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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 27 Polytechnic students became recipients of Potanin Foundation scholarships

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Potanin Foundation has summed up the results of the 2024/2025 scholarship competition. This prestigious scholarship is a recognition of the outstanding achievements of master’s students in their studies, leadership and public activities. This year, 750 people became winners of the competition. Among the lucky ones are 27 talented students of SPbPU, who will now receive a scholarship of 25,000 rubles until the end of their studies.

    The result of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” was especially successful – five students of the SPbPU PISh were among the winners. They demonstrated not only deep academic knowledge, but also the ability to turn theory into practice, which is especially valuable for modern engineering education.

    We are proud of our students, who have once again proven that SPbPU PISh is a forge of talents and innovations. Their victory is not only a personal achievement, but also recognition of the high level of training, – noted the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the head of SPbPU PISh Alexey Borovkov.

    Master’s students of the program “Organization and management of high-tech technologies in the oil and gas industry” shared their impressions of the competition:

    Ksenia Grigorieva: Participation in the competition was not only an opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge and skills, but also an important stage in my personal and professional growth. This is not just a competition, but a unique platform for exchanging ideas, finding inspiration and meeting talented people from all over the country. I would like to express special gratitude to the teachers of the Advanced Engineering School, my mentors.

    During her years of bachelor’s degree at the Polytechnic University in the specialty “General Biotechnology”, Ksenia actively demonstrated herself in scientific, educational and creative activities. She considers her participation in the project on the synthesis of human parathyroid hormone and work in the biochemistry department of the “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, the main goal of which was to identify antibodies to modified low-density lipoproteins and study the effect of these antibodies on the development of atherosclerotic lesions, to be some of her main achievements. In addition to scientific activities, last year Ksenia successfully graduated with honors not only from her bachelor’s degree, but also from the additional education program “Digital Departments”. Ksenia’s interests are not limited to study and science – for the fifth year now, the girl has been singing in the youth choir “Polyhymnia”.

    Artem Shcherbak: The purpose of my participation in the Vladimir Potanin scholarship competition was to establish contacts in the professional sphere and meet proactive young people for the potential construction of new projects and work on joint events. I have friends who have previously become laureates of this award, their experience inspired me.

    Artem was an organizer of major events at the Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II, a delegate to the Student Council of Saint Petersburg under the Committee on Youth Policy, a volunteer and organizer of events “Volunteer Company of Combat Brotherhood”, a member of the youth council of the Central District of Saint Petersburg, a laureate of the city award “Best Youth Project 2022”, the owner of a letter of gratitude “For personal contribution to the implementation of socially significant projects and the development of volunteer activities in 2023” from the Committee on Youth Policy under the Government of Saint Petersburg.

    Stepan Akimov: I am very glad that I was able to take part in the scholarship competition. The main thing here is initiative. I realized that if I approach the matter not half-heartedly, show a little interest and turn on creativity, then my approach will pay off. And so it happened! At the end of the final competition day, I felt great pleasure from everything that had been done, I was happy with the stunning victory of my team in the main test and that I was able to play an important role in this.

    Alexey Plyushch has been actively working in the Trade Union of Students of the Polytechnic University for five years now, was the first deputy chairman, head of the sports department, and acts as the main organizer in most projects. Alexey is a trainer and mentor of the inter-institutional training of “Adapters of SPbPU”, the best graduate of the “management” department of IPMET.

    Sergey Gaurgov graduated from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU with a bachelor’s degree in “Automation of Technological Processes and Production” in 2024. He is a versatile engineer who can work with both pneumatic and hydropneumatic devices, and is well versed in electrical engineering, circuit design and the development of electronic devices.

    For his master’s degree, Sergey chose the Advanced Engineering School: It seemed to me that studying at PISH would be a logical continuation of the direction of production automation, which I studied in my bachelor’s degree. Here I can specialize in robotics under the guidance of my teacher, an expert in autonomous unmanned systems Georgy Vasilyanov.

    Sergey is currently undergoing an internship at the Saint Petersburg Automobile Plant (formerly Nissan), where he is engaged in optimizing the logistics of unmanned robots in the automation department.

    Also among the winners of the scholarship program are master’s students: Irina Smirnova, Angelina Rubleva, Aelita Maslova and Viktor Sorokin (headquartered in Statistics), Egor Vinokurov and Vitalina Furman (headquartered in Biotechnical Systems and Technologies), Olga Obraztsova and Veronika Chernova (headquartered in Biotechnology), Denis Mametyev and Sergey Sudnishchikov (Construction), Sofia Ivanova (Business Informatics), Alexandra Voziyan (Software Engineering), Gennady Zyabkin (Automation of Technological Processes and Production), Nikita Izbyakov (Power Engineering), Konstantin Mashyanov (Mechatronics and Robotics), Anastasia Mikulenko (Materials Science and Materials Technology), Anastasia Murashova (Sociology), Nikita Oparin (Metallurgy), Zinaida Pavlenkova (Design), Daria Ryzhova (Foreign Regional Studies), Alexey Filatchev (Economics), Anastasia Yarkova (Information Systems and Technologies).

    The winners of the Potanin scholarship receive not only monthly financial support, but also the opportunity to participate in the foundation’s educational and social projects aimed at developing leadership and professional skills.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Expands Institutional Lending Services to Support All Spot Trading Pairs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

     

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, announced a major upgrade to its Institutional Lending service, enabling institutional clients to borrow funds for trading across all spot trading pairs available on the platform. This strategic enhancement empowers institutional users with greater flexibility and capital efficiency as they explore diversified trading strategies.

    The Institutional Lending program offers customized loan packages for professional clients, allowing them to access large-scale liquidity with competitive interest rates. With the latest upgrade, borrowed assets can now be applied to over 800 listed spot tokens on Bitget, significantly expanding the scope of trading and hedging opportunities.

    “Institutions play a crucial role in enhancing the liquidity and stability of the crypto market. Expanding our reach among institutional traders is one of Bitget’s core strategies for 2025,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “To navigate the fast-paced nature of crypto, institutions need flexible, scalable, and efficient access to capital. By extending our lending support to all spot pairs, we’re removing operational barriers and empowering institutions to execute sophisticated strategies, hedge risks, and seize opportunities without limitations on asset coverage.”

    Bitget offers a seamless and secure institutional lending process. Clients can apply directly through Bitget’s institutional portal, where customized credit lines and terms are determined based on individual profiles and trading history. Currently, Bitget supports USDT as the lending currency, with over 50 types of collateral assets accepted, including BTC, ETH, and USDC. The maximum leverage available is 5x, with loan terms of up to 12 months. In the coming months, Bitget will also expand institutional lending support to include derivatives trading.

    This move follows Bitget’s broader commitment to serving institutional clients with world-class infrastructure. Earlier this year, the platform rolled out dedicated OTC services and upgraded custodial solutions in collaboration with licensed partners such as Cobo and Fireblocks, aiming to create a full-stack institutional offering.

    More details on Bitget’s Institutional Lending program, will be shared shortly.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f9cc1c0-7a38-4b1c-a1c1-834b8c6a6921

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces Listing of Kinto (K) with Massive 12,800 K & 50,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to announce the upcoming listing of Kinto (K) on March 31, 2025. To celebrate, MEXC is launching exclusive events with a combined prize pool of 12,800 K & 50,000 USDT in bonuses, offering traders the opportunity to earn substantial rewards while engaging with the Kinto ecosystem.

    Kinto is a modular exchange (MEX) that combines the advantages of both centralized (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX), offering users a secure, compliant, and seamless trading experience. Founded by a team of blockchain developers and financial experts, Kinto operates on a strong community governance model that enables users to actively shape the platform’s future.

    The K token ($K) serves as both the governance and utility token within the Kinto ecosystem, granting holders governance rights, staking opportunities, and rewards for participation.

    To celebrate the listing of Kinto (K), MEXC has launched a series of exciting events with low entry requirements and a simple participation process, ensuring that users with different needs can easily join and share generous rewards.

    Below are the key details of the events:

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising Web3 projects. In 2024, MEXC introduced 2,376 new tokens, with 1,716 of those being initial listings. According to the latest TokenInsight report, MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings, at 461, and the fastest listing speed. Additionally, the exchange consistently adds new tokens in bi-weekly cycles, showcasing its exceptional ability to capture market trends quickly.

    Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to enhance its platform by providing advantages such as low fees, deep liquidity, a wide selection of trending tokens, and daily airdrops, enabling traders to access high-potential projects early, receive generous rewards, and enjoy an optimal trading experience.

    For full event details and participation rules, visit here.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 34 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by MEXC. 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. 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. 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.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.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.

    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.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bdd074d0-6d90-42f8-a153-79bda20526ff

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Empowering Women in Tourism: The Key to a Healthy, Resilient Industry

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Empowering women in tourism through targeted policies can overcome barriers like limited finance and caregiving burdens, unlocking their potential to drive job creation, sustainable innovation, and economic and health resilience in times of crisis.

    Tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in Asia and the Pacific, with international arrivals reaching 87% of pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Women are a significant driving force in the tourism sector in Asia and the Pacific, constituting a majority of the workforce (52%). Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises led by women are pivotal to generating jobs in tourism and spurring local development. 

    For instance, in Cambodia, the women’s labor force participation rate was 80% in 2019, and women constituted 60% of the tourism workforce, with many employed in small enterprises and involved in designing tours to promote culture, art, tradition, religion, food, souvenirs, and tourist attractions. 

    By contrast, the Maldives presents a stark contrast: home to over 160 island resorts, it has only 10% female resort employees and a mere 3% local women in 2019. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, women are predominantly employed in hospitality, tours and artisanal crafts. The tourism industries in these countries are also male dominated, with Tajikistan’s employing 31% women.

    Despite this diversity in national contexts, women workers and women-led small businesses face similar challenges in the tourism industry across Asia’s developing countries. 

    Even in countries with higher female participation, such as Cambodia, women are overrepresented in low-paid, low-skilled, and often temporary or part-time jobs that heighten job insecurity, financial instability, and a wage gap. This is a common phenomenon across developing Asian countries with lower female participation in tourism. 

    One of the reasons is societal expectations on women’s role as the primary caregivers at home. The significant burden on female entrepreneurs and workers to balance paid work with unpaid, domestic responsibilities restricts their ability to take more business risks and expand their networks. 

    A report from the International Labour Organization shows that women in Asia and the Pacific spend 4.1 times more time in unpaid care work than men. The resulting time scarcity and mobility constraints faced by women impact their ability to participate in the labor market, grasp opportunities for career advancement, invest in and expand their businesses, and achieve financial independence. 

    These barriers also reinforce women’s lack of collateral required for loans that are essential to access to finance. Data shows that only 17%, 36%, and 49% of women own a house alone or jointly in Maldives, Tajikistan, and Cambodia, respectively. This not only restricts their ability to borrow, invest, and grow tourism businesses but also affects broader aspects of their well-being, including nutritional security and access to healthcare.

    By offering diverse cultural insights and authentic travel experiences, women-led businesses enrich the global tourism landscape.

    Structural discrimination from financial institutions further limits women’s access to finance. These, in turn, reinforce women’s concentration in low-paying or less secure positions, while men tend to dominate managerial and leadership roles, intensifying these inequalities in tourism. 

