complete! This is a win for our entire Kingston community – from the student athletes that will utilize the new top-tier facilities, to the families and community members who will enjoy the space. I can’t wait to visit with Theo and Cam soon!”

    State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Dietz Stadium is a Kingston landmark and a cornerstone of life in our community, where generations have come together to compete, celebrate, and get a front row seat to watch our semi-pro Stockade FC make us proud. We’ve driven major state investment toward Dietz’s revitalization, and I’m proud to have been part of that effort. These renovations will help carry Dietz into its next 100 years, and it’s been incredible to see the positive impact on local families, athletes, and our business district since its opening.”

    Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, “Dietz Stadium is a beloved community asset that has been used by generations of residents for community recreation, school athletic practices and competitions, graduations, and special events, and more recently, as the home field for Kingston’s very own semi-pro soccer team, the Kingston Stockade FC. The improvements to the stadium are spectacular and will benefit the community for generations to come. I want to thank the Department of State for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, which provided funding to kick-start this project, and I want to express my appreciation to Mayor Noble, the Common Council, and the Kingston City School District for their vision, leadership, and commitment to making this project happen. I look forward to seeing the Kingston Stockade play on the new field!”

    City of Kingston Mayor Steven T. Noble said, “I want to thank the Governor and the Department of State for seeing our vision for Uptown Kingston, believing in our community, and providing the funding through the DRI program that kick-started this massive renovation project of our beloved Dietz Stadium. With the state-of-the-art upgrades, this complex will now be able to host regional sporting competitions and large-scale events, which we know will be a boon to our Stockade Business District and beyond. We are thrilled to have robust support from the State and are proud to welcome the public to the new and improved Robert H. Dietz Memorial Stadium today.”

    Kingston City School District Superintendent Dr. Paul J. Padalino said, “We are incredibly thankful to New York State for providing the financial support to complete the renovations of the new and improved Dietz Stadium. This stadium is a tremendous asset to both KCSD and the City of Kingston. KCSD students have already been making great use of the stadium and we look forward to making more memorable moments here. This project is an example of effective cooperation between the State, City and School District. We are grateful to have worked collaboratively with our state and local governments to make this dream a reality.”

    The City of Kingston was named the Mid-Hudson Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) winner in Round Two. Dietz Stadium and the larger complex, including Andretta Pool received $2.5 million from the DRI, as well as grants for green infrastructure improvements from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Facilities Corporation. In addition to Dietz Stadium, other projects awarded DRI funding include $2.38 million for transportation upgrades in the Stockade District; $473,000 to create open space in Frog Alley; $3.8 million to incorporate public improvements into the Kingstonian Mixed-Use Development Project; and $600,000 for a Small Grants Program to support smaller projects in the City’s Stockade Business District.

    Downtown Revitalization Initiative
    The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through eight rounds, the DRI has awarded a total of $900 million to 89 communities across every region of the State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cook, Four Guides for the Journey Ahead

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Huge congratulations to Michigan State University’s James Madison College Class of 2025!1 It is an honor to speak to this inspiring and talented graduating class. Before I address the graduates, I would like to thank those who helped you get here: the parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, friends, teachers, and mentors. Congratulations and thank you to all who lifted up the Class of 2025.
    As a professor’s kid and as an MSU professor, I have come to treasure commencements as important milestones. It is wonderful to be with you today. The flowers are starting to bloom in Beal Garden, the lawns around Beaumont Tower are turning the perfect shade of Spartan green, and the ducklings are making their appearance on the Red Cedar. After another chilly winter, campus is reaching peak beauty—just in time for you to leave Michigan State.
    I am full of optimism about everything that lies ahead of you. Despite any sense of angst you may feel about moving on from Madison, I hope that you are filled with optimism, too. Spring is a time of new beginnings. You are ready for the next step. Today marks both the completion of a tremendous accomplishment, and an exciting new beginning. Some of you may be feeling uncertain. That is natural. Others of you may have detailed plans that you are ready to execute. Remember, if you keep your head down and your eyes fixed only on the map, you may miss unexpected opportunities. Life—like Michigan weather—is going to surprise you. As you leave here, I want you to remain optimistic and have confidence, because you are ready.
    When I was in your shoes, graduating from Spelman College, I remember feeling unsure of what the world would have in store for me. I did not imagine I would be a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, or even an economist. (I started Spelman as a physics and philosophy major.) I only came to see economics as a potential route several years after my graduation, following a chance encounter. At the time, I was continuing my studies in philosophy in Senegal and was struggling to find the right prism through which to explore big questions that interested and motivated me. I decided to set out for an adventure of a lifetime: hike Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. As luck would have it, during that journey I met a British economist. By the end of the trek, he convinced me that economics held the tools to address the questions I cared about deeply. Within months, I moved back home, enrolled in classes to prepare for a Ph.D. in economics, and began a path that ultimately led me to both Michigan State and the Federal Reserve.
    Today, you are leaving the safe harbor of Case Hall and East Lansing, ready to depart on your next adventure. As you do, I would like to offer four guides for you to navigate your journey ahead: hope, curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to public service.
    HopeMy first guide for you is hope. Hope is a value instilled in me from a very young age. I saw my parents and family members face difficult challenges. They persevered because they held out hope that their actions would lead to a better future, not only for themselves, but for me and my sisters, our community, and ultimately all of society. I am proud to have followed in their footsteps.
    As James Madison graduates, I know each of you has some corner of the world in which you have made a difference or wish to make a difference. It could have been through debate, JMC Senate, ASMSU, 4-H, ROTC, peer mentoring, Fed Challenge, a public service sorority or fraternity, or Model UN, among many other organizations. Whatever issue interests you, to make progress, you must undertake the difficult work of casting off old ways that no longer serve us, and adopting new ideas, new methods, and new technologies. This process requires faith put into action. Optimism expressed through effort. The daily choice to believe that you can make a difference. So, as you proceed, when you feel unsure, I urge you to guard your sense of hope. Let hope guide you to a better future.
    CuriosityMy next guide for you is curiosity. I encourage you to remain curious, for your attention and your time are among your most precious resources. From your first-year seminar, through your methods courses, to your senior seminars, your studies honed your capacity to seek new insights. I urge you to ask questions, hunt for the best available information, reason through it, and listen carefully to other points of view.
    Remain curious about what others can teach you, and do not settle for easy answers. It is imperative that you continue to be filled with wonder about the world so that you can make it better. Curiosity is magical, but it takes vigilance, practice, and study to avoid stagnation, and to reach new insights. Curiosity will lead you to wonderful opportunities if you trust its guidance.
    PersistenceThat leads me to my third suggestion for your journey ahead: be persistent. As Madison graduates, you know about preparation. To be persistent in your efforts, you need to continually prepare yourself for the next steps, even if you do not know the destination. It means grounding what you think and say in deep and informed knowledge, acquired through effort and reflection.
    You are graduating at a unique time in the history of the world. We have access to unprecedented quantities of data. We have tools to gather and analyze these data to understand and improve the world. I encourage you to view learning as a lifelong pursuit. I ask you to familiarize yourself with new technologies and tools, such as artificial intelligence, and incorporate them into persistent preparation as a companion, not as a substitute, to live an informed, productive, and fulfilling life.
    ServiceMy final guide for you is a call to service. I know you understand this as James Madison students. Public service is woven into the culture here. Historically, Madison graduates have entered public service jobs immediately after graduation in large numbers, including with the Peace Corps, Teach for America, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal agencies.
    Over the course of my life, many of my proudest and most enriching memories were opportunities to serve. (Were any of you in 4-H like I was? Do you remember the pledge? It is “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.”) Whether it was my time as a page in the Georgia legislature, interning on Capitol Hill, serving on the Executive Committee of the American Economic Association (AEA), working at the U.S. Treasury and the White House, leading the AEA Summer Program at MSU, or now, as a member of the Federal Reserve Board, these opportunities to use my knowledge, skills, and time to try to improve the world have been invaluable to me.
    As proud James Madison graduates, look for different opportunities to serve the greater good over the course of your lives. Public service is not always easy, but it is always meaningful and deeply rewarding. That could involve working in education or government, conducting research to expand our knowledge, inventing new technologies, volunteering for a nonprofit organization, or mentoring more junior colleagues. There are many ways—big and small—to serve. So, as you navigate your lives, ask yourself which paths will allow you to contribute to the greater good.
    ConclusionGraduates—Spartans—you are entering the wider world, one filled with pressing needs, and countless opportunities. As you make your way, let hope be your constant companion. Heed your curiosity. Honor deep knowledge and thorough, persistent preparation. Embrace public service, however you define it.
    Growing up, I was often inspired by a poem, popularized by the scholar and spiritual mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., Howard Thurman: “I’m tired of sailing my little boat far inside the harbor bar. I want to go out where the big ships float, out on the deep where the great ones are. Should my frail craft prove too slight for those waves that sweep the billows o’er, I’d rather go down in the stirring fight than drowse to death by the sheltered shore.”2
    Graduates, I urge you to plumb the depths of the deep oceans, where you will find the great questions that excite, challenge, and motivate you. You will face rough waters, the route will change, and your destination is not entirely known. As I said, life—like Michigan weather—is going to surprise you. But you are prepared. Your education and your experiences here have armed you with specific knowledge and skills, but also—more importantly—with a honed capacity to be curious, to persistently adapt, to serve, and to hope.
    Congratulations, Class of 2025! I cannot wait to see what you will discover on your way.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. Daisy Rinehart, “The Call of the Open Sea,” Munsey’s Magazine, October 1905, 36, quoted in Howard Thurman, “Finding God,” in Religion on Campus: The Report of the National Student Conference, Milwaukee, December 28, 1926 to January 1, 1927, ed. Francis P. Miller (Association Press, 1927), 48. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Discusses Strengthening Nebraska’s Water Infrastructure at Environment and Public Works Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, discussed improvements to Nebraska’s water infrastructure, including irrigation, during a committee hearing. Witnesses included Tom Goulette, City Administrator and Utility Superintendent for the City of West Point, NE. Ricketts said the following to Goulette:

    “[Nebraska is one of] the largest irrigation states in the country. I was just in Scottsbluff last week, where the Gering-Fort Laramie Canal collapsed while I was Governor. We worked to get some temporary repairs in place there. It’s owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, but through a program, they built the canal there 100 years ago, and when it collapsed, it cut off about 55,000 acres of Nebraska farmland from getting irrigation water.

    “That obviously, is just huge for a state like Nebraska, where agriculture is our biggest industry in the state,” Ricketts continued. “We’re going to be looking for opportunities to have the federal government partner with us to get the permanent repairs on that done, because right now it’s operating at about 80% capacity.”

    Click here to watch the hearing.

    TRANSCRIPT:

    Senator Ricketts: “Great. Thank you very much, appreciate it.

    “Well, welcome to all of our witnesses today.

    “I appreciate taking the time and Tom, great to have you here to be able to represent Nebraska.

    “Tom brings just a wealth of information to this committee.

    “If there is a job involving water in the state of Nebraska, over the last 40 years, Tom has done that job.

    “He has been, obviously, currently in West Point and great community there in Cuming County.

    “But just your depth of expertise is amazing.

    “I’m actually going to read all some of the stuff because it’s pretty impressive.

    “Served as Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Drinking Water, Chairman of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Chairman of the League of Nebraska Utilities of Nebraska Utility Section, and President of Nebraska Rural Water. 

    “Just to name a few.

    “You’re currently the Chairman of the Nebraska League of Municipalities, Small Cities Legislative Committee say hi to Lynn for me.”

    Tom Goulette: “I will do that.”

    Senator Ricketts: “And if you’re not busy enough, you’re very you’re engaged very civic engagements, where you’ve served as a Utility Superintendent for the City West Point since 1993 and added City Administrator to your business card in 2001 and you still got both those titles today, right?”

    Tom Goulette: “Yes, yeah.”

    Senator Ricketts: “So it just shows again, small towns people wear a lot of hats.

    “And before the committee today, your post is the Nebraska Rural Water Association.

    “You’ve been on the board there since 2005 and currently serving on the executive committee.

    “So, thank you again, Tom for being here.

    “Really, really appreciate your experience that you bring to this committee.”

    Tom Goulette: “Thank you, sir.”

    Senator Ricketts: “So, welcome.

    “And what I’d like to talk a little bit about is many small and rural communities face significant challenges in accessing and managing the federal infrastructure dollars due to limited staffing and technical expertise.

    “We saw this in other areas as well, like the Department of Transportation, and so forth.

    “When we met in February, the Nebraska Rural Water Association Chair shared some of these barriers, what type of resources or policy changes could Congress consider making to federal programs to make them more efficient for small and rural communities?”

    Tom Goulette: “You know, a lot of it comes down to the simplifying the application requirements for those small communities. 

    “Typically, they know best of what their needs are going to be when it comes to upgrading your systems or changing the equipment and that type of thing, along with the assistance from, you know, the Nebraska Rural Water Association or Circuit Riders are there lending assistance in quantifying that.

    “And then once they get to that point, once they can get to some type of formulation of what that community needs, that’s when an application needs to go in, and then that should allow for some additional engineering. 

    “Then at that stage, once that project is identified, and the community can have some buy in, for lack of a better term.

    “The other thing is that reducing those match requirements, a lot of small rural communities, they stretch every dollar they have.

    “So, when, when they’re looking at this, and they’re looking at the match requirements to comply with that, it becomes difficult.

    “Then they’ve got to balance out where the priorities lie within the financial capabilities of that community. So consequently, some of those projects get on, put on the shelf, then at that point.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Yeah, and it’s not so true for West Point, because West Point is really doing well.

    “But what we see is it fair to say, in a lot of our rural communities, we see that as the younger people move away and you’re left with declining population of older folks at bases, that just adds to the complication of being able to get these water projects done?”

    Tom Goulette: “It does.

    “And along with that, is our aging workforce.

    “You know, we see a lot of operators aging out those, those are one and two main operations.

    “So, you know, once that that legacy leaves that community that they’re difficult to replace.

    “So that makes the challenge even more difficult to make to help sustain that community.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Is there, again, is there something we could do in Congress to be able to help with some of those workforce challenges?”

    Tom Goulette: “One of the things is the apprenticeship program that Senator Capito put in place a few years ago, and we need to get that moving in Nebraska.

    “We need to get that funding moving in Nebraska.

    “We need to get an apprenticeship program and start that process to engage those communities and show them options and bring trained operators to the facilities.

    Senator Ricketts: “Can you just give us a briefly, just how some of these federal funding programs have made otherwise cost prohibitive projects in small towns and rural communities possible?”

    Tom Goulette: “Yeah, I mean, basically, when you’re looking at the projects themselves, and you’re looking at the market based on interest rates and that type of thing, and the longevity, it makes it more economically feasible for those small communities, there’s the grant basis that they also can qualify for, which also helps them.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Can you give me an example of specific project off the top of your head?”

    Tom Goulette: “You know that the easiest example right now is the city of West Point.

    “You know, we did the water project here a few years ago where we had a $2.7 million water treatment plant.

    “Of that $2.7 million, 553,000 of that was loan forgiveness, and then in addition to that, was the one and a half percent interest rate, plus the administrative fee for the state.”

    “So it makes it very economically feasible to get those programs in place rather than going out to the open market.”

    Senator Ricketts: “All right, great.

    “Well, oh, we lost our chair, so I guess I’m in charge of the Republican side now.

    “I’m going to take a moment just to talk a little bit as well about an important project not specifically related to the drinking water, but access to water in general, in our state is obviously important. 

    “We’re the largest irrigation state in the country, and I was just in Scottsbluff last week, and theGering-Fort Laramie Canalcollapsed while I was Governor, and we worked to get some temporary repairs in place there. 

    “It’s owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, but through a program, they built the canal there 100 years ago, and when it collapsed, it cut off about 55,000 acres of Nebraska farmland from getting irrigation water. 

    “And that obviously, is just huge for a state like Nebraska, where irrigation, or irrigation is big, but also agriculture is our biggest industry in the state.