    In addition to financial exclusion, women in tourism often face unsafe and precarious working conditions. The seasonal nature of tourism, poor working conditions faced by women in tourism, such as workplace safety and harassment, and insufficient social protection, including mental health support on overworking and childcare support, exacerbate these issues. Many women also work in the informal sector and family-owned tourism businesses with no employment benefits or safety nets. 

    Health and hygiene-related risks also disproportionately affect women in tourism. The lack of access to proper sanitation facilities, clean water supply, and hygiene amenities at tourism workplaces could pose risks to women’s health and safety, such as their vulnerability to reproductive and urinary tract infections, privacy and violence concerns when using shared facilities, and challenges in managing menstrual hygiene. 

    These vulnerabilities were worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused an economic shock in the tourism industry that led to business closures and job losses. Also, it has increased unpaid care work and exposed the vulnerability of women entrepreneurs who often do not have sufficient financial reserves and support mechanisms to weather such crises.

    Despite these challenges, women in the tourism industry have demonstrated resilience and innovation. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, women-led guesthouses, tour companies, and handicraft cooperatives have gained recognition for promoting personalized services and cultural heritage, attracting both domestic and international tourists and contributing to local economies.

    Women can be agents of change for sustainable tourism, promoting culturally sensitive and innovative solutions. Examples of empowerment that help address inequalities and improve health and economic outcomes include: 

    Increasing opportunities for women in national tourism, health, and economic policies: A multisector approach to policymaking may ensure that women have equal opportunities, compensation, and support to thrive in the industry. Enhanced maternal, sexual, and reproductive health services are needed. The Tajikistan National Development Strategy 2030, which explicitly calls for the equal treatment of women in the labor market, is a promising initiative. 

    Creating a safe and healthy work environment for women: Addressing workplace safety, harassment, and discrimination in both public and private sectors can help women feel secure and supported. Improving health and security standards may also attract more solo and group female travelers. 

    Reducing barriers to obtaining loans and credit: Microfinance programs and financial products tailored to women may promote women’s access to finance for investing in and expanding their businesses, adopting new technologies, bolstering marketing efforts, and keeping businesses afloat when visitor numbers decline.

    Targeted training programs and capacity-building initiatives: Networks, mentorship, legal aid, counselling services, and digital training may provide support and resources for women to navigate challenges and enhance their business skills.

    Improved sex-disaggregated data for real-time, evidence-based policymaking: Women in tourism contribute to a large sector.

    By accurately quantifying the scope of female entrepreneurship in tourism, officials can craft targeted interventions that bolster women’s rights, strengthen community resilience, and safeguard the natural assets that underpin local economies.  

    In the end, empowering women entrepreneurs in tourism benefits not only the individuals who own and operate these businesses, but also entire communities seeking inclusive, healthy, and resilient growth.  

    By offering diverse cultural insights and authentic travel experiences, women-led businesses enrich the global tourism landscape—while underscoring that economic development is most sustainable when it lifts everyone. 
     

    Maria Gisela Orinion, Kyi Thar, and Marjorie van Strien contributed to this blog post.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor launches ambitious new London policing plan for 2025-2029

    Source: Mayor of London

    • Sadiq’s new Police and Crime Plan will help revitalise neighbourhood policing teams with City Hall working with Government to help put more officers in the heart of communities over the next four years
    • The Plan re-commits to being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, and places partnership working with the Met Police, Government, Transport for London, London Councils and other agencies at the heart of work to tackle Londoners’ priorities
    • Detailed plan has been developed in consultation with more than 4,000 Londoners and key partners including police, local councils, justice agencies and voluntary groups

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today launched his new London Police and Crime Plan1 which will focus on revitalising high-visibility policing in our neighbourhoods and high streets to deal with local priorities and make London safer for everyone. 
     
    The detailed plan for 2025-2029 sets out Sadiq’s priorities to build on crime reductions already achieved in the capital2 and is focused on working with Government throughout the four-year period of the plan to strengthen neighbourhood policing in London so that more officers are in the heart of communities to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour. 
     
    Comparing statistics for the financial year before the Mayor’s previous Police and Crime Plan and the 12 months from January-December 2024, violence with injury in the Met Police area fell by 11%, domestic homicide by 28%, non-domestic homicide by 8%, teen homicide by 43%, lethal barrel discharges by 25% and the number of people under 25 admitted to hospital due to assault with a sharp object by 13%. 
     
    Latest ONS figures show the rate of violence in London is lower than the rest of England and Wales. Last year there were fewer homicides of people under-25 than any year since 2003 and the number of teenage homicides in London in 2024 was also at its lowest total since 2012.
     
    The plan comes as the Mayor has welcomed the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, announced at the end of last year, to have 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing officers, Police Community Support Officers and special constables in dedicated neighbourhood policing roles nationally to help tackle and prevent crime in high streets and town centres.
     
    As Mayor, Sadiq has gone above and beyond to ensure the capital’s police have the resources to continue tackling crime locally. Directly funding 1,300 extra police officers, backing the Met with a record £1.16bn in City Hall funding in this year’s budget alone.
     
    The Mayor’s new plan has been developed following consultation with more than 4,000 Londoners, the Met Police and other key partners including local authorities, and voluntary groups. The key priorities are: reducing violence and criminal exploitation; building safer, more confident communities; supporting and overseeing reform of the Met Police; and improving the criminal justice system and supporting victims.
     
    The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) will bring partners and agencies together to help address community concerns and bear down effectively on crime and anti-social behaviour. This will include looking at ways to improve best practice in the sharing of data, cross-boundary working and developing critical partnership skills.
     
    Neighbourhood policing remains the bedrock of community confidence and safety in London. Against the backdrop of 14 years of Government austerity and its continued impact on the Met, record investment from City Hall3 is empowering the Met to deliver its new Met for London plan, which prioritises local high-visibility policing and taking officers out of back-office roles to deliver on the issues that matter most to Londoners including tackling robbery, theft and anti-social behaviour.
     
    The Mayor is clear that one violent crime is one too many and his new plan will build on reductions already achieved to further drive down serious violence in line with the Government’s national mission to halve knife crime in a decade. Sadiq has always been clear that the police alone cannot reduce violence and the plan is focused on enhanced and effective working with partners including the Met Police, Government, Transport for London, London Councils and other agencies. 
     
    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe and I’m determined to do all I can to tackle violence and crime in our city. My new Police and Crime Plan is about putting communities first and over the next four years we will work with the Government and the Met to improve visible neighbourhood policing and strengthen partnership working to deal with the violence, crime and anti-social behaviour issues that matter to Londoners.

    “This plan is about tackling the issues that matter most for our city and it has been created in consultation with thousands of Londoners, partners and local organisations. I want to thank everyone who took the time to give their views – and all of those who continue to work day-in, day-out to make our city safer.  

    “My new plan will build on crime reductions already achieved in the capital where we have seen fewer young people being injured with knives and the number of teenage homicides in London in 2024 being at its lowest total since 2012. But clearly there is still much more work to do. At City Hall we are fully focused on that, and I will continue to do everything in my power to make London a safer city for all.”
     
    The Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) will continue to tackle the complex causes of violence through prevention and early intervention, building on 400,000 diversionary activities and opportunities for young Londoners through youth work and access to youth clubs, and interventions to tackle school exclusions. 

    His VRU will oversee the Government’s Young Futures Prevention Partnerships in London, which aim to provide support for young people at risk of crime.
     
    The plan also highlights the continued commitment of the Mayor and the Met Commissioner to crack down on mobile phone robberies – a key driver of violence in London. Over the next four years, the Met will continue to take tough enforcement action against robbery offenders and City Hall will continue to work in partnership with the Government, leading mobile phone companies, manufacturers and the tech industry to design out the theft of their products. 
     
    The Mayor has committed to publishing a refreshed strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), building on the pioneering work done in London over the last eight years to tackle the perpetrators of these crimes, support victims and survivors and educate young men and boys about the dangers posed by misogynistic attitudes and behaviours – backed with £233 million investment from the Mayor. 
     
    Sadiq has been clear that police reform is a critical part of his Mayoralty, and he will not be satisfied until Londoners have the police service they deserve – one that is trusted, puts communities first, is representative of London and delivers the highest possible service to every community in our city. Important steps forward have been made, including the Met coming out of HMICFRS special measures earlier this year. The plan sets out how Sadiq will continue to support and oversee the work of the Met to embed reform and deliver more trust, less crime and higher standards.
     
    Victims of crime will remain at the heart of everything City Hall does, and the plan sets out how the Mayor will continue to invest in innovative, high-quality services for victims through the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The plan also sets out how London’s Independent Victim’s Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, will continue her vital work to champion the rights of victims of crime and press for improvements in the services they receive at every stage of their journey. 
     
    Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “It has been so valuable to hear from so many Londoners, partner organisations and community groups as we’ve developed this plan who contribute daily to keeping London safe. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped us to shape the strategy we publish today so that we can continue delivering for Londoners.
     
    “After years of chronic underfunding by the previous Government and huge cuts to policing, the Mayor and I are determined to drive this plan forward and working with partners is at the heart of my approach to build on the progress that has already been made to reduce serious violence in the capital.
     
    “Strong partnerships make communities safer, and that’s why this plan focuses so much on strengthening joint working between police, Government, local authorities, justice agencies and key partner organisations like TfL and the NHS. I look forward to working with all of our partners to make London a safer city for all.”

    London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said: “I’m glad to see a focus within this new Police and Crime Plan on investing in high-quality services to support victims of crime. It’s critical victims and bereaved families remain at the heart of the Mayor’s work at City Hall.

    “Our Criminal Justice System is in crisis and in need of serious reform following years of underfunding by the previous government. That’s why, in my role, I’m determined to continue standing up for victims’ rights, ensuring that their voices are heard, and work closely with the Government to lobby for adequate funding and improved policies to support victims.

    “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with MOPAC to better understand the specific points within the system where victims are being failed. Underpinned by MOPAC research, my London Rape Reviews and Stalking Review have respectively helped to shape national policy and I am keen to build on their successes. Through this work, I hope to effect changes that will improve victims’ experiences and keep them at the heart of all decision and policy making.”

    Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: “The safety and security of our customers and staff is our top priority. We are committed to working alongside the Mayor, police and other partners to ensure that everyone travelling in London can do so safely. We welcome this new plan which will see visible local policing in communities supporting the transport network across the capital.  It is vital we continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that our transport network remains a welcoming environment to work and travel.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues a USD 1 billion benchmark under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    28 March 2025 at 9:00 am (EET)

    Municipality Finance issues a USD 1 billion benchmark under its MTN programme

    Municipality Finance Plc issues a USD 1 billion benchmark on 31 March 2025. The maturity date of the benchmark is 1 April 2030. The benchmark bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.250% per annum.

    The benchmark is issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the benchmark are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the benchmark to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 31 March 2025.