    “And so, we’re going to be looking for opportunities to be able to have the federal government partner, to be able to get the permanent repairs on that done, because right now it’s operating, like, about 80% capacity.

    “And I was just talking to folks about, again, just getting to this idea of, like, how expensive it is for these projects, and how with the drinking water and making it possible in West Point, but the cost that would be for those farmers to be able to pay the extra fees to be able to get those total repairs done would be really, really challenging.

    “So that’s another project in our example how the federal government can help partner with states and local communities to be able to get these water projects done.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: No KYC, Double Deposit Bonus, $50 Welcome Bonus, and 100x Leverage Crypto Trading on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the price of Bitcoin surpassing the $95,000 mark, many analysts believe that Bitcoin will enter a long-term high volatility market. Holding spot positions may not be consistently profitable in the short term. BexBack exchange is stepping up its efforts to provide traders with irresistible preferential packages. The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 new user welcome bonus, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, creating unparalleled trading opportunities for investors.

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    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

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    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. he statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bc597a9-d5a5-4c87-a7c9-4a408b15d2eb

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f84970b5-5af6-4121-b977-32af58005274

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c80d988-e506-4489-96d7-36281b8d5f26

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d2d8511-5e7b-4888-a795-8e6d0ce1b248

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Labor routs the Coalition as voters reject Dutton’s undercooked offering

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    In a dramatic parallel, what happened in Canada at the beginning of this week has now been replicated in Australia at the end of the week.

    An opposition that a few months ago had looked just possibly on track to dislodge the government, or at least run it close, has bombed spectacularly. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has lost his Queensland seat of Dickson, as did the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in Canada.

    Far from being forced into minority government, as most observers had been expecting, Labor has increased its majority, with a substantial swing towards it.

    Its strong victory reflects not just the the voters’ judgement that the Coalition was not ready to govern. It was worse than that. People just didn’t rate the Coalition or its offerings.

    Multiple factors played into this debacle for the Coalition.

    A first-term government historically gets a chance of a second term.

    The Trump factor overshadowed this election. It made people feel it was best to stick with the status quo. People also were very suspicious of Dutton, whom they saw (despite disclaimers) as being too like the hardline US president.

    After the last election, Dutton was declared by many to be unelectable, and that proved absolutely to be the case, despite what turned out to be a misleading impression when the polls were so bad for Labor.

    Even if they’d had a very good campaign, the Coalition would probably not have had a serious chance of winning this election.

    But its campaign was woeful. The nuclear policy was a drag and a distraction. Holding back policy until late was a bad call. When the policies came, they were often thin and badly prepared. The ambitious defence policy had no detail. The gas reservation scheme had belated modelling.

    The forced backflip on working from home, and the late decision to offer a tax offset, were other examples of disaster in the campaign.

    Dutton must wear the main share of the blame. He kept strategy and tactics close to his chest.

    But the performance of the opposition frontbench, with a few exceptions, has been woeful. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume have been no match for their Labor counterparts Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor ran a very disciplined campaign. Albanese himself performed much better than he did in 2022.

    Labor was helped by an interest rate cut in February and the prospect of another to come later this month.

    Albanese transformed himself, or was transformed, from last year to this year.

    The cost of living presented a huge hurdle for Labor, but the government was able to point to relief it had given on energy bills, tax and much else. The Coalition had opposed several of Labor’s measures and was left trying to play catch-up at the end.

    The Liberal Party now has an enormous task to rebuild. The “target the suburbs” strategy has failed. At the same time, the old inner-city Liberal heartland is deeply teal territory.

    Hume said, in an unfortunately colourful comment, on Friday, “You do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken”.

    The chicken has now been gutted. There will be a much more bitter post mortem than in 2022. The leadership choices are less than optimal for the party: Angus Taylor? Andrew Hastie? Sussan Ley?

    An interesting thought: if Josh Frydenberg had held his seat in 2022, and led the Liberal party to this election, would be result have been better? One thing is clear: Frydenberg took the right decision in not recontesting Kooyong, which teal Monique Ryan has held.

    Anyway, who would want to lead the Liberals at this moment?

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

    – ref. Labor routs the Coalition as voters reject Dutton’s undercooked offering – https://theconversation.com/labor-routs-the-coalition-as-voters-reject-duttons-undercooked-offering-255617

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Med school proposals discussed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    ​​The “Task Group on New Medical School” today met the three universities that have submitted proposals for the establishment of a third medical school.

    Co-chaired by Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau and Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-Lin, the discussions were focused on proposals from the Baptist University, the Polytechnic University and the University of Science & Technology.

    Prof Lo said that during the exercise the task group’s expert advisers and representatives from various bureaus conducted fruitful exchanges with the university representatives on matters including strategic positioning, curriculum structure and assessment methodologies, and financial sustainability.

    The task group also took the opportunity to better understand the preparatory work and resource plans underpinning each proposal. This includes collaboration models involving local and non-local partners, the allocation of resources for curriculum software and hardware, teaching manpower, and student recruitment and training.

    Prof Lo added that the task group will increase speed and efficiency in the next phase, adopting a holistic and integrated approach to assessing the proposals, with a view to completing the assessments within the current year and recommending to the Government the option that best supports Hong Kong’s development into an international medical training, research and innovation hub.

    Ms Choi highlighted that the 2024-2035 master plan for building China into a leading country in education strives to accelerate the development of world-class universities and advanced disciplines. To tie in with this important blueprint, she added, Hong Kong is preparing to establish a third medical school to further enhance its status as an international post-secondary education hub.

    Strategically located in the Northern Metropolis University Town, the new medical school will have immense potential to foster synergy among academia, the research community and industry within the vicinity and the wider Greater Bay Area, Ms Choi added.     

    The task group issued a letter of invitation on December 2 last year to all University Grants Committee-funded universities. The letter invited local universities interested in taking the new medical school project forward to submit proposals by March 17 this year. Three proposals were received by the deadline.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese’s government might not thrill, but it has shown unity and competence – and that’s no mean feat

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University

    The Coalition’s election campaign of 2025 has a strong claim to be considered among the worst since federation. I know of none more shambolic. Barely a day passed without some new misstep or about-face, some embarrassing revelation about a candidate, some new policy condemned by experts as half-baked, uncosted or worse. Three years of waiting for Labor and Anthony Albanese to fall over instead of doing serious policy work came home to roost, and the chicken concerned was very ugly.

    The campaign more generally was nothing to write home about. From the preoccupations of the major players, if you didn’t already know, you’d hardly have guessed that the wider world was in the midst of its greatest convulsions since the second world war, as the United States retreated from its longstanding global role into protectionism and isolationism, abandoning and bullying old friends and allies, helping rivals and enemies, upending international trade, and dismantling democracy and the rule of law.

    The government assured voters it had everything in hand, adopting a small-target re-election strategy, to pair with its similar 2022 approach. Albanese invariably looked solid and prime ministerial. There was no fumbling the figures on the level of unemployment or the Reserve Bank cash rate this time.

    Like the Coalition, Labor threw itself enthusiastically into a spendathon. It did not take major policy reform into the campaign. We live in the shadow of the two elections that saw parties with policy ambition suffer humiliating defeat: the Coalition in 1993 and Labor in 2019. That made the Coalition’s policy of building nuclear power plants foolhardy rather than brave.

    Trump’s shadow followed Peter Dutton everywhere, making a small-target strategy unviable for the Coalition. On Trump, Dutton sometimes sounded a bit like Saint Peter thrice denying he knew Jesus Christ, but he reverted to type as the campaign wore on by playing up favoured culture war topics of the moment, such as winding back Indigenous Welcomes to Country.

    But the Liberals’ biggest mistake – the one on which all others would be built – occurred three years ago, on May 30 2022.

    Dutton, unopposed as the Liberal Party’s new leader, told his first press conference that his policies would be aimed at the “forgotten people” of the suburbs. It was a pitch so hackneyed as to be barely worth attention. But it was also a strange thing to say given the reality of the situation his party then faced – and still faces today.

    Hackneyed, because Dutton’s promise recalled the Liberal Party’s talismanic foundational document, Robert Menzies’ “The Forgotten People”, broadcast 80 years before to the very month. But strange because the Coalition had been in office for nine years. If there were indeed “forgotten people” in the nation’s suburbs, the Coalition had surely enjoyed ample opportunity to remember them.

    It was strange for another reason, too: the Liberal Party had just been devastated by the loss of its traditional urban heartland, Menzies’ old seat of Kooyong among the casualties. The residents of these electorates – most of them not far from city centres – may well have felt “forgotten”, but not in the sense Dutton imagined. They felt their values and interests were not reflected in the modern Liberal Party.

    It is worth revisiting what Dutton said on that occasion, because it seems to have guided his whole pitch as opposition leader ever since:

    I’m not giving up on any seat, but I do want to send a very clear message to those in the suburbs, particularly those in seats where there has been a swing against the Labor Party on their primary vote, in many parts of the country.

    The emphasis here was not really on winning back teal seats. They received just a grudging nod of acknowledgement. For Dutton, it was all about going out into the suburbs and winning seats held by Labor. And true to form, teal seats received very little of his campaign attention during the 2025 campaign.

    This was a foolish strategy of avoidance for which Dutton and the Liberal Party have now paid a heavy price. The Coalition’s journey took it into support for nuclear power, blaming housing shortages on immigration, and opposing a First Nations Voice to Parliament – the latter an issue the Coalition even desperately sought to revive against Labor during the campaign.

    The Voice referendum nurtured the illusion that the six in ten “no” voters were ripe for Coalition picking. Wiser heads might have noticed Labor continued to rule for eight years after the Hawke government was humiliated at a 1988 referendum, and Menzies was prime minister for 15 years following his Communist Party referendum defeat.

    Wiser heads might also have noticed that the Coalition’s only path back to power demanded it address its losses in the more affluent metropolitan seats won by Independents, Labor and the Greens. Short of huge and unlikely advances in the outer suburbs and regional cities and towns, the Liberals need to win metropolitan seats with high proportions of well-off, well-educated, socially progressive and younger voters to be competitive for majority government.

    Still, that was a hard ask in three years. It nonetheless left a chance of minority Coalition government, which many pundits believed a distinct possibility for much of 2024 and early 2025.

    But where were the Coalition’s votes on the floor of the House going to come from, if not from teal and teal-like independents? The Greens? Hardly. It would have made a great deal of sense to pitch policies that might help to win over community independents and their supporters.

    Instead, the Coalition alienated them, such as by joining with Labor to produce an ineffectual National Anti-Corruption Commission and new electoral finance laws opposed by the teals.

    The Liberals and Nationals made little effort to attract women voters – indeed, policies such as opposing working from home alienated them – and they wandered off on their nuclear frolic. Dutton flirted with Trumpish policies on reducing immigration and public service cuts, before retreating on the latter but in such a confused manner as to leave voters without a clue what his intentions actually were.



    Read more:
    When ‘equal’ does not mean ‘the same’: Liberals still do not understand their women problem

    And as the Liberals’ election campaign unravelled, its friends in the right-wing media continued to campaign relentlessly against the teals. There was no method to this madness, unless it was shoring up the Coalition against possible depredations on its dwindling voting base from parties further to the right.

    It is not that Labor was invincible. Its majority was the narrowest of any first-term government since 1913. It was under pressure in normally friendly Victoria. It lost momentum through the Voice referendum. Interest rates intensified mortgage stress. People complained they could afford a visit to neither the supermarket nor the doctor’s surgery. There was growing unease about immigration levels, and continuing frustration at the lack of housing.

    The contest for government, however, is still largely a two-horse race and each of the major party leaders is the main bearer of their side’s colours. Dutton and the Liberals failed to do the hard yakka on policy, ideology, image or strategy.

    Dutton himself continued to worry many voters as a risky proposition or worse. The few weeks of the election campaign itself seemed more consequential than most in living memory because it so amply demonstrated his lack of fitness for prime ministerial leadership.

    For Labor, the Rudd and Gillard years remain the central reference in modern political history, formative of their understanding of what not to do in government if you want to be treated respectfully by voters.

    In contrast, in the past three years, Labor established an image of unity and competence. We should not underestimate this achievement. It amounted to a significant rebuilding of the Labor brand.

    “You campaign in poetry, you govern in prose,” New York governor Mario Cuomo was fond of saying. Labor has defied him: it campaigns and governs in prose.

    But perhaps that’s what those fabled punters want: not a Trump-inspired disruptor, nor a radical visionary, but the kind of bloke you’d trust with your tax return.

    The times ahead will call for more.

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

    – ref. Albanese’s government might not thrill, but it has shown unity and competence – and that’s no mean feat – https://theconversation.com/albaneses-government-might-not-thrill-but-it-has-shown-unity-and-competence-and-thats-no-mean-feat-254570

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor routs the Coalition as voters reject Dutton’s undercooked offering

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    In a dramatic parallel, what happened in Canada at the beginning of this week has now been replicated in Australia at the end of the week.

    An opposition that a few months ago had looked just possibly on track to dislodge the government, or at least run it close, has bombed spectacularly. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has lost his Queensland seat of Dickson, as did the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in Canada.

    Far from being forced into minority government, as most observers had been expecting, Labor has increased its majority, with a substantial swing towards it.

    Its strong victory reflects not just the the voters’ judgement that the Coalition was not ready to govern. It was worse than that. People just didn’t rate the Coalition or its offerings.

    Multiple factors played into this debacle for the Coalition.

    A first-term government historically gets a chance of a second term.

    The Trump factor overshadowed this election. It made people feel it was best to stick with the status quo. People also were very suspicious of Dutton, whom they saw (despite disclaimers) as being too like the hardline US president.

    After the last election, Dutton was declared by many to be unelectable, and that proved absolutely to be the case, despite what turned out to be a misleading impression when the polls were so bad for Labor.

    Even if they’d had a very good campaign, the Coalition would probably not have had a serious chance of winning this election.

    But its campaign was woeful. The nuclear policy was a drag and a distraction. Holding back policy until late was a bad call. When the policies came, they were often thin and badly prepared. The ambitious defence policy had no detail. The gas reservation scheme had belated modelling.

    The forced backflip on working from home, and the late decision to offer a tax offset, were other examples of disaster in the campaign.

    Dutton must wear the main share of the blame. He kept strategy and tactics close to his chest.

    But the performance of the opposition frontbench, with a few exceptions, has been woeful. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume have been no match for their Labor counterparts Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor ran a very disciplined campaign. Albanese himself performed much better than he did in 2022.

    Labor was helped by an interest rate cut in February and the prospect of another to come later this month.

    Albanese transformed himself, or was transformed, from last year to this year.

    The cost of living presented a huge hurdle for Labor, but the government was able to point to relief it had given on energy bills, tax and much else. The Coalition had opposed several of Labor’s measures and was left trying to play catch-up at the end.

    The Liberal Party now has an enormous task to rebuild. The “target the suburbs” strategy has failed. At the same time, the old inner-city Liberal heartland is deeply teal territory.

    Hume said, in an unfortunately colourful comment, on Friday, “You do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken”.

    The chicken has now been gutted. There will be a much more bitter post mortem than in 2022. The leadership choices are less than optimal for the party: Angus Taylor? Andrew Hastie? Sussan Ley?

    An interesting thought: if Josh Frydenberg had held his seat in 2022, and led the Liberal party to this election, would be result have been better? One thing is clear: Frydenberg took the right decision in not recontesting Kooyong, which teal Monique Ryan has held.

    Anyway, who would want to lead the Liberals at this moment?

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

    – ref. Labor routs the Coalition as voters reject Dutton’s undercooked offering – https://theconversation.com/labor-routs-the-coalition-as-voters-reject-duttons-undercooked-offering-255617

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Get ready for the 2025 school year

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    In Brief:

    • The 2025 public school year begins for new students on the 3 February and continuing students on 4 February.
    • This story contains key dates and information for families.

    Canberra families are about to start another school year.

    Here is everything you need to know to help you plan for the 2025 school year.

    Student-free days and start of term

    There are four student-free days each year for ACT public schools. These are the first day of each school term.

    Student-free days are for staff development, enabling teachers and schools to plan in a student-free environment.

    Friday 31 January will be a student-free day.

    On Monday 3 February, new students will start school. Continuing students will return to school on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

    Other term dates for the 2025 school year:

    • Friday 11 April – Term 1 ends
    • Tuesday 29 April – Term 2 begins (students start school)
    • Friday 4 July – Term 2 ends
    • Tuesday 22 July – Term 3 begins (students start school)
    • Friday 26 September – Term 3 ends
    • Tuesday 14 October – Term 4 begins (students start school)
    • Thursday 18 December – Term 4 ends.

    Visit the Term Dates page for all school term dates.

    Financial assistance

    The Future of Education Equity Fund (Equity Fund) offers eligible families financial support to help with school essentials. It supports the more vulnerable families in our community.

    Low-income families of students – from preschool through to year 12 – can receive a one-off, annual payment. This is to help cover the costs of schooling, such as:

    • uniforms
    • sport equipment and activities
    • tuition
    • music lessons.

    The Equity Fund payments are $400 (preschool), $500 (primary school), and $750 (high school and college level, including CIT Year 11 and 12).

    Equity Fund applications for the 2025 school year are now open.

    Families can apply for all eligible students in their family in the one application, regardless of whether they attend different schools.

    School staff are also able to help families to apply.

    Applications close in November 2025.

    Find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply online.

    Parent Portal

    The Parent Portal is now available across all ACT public schools.

    The portal allows secure sharing of information between parents/carers and teachers/schools online or via the Sentra for Parents app.

    Parents and carers only need to sign up once, and can add multiple children to one account.

    Find out more about the Parent Portal app.

    Building Strong Foundations for literacy and numeracy

    ACT public schools with preschool to year 2 students will receive extra funding for additional evidence-informed literacy and numeracy resources.

    These resources will be in place for preschool to year 2 classrooms for the start of the 2025 school year.

    Read more about the ACT Government’s Strong Foundations program.

    Wellbeing for students

    A new school year can be tough for some students, whether they are:

    • starting a new school
    • moving into high school or college
    • just dealing with any of the life changes thrown their way.

    The ACT Government has online resources that could be helpful in starting conversations on finding ways to support them.

    Visit the Education website to watch a video series on supporting an anxious child, and to access a mindfulness podcast series.

    Asthma management

    If your child has asthma, the start of the school year is a good time to make sure you’re managing it.

    You may wish to:

    • book an asthma review with your child’s GP
    • update your child’s asthma action plan with their GP
    • make sure the school has your child’s reliever medication and spacer
    • talk to school staff
    • book an appointment with one of the asthma nurse educators at Canberra Health Services.

    Learn more about children’s asthma education services.

    Child development

    Are you concerned about your child’s development? The start of a new year is a good time to contact the Child Development Service, to access free drop-in clinics and assessments.

    Find out more about the Child Development Service

    Healthy lunches

    Find tips on how to pack a healthy lunchbox on ACT Health’s Fresh Tastes Lunchboxes website.

    It includes a Grab and Go shopping list and tips for a waste-free lunchbox. You’ll also find tips on which food groups to include and how to swap for healthier options.

    Looking for more healthy lunchbox tips? Try the Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box Builder. It’s a great tool to help build a lunchbox so your child can get a healthy brain boost throughout the school day.

    Free three-year-old preschool

    ACT three-year-olds can now benefit from 300 hours of free preschool at over 140 locations.

    This will save the average family around $1,329 a year.

    Read more and find where to access three-year-old preschool.

    Period products at all schools

    In 2023 the ACT Government passed new legislation to make free period products available at a range of community locations across the ACT for anyone who needs them.

    This includes at every ACT public school, which is something we already do as a system, and will continue to do.

    Pads and tampons are available in ACT public high schools, colleges, and combined schools. Pads are available in ACT public primary schools.

    They can be accessed at any time during the school day from the school front office.

    The Education Directorate will continue to work with ACT Health to ensure age-appropriate information on menstrual hygiene is available for students through our schools.

    Read more about free period products.

    40 km/h school zones

    Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. As students return to school, remember to slow down and stick to the 40 km/h limit around schools between 8am and 4pm.

    Mobile speed vans and police regularly patrol school zones. Let’s all slow down and support kids’ safety.

    Back to school with Transport Canberra

    The regular bus network and timetable will return from Monday 3 February 2025 including dedicated school services and ‘S’ trips which divert into schools. Please check your timetable so you are prepared and ready.

    Students can download the MyWay+ app and use the real time journey planner for a simply way to plan and pay for their trip to school.

    All school students receive a discounted fare when using MyWay+. Student concession MyWay+ travel cards purchased in 2024 and 2025 have an extended expiry date until 1 January 2026. If you would like to check the concession status of a card, please create a MyWay+ account and link the travel card to it. Alternatively, go to a MyWay+ retail outlet to check.

    You can get a new student concession MyWay+ travel card for your child from MyWay+ retail outlets. Please note that secondary and tertiary students must provide proof of concessions at time of purchase to get the correct concession applied to the card.

    To top up their MyWay+ travel card please go to a MyWay+ retail outlet or top up online through a MyWay+ account or the ‘quick top up’ option on the portal.

    Whilst Transport Canberra are not charging penalty fares at the moment, it wants to obtain the most accurate data possible and encourage best practice for all students. Please remember to tap on and off with the same device when your trip starts and ends.

    *Secondary students will need to carry their student ID card with them when travelling on the bus and light rail if they are using a MyWay+ concession account/travel card.

    Transport Canberra is working to improve the MyWay+ system by allowing primary account holders, like parents or carers, to link multiple MyWay+ accounts. This is about to undergo testing with the community prior to launching over the next couple of months.

    Transport Canberra will be taking an educative approach whilst the community and its workforce adjust to the change. Please be assured that kids can continue to travel on buses and light rail services. No child will be left behind.

    Parents of primary school students, please refer to your school’s pack for travel details.

    You can also plan your trip back to school with Transport Canberra’s Journey Planner.

    Find out more about going back to school with Transport Canberra.

    Parking around schools

    The start of the school year is a particularly busy time in Canberra’s school carparks and surrounding streets.

    Unsafe and illegal parking reduces visibility for students and motorists. This creates a hazard when students cross the road.

    Parking inspectors and license plate recognition vehicles will be out and about enforcing safe parking around schools.

    For drop-offs and pick-ups, arrange a meeting spot, arrive after the rush, or park a little further away from the school and walk with your kids the rest of the way.

    Read more like this:

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: GoAuto Insurance Delivers Affordable Auto Coverage Solutions for Ohio Drivers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Ohio drivers face rising insurance costs and financial pressures, GoAuto Insurance has announced a significant expansion of its cheap auto insurance in Ohio. The company’s customer-first approach directly addresses the challenges many Ohio families experience when seeking quality coverage at reasonable rates.

    The initiative emphasizes GoAuto’s commitment to making comprehensive protection accessible to all Ohio drivers, with particular focus on serving the diverse needs of residents in major metropolitan areas like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron, and Canton.

    “Ohio drivers shouldn’t have to choose between affordable premiums and quality coverage,” said a GoAuto Insurance representative. “Our expansion throughout Ohio is founded on the belief that reliable protection should be within reach for every driver, regardless of their budget constraints or location.”

    Reimagining Auto Insurance for Ohio’s Diverse Communities

    Market research consistently reveals that Ohio drivers face several common frustrations with traditional auto insurance: unnecessarily high premiums, complicated coverage structures, and inflexible payment requirements. GoAuto’s approach directly addresses these pain points through an innovative business model.

    The company’s cost-saving structure eliminates several factors that typically inflate insurance premiums:

    • Commission-Free Representation – By removing commissioned sales agents, GoAuto eliminates the financial incentives that often lead to unnecessary policy upselling, passing these savings directly to customers.
    • Essential Coverage Focus – Rather than automatically bundling policies with supplemental coverage elements that many drivers rarely use, GoAuto concentrates on providing essential protection without costly extras.
    • Accessible Down Payments – Recognizing that large initial payments create significant barriers, especially for households in cities like Cleveland and Akron where economic challenges persist, GoAuto offers substantially reduced down payment requirements.
    • Flexible Payment Structures – Understanding the diverse financial circumstances across Ohio communities, from urban Cincinnati to industrial Canton, the company provides customizable payment options that align with individual household budgets.

    “We’ve fundamentally rethought how auto insurance should work,” explained the GoAuto representative. “By eliminating unnecessary costs without compromising protection, we’re helping thousands of Ohio drivers maintain quality coverage while reducing their monthly expenses.”

    Tailored Solutions for Ohio’s Regional Driving Challenges

    Ohio’s varied geography and diverse communities present unique driving challenges that require specialized insurance considerations. From the dense urban traffic of Columbus to the industrial corridors of Canton and the seasonal weather challenges affecting Cleveland and Akron, GoAuto has developed coverage options that address these regional factors.

    Northeast Ohio Protection

    For drivers in Cleveland, Akron, and Canton, GoAuto offers coverage options that address the region’s specific challenges:

    • Winter Weather Considerations – Enhanced protection accounting for the lake effect snow that significantly impacts driving conditions throughout Northeast Ohio, particularly in Cleveland’s eastern suburbs.
    • Urban Traffic Solutions – Specialized coverage reflecting the congestion patterns of Cleveland’s downtown business district and Akron’s busy thoroughfares.
    • Industrial Area Coverage – Options designed for drivers regularly navigating Canton’s industrial zones and manufacturing districts, where commercial vehicle interaction creates unique risk profiles.

    Central Ohio Solutions

    Columbus drivers benefit from GoAuto’s understanding of Central Ohio’s distinctive driving environment:

    • Commuter Protection – Coverage options accounting for the extensive daily commuting throughout the Columbus metropolitan area, with its complex interstate system and growing suburban communities.
    • University Area Considerations – Specialized protection for vehicles operated in high-density areas around Ohio State University and other educational institutions.
    • Event Traffic Planning – Coverage that considers Columbus’s active calendar of sporting events, concerts, and conventions that regularly create distinctive traffic patterns throughout the city.

    Southwest Ohio Coverage

    Cincinnati residents access insurance solutions tailored to their region’s topography and driving patterns:

    • Hilly Terrain Protection – Coverage accounting for Cincinnati’s distinctive hills and their impact on driving conditions, particularly during adverse weather.
    • River Valley Considerations – Options reflecting the specific challenges of navigating the Ohio River valley, including fog and occasional flooding concerns.
    • Cross-State Travel Coverage – Protection for drivers regularly crossing into Kentucky and Indiana for work or leisure, ensuring seamless coverage across state lines.

    Meeting Ohio’s Insurance Requirements with Room for Personalization

    All GoAuto policies meet Ohio’s minimum insurance requirements of $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 for liability coverage. However, the company emphasizes the importance of considering personal circumstances when selecting coverage limits.

    “While meeting state requirements is essential, we encourage Ohio drivers to think carefully about their individual protection needs,” noted the GoAuto representative. “Our non-commissioned approach allows us to have honest conversations about appropriate coverage without the pressure to maximize policy costs.”

    This consultative approach proves particularly valuable in cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati, where diverse vehicle values, driving patterns, and risk exposures create widely varying insurance needs among residents.

    Celebrating National Car Care Month with Insurance Insights

    As April marks National Car Care Month, GoAuto Insurance is highlighting the important connection between proper vehicle maintenance and insurance costs. “Regular maintenance isn’t just good for your vehicle—it’s smart for your insurance premiums too,” explained the GoAuto representative. “Well-maintained vehicles are less likely to experience mechanical failures that lead to accidents, which can help keep claims and premiums lower over time.” The company encourages Ohio drivers to use this annual observance as a reminder to perform essential maintenance tasks like checking brakes, tires, fluids, and lights—investments that protect both their vehicles and their financial well-being through potentially lower insurance costs

    Economic Impact for Ohio Households

    The financial benefits of GoAuto’s approach are already evident across Ohio’s major metropolitan areas, with customers reporting significant premium reductions compared to traditional insurance providers. For households in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Columbus, and Cincinnati, these savings represent meaningful financial relief while maintaining essential protection.

    “In today’s economic climate, insurance affordability isn’t just about convenience—it’s about necessity,” emphasized the GoAuto representative. “By reducing premium costs without sacrificing coverage quality, we’re helping Ohio families redirect those savings toward other important needs.”

    This economic impact proves particularly significant in communities where household budgets face multiple pressures. In cities like Cleveland and Canton, where economic revitalization continues alongside financial challenges, insurance savings provide immediate, tangible benefits to local families.

    Accessible Service Options for Ohio Residents

    GoAuto’s commitment to accessibility extends beyond affordable premiums to include convenient service options for Ohio customers:

    • Digital Self-Service Platform – A user-friendly online system allowing residents throughout Ohio to quickly obtain quotes, make payments, and access insurance documents from anywhere.
    • Dedicated Phone Support – Representatives available at 833-700-0000 to assist with quotes, coverage questions, and policy adjustments for drivers throughout the state.
    • Strategic Office Locations – Physical locations in key Ohio communities where customers can speak directly with non-commissioned insurance specialists.

    “Whether you’re in downtown Columbus or suburban Cleveland, we believe access to cheap insurance shouldn’t depend on your location,” stated the representative. “Our multi-channel approach ensures every Ohio driver can connect with us in whatever way works best for their circumstances.”

    Getting Started with GoAuto Insurance

    Ohio drivers interested in exploring GoAuto Insurance’s affordable coverage options can:

    1. Request a Free Quote – Through the company’s online platform at get.goautoinsurance.com/areas-we-serve/ohio/ or by calling 833-700-0000.
    2. Customize Coverage – Work with knowledgeable insurance specialists to develop a policy aligned with specific driving habits, vehicle types, and budget constraints.
    3. Select Flexible Payment Terms – Choose down payment amounts and payment scheduling that complement personal financial circumstances.
    4. Drive with Confidence – Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with appropriate coverage at an affordable price point.

    About GoAuto Insurance

    GoAuto Insurance specializes in providing cheap auto insurance in Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana Texas & Nevada with straightforward pricing, flexible payment options, and exceptional customer service. The company serves drivers throughout Ohio with personalized coverage solutions designed for their specific needs and budget constraints.

    For more information or to receive a free quote, Ohio residents can call 833-700-0000 or visit the company’s website.

    Media Contact:
    GoAuto Insurance
    7119 Florida Blvd Unit G
    Baton Rouge, LA 70806

    Chester
    chester@goautoinsurance.com
    Media Relations
    833-700-0000

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ac521646-f821-487d-a8e6-693ba77c5140
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da273151-f8a3-4a6f-8520-44722b4d2fe7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ringleader of Payment Protection Program Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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

    MIAMI – Raisha Kelly, 44, of Loxahatchee, FL was sentenced to sixty months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $443,895 in restitution by United States District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno. The sentence follows Kelly’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

    Kelly recruited and conspired with multiple individuals to submit Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan applications that falsely and fraudulently misrepresented that the applicants had sole proprietorship businesses, and the amount of annual revenue received by these purported sole proprietorship businesses. In support of these applications on behalf of each individual, Kelly submitted falsified tax returns. Kelly orchestrated this scheme in return for a 25 percent kickback from the loan applicants. Kelly concealed her involvement in the scheme by creating a series of “dummy” email accounts for herself and each of the applicants—all to entirely disguise her own involvement in the false and fraudulent application. Kelly also applied for her own PPP loans in which she also falsely and fraudulently mispresented the amount of income her own business received. At trial, it was proven that the defendant made approximately $106,649 as a result of orchestrating this conspiracy involving thirteen individuals.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region; and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Southeast Region, made the announcement.

    USPIS, SBA-OIG, and DOL-OIG investigated the case.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Bernstein, Eduardo Gardea Jr., and Gabrielle Charest-Turken prosecuted it.