    Bank of Montreal Europe plc, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and Nomura International plc acts as the Joint Lead Managers for the issue of the benchmark.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland.
    The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Special Clearing Operations on March 31, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2024-25/134
    CO.DPSS.RPPD.No.S1278/03-01-002/2024-2025

    March 28, 2025

    The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
    All Scheduled Commercial Banks including Regional Rural Banks /
    Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /
    District Central Co-operative Banks / Local Area Banks / Payment Banks /
    Small Finance Banks / National Payments Corporation of India

    Madam / Dear Sir,

    Special Clearing Operations on March 31, 2025

    A reference is invited to the circular issued by Department of Government and Bank Accounts (DGBA) vide CO.DGBA.GBD.No.S1003/42-01-029/2024-2025 dated March 17, 2025 addressed to all the agency banks on Annual Closing of Government Accounts –Transactions of Central/State Governments – Special Measures for the Current Financial Year (2024-25).

    2. Normal clearing timings under Cheque Truncation System (CTS) as applicable to any working “Monday” shall be followed on March 31, 2025. Further, to facilitate accounting of all the Government transactions for the current financial year (2024-25) by March 31, 2025, it has been decided to conduct Special Clearing under CTS exclusively for Government Cheques on March 31, 2025 as detailed below:

    Date Presentation Session Return Session
    March 31, 2025
    (Monday)    		 17:00 Hours to 17:30 Hours 19:00 Hours to 19:30 Hours

    3. It is mandatory for all banks to participate in the special clearing operations on March 31, 2025. All the member banks of CTS are also required to keep their inward clearing processing infrastructure open during the Special Clearing hours and maintain sufficient balance in their clearing settlement account to meet settlement obligations arising out of the Special Clearing.

    4. Member banks are advised to adhere to the instructions contained in this circular as well as instructions issued by the President of the National Grid Clearing House. Member banks may also be guided by the circular NPCI/2016-17/CTS/Circular No.32 dated October 3, 2016 issued by NPCI regarding clearing type for instruments to be presented in Special Clearing sessions.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Sudhanshu Prasad)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Assessing the Enabling Environment for Disaster and Pandemic Risk Financing: A Country Diagnostics Tool Kit

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Designed as a tool kit, it considers the impacts of COVID-19, analyzes the enabling environment for disaster risk financing, and considers the role capital markets, insurance, and other risk transfer instruments can play. Providing questionnaires and resources to calculate financial protection against disasters and identify gaps, the publication shows how a layered risk strategy can help bolster financial resilience and protect development gains.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Introduces Legislation to Promote Bilingual Proficiency Among Students and Strengthen U.S. Workforce Competitiveness

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act, a bill that establishes a federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Education to recognize high-level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language. Under this program, states would be able to establish or improve their own Biliteracy Seal programs to award seals to K-12 students.

    This recognition not only boosts students’ global workforce competitiveness but also helps employers, colleges, and universities identify candidates with valuable bilingual skills. The initiative is also vital for U.S. diplomacy, intelligence, and military readiness by ensuring a workforce proficient in critical languages.

    “Being proficient in two or more languages can be a critical advantage in today’s globalized, competitive economy. By supporting Seal of Biliteracy programs, we can better equip students with essential language skills that enhance their future opportunities and strengthen our national security,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “I have seen firsthand the benefits of this program across California, especially in my district, where bilingualism is very prominent. Preparing our students with multilingualism will open doors to success in both their academic and professional futures.”

    “Proficiency in more than one language is a skill of great importance to our nation’s economy and businesses,” said Amanda Seewald, Executive Director of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). “The BEST Act will help implement and scale Seal of Biliteracy programs that provide this credential to American students. We thank Congresswoman Brownley for her continued leadership on this legislation and for furthering language education nationwide.”

    Background

    California’s State Seal of Biliteracy program was first established in 2011 when legislation sponsored by then-Assemblywoman Brownley was signed into law. Since then, over 500,000 high school students have graduated with this seal in California. In the 2023-2024 school year, 490 districts in California participated in the program. Since then, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have established their own statewide Seal of Biliteracy programs. 

    The BEST Act is endorsed by the National Council for Languages and International Studies, National Education Association, California Language Teachers’ Association, and Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. 

    Read the full text of the bill, here.

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress, Education

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Introduces Legislation to Secure Immediate Housing Assistance for Disaster Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Disaster Displacement Assistance Improvement Act, legislation to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Displacement Assistance program. The bill ensures that disaster survivors can access critical housing support without delays caused by insurance determinations.

    “In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, survivors who cannot return to their homes often need urgent financial assistance to secure a safe place to stay and begin rebuilding their lives,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “While FEMA’s Displacement Assistance program provides up-front funds to help with these immediate housing needs, current rules prevent assistance from reaching individuals with insurance unless it is confirmed that their policy does not cover similar expenses. Survivors often face delays in receiving timely responses from insurance companies, leaving them without the support they need to secure temporary housing. This bill removes this unnecessary red tape, ensuring that insurance is not a barrier to receiving critical assistance when it is needed most.”

    Background

    In 2024, FEMA launched the Displacement Assistance program to address the immediate housing needs of survivors who cannot return to their homes after a disaster. The program provides eligible survivors with up-front funds to assist with immediate housing options of their choice, such as costs associated with staying with family or friends, until they can secure rental housing and focus on long-term recovery. Displacement Assistance helps survivors transition from congregate shelters to more permanent housing solutions like hotels or rentals.

    The Disaster Displacement Assistance Improvement Act seeks to improve the program by clarifying that insurance should not be considered a duplication of benefits when determining eligibility, ensuring that all those in need receive the assistance they deserve. FEMA’s current interpretation of the Stafford Act prevents the agency from offering Displacement Assistance to anyone with insurance unless they can confirm that their insurance policy does not cover the expenses typically covered by the program. However, Displacement Assistance is designed to address immediate needs after a disaster, and most survivors are unable to get a timely decision from their insurance company when they most need the assistance.

    If enacted, the Disaster Displacement Assistance Improvement Act will ensure that survivors have access to Displacement Assistance, regardless of their insurance status, allowing them to receive this support alongside resources from FEMA’s Serious Needs Assistance program.

    Read the full text of the bill, here.

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress, Disaster Relief

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Statement on Joint Session of Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s address at the Joint Session of Congress.

    “Tonight, as President Trump stood before Congress, I walked out of the chamber because I could not, in good conscience, dignify a speech so detached from reality and so disrespectful to the American people. Once again, President Trump demeaned the dignity of his office and embarrassed our nation with his ignorance of real-world problems and his open contempt for the democracy he swore to protect.

    “Rather than offering a vision to unite our country or solutions to the very real challenges facing working families, President Trump instead demonstrated – yet again – that he is unfit to lead the free world. He has neither the capacity nor the desire to meet the pressing needs of families across our nation. He spent more time boasting about his self-serving agenda than addressing the crushing costs keeping families up at night – costs that are rising because of his administration’s disastrous economic policies.

    “The tariffs he announced this week threaten to ignite a devastating trade war, driving up prices on everything from groceries to gas, hurting small businesses, and leaving working families to pay the price. Meanwhile, the Republican budget passed last week handed out trillions in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations, shifting the burden onto middle-class families – all while slashing critical programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance that millions of families rely on just to get by. This President is dangerously out of touch with the reality of American life – and by reiterating his radical, self-serving agenda tonight, he made clear he has no intention of changing course.

    “Even more disturbing than the President’s rhetoric is his relentless assault on the truth itself. His remarks tonight were riddled with falsehoods and deliberate misinformation – part of an ongoing effort to divide Americans against one another and erode public trust in our institutions. His crass language, misleading claims, and blatant disregard for facts are not just beneath the office he holds – they are an attack on the very foundation of our democracy.

    “But this President’s reckless behavior does not exist in a vacuum. It is enabled every day by the silence and complicity of my Republican colleagues. As we stand on the brink of a government shutdown that could devastate our economy and hurt millions of Americans, House and Senate Republicans refuse to stand up to this President’s overreach and abuse of power. Instead of serving as a check on his reckless dismantling of vital government services, they applaud it – turning a blind eye to his unconstitutional schemes and the unchecked influence of an unelected, unvetted billionaire pulling the strings behind the scenes.

    “Rather than providing the steady leadership our country desperately needs, Republicans in Congress have chosen to shield this President from accountability at every turn – even as he disgraces us on the global stage, undermines our democracy, and wages war on the very values that make America strong. Their refusal to confront the dangers posed by this administration is a profound betrayal of their oath and a direct threat to the future of our nation.

    “Republicans have made their priorities clear: they are willing to sacrifice our nation’s future to cling to political power. With majorities in both chambers of Congress and control of the White House, they can no longer hide behind excuses for their failures. They own this chaos.

    “The American people deserve better. They deserve leaders who put country over party – leaders with the courage to defend our democracy and fight for the hard-working families who built this nation. I urge my Republican colleagues to reflect on their responsibilities – not to their party, but to their constituents and to the Constitution itself. I urge the President to reflect on his own duty to our nation. 

    “If and when they are ready to put the American people first, House Democrats stand ready to work together to lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and build safer, healthier communities. Until then, we will not waver in our fight to protect our democracy, defend working families, and stand up for the fundamental principles of fairness, justice, and equality for all.”

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Appointment within the Societe Generale Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    APPOINTMENT WITHIN THE SOCIETE GENERALE GROUP

    Press release

    Paris, 28 March 2025

    Societe Generale announces the appointment of Alexis Kohler as Executive Vice President. He will join the Bank in June 2025 and will be a member of the Group Executive Committee.

    Reporting to Slawomir Krupa, Chief Executive Officer, Alexis Kohler will have the following responsibilities:

    • As Chairman of Investment Banking, he will be responsible for leading Mergers & Acquisitions, Equity Capital Markets and Acquisition Finance activities, as well as coordinating coverage teams for large clients.
    • He will assist the Chief Executive Officer in implementing transformation programs within the firm.
    • Alexis Kohler will oversee the Group’s General Secretariat and the Human Resources and Communication departments.

    Alexis Kohler will contribute to the Group’s success with his unique skill set, his extensive understanding of the global economy’s dynamics and challenges across all sectoral, industrial and commercial dimensions, and his strong analytical capacity and outstanding dedication. Alexis Kohler’s appointment marks a new addition to Societe Generale’s leadership team, combining different and complementary skills and wide-ranging experiences, to the benefit of the competitiveness and sustainable performance of the bank.

    Slawomir Krupa, Chief Executive Officer, comments: “I am delighted to welcome Alexis Kohler to the Executive Committee of Societe Generale. He will bring a wealth of talent, experience and commitment to our Group. His numerous qualities will be a key asset to foster our development in Investment Banking and continue the transformation journey of our firm, serving our 26 million clients across the world with the same passion we have shared for 160 years.”

    Biography 

    Alexis Kohler has been the General Secretary of the Presidency of the French Republic since 2017, after holding various senior positions at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance in Paris, with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington and the Finance Department of MSC. Alexis Kohler is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris, ESSEC and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration.