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

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

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

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

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20079.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: UnitedStaking.com Launches Advanced Crypto Staking Platform with Global Reach and Real-World Impact

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, D.C., May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    UnitedStaking.com, a global leader in blockchain-based financial services, has officially launched its all-in-one crypto staking platform designed to provide secure, flexible, and rewarding opportunities for digital asset holders around the world.

    The platform supports over 176 cryptocurrencies, boasts 300,000+ active users, and has distributed more than $40 million in staking rewards to date. With daily payout plans, a simple sign-up process, and global availability in over 120 countries, UnitedStaking delivers a frictionless experience tailored to individual and institutional investors.

    “Our goal was to remove the guesswork and make staking as accessible as holding a savings account,” said Ashley Brown, CEO of UnitedStaking. “In today’s volatile markets, staking has become one of the few predictable, passive income options available. But most platforms either overcomplicate it or lack transparency. We’re here to change that.”

    The platform also impacts beyond financial returns by allocating a portion of staking yields to social and environmental causes, including reforestation and clean water projects.

    The platform offers sign-up bonuses for newly registered users of UnitedStaking to get a free bonus of $100 without depositing any money. With this bonus, investors can try staking without any risk. Any profit a user makes with this bonus is theirs!

    “Staking is evolving,” Ashley Brown added. “It’s no longer just about earning yield—it’s about participating in a decentralized ecosystem that can generate wealth and impact. We’re proud to give users a platform that does both.”

    UnitedStaking simplifies the staking experience by offering a user-friendly dashboard and a one-click “Stake Now” feature. New users can sign up using just an email address and immediately access a variety of staking plans tailored to different risk levels and capital amounts. 

    From a 1-day free trial pool to high-return options like Ethereum (up to $156,600 in 58 days), Dogecoin ($405,000 in 90 days), and Uniswap ($1.71 million in 150 days), the platform provides transparent returns with daily payouts. Additionally, users can earn 5% referral commissions, and through the Million Bounty Program, receive up to $1,000 per promotional task across platforms like YouTube, X, and Medium.

    “Staking is no longer just a crypto trend—it’s become a preferred wealth-building strategy,” said Ashley Brown, CEO of UnitedStaking. “But too many platforms are either too complicated or not trustworthy. We built UnitedStaking to offer reliable staking with real transparency and lasting value. Whether you’re new to crypto or managing large portfolios, our platform is designed to help your assets grow safely and effortlessly.” 

    With added support for institutional staking through partnerships with top-tier exchanges, advanced fund security measures like 2fa and cold wallets, and upcoming features such as NFT staking and tokenised asset plans, UnitedStaking is poised to lead the next wave of growth in decentralised finance.

    What truly sets UnitedStaking apart is its mission-driven approach. A percentage of platform revenue is committed to funding sustainability and social development projects, such as reforestation, renewable energy, clean water access, and blockchain education. Its Carbon Staking Pools allow users to offset emissions while earning returns, offering a unique opportunity to combine financial growth with environmental impact. 

    As UnitedStaking also supports institutional staking through custodial exchange integrations, enabling hedge funds, family offices, and fintech firms to access secure, regulated staking-as-a-service (StaaS) infrastructure with performance dashboards and flexible portfolio tools. The company will further expand into NFT staking, tokenised asset pools, and enterprise white-label solutions by the end of 2025.

    About UnitedStaking

    Founded in 2021, UnitedStaking is a global crypto staking platform committed to security, simplicity, and sustainability. With support for over 156 crypto assets and services available in 120+ countries, UnitedStaking empowers individuals and institutions alike to earn passive income while contributing to a more equitable and environmentally-conscious blockchain ecosystem.

    MEDIA CONTACT
    Name: Ashley Brown, CEO
    Email: info@unitedstaking.com
    Website: www.unitedstaking.com
    Address: 1000 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Online Casinos Canada: Expert Picks 7Bit as the Top Casino for Canadian Players

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDMONTON, Alberta, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After using several online casinos in our quest for the ultimate gaming platform, we ended up at 7Bit Casino, and its bonuses and rewards were mindblowing. The welcome package, offering up to C$10,800 and 250 free spins, set an incredibly high standard from the start.

    Ongoing promotions, cashback deals, and a rewarding loyalty program kept us engaged, while over 7,000 games and lightning-fast payouts, especially for cryptocurrency users, solidified 7Bit Casino’s place as a top choice among the best online casinos Canada offers.

    SIGN UP AND UNLOCK AMAZING REWARDS AT 7BIT CASINO!

    The Rise Of Online Casinos In Canada

    The online gambling industry in Canada has seen tremendous growth, with players increasingly turning to digital platforms for convenience and variety. According to industry reports, the Canadian online casino market is thriving, driven by advancements in technology and a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

    7Bit Casino has capitalized on these trends, positioning itself as a leader among the best online casinos in Canada by offering a crypto-friendly platform alongside traditional payment methods. Its ability to cater to diverse player preferences has made it a go-to destination for Canadians seeking quality entertainment.

    Canadian’s Unique Gambling Landscape

    The introduction of iGaming has transformed the online gambling scene. The province requires casinos to hold an iGaming license to operate legally. While 7Bit Casino is not licensed by iGaming, it remains accessible to players in the province, though with potentially fewer legal protections compared to licensed operators.

    For those seeking the best online casinos in Canada, it’s crucial to understand these regulatory nuances. Players outside Canada can enjoy 7Bit Casino’s offerings with confidence, knowing it operates under a reputable Curacao eGaming license.

    Pros And Cons Of 7Bit Casino

    Before diving into the specifics, let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of playing at 7Bit Casino to help you make an informed decision.

    Pros

    Advantage Description
    Extensive Game Library Over 5,000 games, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and exclusive crypto games, cater to all player preferences.
    Generous Welcome Bonus Up to C$10,800 + 250 free spins across the first four deposits, providing a significant bankroll boost.
    Cryptocurrency Support Accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more, ensuring fast, secure, and private transactions.
    User-Friendly Interface Intuitive website design with mobile optimization for seamless gaming on smartphones and tablets.
    24/7 Customer Support Dedicated support via email and live chat, with a comprehensive FAQ section for quick answers.
    Licensed and Secure Licensed by Curacao eGaming, with 128-bit SSL encryption to protect player data.
    Responsible Gambling Tools Offers deposit limits, loss limits, wagering limits, and self-exclusion to promote safe gaming.


    Cons

    Disadvantage Description
    Restricted Countries Some countries are restricted, but use VPN instead
    Limited Language Options Available only in English, German, French, and Russian.


    Why Choose 7Bit Casino as the Best Online Casino for Canadian Players?

    7Bit Casino’s appeal lies in its ability to combine a vast game selection, robust security, and player-centric features, making it a standout among the best online casinos in Canada.

    Here’s why it’s a top choice:

    • Trusted Licensing and Fairness

    Operating under the Curacao eGaming Control Board, 7Bit Casino ensures a fair and secure gaming environment. All games utilize random number generators (RNG) or provably fair algorithms, guaranteeing unbiased outcomes.

    The Curacao license enforces transparent deposit and withdrawal processes, protecting players from hidden terms. While it lacks eCOGRA certification, regular audits ensure game fairness, providing peace of mind for players.

    • Unmatched Game Variety

    With over 5,000 games from industry giants like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, and Betsoft, 7Bit Casino offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of classic slots, skill-based table games, or immersive live dealer experiences, the casino’s diverse library ensures endless entertainment. The inclusion of exclusive crypto games further enhances its appeal to digital currency users.

    • Enhanced Security And Privacy

    Player safety is paramount at 7Bit Casino, with 128-bit SSL encryption safeguarding personal and financial data. The support for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum adds an extra layer of privacy, as players can transact without sharing sensitive banking details. This makes 7Bit Casino appealing to those interested in No KYC Casinos Canada, though KYC is required for withdrawals over C$2,000.

    • Commitment To Responsible Gambling

    7Bit Casino takes responsible gambling in Canada seriously, offering tools to help players stay in control:

    • Deposit Limits: Set a maximum deposit amount for a specific period.
    • Loss Limits: Define a loss threshold to prevent excessive spending.
    • Wagering Limits: Control total wagers over a set timeframe.
    • Self-Exclusion: Temporarily or permanently exclude yourself from the platform.

    These features demonstrate 7Bit Casino’s dedication to creating a safe and enjoyable environment, aligning with Canada’s emphasis on responsible gambling practices.

    • Mobile-Friendly Experience

    The casino’s website is fully optimized for mobile devices, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games on the go without needing a dedicated app. The responsive design adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring a smooth gaming experience on smartphones and tablets. This flexibility is ideal for busy Canadians who want to play anytime, anywhere.

    • Exceptional Customer Support

    7Bit Casino offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email (support@7bit.com). The support team is responsive and knowledgeable, ensuring quick resolution of queries. A detailed FAQ section also provides answers to common questions, enhancing the user experience. Players consistently praise the efficiency and friendliness of the support team, making it a reliable resource for any issues.

    • Fast And Flexible Payments

    7Bit Casino’s payment system is designed for convenience, supporting both cryptocurrencies and traditional methods. Cryptocurrency transactions are processed instantly, while e-wallets like Skrill and iDebit offer near-instant withdrawals. This speed and flexibility make 7Bit a top choice for players who value quick access to their winnings.

    Bonuses, Promotions, And Tournaments

    7Bit Casino is renowned for its generous bonuses and exciting promotions, which add significant value to the gaming experience.

    Welcome Bonus Package

    New players are welcomed with a 325% match bonus up to10800 CAD and 250 free spins, distributed across the first four deposits:

    • First Deposit: 100% match up to 800 CAD + 100 free spins on.
    • Second Deposit: 75% match up to 1200 CAD + 100 free spins.
    • Third Deposit: 50% match up to 800 CAD.
    • Fourth Deposit: 100% match up to 8000 CAD + 50 free spins.

    Free spins are credited in batches, with the first batch available immediately and subsequent batches over several days.

    CLAIM YOUR 325% MATCH BONUS UP TO 10800 CAD AND 250 FREE SPINS !!

    Ongoing Promotions

    7Bit Casino keeps players engaged with regular promotions:

    • Monday Offer: 25% up to 1000 CAD.
    • Spring Elite Offer: 100 Free Spins
    • Free Spin Wednesday: Up to 100.
    • Weekly Cashback: Up to 20%.
    • Weekend Offer: 99 Free Spins
    • Telegram Offer: 50 Free Spins
    • Telegram Friday Offer: 111 Free Spins
    • Telegram Sunday Offer: 66 Free Spins

    Tournaments

    For competitive players, 7Bit Casino hosts thrilling slot tournaments:

    • Titans’ Arena: A $8,000 prize pool tournament.
    • 10 Years of Platipus: €100,000 prize pool celebrating Platipus games, offering substantial rewards.
    • Lucky Spin: $1500 + 1500 Free Spins

    These tournaments add excitement and provide opportunities to win extra cash and bonuses. Players can check the promotions page on the 7Bit Casino website for the latest tournament details.

    UNLOCK INCREDIBLE BONUSES – PLAY AT 7BIT CASINO TODAY!

    Payment Options Available at 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino offers a diverse range of payment methods, catering to both cryptocurrency enthusiasts and traditional fiat users. While it doesn’t support PayID, it provides plenty of options popular in Canada, making it a convenient choice for players seeking a pay ID casino equivalent.

    Cryptocurrencies

    The casino is crypto-friendly, accepting:

    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Dogecoin (DOGE)
    • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
    • Tether (USDT)

    Cryptocurrency transactions are processed instantly or within an hour, offering speed and privacy.

    Fiat Currencies

    Supported fiat currencies include:

    • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
    • Euro (EUR)
    • US Dollar (USD)
    • Australian Dollar (AUD)
    • Norwegian Krone (NOK)
    • Polish Zloty (PLN)
    • New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

    Traditional Payment Methods

    Additional options include:

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Skrill
    • iDebit
    • Payz
    • Bank Transfer
    • Interac

    Deposit And Withdrawal Details

    Payment Method Min. Deposit Withdrawal Time
    Visa C$1 1-3 business days
    Mastercard C$1 1-3 business days
    Skrill C$1 Instant
    iDebit C$1 Instant
    Payz C$10 Instant
    Bank Transfer C$10 1-3 business days
    Bitcoin C$10 Instant
    Dogecoin C$10 Instant
    Litecoin C$10 Instant

    Players should note the C$10 withdrawal fee and check specific limits for their chosen method. Cryptocurrencies and e-wallets like Skrill and iDebit offer the fastest payouts, ideal for players prioritizing speed.

    Best Games At 7Bit Casino

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    General Disclaimer
    This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, not legal or financial advice. Content is based on research and user reviews as of writing. No warranties are made, and users must verify information before acting.

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d1aa3ae-f1d7-42ef-b49f-cdeb1a780895

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Direct Lenders – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  It can be incredibly stressful when life hits you with an unexpected financial problem— an emergency hospital visit, car repair bill, or emergency travel are good examples, especially if you have bad credit. You may be denied a loan from traditional banks, which can feel like you’re going to have no other options. That’s where emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval come in. These are short-term, quick-access loans tailored for people with less-than-perfect credit who don’t have time to wait for their next paycheck.

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    In this article, we’re going to discuss exactly what emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval are, how they work, and most importantly, why IOnline Payday Loans is a credible option for guaranteed approval offers. We’ll also look into the kinds of urgent loans you can get as well as how to apply for one and the benefits of going to a lender such as IOnline Payday Loans. Whether it’s a surprise expense or simply for the peace of mind, here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision. So let’s get started!

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    Emergency Loans for Bad Credit —What is it?

    When you need money right away, emergency personal loans for bad credit, also known as cash advance loans or paycheck loans, are small, short-term personal loans meant to satisfy unexpected expenses. These can be anything from a medical emergency, a repair that can’t wait, to surprise bills.

    These loans are usually approved and disbursed more quickly than standard loans and are intended to serve as an immediate financial aid. Although emergency loans provide fast access to cash, you should keep in mind that they typically have more expensive borrowing costs and shorter repayment cycles.

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    Before assuming one of these loans, borrowers should carefully read the terms and consider their ability to repay. Multiple financial institutions like IOnline Payday Loans, as well as other online lending platforms, offer bad credit loans in different amounts, interest rates, and tenure options.

    How Do Emergency Loans Work?

    An emergency pesonal loan is an immediate source of cash that was specifically designed by Credit to attend to unanticipated events like a medical emergency, urgent home repair, or job loss. These are typically short-term, and in some cases unsecured, loans—meaning they are made without collateral. How Emergency Loans Work:

    1. Application Process: Borrowers start the process by applying, usually online, providing personal and financial information. Lenders use this information to ascertain whether you qualify for a loan.
    2. Approval and Terms: Once a lender approves, they provide the terms of the loan, including the loan amount, interest rate, repayment schedule, and additional fees. These terms are very important to review before accepting.
    3. Funds Transfer: Once agreed, the funds are transferred swiftly, in some cases on the same working day, depending on the lender’s policy.
    4. Repayment: Repayment terms differ. For some loans, the balance is due in a lump sum on the next payday; for others, the loan’s balance may be repaid over a period of months. You will need to repay the loan on time to prevent extra fees or negative marks on your credit.

    Why Choose IOnline PayDay Loans: Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval

    Here you can see all the amazing reasons that will help you to know more about the IOnline Payday loans:

    • Loan sizes available from $100-$5,000: IOnline Payday Loans matches customers who are looking for some quick cash with finance providers who can potentially help with loans of up to $5,000. This flexibility can help with many situations, from paying small bills to covering large financial setbacks.
    • 24 Months Repayment Allotment period: Borrowers will be able to select repayment plans from 2 months to 24 months, thereby enabling them to determine the pace of repayment of the loan. This flexibility lets users choose repayment terms that are more affordable, leading to less financial stress and a greater likelihood of success.
    • Competitive APRs: APRs range from 5.99% up to 35.99% with our partner lenders, and your eligibility and APR may be dependent on your credit, and the lender’s terms. Borrowers with bad credit can access fair rates not regulated by online payday loans, which have high fees and must be repaid quickly.
    • Fast Online Application: You can apply in under two minutes through IOnline Payday Loans. All clients need to do is complete a standard form and they are spared the time and hassle of going into branches or completing complex forms.
    • Fast Decision Within Minutes: Upon application, users are generally provided lending decisions in a matter of minutes. This real-time feedback is especially important in a financial emergency when every second is crucial. Whether it’s a medical bill, car repair, or utility shutoff you’re facing, getting to know your loan status right now can help with planning out your next steps sooner.
    • No Upfront Fees: IOnline Payday Loans will not ask you to pay any upfront fees for applying or linking you to a lender. This makes it possible for users to shop for loans without any risk or the pressure of money. Price transparency also means you deal only with fees the lender reveals at the time it presents a loan.
    • Support for All Credit Types: IOnline Payday Loans works with lenders who accept people with good credit and even those with bad credit. You could qualify here even if you’ve been rejected elsewhere. This open attitude helps ensure those with pressing needs aren’t left out if they’ve made mistakes in the past or have low credit scores.
    • Same-Day Fund Disbursement: If you’re approved, you can often get your cash the same day, deposited directly in your bank account. Also, if small, amount of emergency spending on real emergencies such as rent, medical costs, or utility shut-off prevention.
    • Extensive Lender Network: IOnline Payday Loans collaborates with a wide network of U.S. lenders, which improves the approval rate of even borrowers that have low credit. Rather than restrict you to a single lender, the platform surveys your opportunities and may help you secure advantageous terms and chances of success.

    How To Apply For Emergency Loans At IOnline Payday Loans— Detailed Guide

    The process to apply for a bad credit personal loans guaranteed approval $5,000 at IOnline Payday Loans is simple in itself, and with their short-term repayment plans, you can be certain that they care about their client’s financial prospects, even with a bad credit rating. It brings together borrowers and a community of trustworthy lenders who benefit from a smooth and efficient loaning process. Here is a comprehensive guide to applying:

    1. Go to The Application Website: Start by heading over to the https://IOnlinepaydayloans.com/. Navigate to the homepage and click the “Apply Now” button. This will take you to the online application, a quick form that can be filled out in a matter of minutes.
    2. Personal and Financial Information: Complete the application form with your valid personal and financial information. You’ll need to provide:
      • Full Name: The name that appears on all official documents.
      • Email: A valid e-mail address for contact purposes.
      • Zip Code: Where you currently live.
      • Loan Details: Like the amount you want to apply for ($100 to $5,000) and the time frame ($2 to 24 months).
    3. Application Submission: Once you finish filling in the form, look over every detail to make sure everything was filled correctly. When it’s all correct, click Send the application. The system will then review the details that you provided, and it will try to connect you with a lender in its network.
    4. Get the Decision on Lending: Your loan application will be decided within a few minutes of submission. If you’re approved, you’ll be served loan offers from matched lenders.
    5. Accept the Loan Offer: After choosing the best loan deal, it’s time to accept it. This usually requires an electronic signature on the loan contract. Read and know all terms, like due dates, interest rates, and costs, before signing.
    6. Receive Funds: Once you have agreed to the loan offer the lender will send the loan to you. Loans are funded directly into your bank account, sometimes as soon as the next business day, and are also available the same day as well, if the lender allows this option.

    Eligibility Criteria & Document Requirements—IOnline Payday Loans

    Before you apply for an emergency loan make sure you are eligible for the loan by fulfilling these requirements:

    Eligibility Criteria

    1. Be at least 18 years old: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a loan contract.
    2. Earn $1,000 per month: This can be income from a job, working on a 1099, government benefits, retirement benefits, etc. Lenders look at what you can afford to repay in terms of current income and expenses.
    3. Have a permanent address in the U.S.: You need to have a stable residency that proves your identity and location.
    4. Saving Account: Keep an active checking or savings account with direct deposit. It’s how we can transfer funds electronically for the loan and the payments.

    Required Documentation

    1. Government Photo ID: Like a driver’s license, passport, or state ID, to confirm you are who you say you are.
    2. Income Proof: Recent pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, or records of government benefits to indicate how much money you are making.
    3. Proof of Address: Recent utility bill, lease contract, or any official document with your actual address written on it.

    Different Types of Emergency Loans

    Different types of no credit check installment loans can be the perfect solution when you are confronted with unforeseen financial difficulties. The following are popular emergency loan types each detailed to help you decide:

    1. Personal Loans: Personal loans are unsecured loans provided by banks, credit unions and online lenders. They give you a lump sum you can use when needed for things like medical bills or car repairs. Most loans must be repaid within one to seven years with fixed monthly payments.

    2. Credit Card Cash Advances: With a credit card cash advance, you can take out a cash loan on your credit card up to a certain amount. Even when they are an option, they typically carry higher interest rates and fees, and interest starts accruing right away.

    3. Payday Loans: Payday loans are short-term, high-interest loans designed to cover expenses between paychecks. They’re usually easy to get, even for people with bad credit, but they often have extremely high fees and annual percentage rates that can exceed.

    4. Title Loans: Title loans make you put up your car’s title as collateral. They offer the ability to get cash soon, but they come with the threat of losing your vehicle when you can’t repay. Also, interest rates can be sky high and repayment terms short, making them a gamble.

    5. Paycheck Advances: There will be some employers who will do paycheck advances—allowing people to get a portion of the money that they would have earned before the payday itself. Moreover, this choice may help you afford upfront costs without expensive fees associated with other short-term loans.

    Frequently Asked Questions—Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval

    1. Is there a loan I can get with bad credit on an emergency basis?

    Yes, you can. IOnline Payday Loans is dedicated to providing loans for people with bad credit ratings. They pair people who need any type of loan with trusted and reputable Australian lenders who can provide them with flexible and convenient lending options.

    2. Is emergency loan approval guaranteed?

    There is no such thing as a guaranteed approval, but you can definitely count on IOnline Payday Loans to take honest chances with applications from borrowers who need Payday Loans despite bad credit scores.

    3. What is the minimum income limit?

    Just note that with most lenders on the IOnline Payday Loans network, you’ll need a monthly income of $1,000 from a steady source such as employment, freelance or government benefits.

    5. Will I have to put up collateral for an emergency loan?

    No, IOnline Payday Loans emergency loans are not secured. In other words, you don’t have to offer an asset like a vehicle or home in order to be eligible.

    6. Am I allowed to pay off my emergency loan early?

    Yes, lenders do let borrowers repay their loans early without penalty. We encourage you to carefully review your matched lender’s terms for their prepayment policies.

    7. Which documents are required with the application?

    You’ll typically need a valid I.D., proof of income (like a recent pay stub or letter of benefits), proof of address and an active bank account for direct deposit and repayment.

    Conclusion

    To sum up, online bad credit emergency loans with guaranteed approval are a quick and realistic option for anyone who need immediate cash. No lender can ever promise approval, but platforms such as IOnline do make it easier for you to apply by connecting you with flexible lenders that would rather see your income than your credit history. With an easy online application, fast approvals and transfers, IOnline Payday Loans is a great way to get on top of your finances when you need them and you won’t even have to leave your home!

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: IOnline Payday Loans
    Registered Office Address: 1095 Sugar View Dr Ste 500 Sheridan, WY 82801
    Company Website: https://ionlinepaydayloans.com/
    Email: mria@ionlinepaydayloans.com
    Phone: 307-777-7311
    Contact person name: Mria

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Ionline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d23b359-7c78-4100-8db3-70db9d3863d4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Neguse Joins Colleagues in Urging Trump to Reverse AmeriCorps Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Lafayette, CO — Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan National Service Caucus, and 148 of their colleagues from the House and Senate in sending a letter to President Donald Trump defending AmeriCorps and NCCC AmeriCorps members and calling on him to reverse cuts to the program made last week by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

    In Colorado, AmeriCorps volunteers help communities respond to and recover from natural disasters, including wildfires. They also address local needs, and their work in the state has been instrumental in connecting veterans to services, combating the opioid epidemic, supporting older adults in aging with dignity, and improving the physical and mental well-being of Americans nationwide. Last year, more than 6,600 AmeriCorps volunteers served at 700 local sites across the state—from schools, food banks, and homeless shelters to health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and more. 

    “We are deeply concerned by reports that a majority of AmeriCorps staff have been placed on administrative leave and that more than 750 NCCC members have already been recalled from their field assignments. Many of these volunteers were working in disaster response roles, including building homes for individuals who lost theirs in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. If not reversed, these recent actions will both stop current programs and prevent timely and efficient execution of the agency’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations, delaying or even halting the recruitment and deployment of new AmeriCorps members around the country. We are deeply concerned that is the goal: to eliminate AmeriCorps, in direct conflict with recently enacted appropriations. However, even delays will disrupt programs Americans rely on for their health, education, and safety. We urge you to reverse these actions and instead work with Congress on bipartisan improvements to AmeriCorps so that more Americans have the opportunity to serve their communities,” wrote the lawmakers.  

    Read the full text of the letter HERE. 

    Programs such as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors deploy more than 200,000 Americans annually to carry out results-driven projects at over 35,000 locations across the country. Working in partnership with thousands of non-profit, faith-based, and community organizations, these dedicated volunteers and workers help promote employment opportunities, strengthen the workforce, and support those in need.   

    Background

    Congressman Neguse has been a staunch supporter of AmeriCorps and is the proud sponsor of legislation to reimagine a 21st-century Civilian Climate Corps. His proposal draws inspiration from FDR’s New Deal program to recreate the corps of the 1930s, which built Red Rocks, roads, trails, and campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park, and supported other projects throughout Colorado—creating new jobs and driving major investments in wildfire resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation.

    He also joined Americans in celebrating President Joe Biden’s decision to establish the American Climate Corps, a program that mobilizes people in response to the climate crisis and creates a 21st-century, climate-focused workforce—preparing a new generation of workers for good-paying jobs in a clean economy.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Commerce Department Reverse Planned Cuts to NOAA and Colorado-Based Research Centers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik the lawmakers underscored the importance of Cooperative Institutes at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder. 

    Lafayette, CO — Following public reports of President Trump’s expected effort to implement disastrous funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in his upcoming budget proposal, Colorado lawmakers—Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper—moved quickly to defend the agency and its Cooperative Institutes (CIs).  

    Colorado is the only state in the nation to house two such Cooperative Institutes, which are academic and non-profit research centers that provide invaluable support to NOAA’s mission. The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), located at the University of Colorado Boulder, is the oldest and largest CI. It employs nearly 800 researchers, support staff, and students focused on research related to drought, wildfire, and space weather. The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), located at Colorado State University, employs nearly 200 individuals who are working to improve weather and fire forecasting.

    In an effort to push back on the proposed cuts, Neguse, Bennet, and Hickenlooper penned a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick condemning any plan to terminate funding for these institutions, calling the alleged proposal short-sighted and costly, and underscoring the important work that is ongoing at both CIRES and CIRA.  

    “Many of NOAA’s CIs have been around for decades and the work they do has been helping our communities for just as long. Cuts to funding, furloughs or layoffs will have devastating impacts on the important work the CIs do. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies, moreover they are instrumental in training future generations of workers who continue to contribute to societal needs. It is our fear that if sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    They continued: “Cooperative Institutes are integral to solving some of our biggest problems and making all of us safer and better prepared for short-term and long-term hazards. Any plan to terminate funding for NOAA CIs would be detrimental not just to the people of Colorado, but to people across the entire country. As such, we implore you to reconsider any plans to substantially diminish these powerful and important capabilities.”

    Read their full letter HERE and below: 

    April 23, 2025

    The Honorable Howard Lutnick

    Secretary 

    U.S. Department of Commerce 

    1401 Constitution Ave. NW

    Washington, DC 20230

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We write regarding a new proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to terminate funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Cooperative Institutes (CIs). We strongly condemn any such plan and believe terminating this funding would be extremely short-sighted and costly to the American people and economy in the long run.

    Colorado is fortunate to be the only state to house two Cooperative Institutes and the largest of the CIs. The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), housed at Colorado State University, employs 193 staff working on developing algorithms for weather forecasting and fire weather forecasting. The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) housed at the University of Colorado Boulder is the oldest and largest CI, established in 1967. CIRES is focused on research into drought, wildfire, and space weather, among other important issues. It employs nearly 800 researchers, support staff and students who are working each day to improve our understanding of Earth systems for the benefit of people across Colorado and the nation.  

    Our CIs have real world impacts and benefits that span beyond the borders of our state. CIRA was involved in the development of the Hurricane Intensity Prediction System (HIPS), a tool that helps predict how strong hurricanes will become, as well as TORUS (Targeted Observations by Radars and Unmanned Aircraft to Study Tornadoes and Supercells) project, which focuses on collecting data to improve tornado and storm prediction. CIRES is, among its many important contributions, helping to enhance drought monitoring and prediction on the Colorado River, aiding water managers in the region. Indeed, some of the greatest beneficiaries of CIRES water and drought analyses reside in Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas. CIRES also received the 2022 Colorado Governor’s Award for High-Impact Research for their rapid response to the Marshall Fire, the most damaging wildfire in our state. The results from the CIRES work on the fire have informed responses to other large fire events elsewhere in the nation, benefiting many thousands of citizens.

    Many of NOAA’s CIs have been around for decades and the work they do has been helping our communities for just as long. Cuts to funding, furloughs or layoffs will have devastating impacts on the important work the CIs do. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies, moreover they are instrumental in training future generations of workers who continue to contribute to societal needs. It is our fear that if sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation. 

    Cooperative Institutes are integral to solving some of our biggest problems and making all of us safer and better prepared for short-term and long-term hazards. Any plan to terminate funding for NOAA CIs would be detrimental not just to the people of Colorado, but to people across the entire country. As such, we implore you to reconsider any plans to substantially diminish these powerful and important capabilities.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Luis de Guindos: Interview with Die Presse

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, conducted by Jakob Zirm on 28 April 2025

    3 May 2025

    Die Presse: Since June 2024 the ECB has already cut interest rates seven times. How long will this period of interest rate cuts last?

    Luis de Guindos: This will depend on how inflation develops. But we can be optimistic because our latest forecasts show that, from the end of this year, inflation will be very close to our target of 2%. Moreover, inflation continues to fall thanks to three additional factors. First, the euro has appreciated. Second, energy and commodity prices are declining. And third, the current economic uncertainty about tariffs could lead to greater wage moderation than that already suggested by the latest survey results. All these elements contribute to bringing inflation further down. And this is the decisive factor in whether we continue to lower interest rates.

    Where would you place the neutral interest rate, i.e. the rate which neither stimulates nor restricts economic growth? Is this a target for the ECB?

    The discussion about the neutral rate is very interesting from an academic standpoint. However, it is not very helpful for monetary policy decision-making because the neutral rate cannot be directly observed. Our decisions are based on how inflation develops, our projections and how our monetary policy is transmitted to the real economy. And, as I said, we are optimistic that we will sustainably achieve our inflation target.

    The US Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates much more slowly than the ECB. Is the large interest rate differential between the United States and the euro area a problem?

    The situation in the United States and Europe is different. You should look not only at nominal interest rates, but also at real interest rates. In the United States, inflation and inflation expectations are higher than in Europe, due to a different economic outlook. So the interest rate differential is smaller in real terms. In addition, inflation is more persistent in the United States.

    We have policy space to pursue our own monetary policy, but of course we are monitoring what is happening in the United States.

    In 2022 the euro depreciated massively after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates half a year sooner. Is there a similar risk again now?

    Not necessarily at the moment. Despite all the uncertainties and contrary to expectations, the euro appreciated after the tariff announcements. Exchange rate developments depend on many factors. We do not have any exchange rate objective, but we monitor the exchange rate closely because it is an important macroeconomic variable in our assessment of the risks for price stability.

    It is important to moderate exchange rate volatility.

    But if the trend reverses and the dollar becomes significantly stronger again, could this fuel inflation in the euro area again?