    Members of the Group Executive Committee as of June 2025:

    • Slawomir Krupa, Chief Executive Officer 
    • Pierre Palmieri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer 
    • Alexis Kohler, Executive Vice President, Chairman of Investment Banking, also in charge of the Group General Secretary, Group Human Resources, Group Communication and the coordination of transformation programs
    • Lubomira Rochet, Executive Vice President in charge of Retail Banking activities in France, Private Banking and Insurance, as well as the Group’s Chief Operating Office
    • Leopoldo Alvear, Group Chief Financial Officer 
    • Anne-Christine Champion, Co-Head of Global Banking and Investor Solutions
    • Anne-Sophie Chauveau-Galas, Group Chief Human Resources Officer
    • Alexandre Fleury, Co-Head of Global Banking and Investor Solutions 
    • Delphine Garcin-Meunier, Head of Mobility and International Retail Banking & Financial Services
    • Stéphane Landon, Group Chief Risk Officer
    • Laura Mather, Group Chief Operating Officer
    • Laetitia Maurel, Group Chief Communication Officer 
    • Grégoire Simon-Barboux, Group Chief Compliance Officer

    Press contact:  
    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tobacco excise revenue has tanked amid a booming black market. That’s a diabolical problem for the government

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fei Gao, Lecturer in Taxation, Discipline of Accounting, Governance & Regulation, The University of Sydney, University of Sydney

    Tuesday night’s federal budget revealed a sharp drop in what was once a major source of revenue for the government – the tobacco excise.

    This financial year, the government expects to earn revenue from the tobacco excise of A$7.4 billion. That’s down sharply from $12.6 billion in 2022–23, and an earlier peak of $16.3 billion in 2019–20.

    The government expects this downward trend to continue. Australia’s heavy tobacco taxation has driven many consumers towards illicit cigarettes.

    But this is more than just a problem for government coffers accustomed to revenue from the tobacco tax.

    It presents a major challenge for a public health policy that has long relied on increasing tobacco excise duty as its primary tool to reduce smoking.



    Read more:
    The 2025 budget has few savings and surprises but it also ignores climate change

    Climbing tax rates, falling revenue

    If government revenue from tobacco is falling, it isn’t because we aren’t trying to tax it. Cigarette prices in Australia are among the highest in the world, with taxes making up a substantial chunk of the price.

    About $1.40 of the cost of each cigarette represents excise duty. GST is payable on top of that.

    Australia’s tobacco excise is indexed every March and September, in line with average weekly ordinary-time earnings.

    On top of indexation, the excise rate is currently being increased by
    an additional 5% each year, for a period of three years that began in September 2023.

    This policy is grounded in the principle that higher costs deter smoking.
    And smoking rates have fallen in recent decades. About 8% of Australians aged 14 and over still smoke daily, down from almost 20% in 2001.

    Some of that fall has been offset by the rapid ascent of vaping. About 7% of Australians use e-cigarettes – about half of whom vape daily.

    But while legal cigarette prices are prohibitively high for some, illegal alternatives are widely available and significantly cheaper. That’s because these unregulated products bypass excise and GST entirely.

    Vaping has soared in popularity as an alternative to smoking.
    Natali Brillianata/Shutterstock

    Unintended consequences

    The estimated value of illicit tobacco entering the Australian market has soared, from $980 million in 2016–17 to more than $6 billion in 2022–23. Of this $6 billion, almost $3 billion entered the market undetected.

    The actual decline in tobacco excise revenue, as exposed in the latest budget papers, has been much more significant than previously forecast.

    To make things worse, the cost of enforcement is rising. The 2025–26 federal budget allocates an additional $156 million over the next two years to combat illicit tobacco — on top of the $188 million committed in the previous budget.

    There are other broader impacts on overall tax revenue. Convenience stores lose legitimate sales to illegal tobacco vendors, resulting in less corporate tax income.

    Holding back broader public health efforts

    On other measures, Australia has long been a global leader in tobacco control. The first health warnings on cigarette packets appeared in 1973.

    In 2006, graphic health warnings were introduced. And in 2011, Australia pioneered plain packaging laws.

    Such public health measures are set to get even stronger this year, with new requirements for every individual cigarette sold to have an “on-product” health warning such as “causes 16 cancers” or “shortens your life”.

    These new regulations come into effect on April 1 2025, but retailers will have a three-month transition period to phase out existing stock.

    The tight transition period may prove challenging for the legitimate cigarette trade.

    But it is unlikely those who ply the unlawful trade in illegal tobacco – or their customers – will be particularly bothered by this latest attempt to wean the public off the habit.

    No easy solution

    The increasing heavy tobacco excise and the new law requiring warning messages on individual cigarettes have the potential to reduce tobacco consumption among those who purchase the product legally.

    However, suppliers of black-market cigarettes – who now comprise an estimated 18% of market share – are unlikely to allow this initiative to affect their illegal trade.

    The widespread move to vaping, with poor regulation, has further fuelled the black market for both products.

    It is going too far to draw parallels with the prohibition era in the United States, when the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol was illegal. This was a brief but disastrous experiment in social engineering with unfortunate and, in retrospect, arguably predictable consequences.

    But there are some unfortunate similarities when it comes to Australia’s tobacco tax policy, which has inadvertently encouraged black markets, criminality and organised crime.

    Yet for the government, lowering the excise tax to encourage smokers back to legal cigarettes would be completely out of step with its public health objectives. Legal or illegal, black-market cigarettes and vapes still contribute to health risks, undermining the public health goals behind regulatory controls.

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

    – ref. Tobacco excise revenue has tanked amid a booming black market. That’s a diabolical problem for the government – https://theconversation.com/tobacco-excise-revenue-has-tanked-amid-a-booming-black-market-thats-a-diabolical-problem-for-the-government-253329

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Development Bank priced USD 1.25 Billion 3-Year Benchmark Bond under EMTN Programme

    Source: New Development Bank

    On March 25, 2025, the New Development Bank (NDB) successfully priced a 3-year USD 1.25 billion benchmark bond paying an annual coupon of 4.375%, which will be issued on March 31, 2025, under the Bank’s Euro Medium Term Note Programme.

    The bond was met with strong demand from the investor community, with the final order book reaching approximately USD 2 billion.

    The transaction attracted 35 investors, with a well-diversified allocation across investor types: Bank Treasuries (67%), Central Banks/Official Institutions/Sovereign Funds (23%), Asset managers and others (10%). The issuance saw a geographically diverse investor base, with 82% of participants from Asia, 16% from EMEA, and 2% from the Americas.

    “Our successful issuance of the USD 1.25 billion 3-year benchmark bond reflects the strong confidence of investors in the New Development Bank’s financial stability and mandate,” said Mr. Monale Ratsoma, NDB Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. “New Development Bank’s funding strategy is designed to ensure that the Bank has the necessary resources to meet our liquidity needs while keeping borrowing costs low. NDB is committed to strengthening its presence in bond markets, issuing in both hard currencies and the local currencies of our member countries.  By diversifying our funding sources across various markets and instruments, NDB is well-equipped to support its growing project portfolio.”

    Background Information

    New Development Bank was established with the purpose of mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, complementing the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development.

    In December 2019, NDB registered its inaugural USD 50 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme (EMTN Programme) in the international capital markets. The Programme has been rated “AA+” by Fitch and has been assigned “AA+” long-term and “A-1+” short-term issue ratings by S&P.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Peters, Local Healthcare Leaders Highlight Importance of Saving Medicaid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    San Diego, CA – On March 21, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) and local leaders highlighted the importance of Medicaid and the harm that Republicans’ healthcare cuts and inflationary budget will have on our communities. One in five CA50 residents relies on Medicaid – cutting $880 billion in Medicaid funding would take away theirs and millions of Americans’ health care coverage and increase costs for tens of millions more.

    “In every congressional district in the country, Medicaid supports critical health care for children, Americans with disabilities, and working people who are already struggling to keep up in this economy.” said Rep. Scott Peters. “Cutting health coverage will not make America healthier, it will make us sicker. I’ve now voted twice to stop Republican efforts to slash Medicaid, and I promise to continue doing everything in my power to halt their schemes.”

    Rep. Peters brought together hospital and community health center staff, patients, long term care facility providers, labor union members, and local elected officials to emphasize how proposals to cut Medicaid funding would devastate health care in San Diego and across the country.

    “As a public safety net provider, UC San Diego Health delivers comprehensive care to all members of our community regardless of demographics, insurance coverage, or income status,” stated UC San Diego Health CEO, Patty Maysent. “Investing in Medicaid is an investment in the greatest asset we have in this nation, our people, and their health. UC San Diego’s clinicians, researchers, students and patients thank Congressman Peters for his commitment to sustaining this critical federal resource.”

    “I was diagnosed with a rare brain aneurysm and needed complex surgery. Thanks to Medi-Cal, I received life-saving neurosurgical care at UC San Diego Health,” said Karla Zimmerman, a patient at UC San Diego Health. “I still have two aneurysms that need continuous monitoring. As a mother of two, my biggest fear is not being there for my daughters. No one should have to worry about losing their health care.”

    “Don’t Cut Medicaid, you never know when you or your family member will need it,” said Sabrina Bishop, a United Domestic Worker (UDW) in-home care provider.

    “No family should have to choose between paying for a doctor’s visit or putting food on the table. No senior should worry about whether they can afford their medications. No child should go without the healthcare they need to grow up healthy and strong,” stated City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “We will not stand idly by while the health and well-being of our families, seniors, and children are threatened. Together, with Congressman Peters, we will defend Medicaid and ensure that every person has access to the care they deserve.”

    “San Diegans are struggling to make ends meet, and federal cuts to healthcare is the last thing we need. As a parent, I can’t imagine telling one of my kids that we can’t afford to take them to a doctor when they’re sick,” said City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee. “But if Congress slashes these programs, one out of three people in San Diego County, including hundreds of thousands of kids, are going to have their health coverage impacted. Anyone who wants to lower the cost of living, support working families, and decrease homelessness should be against these cuts.”

    Rep. Peters has been a longtime advocate to make to protect Medicaid funding and make it easier – not harder – for Americans to access the tests, treatments, and cures they need. He has urged his Republican colleagues not to enact a budget that would increase inflation and balloon our deficit, while cutting vital healthcare, firefighters, and airline safety just to pay for tax cuts for people and corporations who don’t need them. Democrats will continue fighting to save Medicaid and protect Americans.

    A livestreamed recording of the press conference can be found here

    Additional photos from the event are available courtesy of Rep. Peters’ office here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Leads Invitation to EPA Head Zeldin to Visit South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) invited newly confirmed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health harm the cross-border sewage crisis has on our communities.

    In a letter to Administrator Zeldin, members wrote, “As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego… EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.”

    Days after receiving a letter from Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre about the cross-border sewage San Diego has suffered, Administrator Zeldin posted about a briefing he received on the crisis. Rep. Peters wants to ensure new EPA leadership fully understands the scope of this environmental catastrophe and their role in addressing the public health and environmental harm.

    They go on to state, “Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation.”

    Rep. Peters and his colleagues look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin to support the ongoing repairs at SBIWTP and recovery of our region. In 2021, prior EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured the Tijuana River Valley at the request of Reps. Peters and Vargas. 

    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

    Dear Administrator Zeldin,

    We would like to invite you to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in the Tijuana River Valley and appreciate your interest in addressing the crossborder sewage crisis.

    As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego. Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and negatively impacting the local economy, environment, and health of U.S. military and Homeland Security personnel. EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.

    While this wastewater pollution crisis is not new, it has intensified over the past two years. Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation.

    We look forward to working with you on this important issue, and we hope to host you at SBIWTP so you can see first-hand the challenges confronting our region. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Steube Reintroduces PAGER Act to Protect U.S. Funding from Hezbollah)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    March 05, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today reintroduced The Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism (PAGER) Act. This bill will prohibit aid and assistance to the Armed Forces of Lebanon until the governing authorities in Lebanon rescind their recognition of Hezbollah as well as their allied political wing, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, and affiliated militia group, the Amal Movement. “While the world celebrates the demise of Hassan Nasrallah, the United States must remain vigilant to the threat of Hezbollah. Until the people of Lebanon can live free of Hezbollah’s terror and persecution, long-term peace and stability in the Middle East will remain out of reach,” said Rep. Steube. “As the Trump administration works to forge closer ties between Israel and the Arab world, Congress must do its part to contain Iran and eliminate its terrorist network. My PAGER Act will ensure U.S. tax dollars never end up in the hands of Hezbollah.”The PAGER Act bars federal funding to the Armed Forces of Lebanon until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that:

    The Lebanese government no longer recognizes Hezbollah and other organizations linked to Iran.
    Individuals affiliated with Hezbollah or other organizations linked to Iran are banned from serving in ministerial positions.
    Lebanon is in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to remove Hezbollah and other militia groups from their territory. 
    The Lebanese Armed Forces terminates its relationship with Hezbollah, Iran, and all foreign terrorist organizations.
    Lebanon destroys all weaponry supplied by Iran and its affiliates.
    Lebanese courts agree to dismiss all charges against Americans unjustly persecuted for shedding light on Hezbollah’s influence.

    The PAGER Act will also bar U.S. funding and support for the United Nations Development Programme in light of their corrupt financial ties to top Lebanese military officers. It will also provide Congress with biannual reports on Hezbollah’s status in the region. 
    The bill has received support from numerous organizations, including The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy (AMCD) and The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET).
    “The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy fully supports the PAGER Act put forward by Congressman Greg Steube (R-Fla.). AMCD believes that by pressuring the Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces with a limited time to disarm Hezbollah and other militias, as has been called for by the United Nations in UNSC Resolution 1559 of 2004, progress can be made toward re-establishing a functioning, pluralistic civil society in Lebanon,” said Tom Harb, Co-Chair of the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy.  “AMCD applauds the fact that this bill will condition US funding to the LAF to positive action. The time limit is key to forcing the disarmament of Hezbollah, which has been delayed for years and has allowed the infiltration of the Lebanese government and armed forces by terrorists. AMCD commends Congressman Steube for taking this vital action to restore the sovereignty of Lebanon to its people and remove this terrorist organization which has intimidated and oppressed them for far too long.” 
    “EMET applauds Congressman Greg Steube and the introduction of the PAGER Act. Unfortunately, although much of the leadership of Hezbollah has been defeated and marginalized by the Israeli Armed Forces, the new government of Prime Minister Naif Salam and President Joseph Aoun still has powerful strings attached to its Iranian Shia influence and to Hezbollah, just beyond the shadows,” said Sarah N. Stern, Founder and President of the Endowment for Middle East Truth.“The Lebanese Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri has very strong ties to Hezbollah and to its Hezbollah Shia ally, Amal. This enabled Hezbollah to name 4 Cabinet ministers, including the very important Ministry of Finance, Yassin Jaber, someone who is strongly affiliated with Hezbollah. Beyond that, we would like to see the Lebanese Armed Forces finally exercise some strength and disarm Hezbollah, which has been demanded by both UN Security Council Resolution 1559,which was introduced in 2004, and UN Security Council 1701, introduced in 2006. It is far time that the political, governmental, and economic infrastructure within Lebanon free itself of the Iranian and Shia influence of the Amal movement and of Hezbollah.”
    Read the bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet’s Onchain Report: 46% Favor Crypto Payment for Speed, but Security Concern Slows Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has released its latest Onchain Report, revealing that 46% of users surveyed prefer crypto payments for speed, while 37% cite security risks as a key barrier. The global study, based on a survey of 4,599 users, uncovers how different regions and generations perceive crypto as a payment method, highlighting its potential and the obstacles that must be addressed for mainstream adoption.

    Regional adoption trends show that Africa (52%) and Southeast Asia (51%) lead in demand for faster payments, driven by limited banking access and high remittance costs. Latin America (41%) faces significant concerns over transaction fees, as crypto is widely used for cross-border payments. Meanwhile, North America & Oceania (36%) focus on seamless global transactions, while privacy concerns drive adoption in the Middle East (38%) and Western Europe (35%). Across regions, limited merchant acceptance (31%) continues to be a major barrier, preventing crypto from being a widely used everyday payment method.

    Generational differences reveal that Gen X (49%) prioritizes speed, while Millennials (42%) and Gen Z (39%) favor borderless transactions. Security concerns are highest among Gen X (42%), while Gen Z (36%) is more sensitive to transaction fees. While younger users are more willing to integrate crypto into their daily financial activities, usability challenges and a lack of financial infrastructure remain key hurdles for broader adoption.

    To bridge these gaps, Bitget Wallet has launched PayFi initiatives, integrating earning, sending, and spending into a seamless onchain financial ecosystem within a single platform. Users can stake stablecoins across multiple blockchains to earn passive yield while maintaining full control over their assets, seamlessly transact with crypto payments, and spend directly within Bitget Wallet on everyday goods, services, and travel bookings. By combining DeFi-powered yield generation with real-world payment capabilities, Bitget Wallet is transforming crypto from a speculative asset into a practical financial tool for daily use, ensuring users can manage their entire financial journey in one place.

    “Crypto payments are evolving, but for mainstream adoption, security, cost-efficiency, and usability must improve,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “With PayFi, we’re redefining how people interact with digital assets — ensuring every transaction not only enables payments but also contributes to financial growth. By integrating crypto more seamlessly into everyday life, we aim to make digital finance truly accessible to billions worldwide.”

    For more details, please visit Bitget Wallet blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser, an NFT marketplace and crypto payment. Supporting over 100 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and 500,000+ tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b75d87a-2ff6-47b5-bf81-5f971e863d42

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Condemns Attacks on Social Security

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) condemned the Trump Administration’s reckless assault on the Social Security Administration (SSA), warning that mass layoffs and service cuts will devastate seniors and working families across New Mexico and the country, particularly seniors in rural communities.

    Under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the administration has proposed firing thousands of SSA employees, closing field offices, and not allowing seniors to access services over the phone, making it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to access the benefits they’ve earned. These cuts come despite strong bipartisan support for strengthening Social Security.

    “Social Security isn’t a handout—it’s a promise we’ve made to every American who has paid into the system,” said Vasquez. “Yet, Trump and Musk are gutting the agency, leaving seniors and vulnerable communities stranded. This isn’t about ‘efficiency’—it’s about dismantling a program that millions rely on.”

    Vasquez’s office has received multiple calls from seniors concerned about the Las Cruces social security office closed and potential barricades. 

    A Manufactured Crisis

    The administration’s latest move requires seniors to come in person to apply for or update their benefits. This could bar people who qualify for Social Security from applying, including people with disabilities, seniors in rural areas, and people who do not have internet access. At the same time, Musk has publicly called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” while the administration falsely claims that widespread fraud is draining the program.

    “Seniors in New Mexico rely on Social Security to pay for health care and medication, pay their rent, and put food on the table. Trump and Musk want to destroy Social Security because as billionaires, they’re completely out of touch with the struggles New Mexico’s seniors face to make ends meet,” said Vasquez. “I will not let them fund a tax cut for billionaires on the backs of seniors, the disabled, and the working class.”

    Impact on New Mexico and Rural America

    The proposed cuts would hit rural communities hardest, where SSA field offices already struggle with long wait times and limited staff. In New Mexico’s Second District alone, thousands of seniors rely on in-person SSA services to receive their benefits, appeal wrongful denials, or update their records.

    Holding the Administration Accountable

    In early March, Vasquez led House Democrats in urging the administration to end its harmful assault on the SSA and reverse its decision to close field offices and lay off more than 7,000 workers. 

    Now, furthering this advocacy, Vasquez is demanding that Acting Administrator Dudek abandon his misguided policy that forces seniors and disabled New Mexicans to enroll online or in person at the very field offices the administration is trying to shut down – rather than allowing them to enroll over the phone. This policy does nothing to reduce fraud or save taxpayer money. Instead, it serves as a de facto benefit cut, making it harder for New Mexicans to access the Social Security benefits they have earned and rely on.

    You can read Rep. Vasquez’s oversight letter here. The full letter is below: 

    Dear Acting Commissioner Dudek,
     

    I am writing to express my strong opposition to recent changes by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that are making it more difficult for seniors and other beneficiaries in New Mexico to receive the benefits they have earned. Despite strong bipartisan support for Social Security, these indiscriminate staffing cuts, office closures, and ending phone services will cut off seniors from their benefits. I urge you to immediately reverse course and instead work to strengthen Social Security and fulfill the promises made to seniors.  

    At the direction of Elon Musk, who has called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” the SSA announced that it would cut nearly 7,000 jobs and close multiple field offices this year. These indiscriminate cuts have already raised concerns about delayed benefits and increased errors – the opposite of increasing efficiency. Additionally, the SSA recently announced that it is ending phone verification services for new applications, despite no reports of widespread fraud or abuse.  These changes are forcing seniors to travel long distances in person just to access their guaranteed benefits. It is unconscionable that, while SSA demands more in-person visits, it is simultaneously cutting staff and closing offices, making it nearly impossible for seniors to receive the support they’ve earned through a lifetime of hard work.
     

    Across New Mexico, Social Security is the difference between dignity and despair. Over 365,000 New Mexico seniors rely on these benefits to pay for food, rent, and medication.  Shrinking the SSA workforce will further erode already strained customer service and delay benefits when seniors in my district already face hours-long phone wait times. The new identity verification rules, which will add up to 85,000 additional weekly visitors to field offices, will only worsen delays – especially in rural areas where in-person access is limited. Downsizing staff while increasing in-person requirements is a recipe for disaster. For seniors in rural areas, this is an assault on their financial security. 
     

    Social Security is a promise, one that must not be broken or eroded through administrative neglect. I urge you to immediately halt workforce reductions and office closures and reconsider the in-person verification rule. Instead, I call on you to expand in-person services, invest in rural field offices, and ensure that seniors and all beneficiaries have access to timely, effective support.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Fights for Workers’ Right to Organize

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) co-sponsored H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a comprehensive proposal to protect workers’ right to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. 

    “Labor is the backbone of our country,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) said. “My mother was fired from her job for attempting to organize her workplace, and if the PRO Act were law, she would have been protected. All across the country, Americans are still facing retaliation for organizing at their workplaces, and it must stop. The PRO Act will protect these fundamental rights for our workers.” 

    Large corporations and the wealthy continue to capture the rewards of a growing economy while working families and middle-class Americans are left behind. From 1979 to 2023, annual wages for the bottom 90 percent of households increased just 44 percent, while average incomes for the wealthiest 1 percent increased more than 180 percent. 

    Unions are critical to increasing wages and creating a strong economy that rewards hardworking people.  Through the power of bargaining, the typical union worker earns 16 percent more than the typical non-union worker.  