    We are closely monitoring exchange rate developments. But there are currently no signs of a weakening of the euro. Much will depend on how the current dispute over tariffs develops.

    The average inflation rate in the euro area is currently 2.2%. However, some eastern European countries still have inflation rates of 3% or 4%. Is inflation really under control everywhere in the euro area?

    Differences in inflation developments between countries are normal, it’s the average that is crucial. Our projections show that both headline and core inflation are on track to reach our 2% target. We are paying particular attention to monitoring services inflation, which is strongly influenced by wages. Here, too, we are seeing signs of a slowdown in wage dynamics.

    Let’s talk about growth. In March the ECB predicted GDP growth of 0.9% for the euro area in 2025. Is this still realistic given the tariff debate?

    You are right – this forecast was made before the announcement of US tariffs. Uncertainty we’ve seen since then has weighed on economic activity and is likely to delay investment and consumption. Uncertainty is always bad for the economy. We already pointed to such downside risks in our March projections. The risks are now materialising.

    In Austria, we are in recession for the third year in a row now. Could the entire euro area slide into a recession?

    No, our baseline continues to expect very low but positive growth. It’s well below potential growth, but I don’t think that the euro area is heading into a recession.

    US tariffs are currently suspended. How bad would the damage be if the trade war were to escalate?

    An all-out trade war would have a very serious impact on growth. I really hope it doesn’t come to that. It is also important to take the diversion effects that can occur in trade flows into account, making the consequences difficult to predict.

    US President Donald Trump recently launched a mass attack on the Federal Reserve and its Chair Jerome Powell. What are the consequences of such an attempt to exert political pressure on the work of central banks?

    The independence of central banks is crucial. It is key to their credibility and thus to combating inflation. Even when inflation was extremely high two years ago, inflation expectations in Europe remained anchored because the central bank was considered independent and credible. This credibility is essential to keep inflation expectations under control and, in particular, to avoid wage-price spirals.

    There has been a discussion on whether the euro’s role as a reserve currency could be strengthened if confidence in the US dollar declines. Do you see that as possible?

    The dollar is clearly leading as a reserve currency. The international importance of the euro is a lot less in comparison. Its future development depends on us, however. If Europe builds stronger capital markets and establishes itself as a true single market, the role of the euro at international level could be strengthened. Closer integration and a more pro-European approach are crucial.

    What would be needed to create a true European capital markets union?

    Three central pillars would be needed. First, we need a true single market – barriers and national legislation that impede further integration must be removed. Second, we need to complete the banking union. We already have single supervision and resolution, but we still lack a common deposit guarantee scheme. Third, we need to further develop the capital markets union itself. These three elements are interconnected – progress in one area is difficult without progress in the other two.

    Many support the capital markets union but little progress has been made. Who is blocking it?

    The problem is that without a true single market for goods and services, the capital markets union is also difficult to implement. The banking union is more advanced but there is still a lot to be done. Capital flows follow the real economy, which is why we need integrated goods and services markets.

    In this situation, does it help if national governments block cross-border bank mergers – as is currently the case in Germany, where UniCredit wishes to buy Commerzbank?

    I will not comment on any specific mergers. But in general, we support cross-border mergers because they are necessary to create truly European banks and complete the banking union.

    Is there too much nationalism in the European financial system?

    Sometimes there is too much national focus. But there is a growing awareness that Europe needs to become more independent. And the only way to remain relevant on the world stage is to be more European and a little less nationally focused.

    The European Commission is now also pushing ahead with the simplification of European regulation. This also applies to the financial market of course. Where should economic activity be made easier for businesses?

    The ECB has set up its own high-level task force, which I coordinate. It’s meant to draw up proposals by the end of the year, which will be passed on to the legislator. This may involve, for example, the implementation of Basel III or reporting, which could be streamlined, or the simplification of bank capital structure, to make it clearer and more understandable for investors. However, simplification does not mean de-regulation, it should not jeopardise banks’ solvency.

    When inflation was high, many euro area countries steeply increased their debt and the ECB bought many government bonds, which amounted to some 30% of the outstanding volume in the case of some countries. Is that a problem?

    Those measures were necessary in the context of the pandemic. But now we need to increase defence spending and preserve fiscal sustainability at the same time in order to avoid rising market interest rates and thus lower private investment. That won’t be easy.

    The Austrian central bank has reported annual losses of more than €2 billion in the past two years. This was due to the purchase of low-yield government bonds. Is that the hidden price of expansionary monetary policy?

    Our monetary policy is not determined by the profit and loss accounts of the central banks. Looking back, central banks have made significant gains over the past ten years. The current loss is a consequence of the high liquidity in the market, on which central banks have to pay higher interest rates. However, this liquidity is currently being reduced at a fast pace. The situation will improve in the future.

    Are the high debt levels of euro area countries jeopardising future growth?

    When markets have doubts about debt sustainability, market interest rates rise, which can reduce private investment. That is why a credible and sustainable fiscal policy is crucial.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Gillibrand Raises Alarm On Secretary Of Education McMahon’s Decision To Withold Income Of Federal Student Loan Borrowers In Default

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Following reports that the United States Department of Education plans to involuntarily withhold the incomes of federal student loan borrowers, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand expressed deep concern towards Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s decision to garnish the wages and benefits of federal student loan borrowers whose payments are in default. Nearly 10 million borrowers across the nation are at risk of forced collections.
    The senator noted, this will “unnecessarily exacerbate economic strains in local economies while New Yorkers worry about a tenuous economy and potential recession.” In New York State alone, one in eight individuals have student loan debt. Borrowers work in all professions like teachers and public servants, providing New York communities with critical services. The senator continued that many seniors who take out loans to help family members pay for their education are also at risk of being impacted.
    Gillibrand called on Secretary McMahon to further elaborate and describe an outreach plan for at risk borrowers:
    1. Please describe in detail any outreach campaign being planned, including what languages it will be conducted in and through what means.
    2. What immediate actions have been or will be taken to resolve recent and ongoing disruptions to federal student loan services?
    3. Many borrowers have waited for years to exercise alternative payment arrangements through income-based repayment options; please provide details as to how the Administration will accommodate borrowers who remain unable to make full repayment?
    4. How will the Administration define financial hardship and what will be done to accommodate borrowers requesting a review based on financial hardship? What actions will be taken to address hardship requests in time to avoid additional financial consequences for borrowers in default, such as eviction or canceled medical procedures?
    5. How is the Administration planning for the increased administrative burden of this policy amidst the RIFs at the Department of Education.
    The full letter can be read here and below.
    Secretary McMahon,
    I write to you with concern over the Department of Education’s plans to begin involuntarily withholding the incomes of federal student loan borrowers in default on May 5, 2025. As you note, in a few months, nearly 10 million borrowers are in danger of having their wages, pensions, Social Security benefits, and tax refunds garnished. Withholding income from borrowers will unnecessarily exacerbate economic strains in local economies while New Yorkers worry about a tenuous economy and potential recession.
    One in eight New Yorkers have student loan debt, totaling approximately $93 billion and federal student loan borrowers who work in all industries are vulnerable to these unnecessary actions – my office has heard from K-12 teachers, computer science engineers, pharmacists, and doctors. These professions provide New York communities with vital services and many are public servants. Yet this Administration so far has made the federal student loan process a nightmare. These workers report their payments increasing by as much as 450% as a result of issues on the Federal Student Aid website. Some New Yorkers have had their federal student loans put into forbearance without their request.
    Many borrowers have dreams of opening their own businesses or working directly with
    people in their community, but perfectly put by one constituent, “believe there will be no help for me or others who are drowning in debt.” These New Yorkers want to make their student loan payments, and they deserve a fair system that rewards what they have worked for and earned.
    Seniors who take out loans to help family members pay for college are impacted too, and
    some are still in debt from their own education. My office has heard from seniors who are nearing retirement but still remain unable to move forward with any confidence or security until their loans are fully paid or forgiven.
    I’m concerned that the timing could not be worse for any changes in student loan repayment policies for constituents bracing for an economic downturn, but also because of continuing staff cuts at the Department of Education. An expanded administrative burden on reduced staff aimed at garnishing wages and benefits in a tenuous economic environment is not in the best interest of New Yorkers. To be very clear, wage garnishment should always be considered a last resort, and this Administration’s staffing cuts have impacted existing programs to such an extent that this new policy exacerbates a problem and undermines a purpose.
    I request answers to the questions below by May 16, 2025.
    1. Please describe in detail any outreach campaign being planned, including what languages it will be conducted in and through what means.
    2. What immediate actions have been or will be taken to resolve recent and ongoing disruptions to federal student loan services?
    3. Many borrowers have waited for years to exercise alternative payment arrangements through income-based repayment options; please provide details as to how the Administration will accommodate borrowers who remain unable to make full repayment?
    4. How will the Administration define financial hardship and what will be done to accommodate borrowers requesting a review based on financial hardship? What actions will be taken to address hardship requests in time to avoid additional financial consequences for borrowers in default, such as eviction or canceled medical procedures?
    5. How is the Administration planning for the increased administrative burden of this policy amidst the RIFs at the Department of Education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s Preliminary Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request, which proposes slashing critical investments in programs related to education, health, affordable housing, scientific research, environmental protection, and much more. The Trump administration says this proposal will cut domestic funding by $163 billion (-23%); however, the real cut may exceed $200 billion.
    “President Trump’s budget is playing games with American lives. By attempting to defund the programs that help communities stay safe, families pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads, and doctors treat their patients, this administration is abandoning the people who have built our country. Make no mistake — this budget proposal will not ‘make America great again’ — it will set us back decades and make life harder for working families.
    By slashing funding for basic needs like health programs, medical research, and nutrition aid, this proposal will make America sicker. By cutting billions of dollars for the Department of Education, removing investments to prevent violent crime, and divesting from agencies that protect our environment, it will make our country a worse place to live. And by eliminating affordable housing and energy assistance programs, divesting from small businesses, and gutting the funds that help economically distressed communities, it will make it harder for American families to survive.
    This administration has made it clear: they’re willing to cut at least $163 billion in vital investments that benefit everyday Americans just to deliver trillions in tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. That’s not just misguided policy; it’s an insult to every hardworking, tax-paying American.
    I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to firmly reject this dangerous proposal. We cannot stand idly by while the Trump administration eviscerates the programs that keep our country safe, healthy, and prosperous.”
    Among other things, President Trump’s preliminary FY2026 budget request:
    EDUCATION: Guts funding for the Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%). Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding. Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
    HOUSING: Eviscerates the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
    Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
    Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country.
    Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
    HEALTH: Slashes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
    Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40%—decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
    Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion—hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
    Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
    Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
    The limited budget materials do not detail President Trump’s proposed funding level for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is essential for protecting the safety of our food and drugs.
    TITLE X: Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
    LIHEAP: Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
    PRE-K: Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need. The limited budget materials released today don’t mention Head Start or the Child Care and Development Block Grant, but leaked budget documents show Trump wants to eliminate Head Start.
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Slashes funding for DOL by $4.6 billion (-35%). Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs, by roughly a third. Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Slashes the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
    Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
    Cuts funding for FBI salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering our Americans’ safety.
    Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
    Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
    TRIBES: Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. This cut would decimate core Tribal programs including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families. The proposal would nearly eliminate funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and it cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
    SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). These proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that will drive future economic growth.
    EPA: Cuts funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites.  The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals.  
    NATIONAL PARKS: Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks that the administration says should suddenly be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
    AGRICULTURE: Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
    RURAL AMERICA: Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
    NUTRITION: Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
    VETERANS: Without more details, it is unclear whether the President is proposing to shift tens of billions of dollars in funding for veterans’ care to mandatory funding (which Republicans have long vociferously opposed) or to decimate funding for non-medical care.
    FOREST SERVICE: Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the Administration’s stated goals of improving forest management and increasing domestic timber production.
    ARMY CORPS: Cuts funding for the Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Cuts funding for the Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
    NOAA: Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience. Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
    ENERGY: Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%). Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
    SMALL BUSINESSES: Slashes funding for SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
    FEMA GRANTS: Cuts funding for FEMA non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
    STATE DEPARTMENT & FOREIGN ASSISTANCE: Guts funding for the State Department and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
    The United States already spends less than 0.2% of our GDP on diplomacy and foreign assistance, which is less than a third of the percent we spent under President Reagan’s peace through strength approach, and Trump is proposing to halve these critical investments.
    Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
    Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
    Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of USAID.
    Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
    Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (UN), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
    COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT: Eliminates all funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help low income individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current CDFI financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes. 
    AMERICORPS: Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
    CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING: Eliminates funding for CPB, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations. 
    INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES: Eliminates funding for IMLS and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
    BUREAU OF RECLAMATION: Cuts funding for the Bureau by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
    CULTURAL GRANTS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
    NASA: Cuts NASA funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.
    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more. 
    INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE: Likely cuts IRS enforcement by nearly $2.5 billion (-89%). This significant reduction will help billionaire tax cheats game the system while working families continue to pay their fair share.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Atlantic Council delegation