    The American people’s support for unions is surging.  According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 70 percent of Americans approve of labor unions—remaining at near record highs.  Despite growing support for unions, billionaire- and special interest-funded attacks on workers’ unions and labor laws have eroded union density and made it harder for workers to organize.  The share of American workers who are union members has fallen from roughly one in three workers in 1956 to a new low of 9.9 percent in 2024.  The PRO Act restores fairness to the economy by strengthening the federal law that protects workers’ right to join a union and bargain for higher pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces. 

    The PRO Act protects the basic right to join a union by: 

    • Holds employers accountable for violating workers’ rights by authorizing meaningful penalties, facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements, and closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors.
    • Empowers workers to exercise their right to organize by strengthening support for workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights, protecting workers’ right to support secondary boycotts, ensuring workers’ unions can collect “fair share” fees, and authorizing a private right of action for violation of workers’ rights.
    • Secures free, fair, and safe union elections by preventing employers from interfering in union elections, prohibiting captive audience meetings, and requiring employers to be transparent with their workers. 

    For the bill text of the PRO Act, click here. 

    For a fact sheet on the PRO Act, click here. 

    For a section-by-section summary of the PRO Act, click here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Stansbury, Nadler, Scott, Leger Fernández, Senator Murray Condemn Unlawful Dismissal of EEOC Commissioners, Demand Immediate Reinstatement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led 236 colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump in response to his unprecedented and unlawful dismissal of Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels. 

    “We write to express our outrage at your unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels of the bipartisan U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” the Members wrote. “This unlawful abuse of presidential power undermines the EEOC’s historic independence, harms U.S. workers, and unduly politicizes the Commission’s work. It also impedes the Commission’s ability to fully carry out its critical mission on behalf of the American people. We urge you to swiftly reinstate Commissioners Burrows and Samuels.” 

    The EEOC was established in 1964 with strong bipartisan support to serve as an independent, multi-member body tasked with preventing and addressing employment discrimination. It is the primary federal law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring that workers are protected against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Workers rely on the EEOC to be a fair and independent body—not one subject to the shifting political whims of the executive branch.   

    Both Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels had been confirmed by bipartisan votes of the Senate prior to the start of their terms, with Commissioner Burrows’ term not set to expire until July 2028 and Commissioner Samuels term not set to expire until July 2026. 

     The Members highlighted the massive return on investment the EEOC delivers for the American people, stating, “From 2014-2024, the EEOC recovered $5.6 billion for workers who were discriminated against under these laws, significantly more than the agency’s appropriations during that time period. For FY 2024, the EEOC secured a record $700 million for workers who experienced discrimination. The EEOC’s role in enforcing these protections is essential to ensuring that all workers have a fair chance to obtain employment, provide for their families, and contribute to our economy.” 

    The Members made clear the illegal firing by President Trump is an intrusion into Congress’ constitutional authority, stating, “The Administration’s firing of Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels is unprecedented and an intrusion into Congress’ Article I constitutional authority. The appointment of EEOC Commissioners is governed by statute and is designed to ensure the agency’s independence from the executive.  The President appoints Commissioners and the Senate confirms them. That is the beginning and end of the executive’s role in determining who can sit on the Commission and for how long. The law not only expressly requires the Commission to be bipartisan, but it also sets out five-year terms, a design that ensures that Commissioners’ terms run between presidential terms, another purposeful action by Congress to ensure the Commission’s independence.” 

    “Longstanding Supreme Court precedent also confirms that multi-member independent commissions such as the EEOC enjoy protection from “coercive influence” of the executive. In Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), the Supreme Court made clear that members of independent commissions like the EEOC cannot be removed at will by the President. Prior Presidents have agreed; no Commissioner of the EEOC has ever been removed prior to the expiration of their term in the Commission’s 60-year history.” 

    “Workers deserve to earn a living free from discrimination and feel confident that when they are harmed, they can count on an independent EEOC, not a politicized body, to protect their rights,” the Members concluded. “We urge you to reinstate Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels, and we look forward to your urgent response.” 

    The full letter can be read here. 

    The letter was also signed by: In addition to Representative Nadler, Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, Representative Stansbury, and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Fernández the letter is signed by Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Pete Aguilar, Sen. Angela D. Alsobrooks, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Nanette Barragán, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Wesley Bell, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Donald Beyer, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. Janelle Bynum, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Ed Case, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Gilbert Cisneros, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Rep. James E. Clyburn, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Herbert Conaway, Rep. Gerald Connolly, Sen. Christopher Coons, Rep. J. Correa, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Christopher Deluzio, Rep. Maxine Dexter, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Richard Durbin, Rep. Sarah Elfreth, Rep. Veronica Escobar, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Dwight Evans, Rep. Cleo Fields, Rep. Shomari Figures, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Valerie Foushee, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Laura Friedman, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Jesús García, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Daniel Goldman, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Maggie Goodlander, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Al Green, Sen. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John W. Hickenlooper, Rep. James Himes, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Glenn Ivey, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Henry Johnson, Rep. Julie Johnson, Sen. Timothy Kaine, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. William Keating, Sen. Mark Kelly, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Timothy Kennedy, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Greg Landsman, Rep. John Larson, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Susie Lee, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rep. John Mannion, Sen. Edward J. Markey, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Sarah McBride, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Grace Meng, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Rep. Dave Min, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Joseph Morelle, Rep. Kelly Morrison, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Frank Mrvan, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. Eleanor Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Johnny Olszewski, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Gary Peters, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Nellie Pou, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Emily Randall, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. Luz Rivas, Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, Rep. Jacklyn Rosen, Rep. Deborah Ross, Rep. Raul Ruiz, Rep. Patrick Ryan, Rep. Andrea Salinas, Sen. Bernard Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Janice Schakowsky, Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Adam B. Schiff, Rep. Bradley Schneider, Rep. Hillary Scholten, Rep. Kim Schrier, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Terri Sewell, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Lateefah Simon, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Adam Smith, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Eric Sorensen, Rep. Darren Soto, Rep. Greg Stanton, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Rep. Thomas Suozzi, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Emilia Sykes, Rep. Linda Sánchez, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Mike Thompson, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Derek Tran, Rep. Lauren Underwood, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Eugene Vindman, Sen. Mark R. Warner, Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. George Whitesides, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Frederica Wilson, and Sen. Ron Wyden.   

    The letter is endorsed by: A Better Balance, American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Employment Law Project, National Partnership for Women & Families, and the National Women’s Law Center. 

    Other statements of support:   

    “Since its establishment 60 years ago as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC has protected the rights of workers to earn a living free from discrimination. President Trump’s illegal and unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels critically impairs the EEOC’s ability to ensure that individuals aren’t denied jobs and opportunities because of who they are.  We condemn the administration’s flagrant politicization of an independent, nonpartisan civil rights agency and join members of Congress calling for the reinstatement of the commissioners without delay,” said Mike Zamore, National Director of Policy and Government Affairs of the American Civil Liberties Union. 

    “People rely on the EEOC to be an independent, fair body that will protect their right to be free from discrimination in their workplace,” said Gaylynn Burroughs, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “President Trump’s removal of EEOC Commissioners Burrows and Samuels is just another extension of his authoritarian power grab that will ultimately harm workers. His actions are a clear abuse of power intended to bend the Commission to his will, but the Commission works for all working people, not for President Trump. The EEOC was born out of the civil rights movement to help ensure equal employment opportunity for all workers. We will continue to fight to preserve the integrity of the Commission, for equal opportunity, and for the right of all workers to be free from discrimination.” 

    “We condemn the administration’s unlawful attempt to fire sitting EEOC commissioners. This reckless decision is already having devastating consequences for workers waiting for the agency to take legal action against employers engaged in discrimination and severe ramifications for the agency’s ability to function effectively and enforce labor and civil rights protections,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Workers who are depending on the EEOC to do its job should not have to endure discrimination because of political stunts intended to undermine civil rights enforcement. By making it virtually impossible for the Commission to take important actions, because it lacks a quorum, the administration is effectively circumventing robust enforcement of statutory anti-discrimination protections that workers depend on every day. President Trump must reinstate the commissioners he fired to rectify this situation. We commend Congressman Jerry Nadler and Senator Patty Murray, and all the members of Congress who join us in this fight, for standing up to safeguard the rights and the freedoms of all workers so that they are treated fairly in workplaces that are free of discrimination.” 

    “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s role in ensuring equitable workplaces and enforcing our nation’s laws against discrimination is vital. It is an outrage that the Trump Administration has gutted the agency by illegally firing key EEOC Commissioners who have tirelessly championed robust enforcement of important workplace laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII of the Civil Right Act. This is an overstep of the President’s authority that will hamstring the agency’s ability to carry out its mission. We thank Congressman Nadler, Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, Congresswoman Stansbury, and Congresswoman Leger Fernández for their leadership in defending the EEOC,” said Inimai Chettiar, President of A Better Balance.  

    “President Trump’s removal of Commissioners Burrows and Samuels was an outrageous attack on civil rights and the rule of law – one of many actions taken by the president in pursuit of his goal to further entrench inequality and occupational segregation. The EEOC’s independence and bipartisan structure was established by Congress in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is essential to its mission to promote equal opportunity in the workplace. This lawlessness and disregard for our Constitution cannot stand,” said Josh Boxerman, Government Affairs Manager, National Employment Law Project. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bice Celebrates the Passage of her Legislation to Overturn Burdensome Biden-Era Regulations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Bice celebrated the bipartisan House passage of her legislation H.J.Resolution 24. The resolution permanently overturns burdensome regulations on walk-in coolers and freezers from the previous Administration. At the tail end of the Biden Administration, the Department of Energy unveiled new regulations that imposed stricter energy efficiency standards on walk-in coolers and freezers. These regulations increase the costs for small business owners and consumers across the nation. 

    “Today, in a bipartisan fashion, the House acted to overturn more last-minute environmental regulations from the Biden Administration. Walk-in coolers and freezers are essential for pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide,” Congresswoman Bice stated. “This regulation, which had an estimated cost of a billion dollars, would have been crippling for businesses throughout the country, especially in rural areas. We must continue to push back against federal overreach, and I appreciate the support of my colleagues on this critical measure.” 

    “Biden’s regulations limited consumer choice, raised prices, and put unnecessary financial burdens on American businesses and families. House Republicans continue to reverse this regulatory non-sense and lower costs for businesses and families,” Chairwoman McClain said. 

    “The Biden-Harris Administration placed new and harmful regulations on commercial refrigeration units, yet another example of needless regulation raising prices for businesses and families while failing to provide cost savings or increasing food safety,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “These Congressional Review Act resolutions are a critical part of our work to eliminate costly and burdensome regulations that failed to serve the American people. Thank you to Congressman Goldman and Congresswoman Bice for your leadership on these important issues.” 

    Congresswoman Bice Spoke today on the House Floor to Encourage Passage

    Congresswoman Bice’s Floor Remarks: 

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and first, let me say I rise obviously in strong support of House Joint Resolution 24, legislation that I authored, which uses the Congressional Review Act to overturn regulations by the Biden administration. 

    I was extremely excited this morning to be notified that I have a statement of Administrative policy support from President Trump on this legislation. 

    In December of 2024, the Department of Energy enacted new energy efficiency standards for walk in coolers and freezers, equipment vital to pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide. 

    These regulations will impose significant financial burdens on small businesses, which will have to absorb major upgrade cost to the meet these new aggressive standards. 

    At a time when our focus should be on lowering the cost of living for our constituents, it’s clear most of these expenses will be borne by consumers in the form of increased prices. 

    Furthermore, they threaten significant operational disruption for many enterprises that rely on this equipment. 

    We have heard from many businesses in rural areas which will have to go through extensive structural and electrical upgrades to accommodate the new equipment. 

    These same businesses have reported that getting their refrigerators and freezers repaired is a process which is already taking too long and expensive, and will become even more so.   

    For businesses looking to enter underserved markets, this will be another barrier in doing so. 

    For businesses operating on a narrow profit margin, this could be what sends them under. 

    Recognizing these detrimental impacts, I fought against the adoption of this rule and expressed my disapproval last year during the public comment period. 

    Like many of the rules handed down by the Biden Administration, this effort will have a harsh economic impact while failing to achieve its own stated goal. 

    DOE estimates that the rule would carry a minimum price tag of nearly a billion dollars with minimal energy usage reduction. 

    My colleague mentioned that it would be a savings of $6 billion / 30 years, but what he didn’t mention to you is the cost of new equipment, replacement equipment with these new energy efficiency standards could be 10s of thousands of dollars adding up to billions and billions of dollars that are going to be borne by these businesses. 

    I’m grateful President Trump has taken the decisive action to halt these rules by having the Department of Energy postponed the effective date of these standards providing breathing room for businesses. 

    However, more work needs to be done and Congress has a role to play. 

    My resolution seeks to ensure that these overreaching regulations are permanently overturned. 

    By doing so, we will protect small businesses from unnecessary compliance cost and preserve the diversity of choice available to consumers. 

    This action aligns with our broader commitment to rollback burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth and infringe upon individual freedoms. 

    In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2022, the total cost of regulations is estimated over $3 trillion. 

    We cannot continue to allow burdensome regulations on every aspect of our lives and our businesses. 

    I urge my colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 24, legislation that will reduce burdens on businesses and serve in the best interest of the American people. 

    And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Record number of Māori and Pacific midwifery graduates at Ara – ARA Institute of Canterbury

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    There is no doubt the cohort of Māori and Pacific midwives at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Autumn graduation are a special (and groundbreaking) group.
    Among the record 10 Māori and two Pasifika graduates, two had babies while studying and all are now either self-employed or joining the ranks at the hospitals and birthing units around the motu, with four already established in their own whānau Māori-focused practice.
    They began their Bachelor of Midwifery studies at the advent of Te Whatu Ora-funded Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora in 2021 – an initiative created to help address the need for more Māori and Pasifika midwives by providing pastoral care, academic and some financial support.
    Ara’s Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora liaison Jay Waretini said the impact of the size of the cohort and those coming in behind them was immense.
    “There is a real shortage of Māori and Pasifika midwives across the country so to have these graduates servicing the community is nothing short of significant,” she said. “We’re doubling the numbers. Each and every one will make a difference.”
    “They’ve overcome their barriers, jumped the hurdles, and grounded themselves to be able to cross that stage this week. I’ve never felt pride like this before.”
    Waretini acknowledged the significant support of Dr Kelly Tikao, and Ara academic Dr Jaqui Martin in the success of the programme, as well as the connections formed with Ngā Maia (the National Professional body for Māori Midwives), Māori Midwives ki Tahu (a regional body of Māori Midwives), and the Te Puawaitanga ki Otāutahi Trust kaupapa Māori organisation.
    “Our entire midwifery staff team has also held space and created change in response to what our ākonga Māori and Pasifika needs are. It’s a whole team effort,” she said.
    Toni Weiser, one of the four graduate wahine behind the new Ōhua Midwives practice said the whole class had a pact to ensure no-one was left behind.
    “We had each other’s backs. It felt like we wrapped a korowai of care around each other to ensure we all succeeded,” she said. “There were challenges, especially in the first year, but Jay brought us together, gave us strength and created a whānau vibe.”
    Study highlights for Weiser were the national Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora hui and fono when Māori and all Pasifika students came together with their peers to be immersed in culture and restore mauri.
    “We now have connections all over Aotearoa as we head into our practice. For me, finding people to lean into was huge as I evolved as a person through my degree,” she said.
    For all the celebration, both at a special gathering for whānau on Thursday night and at graduation on Friday, Waretini said there was still a way to go.
    “With Māori and Pasifika making up just 10% and 5% of all midwives respectively, the workforce crisis is not yet resolved. There is still work to do but we are in much better shape with this latest influx of Māori and Pasifika graduates.” she said.
    “Our profession has been eagerly awaiting their arrival.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS SUPPORTS HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ DEFENSE OF THE CFPB AND AMERICAN CONSUMERS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS SUPPORTS HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ DEFENSE OF THE CFPB AND AMERICAN CONSUMERS

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) today reaffirmed his strong support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and joined his Democratic colleagues in pushing back against Republican-led efforts to dismantle the agency that protects American consumers.

        In an amicus brief led by Ranking Member Maxine Waters (CA-43) and supported by 203 House Democrats, House leaders made clear that the Trump Administration’s attempts to shut down the CFPB are unlawful, unconstitutional, and a direct attack on consumer protections. The brief was filed in the case of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), et al. v. CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought, et al., currently before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

        “For over a decade, the CFPB has stood as a powerful watchdog against financial abuses, returning over $21 billion to more than 205 million defrauded consumers,” said Congressman Davis. “Now, we see a calculated effort to gut the agency, led by Donald Trump and his billionaire allies, which would leave working families vulnerable to unchecked corporate greed.”

        Congressman Davis emphasized that eliminating the CFPB would allow predatory lenders, big banks, and debt collectors to resume the very practices that led to the 2008 financial crisis—a crisis that robbed millions of their jobs, homes, and financial security.

        “The attack on the CFPB is an attack on everyday Americans who rely on strong financial protections,” Davis continued. “House Democrats will not stand by as Trump and his unelected operatives dismantle safeguards that Congress put in place to prevent another economic collapse.”

         The amicus brief outlines how recent actions taken against the CFPB—including stop-work orders, mass termination plans, and attempts to seize sensitive consumer data—blatantly violate the Constitution and the Dodd-Frank Act, which established the Bureau in 2010.

    CFPB Protections at Risk

        If Trump’s efforts to gut the CFPB succeed, key consumer protections would be severely weakened or eliminated, including:

    • Small Business Lending Transparency: Ensuring fair access to capital for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
    • Overdraft Fee Regulations: Preventing banks from charging excessive fees that disproportionately impact low-income consumers.
    • Medical Debt Credit Protections: Stopping unfair medical debt from tanking Americans’ credit scores.

         The House Democratic Leadership, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Assistant Leader Joe Neguse, and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, have all echoed the urgent need to preserve the CFPB and protect working families from financial exploitation.

         “I will continue fighting alongside my colleagues to defend the CFPB, protect American consumers, and hold corporations accountable,” Congressman Davis concluded.

    Next Steps

    A hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion to block the dismantling of the CFPB is scheduled for Monday, March 3, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    The full amicus brief is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Juan Vargas Joins 200 Colleagues in Reintroducing the American Dream and Promise Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51)

    February 28, 2025

    This legislation would provide Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED beneficiaries with a pathway to citizenship

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) announced that he joined 200 of his colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025. This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. It would also include recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries. 

    Dreamers have spent nearly their entire lives in the United States. They have attended school, earned degrees, built careers, and contributed billions to our economy, all while calling this country home. Many have started families and raised children who are U.S. citizens. It’s estimated that the average DACA recipient came to this country at the age of six and has been here for 20 years. Likewise, TPS holders have been living and working in the United States for decades.

    Dreamers and TPS recipients make major economic and fiscal contributions each year. DACA recipients pay approximately $6.2 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. The Center for American Progress estimates that the national GDP could grow by $799 billion over the next decade if Dreamers were provided a pathway to citizenship. 

    Economic models show a pathway to citizenship would increase wages for all workers in the U.S. and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. It is estimated that DACA recipients in 2022 collectively earned nearly $27.9 billion and contributed nearly $2.1 billion to Social Security and Medicare, despite not being eligible for these benefits under current law. 

    “As the son of immigrants and a first-generation American, I know what the American Dream looks like. Dreamers deserve those same opportunities,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “Dreamers are our neighbors, friends, and family. They strengthen our communities and keep our economy moving forward. They’ve built their lives here, and America is their home. It’s past time to clear a path to citizenship and make the American Dream and Promise Act the law of the land.”

    The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 would:

    • Protect and grant eligible Dreamers conditional permanent residence for ten years and cancel removal proceedings
    • Provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers by granting full Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status
    • Provide individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) with LPR status
    • Protect Dreamers and individuals with TPS or DED during their application for relief under the American Dream and Promise Act
    • Provide eligible Dreamers with access to federal financial aid
    • Allow eligible Dreamers located abroad to apply for relief
    • Prevent penalizing states that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students based on residency

    Before his inauguration, President Donald Trump indicated he wanted to work with Democrats to protect Dreamers and that Republicans were open to getting something done on this issue. Rep. Juan Vargas and his colleagues extend an open invitation to President Trump to get this done by passing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Juan Vargas Calls Out Trump and DOGE Efforts to Dismantle Consumer Watchdog Agency, Take Away Protections from Military Families and Seniors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51)

    March 26, 2025

    WASHINGTON – During a Financial Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) called out the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – an agency that has returned more than $21 billion to families scammed by big banks and other financial institutions – and leave military families and seniors more vulnerable. President Trump and DOGE have moved rapidly to gut the CFPB by cutting off funding, firing staff, and shutting down its headquarters. 

    Watch Rep. Vargas’s questions to former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau General Counsel and Senior Advisor to the Director Seth Frotman HERE. Read Rep. Vargas’s questioning: 

    VARGAS: 

    I represent the San Diego region and the San Diego region is blessed by having the Navy there and many, many military personnel and we’re very blessed because many of them stay there. They retire there, but unfortunately, they become victims often times of financial

    scams. 

    In San Diego, in the San Diego region, we have 96% more CFPB consumer complaints filed by servicemembers. You know that, I’m sure. 

    Could you talk a little bit about what is happening right now and how we’ve helped them before and how we’re not helping them right now because I’m getting these complaints right now from people, and they’re saying they’re calling, there’s nobody there.

    FROTMAN:

    Thank you so much for the question, Congressman. I’ve actually visited the Marine Corps depot training facility with Holly Petraeus. So, this is critically important. You know, one of the central tasks that Congress directed the CFPB to do was look after military families. And the track record of the Bureau across administrations before the most recent change, I think, was stellar. 

    We got back more than $200 million dollars for military families through enforcement actions. We helped with 400,000 complaints. And what you see now is just devastating to military families. They told the people who staff the office that the Congress required, the Office of Servicemember Affairs, to stop working. They broke the complaint system. 

    So we’ve heard a ton today about overreach. We’ve heard these amorphous vague comments about CFPB overreach. Is it overreach when the Bureau took enforcement actions against a bunch of scammers who ripped off military families, who ripped off veterans, who ripped off retirees? 

    We’ve heard a lot of the abstracts about the Bureau and the prior leadership, but we haven’t heard specifics because I think that is what, this is one example of exactly what the Bureau was tasked to do, and they’re not doing right now.