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-05-01
    President Lai meets Japan’s LDP Youth Division delegation
    On the morning of May 1, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division. In remarks, President Lai thanked the guests for demonstrating support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to conduct exchanges in such areas as national defense, the economy, education, culture, sports, and the arts so that bilateral relations reach even greater heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to welcome our distinguished guests, who include Diet members in the LDP Youth Division and guests from Junior Chamber International (JCI) Japan, to the Presidential Office. It is also a pleasure to see LDP Youth Division Director Nakasone Yasutaka, House of Representatives Member Hiranuma Shojiro, and House of Councillors Member Kamiya Masayuki again today. I look forward to discussions with all our distinguished guests. The LDP Youth Division and JCI Japan have once again demonstrated support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I also want to thank the LDP Youth Division for launching a fundraising campaign to help those affected by the earthquake in Hualien County on April 3 last year. LDP Youth Division members will be important leaders in Japan’s political arena in the future. Taiwan deeply values our exchanges with the Youth Division and hopes to bring about concrete results from such exchanges. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are critical to the security and prosperity of the world, and Taiwan and Japan can work together to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo and Kishida Fumio, and current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru have repeatedly stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Taiwan is deeply grateful to Japan’s current and former prime ministers for their concern and support for this issue. Taiwan and Japan can also cooperate in industry and the economy. As our industries are complementary, further cooperation can create win-win outcomes. In the semiconductor industry, for instance, Taiwan’s strengths lie in manufacturing, while Japan’s strengths lie in materials, equipment, and technology. If we work together, the semiconductor industry is sure to see even more robust development. In addition to the economy and national defense, Taiwan and Japan can also conduct exchanges in such areas as education, culture, sports, and the arts. Our countries have long shared deep ties – Director Nakasone’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro, was stationed in Taiwan and lived in what is now the Mingde New Residential Quarter of Kaohsiung City’s Zuoying District. I am confident that on the basis of our already solid foundations, Taiwan-Japan relations can reach even greater heights. Director Nakasone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for finding time in his busy schedule to meet with the visiting delegation. He said that the LDP Youth Division sends a visiting delegation to Taiwan each year and is always granted the opportunity to meet with the president, demonstrating his high regard for the delegation, for which the director again expressed his gratitude. He remarked that he, together with House of Representatives Member Suzuki Keisuke, visited Taiwan last July, and that whenever he visits Taiwan, it feels as if he is returning home. Director Nakasone recalled President Lai’s earlier remarks, saying that he hopes the young people of Taiwan and Japan can fully engage in exchanges in the areas of national defense, the economy, culture, education, and the arts. The director said he believes that in today’s complex and difficult international situation, such directives are necessary. This is especially so, he emphasized, during United States President Donald Trump’s second term, when things once taken for granted are no longer so, and when the global economy is undergoing significant changes. Director Nakasone expressed his full support for strengthening Taiwan and Japan’s practical and strategic cooperation. He said he believes each side will be able to benefit from such cooperation and hopes that exchanges will progress toward shared goals. He pointed out that, as maritime nations, Taiwan and Japan share the goals of protecting the ocean and using marine resources wisely, goals that we ought to cooperate on and devote our full efforts to. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are critical to the peace and stability of East Asia and even the world, he said, so we must ensure that the world and its leaders recognize this point, and Japan will do its utmost to advocate for it. Director Nakasone said, on the topic of semiconductors, that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s new fab in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has made the area very lively, adding that the Japanese government is providing more than 1.25 trillion yen in subsidies. Moving forward, the Japanese government plans to inject an additional 10 trillion yen, he said, to aid in the development of AI and other fields. Noting that Taiwan and Japan both excel in semiconductors, he expressed his hope that each can give free rein to its strengths to produce an even greater effect. Director Nakasone said that despite Taiwan’s facing formidable internal and external circumstances, it saw 4.6 percent economic growth last year under President Lai’s strong leadership, and it continued to promote measures to enhance overall societal resilience, all of which is admirable. In closing, the director thanked President Lai once again for taking the time to meet with them. Also in attendance were Japanese House of Representatives Members Nemoto Taku and Fukuda Kaoru, and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-04-29
    President Lai meets NBR delegation  
    On the morning of April 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). In remarks, President Lai stated that as Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defense of global democracy, we are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, demonstrating our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. The president said he hopes to further advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. He also expressed hope that this will help boost economic resilience for both sides and establish each as a key pillar of regional security, elevating our relations to even higher levels. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with Admiral John Aquilino again today. I also warmly welcome NBR President Michael Wills and our distinguished guests from the bureau to Taiwan. I look forward to exchanging views with you all on Taiwan-US relations and the regional situation. During his tenure as commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Aquilino placed much attention on the Taiwan Strait issue. And the NBR has conducted a wealth of research and analysis focusing on matters of regional security. Thanks to all of your outstanding contributions and efforts, the international community has gained a better understanding of the role Taiwan plays in the Indo-Pacific region and in global democratic development. For this, I want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defending global democracy and is located at a strategically important location in the first island chain. We are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, building economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and standing side-by-side with the democratic community to jointly demonstrate the strength of deterrence and safeguard regional peace and stability. At the beginning of this month, I announced an increase in military allowances for volunteer service members and combat troops. The government will also continue to reform national defense and enhance self-sufficiency in defense. In addition, we will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. These efforts continue to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. As we mark the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, we thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan and strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership over the years. We believe that, in addition to engaging in military exchanges and cooperation, Taiwan and the US can build an even closer economic and trade relationship, boosting each other’s economic resilience and establishing each as a key pillar of regional security. I expect that your continued assistance will help advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the US, elevating our relations to even higher levels. Once again, I welcome our distinguished guests to Taiwan and wish you a pleasant and successful trip. I hope that through this visit, you gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s economy and national defense. Admiral Aquilino then delivered remarks, thanking the Ministry of National Defense for the invitation and President Lai for receiving and spending time with them. Mentioning that this is his second visit in five months, he said he continues to be incredibly impressed with the president’s leadership and the actions he has taken to secure Taiwan and defend its people. Admiral Aquilino said that he has watched the efforts of the ministers on whole-of-society defense to demonstrate deterrence and added that the pace of the work is nothing short of inspiring. Admiral Aquilino noted that Taiwan’s thriving democracy is incredibly important to the peace and stability of the region. He stated that he, alongside the NBR, will continue to offer support, noting that President Wills and his team are an asset to Taiwan and the US that helps continue our close relationship and ensure peace and stability in the region.  

    Details
    2025-04-28
    President Lai meets Japanese Diet Member and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae
    On the afternoon of April 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. The president expressed hope that in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, Taiwan and Japan can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides, and jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Representative Takaichi as she returns for another visit to Taiwan. I am also very happy to have Members of the House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi and Ozaki Masanao, and Member of the House of Councillors Sato Kei all gathered together here to engage in these very important exchanges. Our visitors will be taking part in many exchange activities during this trip. Earlier today at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank’s International Political and Economic Forum, Representative Takaichi delivered a speech in which she clearly demonstrated the great importance she places upon the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. For this I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of our guests. The peoples of Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship and mutual trust. We have a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, but beyond that, we both have striven to contribute to regional peace and stability. I also want to thank the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Tomorrow you will all make a trip to Kaohsiung to visit a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who once said, “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” We will always remember the firm support and friendship he showed Taiwan. Since taking office last year, I have worked hard to improve Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and implement our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. By strengthening our national defense capabilities, building up economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries including Japan, we can together maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, we hope that Taiwan and Japan, as important economic and trade partners, can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that further enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides. Going forward, Taiwan will work hard to play an important role in the international community and contribute its key strengths. I hope that, with the support of our guests, Taiwan can soon accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan so that we can jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, I thank each of you once again for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. I am confident that your visit will help deepen Taiwan-Japan ties and create even greater opportunities for cooperation. Let us all strive together to keep propelling Taiwan-Japan relations forward.  Representative Takaichi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and Taiwanese political leaders for the warm hospitality they extended to the delegation, and mentioning that the visiting delegation members are all like-minded partners carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. July 8 this year will mark the third anniversary of the passing of former Prime Minister Abe, she said, and when the former prime minister unfortunately passed away, President Lai, then serving as vice president, was among the first to come offer condolences, for which she expressed sincere admiration and gratitude. Representative Takaichi stated that Taiwan and Japan are island nations that face the same circumstances and problems, and that Japan’s trade activities rely heavily on ocean transport, so once a problem arises nearby that threatens maritime shipping lanes, it will be a matter of life and death for Japan. Taiwan and Japan are similar, as once a problem arises, both will face food and energy security issues, and supply chains may even be threatened, she said. Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Representative Takaichi stated that both sides must first protect and strengthen supply chain resilience. President Lai has previously said that he wants to turn Taiwan into an AI island, she said, and in semiconductors, Taiwan has the world’s leading technology. Representative Takaichi went on to say that Taiwan and Japan can collaborate in the fields of AI and semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use industries, as well as in areas such as drones and new energy technologies to build more resilient supply chains, so that if problems arise, we can maintain our current standard of living with peace of mind. Representative Takaichi indicated that cooperation in the defense sector is also crucial, and that by uniting like-minded countries including Taiwan, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and even countries in Europe, we can build a stronger network to jointly maintain our security guarantees. Representative Takaichi expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen substantive non-governmental relations, including personnel exchange visits and information sharing, so that we can jointly face and respond to crises when they arise. Regarding the hope to sign a Taiwan-Japan EPA that President Lai had mentioned earlier, she also expressed support and said she looks forward to upcoming exchanges and talks. The visiting delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai delivers remarks at International Holocaust Remembrance Day event
    On the afternoon of April 23, President Lai Ching-te attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event and delivered remarks, in which he emphasized that peace is priceless, and war has no winners, while morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, defending democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said we must never forget history, and must overcome our differences and join in solidarity to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Upon arriving at the event, President Lai heard a testimony from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of the prayer “El Maleh Rachamim.” He then joined other distinguished guests in lighting candles in memory of the victims. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to thank the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-organizing this deeply significant memorial ceremony again this year. I also want to thank everyone for attending. We are here today to remember the victims of the Holocaust, express sympathy for the survivors, honor the brave individuals who protected the victims, and acknowledge all who were impacted by this atrocity. It was deeply moving to hear Ms. [Orly] Sela share the story of how her grandmother, Yehudit Biksz, escaped the Nazi regime. I want to thank her specially for traveling so far to attend this event. From the 1930s through World War II, the Nazi regime sought to exclude Jewish people from society. In their campaign, they perpetrated systematic genocide driven by their ideology. Policies and directives under the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. Millions of others were persecuted, including Romani people, persons with disabilities, the gay community, and anyone who disagreed with Nazi ideology. It is one of the darkest chapters in human history. Many countries, including Taiwan, have enacted anti-massacre legislation, and observe a remembrance day each year. Those occasions help us remember the victims, preserve historical memory, and most importantly, reinforce our resolve to fight against hatred and discrimination. Twenty-three years ago, Chelujan (車路墘) Church in Tainan founded the Taiwan Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is the first Jewish museum in Taiwan, and the second Holocaust museum in Asia. Its founding mission urges us to forget hatred and love one another; put an end to war and advocate peace. Many of the exhibition items come from Jewish people, connecting Taiwan closer with Israel and helping Taiwanese better understand the experiences of Jewish people. In this way, we grow to more deeply cherish peace. When I was mayor of Tainan, I took part in an exhibition event at Chelujan Church. I was also invited by the Israeli government to join the International Mayors Conference in Israel, where I visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. I will never forget how deeply that experience moved me, and as a result, peace and human rights became even more important issues for me. These issues are valued by Taiwan and our friends and allies. They are also important links connecting Taiwan with the world. Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. We will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. We will also continue to make greater contributions and work with the international community to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. However, we still see wars raging around the world. We see a resurgence of authoritarian powers, which could severely impact global democracy, peace, and prosperous development. Today’s event allows for more than reflection on the past; it also serves as a warning for the future. We are reminded of the threats that hatred, prejudice, and extremism pose to humanity. But we are also reminded that morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. We must never forget history. We must overcome our differences and join in solidarity for a better future. Let’s work together to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Also in attendance at the event were Member of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and Taiwan friendship group Chair Boaz Toporovsky, ISECO Representative Maya Yaron, and German Institute Taipei Deputy Director General Andreas Hofem.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai pays respects to Pope Francis  
    On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te visited the Taipei Archdiocesan Curia to pay respects in a memorial ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. As officiant of the ceremony, President Lai burned incense and presented flowers, fruits, and wine to pay his respects to Pope Francis. At the direction of the master of ceremonies, the president then bowed three times in front of Pope Francis’s memorial portrait, conveying his grief and deep respect for the late pope. After hearing of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, President Lai promptly requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express sincere condolences from the people and government of Taiwan to the Vatican. The president also instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Urges Colleagues to Support Bisignano for SSA Commissioner

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered remarks on the Senate Floor urging his colleagues to support the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA).

    As delivered:
    “I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the confirmation of Mr. Frank Bisignano, who is nominated to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). 
    “The Social Security Administration has the significant responsibility of overseeing the Social Security program, which provides monthly benefits to millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families.  The SSA also oversees the Supplemental Security Income program and issues Social Security numbers and cards, among other workloads. 
    “I am confident Mr. Bisignano has the experience needed to lead this important agency.  He has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in banks and financial institutions.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, Inc., a leader in payments and financial technology. 
    “During his nomination hearing, Mr. Bisignano committed to improving customer service at the Social Security Administration, including by bringing down wait times for the agency’s National 800 Number and for claims decisions; ensuring that individuals can interact with the SSA in the way they prefer, whether in-person, by phone or online; and improving the SSA’s payment accuracy. 
    “During Mr. Bisignano’s nomination hearing, concerns were raised regarding his alleged connections to DOGE’s work at the SSA.  These allegations were raised in an anonymous letter, dated March 24, 2025, the day before Mr. Bisignano’s nomination hearing. 
    “The allegations focused on the frequency and details of communications between the nominee and SSA officials.  Mr. Bisignano addressed the allegations during the hearing and responded in writing as part of the questions for the record.  He has stated that he does not currently have a role at the SSA and was not part of the decision-making process led by the Acting Commissioner, Lee Dudek, about SSA operations, personnel or management. 
    “The Social Security Administration needs steady, Senate-confirmed leadership.  Mr. Bisignano would bring his decades-long focus on customer service and operational excellence to the SSA.  I strongly encourage my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Bisignano to serve as the next Commissioner of Social Security.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Super antibodies’ for snake toxins: how a dangerous DIY experiment helped scientists make a new antivenom

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina N. Zdenek, Associate Researcher, The University of Queensland

    Scientists in the United States have created a new snake antivenom using the blood of a man who deliberately built up immunity to snakebites by injecting himself with many different kinds of venom more than 800 times over 18 years.

    The researchers showed “super antibodies” from the man’s blood prevented toxic damage from neurotoxins found in the venoms of 19 different snake species, including mambas and cobras.

    The new study may represent a welcome advance in antivenom production. Most current techniques are more than a century old and involve injecting venom into horses and other animals, then harvesting antibodies from their blood.

    Even so, new treatments are only part of the challenge of addressing the huge global problem of snakebites, which kill and maim hundreds of thousands of people around the world each year.

    How was this new antivenom made?

    Tim Friede describes himself as an “autodidact herpetologist and venom expert”. He deliberately immunised himself with increasing doses of a number of snake venoms over an 18-year period, in a risky practice known as “mithridatism” that we don’t recommend. Some issues include: Friede nearly died several times, and immunity can drop in weeks.

    Scientists took a small sample of Friede’s blood and isolated the antibodies his immune system had developed to counteract the venoms. Next, they determined which of the antibodies were broadly effective against two important types of neurotoxins found in the venoms of elapid snakes, a family of species including cobras, mambas, and taipans.

    The next step was to sequence the DNA from Friede’s b-cells (a type of immune cell) that produced those two antibodies, then insert the genes responsible into a kind of virus called a bacteriophage. Then, using the modified bacteriophage and human cells as mini factories, the researchers produced lots of the antibodies to use in their work.

    How is antivenom usually made?

    Antivenom is currently the only specific treatment available for snakebites. It is usually produced by first collecting venom (which is dangerous), then “hyper-immunising” a domesticated animal (such as a horse) by routinely injecting it with small but increasing doses of that venom.

    Christina Zdenek and Chris Hay extracting venom from a coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus).
    Russell Shakespeare

    The horse’s blood is extracted and its antibodies purified. The antibodies can then be injected into a snakebite victim, where they stick to toxins. This prevents the toxins from binding to targets in the body, and it also flags them for elimination by the immune system.

    Traditional antivenoms have their problems. They can cause a severe allergic response known as an anaphylactic reaction (up to 50% of the time, in some countries). They may also have limited effectiveness due to differences in venom composition in snakes from different regions, or at different stages of the snake’s life.

    Broad-spectrum or “polyvalent” antivenoms are made by injecting horses with mixtures of venom from different species or different populations of snakes. However, the elevated antibody content per dose can increase the risk of adverse reactions.

    Another challenge with mixed antivenoms is that some toxins that produce a strong immune response can suppress the production of antibodies against other equally dangerous toxins.

    Why has it taken so long to improve antivenom production?

    Antivenom production is not presently a very profitable business. The expenses are huge, there is limited economy of scale, the effectiveness of antivenoms can be geographically specific, and the products have a short shelf-life and may have strict refrigeration requirements.

    Snakebite is also a disease of poverty. The people most affected are those least able to afford treatment.

    In Australia, the government has been supporting onshore antivenom production since 2020.

    Christina Zdenek retrieves snake venoms from a freezer for antivenom tests in the lab.
    Russell Shakespeare

    How else can we treat snakebite?

    In the past decade, more precise, ethical, and potentially cost-effective methods of producing snakebite therapeutics have emerged. These include monoclonal antibodies produced in the lab, as well as more conventional drugs.

    For example, varespladib is one drug that has progressed to phase II clinical trials. It works extremely well against a major component found in many snake venoms worldwide.

    Hybrid products containing “designer antibodies” and inhibitors like varespladib may be the future of snakebite treatment.

    The new “universal elapid antivenom” is in many ways an improvement on traditional antivenoms. However, there are still several deadly toxins present in elapid snake venoms it does not address, such as the coagulotoxin (blood-attacking) prothrombinase found in the venom of eastern brown snakes and taipans.

    Why do we need antivenom?

    Many people around the world live with the daily threat of being bitten by a venomous snake. Farmers, graziers, children walking barefoot to school, and many rural and remote workers in tropical and subtropical region, are at risk.

    The World Health Organisation deems snakebite a neglected tropical disease. It kills one person roughly every four minutes. As many as 2.7 million people are bitten annually, resulting in up to 138,000 deaths and around 400,000 people permanently maimed.

    An eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) passes through a suburban backyard in eastern Australia.
    Chris Hay

    Will this new medicine reduce snakebite deaths?

    When it comes to reducing the number of people who die from snakebite, novel snakebite treatments are undoubtedly important. However, developing new drugs is the relatively easy part of the problem.

    A drug is only as good as your capacity to deliver it when and where it’s needed. For snakebites, time is short and locations may be remote.

    Several antivenoms available in Australia.
    Christina N. Zdenek

    Far more attention and resources need to be devoted to all aspects of health infrastructure in the tropics, including the availability and distribution of life-saving medicines.

    Prevention is also critical. Reducing the number of snakebites will reduce the burden on health infrastructure by saving lives and limbs.

    To achieve this, we need far more resources devoted to research on snake behaviour, snake ecology, human–snake interactions, and public education about snakes. Snakebite is the result of an ecological encounter between two organisms, and we know disappointingly little about the circumstances in which it occurs.

    Christina N. Zdenek co-owns and works for the Australian Reptile Academy, a Queensland-based company that provides venomous-snake identification and handling courses for industry and the public.

    Timothy N.W. Jackson is co-head of the Australian Venom Research Unit, which has previously received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Department of Health, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    – ref. ‘Super antibodies’ for snake toxins: how a dangerous DIY experiment helped scientists make a new antivenom – https://theconversation.com/super-antibodies-for-snake-toxins-how-a-dangerous-diy-experiment-helped-scientists-make-a-new-antivenom-255611

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: How Idaho is Fighting for Constitutional Rights Nationwide

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: How Idaho is Fighting for Constitutional Rights Nationwide

    Dear Friends,
    Most people don’t spend their days reading court filings or coalition letters from attorneys general—and I don’t blame them. But behind those filings is where we do some of our most important work defending Idaho’s values, protecting our freedoms, and standing up to overreach. So in this week’s Labrador Letter, I want to take a moment to explain how this work happens, what we’ve been doing, and why it matters for Idaho.
    One of the tools we use as attorneys general is the amicus brief—a legal document filed in a court case where a state isn’t directly involved, but where the outcome affects our rights or our laws. “Amicus” means “friend” in Latin, and these briefs allow us to stand up as a “friend of the court”—and more importantly, a friend of the people—on issues that matter beyond just Idaho’s border.
    We also join coalition letters with other attorneys general to demand accountability, warn of legal consequences, and push back on policies that overstep constitutional boundaries. These aren’t just symbolic gestures. They are the united voice of states, telling corporations, federal agencies, and international bodies that we will not be silent—or that we’re prepared to fight back against unlawful policies.
    In the past few months, we’ve used both of these tools to defend parental rights, merit-based hiring, Second Amendment freedoms, veteran’s benefits, and the rule of law.
    Some of the clearest examples of this work are playing out in the business and financial sectors—where the push for political conformity is increasingly replacing accountability, and sometimes, the law. We recently joined a 15-state coalition urging the Business Roundtable—an organization made up of CEOs from some of the most powerful companies in America—to abandon discriminatory DEI mandates. These race-based hiring quotas and ideological trainings violate both state and federal law, replacing merit with identity politics. We joined this effort because Idahoans deserve to compete and be hired based on ability, not immutable characteristics.
    At the same time, we also joined a coalition letter asking major Wall Street firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and others about their investments in Chinese companies tied to forced labor, genocide, and the Chinese Communist Party. These asset managers handle trillions of dollars on behalf of pensioners, retirees, and working Americans. When they hide the risks of investing in an adversarial regime, it’s not just bad business—it may be fraud. Idaho public employees, retirees, and private investors have a right to know whether their money is being funneled into unstable or unethical markets, especially when those markets are propped up by a hostile foreign government.
    We’re also confronting another ideological push—this one coming from within our own institutions and aimed squarely at the foundations of biology, parental rights, and public spending. We’re pushing back against one of the most troubling trends in our country today: the effort to force radical gender ideology into every institution—including our prison system. I recently co-led a 24-state amicus brief in support of a Trump-era executive order that prohibits taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for inmates in federal custody. The case, Kingdom v. Trump, asks whether prisoners can claim a constitutional right under the Eighth Amendment to receive these procedures at public expense. Our brief makes clear: denying elective, irreversible procedures is not cruel or unusual punishment. These decisions about medical care in prisons should be made by elected policymakers—not imposed by courts. Idahoans should not be forced to subsidize medical practices are experimental and go against basic biology. This case is about protecting taxpayers and restoring common sense to public policy.
    We’re seeing the same kind of overreach in states attempting to rewrite the Second Amendment—and Idaho is fighting back. This past September, I led a multistate amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Maryland’s unconstitutional ban on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles. These firearms are used by law-abiding Americans every day for self-defense, sport, and tradition. Our brief stated that Maryland’s law violates the Second Amendment and defies Supreme Court precedent. Idahoans value their freedom—and when another state tries to criminalize the exercise of a constitutional right, we will lead the charge to stop it. The case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, and we are awaiting a decision on whether the justices will take it up.
    That same commitment to defending what’s right applies to how we treat those who served our country. In March, our office joined every state in the country in a bipartisan amicus brief defending the earned benefits of two decorated servicemembers denied their full GI Bill education benefits. The VA took a narrow view of the law, even after the U.S. Supreme Court made clear in Rudisill v. McDonough that these benefits are owed. This wasn’t a partisan issue. It was a failure by a federal agency to keep its word to our veterans. That’s why we stepped in. Veterans in Idaho and across America deserve every benefit they were promised.
    Just as we fight for our veterans, we’re also working to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis that has harmed communities across America. We recently helped secure up to $335 million in a bipartisan, multistate settlement with Mylan Pharmaceuticals. The company marketed opioid products, including fentanyl patches, while minimizing known risks of abuse. These practices contributed to a crisis that has touched nearly every state—including Idaho. While no settlement can undo the damage, these funds will support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in communities across our state.
    All of this is more than just legal action—it’s a commitment to protecting Idaho’s future and pushing back against those who would undermine it. We don’t wait for permission to defend our values, and we won’t stay quiet while others try to dictate the direction of this country. Whether it’s Wall Street, Washington, or states trying to export their failed policies nationwide, Idaho will continue to lead—fighting in the courts, building strong coalitions, and standing firm for the rule of law. We will protect our rights, our sovereignty, and our way of life—no matter who tries to take them.
    Best regards,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bill to Ban Assault Weapons, Protect Nevada Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce a bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and protect Nevada communities. The bill would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and import of military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other high-capacity ammunition feeding devices that have repeatedly been used in mass shootings across the nation. While the 1994 assault weapons ban was in place, the United States saw gun massacres decline by 37%, and mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely. When the ban expired in 2005, gun deaths rose 239%.
    “Senseless acts of gun violence have destroyed communities and torn families apart in Nevada and all across our nation,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce this bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and take commonsense steps to get weapons of war off of our streets. I will continue taking action to end gun violence while respecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.”
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight against gun violence. Earlier this year, Rosen helped introduce commonsense, bipartisan legislation to ban bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons. Bump stocks were used in the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. Last Congress, Rosen helped pass the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to enhance background checks on firearm purchases for individuals under 21, fund the implementation of red flag laws, combat firearms trafficking, and invest in school safety and mental health programs. Rosen also helped introduce the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act to provide all victims of gun violence and their loved ones with the resources to help meet medical, legal, financial, and other needs. Senator Rosen also helped introduce the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all commercial gun sales, including those made online and at gun shows. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces Release of Nearly $50 Million in Reimbursement Funding for Northern Light Health for COVID Pandemic Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that $49 million in delayed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding has been released to Northern Light Health by the Maine Emergency Management Agency to reimburse costs associated with its COVID-19 pandemic response. Northern Light Health was among the health care providers that faced significant delays in receiving FEMA disaster relief funding following the pandemic, despite the substantial financial burden it incurred while caring for patients.

    “This funding will help ensure that Northern Light Health is reimbursed for the vital health care it provided to Mainers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Collins. “From expanding patient capacity, to securing personal protective equipment, and increasing staffing in critical care units, Maine’s hospitals stepped up to care for Maine communities during an unprecedented time of crisis. I strongly advocated for the release of these FEMA funds, and I am pleased to see them finally delivered.”

    “Northern Light Health is incredibly grateful to Senator Collins for securing critical FEMA reimbursements for the expenses related to the care we delivered to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said James Rohrbaugh, Northern Light Health executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We understand FEMA disaster relief funding requires detail and scrutiny to ensure the funds are appropriately directed and that caused a significant delay to our receiving these reimbursements and thank the Senator for never losing sight of this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Stands With the Business Community in Support of Tax Cuts 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    U.S. Chamber, Chamber of Southern Arizona Join Congressman in Roundtable Discussion

    TUCSON, AZ — Congressman Juan Ciscomani doubled-down today on his commitment to extending federal tax cuts, calling them critical to creating jobs and building a strong, vibrant economy. 

    At a roundtable discussion with business leaders and advocates, the Congressman said pro-growth policies are driving the economy forward and creating opportunities for Arizona and the country.

    “Conversations with local business owners and employers are essential and make me a better, more informed member of Congress,” Ciscomani told business leaders attending this morning’s discussion. “Your voices are critical.” 

    The discussion included Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Michael Guymon, Chief Advocacy Officer for the Chamber of Southern Arizona and representatives from businesses in Ciscomani’s 6th Congressional District.

    The Congressman spoke about the upcoming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and the pressing need to extend TCJA before the end of the year to prevent a tax hike on families and small businesses.  

    “The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) lowered taxes and delivered real relief for families, workers, and small businesses in southeastern Arizona, and across the U.S.,” said Ciscomani. “Letting these tax cuts expire at the end of the year would raise taxes and hit families and businesses where it hurts the most – their pocketbook. In Congress, I will continue to work to extend TCJA to make everyday living more affordable and further strengthen our economy. I am grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for hosting this important event.” 

    Ciscomani also discussed his efforts to promote a stronger economy through legislation like the Critical Minerals Consistency Act (H.R. 755), a bill he introduced to bolster the domestic supply of critical minerals, and his efforts to protect clean energy tax credits.

    Ciscomani joined 20 fellow Republicans in a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith urging him to protect the credits, which have helped to lower energy costs, create jobs and drive industry back to southeastern Arizona. Repealing these credits prematurely would create uncertainty for industries that already have major projects underway. 

    “All policy is local, and we heard that message loud and clear from Tucson small business owners today,” said Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Local businesses are the engines for economic growth in communities across the country, but they need smart public policy—including a consistent and competitive tax code—to drive growth and create opportunity. The U.S. Chamber is convening business leaders and policymakers in every corner of America because we know decisions made in Washington really have an impact at the local level. We are grateful to count the Chamber of Southern Arizona and Congressman Ciscomani as strong partners in the effort to preserve pro-growth tax policy.”  

    The roundtable preceded a well-attended “kickoff luncheon” for the Chamber of Southern Arizona, a new entity formed by the merger between Sun Corridor Inc. and the Tucson Metro Chamber. Ciscomani told an audience of nearly 700 people that the Chamber is poised to play a key role in expanding economic opportunity in our region.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Buffalo, Gillibrand Condemns President Trump’s Plan To Eliminate Head Start

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Proposal Would Deprive 50,000 Low-Income Children In New York State Of Critical Early Childhood Education 
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Ferry Academy Head Start Program to condemn President Trump’s plan to eliminate Head Start. President Trump budget’s request for FY26 reportedly aims to eliminate all funding for Head Start. Federal funding allows 20 Head Start centers in Buffalo and Niagara Counties that serve over 1,200 children to operate. Without this funding, Head Start centers across New York and around the country will be forced to close their doors, which will deprive low-income children of critical early childhood education that gives them the tools to succeed both in and out of the classroom. President Trump has also attempted to diminish Head Start through a number of executive actions that are making it harder for Head Start centers to stay up and running, including closing regional offices that help administer the program, laying off staff, and withholding already authorized funding.
    Head Start programs provide low-income children from birth to age five with comprehensive child development programs, as well as support and services for families. The services Head Start and Early Head Start offer include early education, health screenings, promoting social and emotional health, nutrition, connection to other social services, and services for children with disabilities. Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve over 50,000 children in New York State.  
    “Head Start helps make sure that every child has a chance to thrive,“ said Senator Gillibrand. “It is an investment in our kids and our future that has been proven time and time again to be highly effective at preparing children for school and improving both their social and physical health outcomes. President Trump’s proposal to eliminate funding for Head Start would hurt the kids and families most in need – including the 50,000 Head Start attendees in New York alone. I will do everything in my power to fight this effort and preserve funding for this vital program through the next fiscal year and beyond.”
    “Children who can take advantage of Head Start programs show better health, educational, and social outcomes,” said Rep. Tim Kennedy. “As an occupational therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how early developmental support transforms lives. These programs are good for families while also strengthening our communities and the economy. Head Start works, and Donald Trump’s attacks on this proven program are inexcusable. Tens of thousands of children in New York State have a chance at a better future because of Head Start, and I will never stop fighting for this vital program.”
    “It is becoming far too common, since the new administration has taken over the White House, where I have stated, ‘this is bad policy.’ Cutting funding for or disrupting Head Start programs across the country is another example of bad policy,” said Crystal Peoples-Stokes, New York State Assembly Majority Leader. “We have already seen what a funding freeze has done to Head Start programs in the Southern Tier. Cutting funding or eliminating Head Start programs puts an undue burden on families as well as eliminates early childhood education jobs. This is an unacceptable policy and I applaud and stand with Senator Gillibrand and Head Start organizations fighting to keep these programs alive.”
    “Head Start is not just a program — it’s a critical lifeline for thousands of children and working families in Buffalo,” said Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon. “Cutting this funding would have devastating consequences for our most vulnerable residents and undermine decades of progress in early childhood education. I’m proud to stand with Senator Gillibrand in fighting to protect Head Start and ensure every child in Buffalo has the chance to grow, learn, and succeed.”
    “Head Start provides the supports and programs that young children need to succeed in school and ultimately in life, helping them grow into productive members of our community. Cutting funding to this critical program is the latest assault on children and families from a regime in Washington that is working every day to make Americans weaker, sicker, less smart and less safe,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Just as our democracy is laboring under this anti-democratic regime, children and the most vulnerable among us are being stripped of the resources they need to succeed in life all so that billionaires can get a tax cut. It’s a disgusting travesty and I urge all Americans to speak out against these cruel, vindictive and unnecessary cuts.”
    “It’s outrageous that this administration wants to take resources away from children, low-income families, and people with disabilities – the most vulnerable individuals in society – in order to pad their billionaire friends’ pockets with massive tax cuts,” said Common Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart. “For over 60 years, the Head Start program has helped millions of disadvantaged children and parents, including those facing poverty and homelessness. In our community alone, thousands depend on Head Start programs for childcare, health services, and early education – programs which make all the difference between local families struggling and thriving. I thank Senator Gillibrand for standing up for Head Start and fighting back against these reckless attacks on children and vulnerable families.”
    “Head Start matters because early childhood education matters,” said Dr. Marie Cannon, Executive Director of the Community Action Organization. “Community Action Organization’s Head Start is built on two main pillars: school readiness and parent engagement in a wholistic service delivery model.  Children are engaged in early learning opportunities to ensure school readiness and future success.  Parents are partners in their child’s education and are engaged in activities that improve their economic and social mobility. Parents set goals that include advancing their own educational attainment and employment attainment and advancement. The investment in Head Start is worth every dime.” 
    “At the Community Action Organization of WNY, we witness every day the challenges that families across Erie and Niagara County face. From access to quality early childhood education to critical services in health, nutrition, mental health, disability support, and family engagement, the barriers are real, and the need is urgent,” said Dr. Chelsea White, Chief Early Childhood Officer for the Community Action Organization. “For us, Head Start is more than just a program; it’s a vital lifeline that empowers children and families, helping to close the opportunity gap and lay the foundation for lifelong success. As the demand for Head Start grows in our community, we remain steadfast in our commitment to meeting that need with compassion, excellence, and opportunity.”

    MIL OSI USA News –