    VARGAS: 

    The other thing that I think is very important also is to talk about [the] elderly. You know, again, San Diego is a young town, but it’s not that young. I mean, a number of us are retired… and there’s a lot of scams, again, against elderly. And… before I got all these positive comments about how the CFPB was doing their job. Now I’m getting all these complaints because nobody’s there. Could you comment about that?

    FROTMAN: 

    That’s correct. The Acting Director Vought told the Office of Older Americans to stop working. People who submit complaints about themselves or an elderly parent or grandparent saw that system broken. 

    So, you know, there’s been a lot of charges leveled, but I think one of the things that I think we all agree on is that the CFPB needs to work. The CFPB needs to work on behalf of consumers and servicemembers and older Americans. It needs to work on behalf of honest businesses, and it’s not now. The inspectors that are supposed to take care of service members and older Americans are sitting at home instead of doing their job.

    VARGAS: 

    Mr. Frotman, I want this on the record because I think that I’ve been around long enough now that you see cycles. And the unfortunate cycles are this: we’ve talked about predators and we’ve seen this. Oftentimes my colleagues on the other side ultimately control government and then you do see an overreach all right, but by the banks and others, and we get into a financial slide. And then we get into a recession, and then we get into real trouble. And then consumers, we saw in 2008, get ripped off. So we heard today that the CFPB is the predator, that you guys are the predator, that you were the predator. Could you straighten the record out on that, and I want this on the record because I think it’s gonna happen again. I want to make sure that you tell the truth. Go ahead, sir. 

    FROTMAN: 

    Thank you so much. So, you know, we’ve heard a lot of attacks on CFPB leadership, but these are really attacks on dedicated public servants who wake up every single day just trying to make their neighborhood safe.

    So many of us who work at the CFPB lived through the financial crisis and watched community after community decimated while a bunch of billionaire bankers got off scot-free. And what we do every day at the Bureau, or what we did every day at the Bureau, was to try to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

    What is happening now at the Bureau, where there is no oversight over massive non-banks in this country, is bad for businesses, it is bad for consumers, and they are setting up the situation that will, there will be another financial crisis in this country, and you all, or the people sitting in the chairs after you, will be forced to deal with it once again.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Juan Vargas’s Opening Statement at Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51)

    March 04, 2025

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee’s Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity, delivered opening remarks at the Task Force’s first hearing. 

    “Through this Task Force, I look forward to discussing important issues that affect our constituents and the entire economy, including the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy framework review, the supplemental leverage ratio, and the debate between rule-based and discretionary monetary policy. But I also plan to defend my core principles,” said Ranking Member Vargas. “Two of those core principles are my belief in the importance of the Fed’s dual mandate, and the need to protect the Fed’s independence.”

    Watch Ranking Member Vargas’s opening remarks HERE. Read Ranking Member Vargas’s opening remarks as delivered:  

    Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and thank you very much for introducing me. And again, good morning to everybody else. 

    Let me congratulate you on being named as Chairman of this Task Force. As you know, I have a great deal of respect for you. 

    When I first came to Congress 13 years ago, I was on the Agriculture Committee, which you chaired, and I thought that you treated everyone evenhandedly, straightforward, and honestly. And I appreciate that. And I look forward to working with you together on issues where we find common ground.

    Through this Task Force, I look forward to discussing important issues that affect our constituents and the entire economy, including the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy framework review, the supplemental leverage ratio, and the debate between rule-based and discretionary monetary policy. 

    But I also plan to defend my core principles, and I know you will. 

    Two of those core principles are my belief in the importance of the Fed’s dual mandate, and the need to protect the Fed’s independence. 

    The importance, first, of the dual mandate. As members of this Task Force we are well aware that the Fed’s dual mandate was established in 1977.

    The amendments to the Federal Reserve Act passed that year tasked the Fed with two important goals – to create economic conditions that achieve both maximum employment and stable prices.

    The inclusion of employment was no accident. The addition was thanks in large part to the work of Coretta Scott King and many in the labor movement.

    Some have argued that the Fed Reserve’s dual mandate has been a distraction from solely focusing on price stability. But maximum employment should not be on the chopping block. 

    When Congress charged the Fed with this dual mandate, it recognized that having access to a job is a signal of a healthy economy.

    Preventing the Fed from addressing employment would misunderstand the key way that many Americans experience the economy. And it would also disproportionately hurt working-class people.

    Low employment harms Americans who are already living on the edge – working multiple jobs, and surviving paycheck to paycheck.

    Chairman Powell has said that the dual mandate has “served us well” and that he “doesn’t see the case” to move forward with a single mandate of price stability. And I agree. 

    As Ranking Member, I intend to continue to advocate for the importance of preserving the Fed’s dual mandate.

    Now with respect to the independence of the Fed – another area where the Fed has come under increased scrutiny – is its independence.

    The research is clear that central banks around the world function at their best when they’re allowed to operate independently.

    Elected officials mostly operate on a short-term horizon, responding to short-term political incentives. 

    But the Fed must make decisions considering a much longer time horizon. That is why it is critical that monetary policy be insulated from external political pressure.

    The President’s recent executive order requiring independent agencies to submit proposed regulatory actions, strategic plans, and priorities to the White House for review only makes this issue more important.

    And it’s also worrisome that now Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has floated the idea of creating a shadow Fed chair before Chairman Powell’s term expires in May of 2026.

    We in Congress, regardless of political party, must continue to strongly defend the independence of the Fed.

    The new Administration has brought in a wave of uncertainty.

    Whether it’s tariffs or the future independence of the Fed, our constituents are increasingly unsure of their economic future.

    We see it in recent national consumer sentiment numbers, which have shown that consumer confidence fell by seven points in the most recent Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey.

    And I’m hearing from businesses in my district in San Diego who are increasingly concerned about the impact that tariffs and trade wars will have on the economy

    I hope that this Task Force will provide a forum for substantive debate and collaboration on these issues that impact our constituents. I’m looking forward to it.

    And with that I yield back.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Joyce Introduces Legislation to Protect Our Nation’s Communications Systems from Foreign Influence

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Joyce (PA-13)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) and Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-3), have introduced the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act, to combat the influence of foreign-made technology in our nation’s high-speed internet system. 

    “As we continue to expand connectivity for Americans in rural communities, we also need to ensure that our national security is protected,” said Rep. John Joyce, M.D.“Fighting to protect our communications systems from malign influences, like the Chinese Communist Party, must be at the forefront of our policy making. I am proud to lead this legislation that takes a common sense step towards securing our internet infrastructure and cutting our reliance on Chinese companies.”

    “Our bipartisan legislation is a step toward strengthening America’s information and communications technology (ICT) supply chains to ensure that our economy is not reliant on untrusted vendors,” said Rep. Susie Lee. “Businesses of all sizes, as well as education and healthcare industries, rely heavily on ICT, so it’s critical that America remains competitive in the sector.”

    Background:

    • The Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act authorizes a study by the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate whether technologies from Chinese companies, like Huawei and ZTE, are part of our telecommunications network.
    • This legislation also requires the Department of Commerce to provide an update to Congress on the resources necessary to fully source our broadband infrastructure domestically or from our allies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Named Federal Champion by American Flood Coalition for Work to Protect Iowa Communities from Flooding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) was named a Federal Champion by the American Flood Coalition (AFC) for his leadership, public service, and commitment to finding solutions to challenges posed by flooding.

    “Last summer, our communities in Western Iowa were hit by catastrophic floods that devastated homes, businesses, hospitals, farms, schools, and other structures. Iowans are resilient, but the rebuilding process is time-consuming and expensive. It’s why I’m working to implement proactive and cost-effective strategies that help protect our communities, homes, farmland, and infrastructure from flooding,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m honored to be named a Federal Champion by the American Flood Coalition for my work to give our families and communities the tools and resources that they need to not only recover from disasters but also invest in safeguards that protect our land and property. Born and raised in rural Iowa, I will continue to support policies that help our communities prepare for and respond to flooding and other destructive storms.”

    “AFC is thrilled to welcome Congressman Feenstra as an Iowa Federal Champion. His addition solidifies the state as the first with all members of its federal delegation earning this recognition,” saidMelissa Roberts, Executive Director, American Flood Coalition. “Congressman Feenstra’s firsthand experience supporting Iowans devastated by historic flooding in the summer of 2024 will be invaluable as we work together to better protect farm country and rural communities from future storms.”

    As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, Feenstra has championed efforts to strengthen flood prevention for farmers and to ease barriers for navigating complex federal disaster recovery programs. This includes his introduction of bipartisan policy proposals that would give farmers flexibility, resources, and data to effectively manage their flood risk, and to give Iowa families and communities financial flexibility as they recover from floods and tornadoes.

    Feenstra joins 51 bipartisan AFC Federal Champions, including the entire Iowa delegation, recognized as members of Congress dedicated to advancing solutions to stronger storms and more frequent flooding. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: John James, Don Davis Introduce Legislation to Procure More Fighters for the Air National Guard

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John James (Michigan 10th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representatives John James (MI-10) and Don Davis (NC-1) introduced the Air National Guard Squadron Preservation Act, which requires the Air Force to sustain fighter aircraft procurement and production to fully recapitalize the Air National Guard. This legislation would ensure that the aging A-10 fighter squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base would be recapitalized with a new fighter mission. 

    Retaining the overall combat strength in the Air National Guard while America is already short pilots and maintainers, as China continues to close the capabilities gap, is critically important as we work to modernize our fleet. 

    Rep. James issued the following statement regarding the legislation:

    “Air National Guard fighter units represent 21 percent of the total Air Force, 30 percent of the Air Force combat power, and 94 percent of homeland defense—at 40 percent of the cost. The Guard is far too critical to our national security to ignore. Selfridge Air National Guard Base is uniquely positioned on our Northern border and Great Lakes, highly lethal, cost effective, and crucial to our local and state economy. Our nation called on Michigan for two world wars and a global pandemic. My bill will assure that Selfridge is prepared and ready to answer when America calls again.”

    Rep. Davis issued the following statement:

    “It is imperative to prioritize taking the necessary steps to ensure the continued production and procurement of fighter aircraft. Our country will be better prepared for global threats, and the American people will be safer,”     said Congressman Davis.

     The Air National Guard Squadron Preservation Act:

    • Makes it U.S. policy to maintain the Total Fighter Force needed to confront any threats by retaining force structure through the fighter squadrons across the Air National Guard (ANG).
    • Amends the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act Air National Guard recapitalization plan to include “fifth generation fighter aircraft” in the language.
    • Requires the Air Force to continue production and procurement of an “advanced capability fighter aircraft” and a “fifth generation fighter aircraft” to replace all legacy capability fighter aircraft within each ANG fighter unit.
    • For this Act, the definition of “advanced capability fighter aircraft” means F-15EX, F-16 Block 70/72, and future variants. “Fifth generation fighter aircraft” means an F-35 or F-22 aircraft.
    • Requires the Air Force to fulfill this procurement requirement by entering in to or modifying a procurement contract.
    • Requires the GAO to conduct a review of advanced capability fighter aircraft—to assess any procurement challenges and to issue recommendations on how to solve those challenges.
    • Requests that the Air Force, in consultation with the ANG, conduct a study on continued procurement of advanced capability fighter aircraft to recapitalize the ANG.

    View the legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –