NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ontario’s closure of youth detention facilities has not resulted in more support for young people

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jessica Evans, Assistant Professor, Criminology, Toronto Metropolitan University

    The closure of youth detention centres is a positive development. However, without adequate investment in community organizations that serve youth, it is a move set up to fail.
     (Shutterstock)

    The Ontario government said it would save $40 million per year by closing 26 youth detention centres in 2021, with promises to use those savings to support community services for youth.

    Framed as a cost-savings strategy aligned with the objectives of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the money saved through the closures would be reinvested in community-based services and alternatives to youth detention.

    Since these closures, however, there has been no government reporting on where or when this $40 million will be reinvested. Meanwhile, organizations that serve youth report ongoing resource constraints.

    The closure of youth detention centres is a positive development. However, without adequate investment in community organizations that serve youth, it is a move set up to fail.



    Read more:
    Ontario closes half of its youth detention centres, leaving some young people in limbo

    Youth detention in Ontario

    Between 2018 and 2022, youth imprisonment numbers fell by around 50 per cent in Ontario. That continued a longer trend which has seen youth detention numbers fall by over 85 per cent over a 25-year period from 1997 to 2022. There has also been a recent uptick in youth imprisonment numbers, increasing from 9,654 in 2021-22 to 10,960 in 2022-23.

    Currently, Ontario’s youth prisons are at overcapacity, and the Sudbury youth detention centre is set to close next year.

    Several of the 26 youth detention centres that were closed were situated in northern Ontario. The Ontario Ombudsman, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Grand Council Treaty #3 have said the abrupt closures would disproportionately impact Indigenous youth in detention.

    A CBC News report on overcrowding in Ontario’s youth detention centres.

    Community organizations overwhelmed

    We have examined the annual reports for 2019-24 from 46 organizations serving youth in the justice system from Kenora, Thunder Bay and Kingston where a significant number of the youth detention closures occurred.

    While many community organizations believe closing detention centres is a good long-term decision, there are many immediate concerns. We found consistent reporting of limited funding to support all youth in need.

    Organizations are impacted by record-high numbers of youth seeking access to services, with some organizations seeing a significant increase in the number of youth accessing their services — especially mental health programs. This has resulted in some organizations increasing the hours and days they are open to accommodate as many youth as possible, while also balancing staff burnout.

    Organizations did not report any substantial increase in funds from the government due to the closure of youth detention centres. Some noted challenges around fundraising, as many events were put on hold during the pandemic. This has resulted in organizations being unable to hire new staff or increase their services. In some cases this has also led to staff layoffs.

    Investing in community

    Deinstitutionalization refers to the period when institutions that housed or confined people with mental, cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities were shut down, and people were released to live in communities.

    However, this process is often not met with sufficient funding for social supports. Inevitably, more people struggling with mental health end up in hospital emergency departments and in conflict with the law. This shift in responsibility has been referred to as transinstitutionalization.

    We have written about these trends in Ontario following the 2021 youth detention centre closures. Many of the young people in these centres struggle with mental health issues, neurodivergence and addictions.

    Significant investments in community supports are needed. Otherwise, many youth will continue to be funneled into other institutions, including hospitals and adult prisons.

    Since 2009, Ontario has seen a significant increase in hospital emergency room visits for mental health or substance-related concerns, especially among 14–21 year olds. Mental illness and drug dependence are some of the most prevailing health problems for criminalized Canadians. In a study of 1,770 young people in Québec, researchers found those struggling with alcohol or drugs and familial problems are more likely to face re-imprisonment.

    The Brookside Youth Justice Centre in Cobourg, Ont., was among the facilities the provincial government closed in March 2021.
    (Infrastructure Ontario)

    Helping youth in detention

    In 2023, a justice centre was opened in Kenora, and in 2024, funding was announced for child and youth mental health in Ontario. Yet, more support is needed. In many northern, rural and remote communities, services for children and youth with intensive needs simply do not exist.

    Youth face a number of additional barriers accessing support and treatment. These include long wait lists, overemphasis on illness-based and medical models, fragmented services, lack of developmentally and culturally appropriate services, and support that fails to consider the preferences and perspectives of youth and families.

    Strains on youth community supports are also felt in other provinces. Researchers interviewed youth justice community workers in Alberta who reported inadequate funding with impacts on resources for youth, including psychological support and the ability for staff to give enough attention and time to youth. Conditions also lead to staff burnout and exit from the sector altogether.

    The move to shift youth in the justice system away from confinement and towards community is a positive one. However, without investment in community-based service providers to support youth being transitioned out of custodial settings, it is unlikely that youth will thrive.

    Such failures are likely to increase acute mental health crises and demands on ambulatory care within general medicine and psychiatric hospitals. These gaps are also likely to increase the number of youth who will come into conflict with the criminal legal system as adults.

    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. Ontario’s closure of youth detention facilities has not resulted in more support for young people – https://theconversation.com/ontarios-closure-of-youth-detention-facilities-has-not-resulted-in-more-support-for-young-people-238748

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Williams Goes Against Party Leadership, Joins Bipartisan Group Forcing Vote on Social Security Fairness Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) signed Discharge Petition #16, which will force the House of Representatives to hold a floor vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), this bill will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have both been in place for forty years. Rep. Williams, already a cosponsor of this legislation, signed the corresponding Discharge Petition this morning.

    Rep. Williams released the following statement on his decision to sign the Discharge Petition:

    “I came into office as a political outsider who believes in common sense solutions to our most pressing issues and that means standing up against my own party when it is for the betterment of Central New York and our working families. For over four decades, our nation’s police officers, firefighters, teachers, and many others have been negatively impacted by the WEP and GPO. They paid into this system for their entire lives—they must not be penalized for doing the right thing. We owe it to our constituents to place the Social Security Fairness Act on the President’s desk, and this Discharge Petition will give us an opportunity to do so before the end of this year.”

    The full text of the Social Security Fairness Act  is available here.

    GROUPS IN SUPPORT:

    American Federation of Teachers

    National Education Association

    The Fraternal Order of Police

    National Association of Police Organizations

    International Association of Fire Fighters

    The Senior Citizens League

    National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

    American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

    National Association of County Office Employees

    National Treasury Employees Union

    Federal Managers Association

    Alliance for Retired Americans

    National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association

    National Association of Letter Carriers

    American Postal Workers Union

    American Federation of Government Employees

    National Committee of Preserve Social Security & Medicare

    National Postal Mail Handlers Union

    Society of Former Special Agents

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Grassley Lead Bicameral Colleagues in Calling Out Abuses in the Biden-Harris Unaccompanied Migrant Children Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) yesterday led 42 bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s attempted cover-up of the crisis. More than 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southwest border under the Biden-Harris administration, while cartel trafficking activity surged an estimated 2,500 percent.

    “As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with ‘stemming the migration’ at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations,” reads the letter.

    “We request that you immediately instruct HHS Secretary Becerra to take urgent steps to this end: HHS must provide access to the UAC Portal, HHS’s system of record for UACs, to federal law enforcement, HHS’s Inspector General, and Congress, allowing them to quickly conduct investigations and oversee the UAC placement program, and to analyze data regarding suspicious UAC placements; it must fully cooperate with DHS’s HSI and other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies seeking to locate children and investigate trafficking, smuggling, and other forms of child exploitation; and it must thoroughly respond to congressional oversight requests and instruct HHS’s contractors and grantees to do the same,” the lawmakers said.

    “[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,”the lawmakers concluded.

    Full text of the letter is here and below.

    Joining Senator Cornyn and Grassley on the letter are Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), along with Sens. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC),  John Thune (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Kennedy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Additional co-signers in the House include Reps. Tom McClintock (R-CA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Chip Roy (R-TX), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Cliff Bentz (R-OR.), Ben Cline (R-VA), Barry Moore (R-AL), Russell Fry (R-SC), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Michael Rulli (R-OH).

    September 23, 2024

    The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

    President of the United States

    The White House Washington, D.C.

    The Honorable Kamala D. Harris

    Vice President of the United States

    The White House Washington, D.C.

    President Biden and Vice President Harris:

    As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with “stemming the migration” at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations. These UACs often experience horrible sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on the journey and are victims of cartel trafficking and exploitation, a business that surged an estimated 2,500 percent from the Trump Administration to the middle of your term in 2022. Sadly, the suffering these children endure does not end at the border. Your Administration also fails them when they arrive in the United States by rushing them out of the custody of your Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often continue to exploit and abuse them.

    Even as the trafficking business and the number of children entering the U.S. surged, HHS ORR cut back significantly on background checks and vetting procedures to speed up the process, despite knowing children were being trafficked through HHS ORR’s UAC program. Your Administration likewise continued Vice President Harris’s longtime priority of cutting back on information sharing between HHS ORR and law enforcement related to unaccompanied children and sponsors. When the Trump Administration implemented a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide for robust information sharing between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and HHS ORR, then-Senator Harris called this attempt to protect children and communities “outrageous.” She also introduced legislation in response to the Trump MOA that slashed funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement by $220 million. Her bill was so extreme it failed to allow HHS information to be used by DHS for immigration enforcement even for potential sponsors and household members with convictions or pending charges of child abuse, sexual assault, child pornography, or any other crime. Even House Democrats considered Harris’s approach too radical and added these exceptions to counteract the extreme nature of her legislative proposal. Their approach, unlike Harris’s, allowed HHS information to be used to deport child predators and those convicted of serious felonies. Given her stated policy priorities, it is no wonder your Administration later revoked the Trump Administration’s MOA, seriously hampering the work of law enforcement, and promulgated a final rule enshrining the bar on sharing such information with law enforcement officials.

    Your Administration further stripped Customs and Border Protection officials of their ability to conduct familial DNA testing, as was implemented by the Trump Administration to verify adults’ claims that they are related to children they bring across the border. This made the smuggling and trafficking of these kids that much easier. Early into your term, your Administration also canceled protections the Trump Administration proposed to provide post-release services for all children placed with sponsors, including in-person visits and extended follow-up after placement. These protections would have helped ensure children were safe. Instead, the actions of your Administration have been disastrous and now, HHS ORR is actively attempting to cover up the results of its egregious decisions. We call upon you to put an end to that cover-up.

    When Senator Grassley and Senator Cassidy, ranking members of the Senate Budget Committee and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, asked HHS ORR contractors and grantees whether they took necessary steps to protect children, HHS obstructed those inquiries, directing the entities not to respond. This included Southwest Key, which Senator Grassley asked, among other things, about its vetting of staff before they have access to minors. The Department of Justice has since sued Southwest Key for turning a blind eye to nearly a decade of child rape and sexual abuse by its staff. During this same time, HHS ORR provided Southwest Key with more than $3 billion to house UACs. These contractors and grantees receive large sums of taxpayer dollars, a lucrative business that has boomed during your Administration. Yet HHS ORR told them not to answer Congress when it asked whether basic protections were afforded to these kids. This is completely unacceptable.

    At the same time, since early 2023, the House Judiciary Committee has sought information on the total number of UACs HHS ORR has lost contact with after placement during your Administration. According to the New York Times, as of February 2023, ORR had been unable to contact at least 85,000 UACs after placement with sponsors, or roughly 34 percent of total UACs released up to that point in your term.  Applying the 34 percent figure to the most up-to-date number of 432,938 UACs the Administration has released to sponsors, we estimate ORR has been unable to contact nearly 150,000 UACs through Safety and Well-being calls after their release. When confronted by the House Judiciary Committee with an estimate based on the Times’s findings, ORR did not dispute it. Although the House Judiciary Committee twice subpoenaed HHS for internal agency data relating to the total number of UACs with whom it has lost contact after placement, HHS has refused to provide the subpoenaed data.

    Unfortunately, the cover-up does not end there. Recently, DHS informed Senator Grassley’s office that HHS ORR has not sufficiently complied with two out of every three subpoenas and other information requests that resulted from his referral of possible child trafficking rings across the U.S. to DHS in January. By not supplying the information law enforcement requested, ORR denied Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents critical information, including the last known addresses of children and sponsors and the identity of other household members. In part because of HHS ORR’s lack of cooperation, DHS has so far only been able to locate less than four percent of sponsors identified as investigative targets, and a similarly small number of UACs.

    At a recent Senate roundtable forum, “The Exploitation Crisis: How the U.S. Government is Failing to Protect Migrant Children from Trafficking and Abuse,” senators and members of the public heard from a panel with direct knowledge of this crisis. What the witnesses told the oversight panel was shocking. For example, HHS retaliated against one of the witnesses, Ms. Tara Lee Rodas, after she blew the whistle and tried to stop the placement of young children with a household in Ohio connected to the violent MS-13 gang. In addition, witnesses described how HHS and its contractors prioritized UAC placement speed over UAC safety by failing to verify the legitimacy of identity documents, failing to obtain criminal history from the countries of origin of UACs and sponsors, and failing to conduct legally required home studies for UACs who had endured sexual or other abuse. Other whistleblowers continue to come forward with similar information. Congress has the right to obtain information necessary to conduct oversight of these widespread failures to protect the lives of children without HHS standing in the way.

    HHS’s failure to ensure UACs are in appropriate placements and to adequately vet sponsors is harmful not only to the UACs, but also to American citizens. As the Attorney General under the Trump Administration recognized, the UAC program has for years suffered from exploitation by criminals, including “gang members who come to this country as wolves in sheep[’s] clothing” and “use th[e UAC] program as a means by which to recruit new members.” As the House Judiciary Committee’s oversight has shown, under Secretary Becerra’s leadership, HHS has ignored the potential criminality and gang affiliation of UACs.

    Indeed, as revealed in the House Judiciary Committee’s May 2023 interim report, in May 2022, HHS ORR released to a sponsor a UAC with a previous arrest record for “illicit association with MS13.” That UAC, released by your Administration, went on to brutally assault and murder 20-year-old American citizen Kayla Hamilton. Incredibly, HHS noted on several occasions to the House Judiciary Committee its focus on protecting the privacy of Kayla’s murderer. Although local police quickly identified Walter Javier Martinez as the primary suspect in the murder and expressed their concern about the threat he posed to society, according to new investigative reporting, Martinez was placed in a Maryland foster home with other children and enrolled in high school. Later, while in custody for murdering Kayla, the alien authored a letter in which he “admitted to committing [four] murders, [two] rapes, and additional other crimes.” Martinez has since been sentenced to more than 70 years in prison.

    Despite having released to a sponsor a UAC with gang tattoos and a history of “illicit association” with MS-13, HHS told the House Judiciary Committee that it does not have a policy to refer known or suspected gang members to the Justice Department for investigation or, where appropriate, prosecution. At the same time, ORR Director Robin Dunn Marcos, the HHS official in charge of the UAC program, admitted that, while HHS sometimes contacts the consulate or embassy of a UAC’s country of origin or last habitual residence to verify some documents or claimed familial relationships, HHS does not even request UACs’ criminal records. Troublingly, HHS has also admitted that it does not currently have any secure facilities “in-network”—that is, facilities designed for the secure placement of UACs who pose a danger to themselves or others or who have been determined to have a criminal record.

    An August 2024 House Judiciary Committee report highlighted yet another case of UAC criminality, detailing how Juan Carlos Garcia Rodriguez, a UAC from Guatemala released by your Administration, horrifically assaulted and murdered 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez. Maria’s father found “his daughter’s body wrapped in a trash bag and stuffed in a laundry basket that was put beneath her bed.” Garcia Rodriguez was encountered by Border Patrol after entering the U.S. illegally in El Paso in January 2023, smuggled to the U.S. border by a “guide” paid for by his parents. Despite being overheard commenting about his desire to run away while in HHS custody, HHS placed Garcia Rodriguez with an unrelated adult sponsor who had twice previously sponsored unrelated UACs. Unsurprisingly, shortly after the Biden-Harris Administration’s release of Garcia Rodriguez, he became one of the estimated 150,000 UACs with whom HHS has lost contact. Just months after HHS lost contact with Garcia Rodriguez, he ran away from his sponsor. Not long after his 18th birthday, and mere months after his release from HHS custody, Garcia Rodriguez, brutally assaulted and murdered Maria.

    This is not a partisan issue. It can and should bring us together, as we try to protect Americans and UACs placed in HHS ORR custody alike. Your Administration must make changes to its policies and procedures for UACs to end this public safety crisis. It must also take urgent steps to provide information to law enforcement and Congress, to reveal the crisis’s full scope. We request that you immediately instruct HHS Secretary Becerra to take urgent steps to this end: HHS must provide access to the UAC Portal, HHS’s system of record for UACs, to federal law enforcement, HHS’s Inspector General, and Congress, allowing them to quickly conduct investigations and oversee the UAC placement program, and to analyze data regarding suspicious UAC placements; it must fully cooperate with DHS’s HSI and other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies seeking to locate children and investigate trafficking, smuggling, and other forms of child exploitation; and it must thoroughly respond to congressional oversight requests and instruct HHS’s contractors and grantees to do the same.

    HHS must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    /s/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Burgum congratulates schools in Beach, Mandan, Mohall for National Blue Ribbon recognition

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Doug Burgum today congratulated Lincoln Elementary School in Beach, Red Trail Elementary School in Mandan and the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Public School in Mohall for being recognized by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024.

    “This honorable award highlights the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication that the students, teachers and administrators at these exceptional schools bring to the classroom every day,” Burgum said. “We are grateful to Lincoln Elementary School, Red Trail Elementary School and the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Public School for their commitment to excellence that earned them this well-deserved honor, as well as the schools throughout our state that are adopting and applying innovative approaches to teaching and learning.”

    The National Blue Ribbon School recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. There were 356 schools recognized across the nation as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota joins national coalition of states working to raise college completion rates

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Doug Burgum and the North Dakota University System (NDUS) today announced that the state of North Dakota has officially joined the Complete College America (CCA) Alliance, a national coalition of 53 states, systems, institutions of higher education and other organizations committed to increasing the number of students who successfully complete college and attain degrees or other postsecondary credentials. 

    “North Dakota’s future success depends on our ability to align higher education with workforce demands and the changing economic landscape,” Burgum said. “Strengthening our commitment to closing workforce and talent gaps is critical to ensuring that we not only adapt but lead the way in the decades ahead. By collaborating with national leaders and experts, we can empower more of our residents with the skills and credentials they need to thrive, while addressing the needs of our students and our state.”

    More than half (56.4 percent) of North Dakotans ages 25-64 hold a college degree or postsecondary credential, surpassing the national average of 54.3%, according to a 2023 Lumina Foundation Report. North Dakota aims to increase this to 65% by 2025. A study conducted by the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce predicts that by 2031, approximately 71% of jobs in North Dakota will require some additional form of education after high school, whether that is a four-year degree, two-year degree or certificate program.

    “Preparing North Dakotans for the jobs of today and tomorrow means investing in the kind of effective, targeted education and training opportunities needed to navigate an increasingly technology-driven economy and workforce,” said Tim Mihalick, chair of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. “Our membership in this national coalition will bring data-informed strategies, research and innovation to our state – and new resources to deliver on the promise of partnering with other states and leaders to implement proven strategies and introduce new practices to prepare more North Dakotans for future jobs.”

    By joining the Alliance as the 53rd member, the state will increase its commitment to college completion for the state’s two research universities, four regional universities and five community colleges serving nearly 45,000 students. The initiative also aligns with the state’s Envision 2035 strategic plan, which is focused on ensuring the state’s public higher education system is preparing students for the future of work and lifelong economic opportunity and mobility. 

    As a member of the CCA Alliance, North Dakota leaders will work with CCA and teams of higher education leaders and state policymakers across the country to implement data-driven and evidence-based policies proven to help more students complete a degree or credential of value on time. 

    “North Dakota’s Envision 2035 plan is boldly preparing the state’s workforce for an economy that can not only deliver better jobs, but also increase earning potential and career opportunity through an increasingly diverse set of industries and employers,” said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of CCA. “Complete College America is proud to welcome North Dakota to the Alliance and committed to helping build a system of higher education that is responsive to the needs of this rapidly evolving state economy.” 

    To schedule an interview with a representative from the North Dakota University System or Complete College America, please email media@completecollege.org.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Nearly A Million Dollars in Federal Funding for Nevada Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    This Funding Will Be Used By Law Enforcement Agencies To Hire More Officers, Purchase Essential Equipment, And Invest In Officer Mental Health

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced nearly one million dollars in federal funding for law enforcement agencies across Nevada to help them hire more officers, purchase essential equipment, and invest in officer mental health. The funding for these awards is made through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program, Tribal Resources Grant Program, and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA), all of which offer various grant programs to support state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. Earlier this year, bipartisan legislation to expand the COPS Hiring Program was signed into law.

    “From hiring more police officers and purchasing new equipment to funding mental health programs, I’ll always fight to support our law enforcement,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The COPS Office has a long history of helping keep our communities safe, and I’m proud of my work to bring as many of these resources as possible into the Silver State.”

    “Nevada law enforcement works around the clock to fight crime, respond to emergencies, and keep our communities safe. That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle in the Senate to support them with the federal resources they need to do their jobs effectively and maintain their well-being,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce this federal funding is coming to law enforcement agencies across our state to help hire more officers, purchase equipment, and improve officer mental health and wellness.”

    “I would like to thank Senator Rosen and our entire congressional delegation for their continued support in protecting the citizens and businesses of Sparks,” said Sparks Police Chief Chris Crawford. “This will allow the Sparks Police Department to build a team of officers to improve upon our crime reduction strategies.”

    “This grant will enhance the City’s ongoing commitment to providing vital mental health and wellness services to the men and women of the Henderson Police Department. We are grateful to Senator Rosen and the other members of Nevada’s congressional delegation for their support of our grant application and for this funding which will be used to assist officers and their families as they approach retirement and prepare to successfully transition from their law enforcement careers,” said Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero. “Studies have shown that police officers may be at a greater risk of experiencing challenges related to their mental well-being as they get ready to retire and this grant will help ensure we are offering those who serve and protect our community the full assistance they and their families need.”

    “The Lovelock Paiute Tribal Police Department is excited to announce that we have been selected and awarded the US DOJ COPS grant,” said Lovelock Colony Chief of Police Jeff G. Perry. “With the collaborative effort of our Tribal Police Department, Lovelock Paiute Tribal Council, Tribal Administrator, the grant award will be utilized to sufficiently staff 24-hour service to the Lovelock Indian Colony. This will increase safety efforts along with our proposed Lovelock Indian Colony Camera Program (LICCP). Our camera program will significantly reduce criminal activity and trespassing on the colony along with better staffing support towards future community policing services. These interactions will be positive and proactive in ways that build trust and cooperation among the residents and all who visit the Lovelock Indian Colony. Our proposal is to re-establish all components of the neighborhood watch program. Officers will again utilize teams, zones, area captains and area officers. In addition, this program will help to reduce the non-tribal criminal activity on the colony. Without this funding, we could not have achieved to operate at this capacity and continue our community-oriented policing efforts to greatly reduce criminal activity.”

    The awards are being distributed as follows:

    • $500,000 from the COPS Hiring Program for the Sparks Police Department to hire more officers.
    • $353,063 from the Tribal Resources Grant Program for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe to hire officers and invest in equipment.
    • $43,308 from the LEMHWA Program for the City of Henderson’s mental health and wellness projects for law enforcement officers.

    Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been advocating to ensure Nevada’s law enforcement community has the resources it needs. Last year, they announced more than $1 million in COPS funding for Nevada law enforcement and public safety. Last month, they also highlighted nearly $1 million in federal community project funding they secured to provide mental health training and support to thousands of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and first responders. Senator Cortez Masto’s bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide and provide mental health resources to police officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Earlier this month, bipartisan legislation that Senator Rosen co-sponsored to fund family support and mental health services for law enforcement officers passed the Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Welcomes Historic Confirmation for United States Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    09.24.24

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, welcomed the historic confirmation of the United States’ first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, Dr. Michael Sfraga. Senator Murkowski was the chief advocate for the creation of the position, which the State Department initiated in 2022. The Senate confirmed Dr. Sfraga’s nomination today.

    “Finally, we have officially joined the rest of the Arctic nations at the table after the Senate confirmed the United States’ first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. The need for this leadership in the Arctic has become even more urgent as we saw last night the fifth publicly reported incursion by Russian military aircraft in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone in the last two weeks,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our new Ambassador will not only help America push back against our adversaries heightened aggression in the Arctic, but will be a critical resource in advocating for economic expansion in this increasingly vital region, committing to do everything in his power to protect American economic and security interests in the Arctic. I congratulate Dr. Michael Sfraga on his confirmation and look forward to the progress he will usher in.”

    Prior to today’s vote, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor regarding the importance of confirming Dr. Sfraga. A video of her remarks can also be found here.

    Read the full speech below:

    “Mr. President, I have come to the Floor to speak to the nomination of Dr. Mike Sfraga, an Alaskan, to be our nation’s very first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. 

    As the person who recommended Dr. Sfraga, I’ve come to the Floor to reiterate my strong support for his nomination, and to urge the Senate to ensure we are no longer the only Arctic nation that does not have an Arctic ambassador. 

    I want to speak to two specific considerations: why we need to focus on the Arctic, and why Dr. Sfraga is the right person for this important role. 

    First, the Arctic.  I won’t detail the entire history; I would just ask you to think about the past couple months alone. 

    On July 24, Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint patrol for the first time off the coast of Alaska.  While the Russians regularly fly into our Air Defense Identification Zone, our “ADIZ” – I don’t ever recall hearing of the Chinese flying into the area, let alone on a joint mission.

    The day after Russia and China’s joint exercise, I would have told you that this escalation was the most disturbing thing we’d see this year.  But unfortunately, our adversaries quickly found a way to top that – upping the ante even further.

    On September 10, Russia began its massive, weeklong, worldwide Ocean-24 exercise with hundreds of warships, more than a hundred aircraft, and nearly 100,000 troops.  The exercise, the largest since the fall of the Soviet Union, also saw Chinese participation.  Between its start and end, NORAD and the Air Forces stationed in Alaska detected, tracked, and intercepted four different Russian incursions into the Alaska ADIZ. 

    In previous years, we’ve come to expect six or seven incursions a year.  So think about that: in just five days, our air defenses were tested almost as much as they tend to be tested in any given year.  We are now way ahead on publicly-reported intercepts this year—up to 10, with three months left.

    There has also been an unprecedented level of naval activity off the coast of Alaska.  During that same Russian exercise, the U.S. Coast Guard detected four Russian naval vessels 50 miles to the northwest of Point Hope in Alaska.  The vessels moved to avoid sea ice in the area during their exercise—which is accepted under international law–but that brought them 50 miles into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

    Hearing that, I can’t help but think back to when Russian warships chased Alaska fishermen out of an area within our EEZ back in August 2020.  And these are hardly isolated incidents.  Last August, the Coast Guard detected and shadowed a Russian intelligence ship operating off the Aleutians.  This past July, the Coast Guard detected and shadowed a Chinese Surface Action Group within our EEZ in the Bering Sea.

    I could also remind the Senate of the Chinese surveillance balloons that transited above Alaska and the Arctic last year. 

    I could remind the Senate of a lot more events and incidents that warrant greater attention, policy, and resources for the Arctic.  

    What I hope we can agree is that this an unprecedented time for the region.  Normally we think of the Arctic as “High North, Low Tension.”  But right now, it’s “High North, Rising Tension.”  And one thing that is absolutely missing is a Senate-confirmed diplomat, who will spend his or her time focused on Arctic issues, working with our allies, and engaging our adversaries. 

    The United States is alone in having inadequate diplomatic representation in the Arctic.  It’s not that no one at State Department is thinking about the region; it’s that no one, at a high level, is specifically tasked with and responsible for and empowered to lead the way. 

    So, we need an Arctic Ambassador.  When we established this position in August 2022, I hoped it would mark a more serious effort to lead and maintain a rules-based order in the region.  But it’s been two years, and only now are we able to confirm a highly capable, well-qualified individual to actually do that work. 

    Which brings me to Dr. Sfraga.  He was nominated in February 2023.  His nomination was favorably reported by the Foreign Relations Committee in March 2024.  And today, we have the chance to confirm him. 

    I would contend that there is no one better suited to be the first person in this role than Dr. Sfraga.  For all of the questions that some have raised about him, I would argue that we know exactly what we are getting. 

    Dr. Sfraga has dedicated himself to a career of service to the Arctic and our nation. 

    He is an accomplished geographer, researcher, and teacher, with a PhD from the University of Alaska.

    He helped establish the University of the Arctic, and co-created and co-led the State Department’s Fulbright Arctic Initiative. 

    He established the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, which has become the “Arctic Public Square” for high-level conversations about the Far North. 

    And, he Chairs the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, which advises Congress and the President on international Arctic research.

    Dr. Sfraga has decades of experience, deep expertise, and strong relationships with Arctic leaders.  Our allies support him, our Arctic partners support him, Alaskans support him, and I support him.  He is clear-eyed about the strategic realities of the Arctic and the intentions of our adversaries.  He understands how to position the United States to lead in the Arctic and to protect our national security interests.  His vast experience means he knows how to handle Russia and China – across the interagency process and with allies and partners – through a position of strength.

    Some have argued that Dr. Sfraga’s past interactions with regional players disqualify him from serving in this role.  But remember: he’s an Alaskan.  We share a maritime border with Russia.  We used to have regular nonstop air service to Russia.  That’s our part of the world, and when relations were better, it wasn’t uncommon for Alaskans to visit and work with and know people who lived there.

    Dr. Sfraga has been criticized for attending international forums, but remember: he was hardly the only American or U.S. government official in attendance at these events.  He’s just the only one being criticized for it, even though his participation helped give us a voice at those events.

    I also find it fascinating that some have criticized Dr. Sfraga’s past language as advocating for a “competition-free” Arctic.  I can tell you: that is how we spoke about the region for a long time.  We strived to establish a rules-based order that would protect our people and maintain low tensions.  Even former President Trump called for a “competition-free” Arctic.

    The criticisms that Dr. Sfraga has faced are a great way to ensure that the United States never has an Arctic ambassador – or that we ultimately confirm an individual who has never been there, knows little about it, and won’t do anything to protect or advance our strategic interests. 

    To me, that would be a loss.  The Arctic is no longer an isolated, distant region.  It is a place of strategic importance, economic potential, and growing competition.  The United States must be prepared to lead – and that starts with representation.  Personnel is policy, and Dr. Sfraga is ready to take on this important role. 

    I urge the Senate to see through the attacks on Dr. Sfraga.  There is nothing in his past or in his file that is disqualifying.  We know exactly what we are getting; he has been a public figure, sharing his views of the Arctic, for years. 

    I thank those who have already offered their support for Dr. Sfraga, and would encourage the rest of my colleagues to be happy that we aren’t confirming yet another judge—but instead, a qualified Alaskan who can lead on Arctic matters from day one, at a time when that matters more than it has in decades. 

    I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting yes to confirm Dr. Sfraga and yield the Floor.”

    Background: Senator Murkowski is an internationally recognized leader on Arctic issues and is dedicated to strengthening America’s position as an Arctic nation. In October 2021, she and Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Arctic Diplomacy Act to establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs.

    Following Senator Murkowski’s persistent advocacy, the State Department announced in August 2022 that “the President plans to elevate the Arctic Coordinator position by appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region will advance U.S. policy in the Arctic, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic nations as well as Indigenous groups, and work closely with domestic stakeholders, including state, local, and Tribal governments, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, other federal government agencies and Congress.”

    Dr. Mike Sfraga is the first nominee for the new Ambassador-At-Large position. His official biography from the U.S. Arctic Research Commission appears below.

    “Dr. Michael Sfraga was the founding director of the Polar Institute and served as the director of the Global Risk and Resilience Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. He currently serves as chair and distinguished fellow in the Polar Institute, where his scholarship and public speaking focus on Arctic policy.

    “An Alaskan and a geographer by training, his work focuses on the changing geography of the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes, Arctic policy, and the impacts and implications of a changing climate on political, social, economic, environmental, and security regimes in the Arctic.

    “Sfraga served as distinguished co-lead scholar for the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative from 2015 to 2017, a complementary program to the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council; he held the same position from 2017 to 2019. He served as chair of the 2020 Committee of Visitors Review of the Section for Arctic Science (ARC), Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, and currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute for International Affairs. Sfraga previously served in several academic, administrative, and executive positions at the University of Alaska, including vice chancellor, associate vice president, faculty member, department chair, and associate dean. Sfraga earned the first PhD in geography and northern studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: School students put through challenging but rewarding test of fitness and skills in EIT competition | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    2 mins ago

    An EIT fitness competition has seen students from across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti put through their paces in Mahia recently.

    Students from across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti were put through their paces recently in an EIT competition that tested their skills, fitness and resilience.

    The competition, organised by EIT’s School of Trades and Technology, took place in Mahia last week and saw teams from East Coast and Wairoa College Services Academies and the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Trades Academy participate.

    The teams completed a 20km circuit throughout the night carrying logs, steel bars and military packs, and throughout the circuit they stopped and completed tasks such as putting up a 11 x 11 Army tent, a stretcher carry up Mokotahi hill and rope climb out of the river onto a bridge.

    Tairāwhiti Trades Academy was the first team home in 5hrs 14 mins, with all teams back to camp by 2am.

    EIT Trades and Technology Head of School, Todd Rogers, who completed the challenge himself, said that feedback had been positive and EIT would like to make it an annual event.

    “Absolutely awesome effort from all teams involved, a challenging yet rewarding introduction to life in the New Zealand Defence Force.”

    “I’d like to make special mention to the team from Wairoa College Services Academy who were mostly year 10 students with one year 12 and performed to a high standard coming in third place. It would be great to see as many students as possible transition into EIT’s Services Pathway programme or straight into the NZDF.”

    Todd thanked Defence Careers and East Coast Company of 5/7 Infantry regiment for their support.

    The Trades Academy, at EIT’s Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay campuses, works with secondary schools to provide year-long trades programmes to help students achieve NCEA Level 2 or 3 and prepare for higher-level study. The Trades Academy offers programmes that include automotive, trade skills, hair and beauty, hospitality, agriculture, and health and fitness. Students attend Trades Academy each week, gaining  vocational skills and getting hands on experience.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BERKS COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Legislative Leaders to Highlight New Tax Cuts in 2024-25 Bipartisan Budget that Lower Costs for Pennsylvania Families, Particularly the Cost of Childcare

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    September 25, 2024 – Reading, PA

    ADVISORY – BERKS COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Legislative Leaders to Highlight New Tax Cuts in 2024-25 Bipartisan Budget that Lower Costs for Pennsylvania Families, Particularly the Cost of Childcare

    Governor Josh Shapiro will visit Second Street Learning Center, which provides care for children ranging from 6 weeks to 13 years of age in the Reading community, to highlight the new tax cuts included in the 2024-25 budget that will lower costs for Pennsylvania’s families while fostering economic growth for employers across the Commonwealth.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Modesto Fiume, President, Opportunity House
    Jennifer Stepp, Lead Teacher, Second Street Learning Center
    Lucine Sihelnik, President, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
    Senator Judy Schwank
    Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz

    WHEN:
    Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 12:15 PM

    WHERE:
    Second Street Learning Center – Opportunity House
    430 N. 2nd St.
    Reading, PA 19601

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Surety Health Brings Profits to Corporations and Newfound NIL Funds to Universities and Colleges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Surety Health, Inc. has recently partnered with Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton, FL, a Tier 1 National Research Institution by supporting the university’s athletic departments in the NCAA’s American Athletic Conference. This partnership will cause a percentage of corporate profits from other companies to help increase the university’s athletic department NIL initiative which refers to the rights of college athletes to control and profit from their name, image and likeness.

    J. Stephen Leach, CEO founded the company in 2022 through a vision to use a specific tax law in the American Healthcare Act of 2017 passed by the 115th congress to increase profits in excess of $100 million for employers in the Palm Beach County area. This partnership with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is also causing greater exposure to some of the nation’s largest employers to help increase company profits while also benefiting their employees.

    Surety Health will also partner with a dozen or so other universities in a similar capacity to increase the company’s value by $1 billion per university for its shareholders.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Celebrates 10 years of Farm and Food Awareness Week with Support to Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    This year’s theme is ‘Sustainable Agriculture: Feeding the Future’

    September 13, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    The governments of Canada and Manitoba are encouraging all Manitobans to learn more about the important role that agriculture producers play in ensuring that our agri-food system remains diverse, safe and sustainable by attending at least one of the many events around the province celebrating the 10th annual Farm and Food Awareness Week, September 16th-20th, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.

    To support K-12 teachers and students in learning about the importance of agriculture in Manitoba, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable-CAP), the governments of Canada and Manitoba have provided $400,000 to Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba. Funding will be used for the Amazing Agriculture Adventure Program, which helps students and teachers learn about Manitoba agriculture, eating local, and opportunities in Manitoba’s agriculture sector.

    As a part of the celebrations minister Kostyshyn has proclaimed Wednesday, September 18 as Local Veggie Day to celebrate Manitoba vegetable farmers, local vegetables and initiatives across the province that nourish and support families and communities.

    This year’s events include:

    • The launch event, Discover Agriculture on the Farm, is a family friendly event at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre on Sunday, September 15 where urban and rural communities can come together to discover where our food comes from.
    • Manitoba Agriculture has also launched the ‘selfie challenge’ on X (formerly known as Twitter) to highlight the diversity of the province’s agri-food industry. Manitobans are encouraged to follow @MBGovAg and share their passion for the industry by posting photographs of themselves at farms or enjoying meals made with Manitoba foods, accompanied by #FacesofMBAg and #FarmFoodAwarenessWeek.
    • In conjunction with Farm and Food Awareness Week, Manitoba’s Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program, has launched a video to demonstrate Manitoba producers’ ongoing commitment to sustainability.

    The Sustainable CAP is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

    Quotes

    “Farm and Food Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the vital contributions our farming communities make. This funding for Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba will help students right across Manitoba learn more about how their food is produced and grow their passion for agriculture.”

    – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

    “Manitoba’s farmers and producers play a critical role in feeding our province and the world, and growing our economy. Celebrating and learning about the many people who ensure our food goes from farm to table in the safest, most efficient and sustainable way possible is an important way for agricultural producers get the recognition they deserve.”

    – Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

    “We are incredibly grateful to the governments of Canada and Manitoba for their visionary support, which has been vital to the success and growth of Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba. This partnership not only demonstrates the province’s confidence in our mission but also highlights the government’s strong commitment to the future of agriculture. By investing in our programs and resources, the Manitoba government is ensuring that our students and educators, especially in rural, remote, Francophone and Indigenous communities, have the tools they need to understand and engage with our province’s vibrant agri-food sector. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving agricultural industry supported by future generations of informed and inspired Manitobans.”

    – Katharine Cherewyk, Executive Director, Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba

    Quick facts

    • Over 48% of Manitoba farms have participated in the EFP since the program began and remains the primary tool to guide Manitoba producers in best practices ensuring sustainability on the farm.

    • Nearly 40,000 Manitobans work in the agricultural industry, contributing significantly to Manitoba’s economy.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Ottawa, Ontario
    613-773-7972
    1-866-345-7972
    aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
    Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Manitoba media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.

    Manitoba media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Houlahan Bipartisan Bill to Improve STEM Education Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Representative Chrissy Houlahan’s (D-PA) bipartisan bill, the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act, passed the House of Representatives unanimously. Houlahan led this bill with her Republican colleague, Representative Jim Baird (R-IN). The legislation would support the modernization of math curriculum by providing grants to K-12 schools teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in innovative ways. This funding will help schools update their math curriculum to make it more relevant and applicable to real-world scenarios, a needed investment as these skills become more and more relevant in today’s job market.  

    “Improving STEM education in our Commonwealth and across the country has been a priority for me since joining Congress,” said Houlahan. “I’m thrilled my colleagues agreed and passed my bill unanimously through the House. This legislation will ensure the next generation — our future STEM workforce — are more equipped to tackle 21st-century problems that enable U.S. innovation and leadership.” 

    The Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act would direct the National Science Foundation to use $10 million of its previously authorized funding to provide competitive grants to schools that are focused on innovative mathematic and statistical modeling education, including computational and data-driven thinking. It will also direct the National Academies to conduct a study on the same topic. 

    A companion bill was introduced by Senators Hassan and Blackburn. 

    The legislation is supported by The American Statistical Association (ASA), The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), The Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP), The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Center for Innovation in Education (CIE) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA). 

    Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Calls for Allowing Ukrainian Use of NATO-Supplied Weapons in Russia

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today called for allowing NATO-supplied weapons to be used by Ukraine within Russia during a commission hearing on “Russia’s Shadow War on NATO.”

    In his opening remarks, Congressman Cohen said that, now more than ever, Vladimir Putin “wants to weaken and destabilize the West,” including through the use of disinformation campaigns aimed at interfering in our elections to help Donald Trump.

    Congressman Cohen also noted that Ukraine is asking to use offensive weapons inside Russia, adding: “and I support their request.”

    He continued: “I think they need to go forward with offensive weapons and strike into Russia and bring the war home to the Russian people. This is ludicrous – to allow Russia to attack and kill Ukrainians, destroy cultural objects, destroy cities with reckless disregard for life. Hit schools, hit hospitals and senior facilities – and Ukraine is not supposed to go into Russia? That’s crazy. I mean both your arms are tied behind your back and tied behind it, unfortunately, by my government, our government, which is supporting Ukraine — and we’ve done a lot — but we’ve been slow in doing it…This war would have been much closer to ending – on Ukraine’s terms, but ending – if we’d have given them those weapons earlier.”

    See his entire opening statement here.

    See his questions to the witnesses here.

    Witnesses at today’s hearing were:

    • Mr. Erkki Tori, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Estonia;
    • Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt, Senior Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania; and
    • Mr. Michael Weiss, Investigative Journalist and Author

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $387,750 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO MERCER UNIVERSITY TO HELP TREAT DRUG ADDICTION

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    MACON, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is pleased to announce that Mercer University has been awarded $387,750 in federal funds by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs for biochemistry research that will help address the opioid epidemic and the additional complications arising from illicit contamination with fentanyl and xylazine.

    “I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is supporting the amazing research being done at Mercer University,” said Congressman Bishop. “Through the tireless efforts of faculty and staff to better understand the biochemistry of illicit drugs, we can develop new ways to treat addiction and help prevent drug abuse.”

    “The widespread adulteration of fentanyl with xylazine has worsened the ongoing U.S. opioid epidemic, as the addition of xylazine causes new clinical consequences, including severe skin necrosis,” said Dr. Nader H. Moniri, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research at Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Co-Principal Investigator of the study. “This NIH grant is vital for advancing the understanding of how xylazine use destroys skin tissue at a molecular level. By investigating these processes, we aim to identify pathways for developing more effective treatments and interventions.”

    Xylazine is a non-opiate sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant only authorized in the United States for veterinary use according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is not currently a controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the prevalence of xylazine is increasing, spreading beyond the traditional white-powder heroin markets in the northeastern United States where it has been seen for several years.

    The research supported by this grant will help better understand how xylazine affects individuals. The findings may be helpful in developing clinical treatments to counteract the negative effects seen with illicit use of the drug or substances contaminated with it.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: UNICEF – Leading global businesses and organisations join UNICEF to demand increased investment and action on child and youth mental health

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    An open letter, signed by more than 40 entities and published at the UN General Assembly, calls for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the mental health funding gap.
    Today, (overnight NZ time) at an innovative financing for mental health event at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), UNICEF and the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health launched an open letter, signed by more than 40 businesses and organisations, calling for greater investment and action on child and youth mental health globally.
    Supported by UNICEF Coalition members, including Jo Malone London, lululemon, Pinterest, Spotify, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd and Z Zurich Foundation, and joined by global businesses and organizations, such as Capgemini, Dove, Kleenex, LEGO Foundation, Les Mills, Movember, Pandora, Tim Bergling Foundation, and United for Global Mental Health, the letter urges a coordinated multi-sectoral response to address the global mental health funding gap of at least US$200 billion.
    Increased funding is critical to supporting child and youth mental health, especially in the face of continued challenges that existed long before the pandemic, including climate change, global humanitarian crises, online risks and historic underinvestment in its promotion, prevention and care.
    One in seven adolescents worldwide are living with a mental health condition – with most cases going undetected and untreated. This is exacerbated by limited resources. On average less than 2 per cent of global government health expenditures is spent on mental health for the general population, while only a very small proportion of these funds goes towards children’s mental health services.
    “The private sector has a unique capacity to foster mental health and wellbeing, through their substantial influence within their workforces, through their services and customers, and globally. By leveraging their resources, expertise and influence, UNICEF and partners can contribute to comprehensive, accessible, and effective solutions that address the diverse needs of children, young people, caregivers and communities at large to promote mental health and wellbeing on a global scale,” said UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships Carla Haddad Mardini.
    UNICEF’s Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health and its members are calling for wider recognition, investment and responsibility from the business community, and private and public sectors to drive forward progress.
    Jo Dancey, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Jo Malone London said: “Too many children and young people are living with mental health conditions, but don’t have access to support or treatment. As a global brand and a UNICEF Coalition member, we care deeply about this issue and the need for change. By signing this letter alongside over 40 businesses and organizations, we are highlighting the need for global leaders to act early to support the mental health of children, young people and caregivers globally.”
    Katarina Berg, General Manager Sweden + CHRO, Sustainability, Global Workplace Services at Spotify, said: “We are proud of our ongoing partnership with UNICEF and we remain committed to making a meaningful impact on improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our listeners, artists, and creators.”
    Wanji Walcott, Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer at Pinterest, said “At Pinterest, we’re creating an inspirational and positive online experience for young people everywhere. Supporting youth mental health and wellbeing is foundational to our mission and this work requires everyone coming together. We’re proud to partner with UNICEF and other coalition members to leverage our collective resources and help tackle the mental health funding gap.”
    Gary Shaughnessy, Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation, said: “We are dedicated to relentlessly contributing to mental wellbeing programmes which can best support youth to thrive in all aspects of their life. It’s encouraging to witness the positive response from various sectors to our call for increased investment in mental health globally. Although there is still much work to be done, these efforts will significantly help to address the mental health needs of all young people, particularly those who are most vulnerable.”
    Other supporting signatories of the letter include Orange and the Solterre Foundation, as well as key global mental health actors, such as the MHPSS Collaborative, the Healthy Brains Global Initiative, Prospira Global and Vertentes, among others.
    This is a critical year for addressing child and youth mental health as a global issue, with actions taken now paving the way to the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health in September 2025, which will culminate in the publication of an outcome document with commitments across member states.
    The Open Letter to global leaders gathering for UNGA 79 and the Summit for the Future says:
    ‘As you gather for the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week and the Summit of the Future, we, over 40 businesses, organizations and supporters from over 20 countries, together with the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health led by UNICEF – are calling for increased investment in and action on child and youth mental health globally. Historic underinvestment in mental health promotion, prevention and care and ongoing stigma and discrimination, accompanied by the impact of COVID-19 and persisting global challenges, are affecting child and youth mental health in every country. While demand for support is increasing, global investment is not even meeting the current levels of need.
    Mental health determines emotional, intellectual, physical and social well-being. It shapes how we think, feel and act and confers our ability to handle stress, build and manage relationships, and make choices that affect not only our own lives, but also those of the
    people around us. Mental health is important at every stage of life, especially for children and young people. When child and youth mental health is prioritized the impact on young lives both now and for the future is significant, including improved quality of life, increased likelihood of completing education, long-term economic returns, and lower rates of premature mortality [1]. However, the consequences of failing to address child and youth mental health conditions extend into adulthood. Fifty per cent of mental health conditions develop before the age of 14 and have the potential of impairing both physical and mental health and limiting children’s opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.[2] Additionally, suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among 15- to 19-year-olds globally.[3]
    The global annual mental health finance gap is estimated to be at least $200 billion.[4] Most countries around the world allocate relatively small budgets to support health systems, and within those budgets an even smaller proportion, just 2 per cent on average [5], is directed towards mental health support – including much-needed child and youth mental health services. This critical funding gap must be addressed so we can collectively meet the urgent mental health needs of future generations.
    It is estimated that, due to mental health conditions, we lose nearly US$390 billion worth of human capital that could go towards national economies each year.[6] We must promote a multi-sectoral response to achieve change. Both the private and the public sectors have a key role to play through investment and influence, to break this cycle and shape our collective future.
    The Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health calls for increased investment in mental health across all countries and in all sectors and settings, including in humanitarian crises, that meets the mental health needs of all young people, especially those most in need. We urge governments to increase their domestic spending on mental health within relevant budgets including health, education and social services, as well as scale funding for mental health and psychosocial support within international development assistance. This should include targeted financing for children and youth.
    Acting early to support children, youth and caregivers is the best investment we can make to promote good mental health, prevent poor mental health, and respond to the complex mental health issues children face today. We urge you to prioritize child and youth mental health now.
    We are calling for global leaders across the public and private sectors to invest in:
    – Ensuring every child, youth and caregiver globally can access support for their mental health: This means increasing access to quality and holistic mental health support provided across sectors, by investing in promotion, prevention and care for children, youth and caregivers, with a focus on community-based care that is effective, sustainable, age sensitive and culturally appropriate.
    – Filling the evidence gaps on child and youth mental health: This means improving data and increasing research to better understand who is affected in each context and what works for specific at-risk groups, and to further expand our ability to respond across age groups, with a focus on promotion and prevention. This investment should aim to future-proof our response, ensuring resilience during pressing global challenges such as in humanitarian emergencies and climate and ecological crises.
    – Developing internal strategies and practices: This includes fostering employees’ mental health and well-being by encompassing mental health support within the workplace and developing and adapting products or services offered by the company and in the wider community. This includes initiatives tailored for youth and caregivers employed in the organizations.
    Though our inner worlds are often unseen, our actions should not be. Child and youth mental health is ‘On Our Minds’.’
    Full list of signatories:
    UNICEF Coalition Member signatories:
    Jo Malone London, lululemon, Pinterest, Spotify, Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
    Supported by:
    Cape Mental Health, Capgemini, ChildFund International, Darbar Sahitya Sansada, Dove, Family first nurseries, Global Mental Health Lab, Columbia University, Health Brains Global Initiative, Health Poverty Action, Instituto Vita Alere de Prevencao e Posvencao do Suicidio, Kleenex, League for Mental Health in Slovakia, LEGO Foundation, Les Mills International Ltd, Little Lions Child Coaching NPC, Mental Wealth Initiative, The University of Sydney, MLAC institute for Psychosocial Services, Movember, Northern Cape Mental Health Society, Orange, Pandora, Partnership for Children, Professionals for Humanity (PROFOH), Prospira Global, Sehat Jiwa Bahagia, Soleterre Foundation, SoulBeeGood, Tanzania Community Health Information and Support (TaCHIS), The MHPSS Collaborative, Tim Bergling Foundation, Trusts Motion, United for Global Mental Health, Vertentes, War Child Alliance, Youth Association for Development Pakistan, YouthConnektAfrica.
    About the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health
    The Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health was established by UNICEF, with the support of the Z Zurich Foundation, to address the increasing global burden of mental health in young people by calling for investment and action on mental health. Current Coalition members include Jo Malone London, Pinterest, Sony, Spotify, Zurich Insurance Group and Z Zurich Foundation.
    Since its launch, the Coalition members have collectively invested over US$30 million in child and youth mental health, catalyzing significant impact in numerous countries. Its direct investment has globally empowered children and young people with tools, training, and awareness initiatives. This means that young people worldwide are equipped with the necessary resources to navigate their mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to face life’s challenges with resilience and confidence.
    About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
    UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Education and Training Amendment Bill — Third Reading – 001411

    Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard

    TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

    (continued on Wednesday, 25 September 2024)

    EDUCATION AND TRAINING AMENDMENT BILL

    Third Reading

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: The House is resumed. Good morning, members. Yesterday when we finished, the Education and Training Amendment Bill had been set down for third reading. I call the Hon David Seymour.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR (Associate Minister of Education): I present a legislative statement on the Education and Training Amendment Bill.

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliamentary website.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: I move, That the Education and Training Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

    I want to thank all of the people who have contributed to this legislation. I want to thank my colleague, the Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education—and I see Katie Nimon, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, along with other members of that committee, who shepherded the bill through the committee stage faster than usual but with no less care and attention, and made valuable improvements to this legislation. It has been a very good example of what Parliament can do when people are committed to a cause.

    I don’t believe that there’s any greater cause for this country’s long-term future than the simple equation of how much knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next. Because a knowledgeable and educated population can overcome whatever challenges we may face with the economy or foreign affairs or climate change or public health. An educated population will be able to solve those problems, but an uneducated population that hasn’t learnt the best knowledge from generations before them will be able to squander even great prosperity that this country currently has. That’s why it matters so much and that’s why I think we saw so much commitment from those people involved in this legislation, and perhaps more than any for the enormous detail that has been meticulously put together. I thank the employees at the Ministry of Education, the policy team, particularly Andy and Jen and all those who support them; they have done an absolutely outstanding job.

    What is the cause in this bill? Well, this bill has three parts; two of them, relatively simple, and one of them, more complex and, I would argue, ultimately more important. The first is that we are removing the network management requirement for early childhood education centres. This comes from many complaints from early childhood educators that it is absolutely insane that in order to open up a business that people in your community want, you have to go and ask the Government if the people in your community want it as much as you know they want it because you’re risking your money to do it. And yet somehow the people at the Government are supposed to have a better idea than you do.

    Members on the other side, we’re going to have a bit of a history lesson later in this speech, so don’t worry, that’s coming. But actually there’s a country called Russia where they tried this approach to economic management for about 70 years; it didn’t work. Even they’ve abandoned it. It’s only the Labour Party and the Greens that persist with trying to centrally plan economies with these kinds of decisions.

    So now you don’t have to do network management. If you want to expand or open a new early childhood education (ECE) centre, then you can just do it. But the real judge is the parents. And do you know what the parents say to me? When I go and visit ECE centres and I ask the parents, they say I want my child to be happy, I want them to be safe—

    Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan: Will they be?

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: I want them to be growing. I think parents of New Zealand are better—the Opposition is asking: is that what the parents say? Yes. And if the member would like to visit some of these centres or, you know, venture out of academia or out of this House, he might find that is what the parents say. And actually, I think the parents are better to judge it than the Government.

    The second thing we’re doing is we’re updating the attendance records. It’s interesting, Madam Speaker. The attendance records actually are set under 1951 regulation, which was made under 1914 legislation. So you could almost argue—not quite, but almost—that our attendance regulations predate World War I, and this is a Government of the future. So we are going to update the way that attendance regulations are made. Every day from next year, every school student management system will be pushing rich data about student attendance into the Ministry of Education’s data warehouse so we can understand who’s not attending and we can start to dig into why, and we can start to work out if the things the Government and schools are doing to improve attendance—and parents, for that matter—are working so that we can do more of the things that work and less of the things that don’t. It sounds simple. To most New Zealanders, to most people in business or running a farm or their household, it is simple; it’s how you do business every day. And it’s actually how this Government is going to start getting stuck into the business of getting children back to school.

    But coming to charter schools, we’re introducing the simple idea that not every insight into how to engage children in learning and pass that knowledge from one generation to the next can be found in the Ministry of Education or Wellington, or even amongst the wise members of Parliament in this House. Sometimes the best knowledge exists out in the community.

    Mariameno Kapa-Kingi: Most times.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: Sometimes those—”most times”, the Māori party say, and I actually for once think Te Pāti Māori are right. You’ll notice when I talked about communist adherence, I talked about Labour and the Greens, not the free-market Te Pāti Māori for whom I have great hope. If they could just get over themselves, I think they could contribute a lot to this House and life in New Zealand.

    It’s not surprising, because the iwi leaders forum have written to me in strong support of charter schools, because they know that communities know more about how to engage their children than the people in Wellington most of the time. So we’re going to invite people in communities to start up schools and they’re going to get the money the State would have spent on the same child at a State school. It’s going to go to the school they choose to go to if—and this is important—high standards are met. If high standards of attendance are contracted in, if high standards of achievement are contracted in, if they show that they’re using their money wisely with financial probity, then they will continue to get their money and they will be able to use that money for the best effect, to get those children at school engaged, achieving, and learning, so that they can actually learn skills that turn into qualifications, that turn into jobs, that turn into careers, that turn into a sense of achievement and feeling good about yourself. That’s why we’re doing it.

    I heard last night from the Labour Party that they would like to shut these schools down. Now, their bark’s worse than their bite. They didn’t do it last time. All the schools carried on, but with one change; that they don’t want them to operate without union contracts. You see, that’s the thing about these charter schools; teachers get paid, like most New Zealanders, on individual employment agreements, and if they’re good they can get paid more, and if they’re not good they can get fired.

    Here’s why that matters. We run education for the children. You see, the thing is—I was looking at some statistics the other day—we spent $20 billion a year on education; 60,000 kids are born in this country every year. If you do the maths—it can be challenging on the other side, but that is $330,000 per citizen, lifetime education spending. And yet what do we get for that? I look at the UE, the university entrance achievement, and for the most prosperous, wealthy and advantaged students, 82 percent get UE, but for the most disadvantaged students 30 percent get UE.

    Now, I said there was a lecture coming. There’s an old book called The God That Failed, and the God that fails is the stories of former adherents of the Communist Party who realised it didn’t work and left. They wrote this book and it’s a wonderful set of essays. Now, I would put it to the Labour Party that when you spend $330,000 per citizen and the most disadvantaged students are nearly three times less likely to get university entrance than the most advantaged students, your God has failed. Sorry Labour, your God has failed, because you spent all the money but the wealthy kids from the good backgrounds are still doing pretty good and the poor kids you were supposed to help are still failing.

    That’s why I’m proud to be here in this Government, standing as an ACT MP, setting up schools that allow people to choose their own destiny. Tino rangatiratanga, we might call it—the ability of people to use the knowledge in their society, in their community, to take the funding that the Government would have funded and use it—you’d have provided for those children—for better effect: to make sure that children have that opportunity to feel good about themselves, to learn, to engage, to have it done their way, not to feel unsafe or bullied, but to actually go along and build their own future, not only for themselves, each in their own way, but for the future of this great country of ours. That is what this policy of charter schools really means for the future of our country.

    I challenge the Opposition. Where are your ideas other than more money for our union mates? Not for teachers but for the unions, because that’s what it comes down to at the end of the day. Charter schools don’t have to use the unions’ contracts. That is what we are here to end, to give freedom and choice to New Zealanders to make their own future. I’m sorry, Labour, your God’s failed.

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Tuesday, 24 September 2024 (continued on Wednesday, 25 September 2024) – Volume 778 – 001412

    Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard

    TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

    (continued on Wednesday, 25 September 2024)

    EDUCATION AND TRAINING AMENDMENT BILL

    Third Reading

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: The House is resumed. Good morning, members. Yesterday when we finished, the Education and Training Amendment Bill had been set down for third reading. I call the Hon David Seymour.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR (Associate Minister of Education): I present a legislative statement on the Education and Training Amendment Bill.

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliamentary website.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: I move, That the Education and Training Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

    I want to thank all of the people who have contributed to this legislation. I want to thank my colleague, the Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education—and I see Katie Nimon, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, along with other members of that committee, who shepherded the bill through the committee stage faster than usual but with no less care and attention, and made valuable improvements to this legislation. It has been a very good example of what Parliament can do when people are committed to a cause.

    I don’t believe that there’s any greater cause for this country’s long-term future than the simple equation of how much knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next. Because a knowledgeable and educated population can overcome whatever challenges we may face with the economy or foreign affairs or climate change or public health. An educated population will be able to solve those problems, but an uneducated population that hasn’t learnt the best knowledge from generations before them will be able to squander even great prosperity that this country currently has. That’s why it matters so much and that’s why I think we saw so much commitment from those people involved in this legislation, and perhaps more than any for the enormous detail that has been meticulously put together. I thank the employees at the Ministry of Education, the policy team, particularly Andy and Jen and all those who support them; they have done an absolutely outstanding job.

    What is the cause in this bill? Well, this bill has three parts; two of them, relatively simple, and one of them, more complex and, I would argue, ultimately more important. The first is that we are removing the network management requirement for early childhood education centres. This comes from many complaints from early childhood educators that it is absolutely insane that in order to open up a business that people in your community want, you have to go and ask the Government if the people in your community want it as much as you know they want it because you’re risking your money to do it. And yet somehow the people at the Government are supposed to have a better idea than you do.

    Members on the other side, we’re going to have a bit of a history lesson later in this speech, so don’t worry, that’s coming. But actually there’s a country called Russia where they tried this approach to economic management for about 70 years; it didn’t work. Even they’ve abandoned it. It’s only the Labour Party and the Greens that persist with trying to centrally plan economies with these kinds of decisions.

    So now you don’t have to do network management. If you want to expand or open a new early childhood education (ECE) centre, then you can just do it. But the real judge is the parents. And do you know what the parents say to me? When I go and visit ECE centres and I ask the parents, they say I want my child to be happy, I want them to be safe—

    Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan: Will they be?

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: I want them to be growing. I think parents of New Zealand are better—the Opposition is asking: is that what the parents say? Yes. And if the member would like to visit some of these centres or, you know, venture out of academia or out of this House, he might find that is what the parents say. And actually, I think the parents are better to judge it than the Government.

    The second thing we’re doing is we’re updating the attendance records. It’s interesting, Madam Speaker. The attendance records actually are set under 1951 regulation, which was made under 1914 legislation. So you could almost argue—not quite, but almost—that our attendance regulations predate World War I, and this is a Government of the future. So we are going to update the way that attendance regulations are made. Every day from next year, every school student management system will be pushing rich data about student attendance into the Ministry of Education’s data warehouse so we can understand who’s not attending and we can start to dig into why, and we can start to work out if the things the Government and schools are doing to improve attendance—and parents, for that matter—are working so that we can do more of the things that work and less of the things that don’t. It sounds simple. To most New Zealanders, to most people in business or running a farm or their household, it is simple; it’s how you do business every day. And it’s actually how this Government is going to start getting stuck into the business of getting children back to school.

    But coming to charter schools, we’re introducing the simple idea that not every insight into how to engage children in learning and pass that knowledge from one generation to the next can be found in the Ministry of Education or Wellington, or even amongst the wise members of Parliament in this House. Sometimes the best knowledge exists out in the community.

    Mariameno Kapa-Kingi: Most times.

    Hon DAVID SEYMOUR: Sometimes those—”most times”, the Māori party say, and I actually for once think Te Pāti Māori are right. You’ll notice when I talked about communist adherence, I talked about Labour and the Greens, not the free-market Te Pāti Māori for whom I have great hope. If they could just get over themselves, I think they could contribute a lot to this House and life in New Zealand.

    It’s not surprising, because the iwi leaders forum have written to me in strong support of charter schools, because they know that communities know more about how to engage their children than the people in Wellington most of the time. So we’re going to invite people in communities to start up schools and they’re going to get the money the State would have spent on the same child at a State school. It’s going to go to the school they choose to go to if—and this is important—high standards are met. If high standards of attendance are contracted in, if high standards of achievement are contracted in, if they show that they’re using their money wisely with financial probity, then they will continue to get their money and they will be able to use that money for the best effect, to get those children at school engaged, achieving, and learning, so that they can actually learn skills that turn into qualifications, that turn into jobs, that turn into careers, that turn into a sense of achievement and feeling good about yourself. That’s why we’re doing it.

    I heard last night from the Labour Party that they would like to shut these schools down. Now, their bark’s worse than their bite. They didn’t do it last time. All the schools carried on, but with one change; that they don’t want them to operate without union contracts. You see, that’s the thing about these charter schools; teachers get paid, like most New Zealanders, on individual employment agreements, and if they’re good they can get paid more, and if they’re not good they can get fired.

    Here’s why that matters. We run education for the children. You see, the thing is—I was looking at some statistics the other day—we spent $20 billion a year on education; 60,000 kids are born in this country every year. If you do the maths—it can be challenging on the other side, but that is $330,000 per citizen, lifetime education spending. And yet what do we get for that? I look at the UE, the university entrance achievement, and for the most prosperous, wealthy and advantaged students, 82 percent get UE, but for the most disadvantaged students 30 percent get UE.

    Now, I said there was a lecture coming. There’s an old book called The God That Failed, and the God that fails is the stories of former adherents of the Communist Party who realised it didn’t work and left. They wrote this book and it’s a wonderful set of essays. Now, I would put it to the Labour Party that when you spend $330,000 per citizen and the most disadvantaged students are nearly three times less likely to get university entrance than the most advantaged students, your God has failed. Sorry Labour, your God has failed, because you spent all the money but the wealthy kids from the good backgrounds are still doing pretty good and the poor kids you were supposed to help are still failing.

    That’s why I’m proud to be here in this Government, standing as an ACT MP, setting up schools that allow people to choose their own destiny. Tino rangatiratanga, we might call it—the ability of people to use the knowledge in their society, in their community, to take the funding that the Government would have funded and use it—you’d have provided for those children—for better effect: to make sure that children have that opportunity to feel good about themselves, to learn, to engage, to have it done their way, not to feel unsafe or bullied, but to actually go along and build their own future, not only for themselves, each in their own way, but for the future of this great country of ours. That is what this policy of charter schools really means for the future of our country.

    I challenge the Opposition. Where are your ideas other than more money for our union mates? Not for teachers but for the unions, because that’s what it comes down to at the end of the day. Charter schools don’t have to use the unions’ contracts. That is what we are here to end, to give freedom and choice to New Zealanders to make their own future. I’m sorry, Labour, your God’s failed.

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Lifting education outcomes for young Kiwis

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the passing of the Education and Training Amendment Bill shows the Government is making significant progress to lift education outcomes.

    “Establishing charter schools, lifting attendance, and streamlining early learning regulations are all essential to raising achievement. This legislation will set in motion the system changes that need to happen to make the education system more flexible and responsive to the needs of students and their families,” says Mr Seymour.   

    The passing of this bill amends the Education and Training Act 2020 and will: 

    • Set out the framework on how charter schools will be set up, operate, and be monitored. This includes the establishment of the Authorisation Board   
    • Remove the requirement for early learning providers to get an ECE network approval before applying for a licence to establish a new service
    • Empower the Secretary of Education to set out the rules and requirements for state-schools, including state integrated schools, to submit attendance data to the Ministry of Education.  

    “Now that the legal framework for charter schools is in place the next step is to announce the members of the Authorisation Board. I will announce this shortly. The Board will be responsible for approving new charter schools, overseeing their performance, and intervening where they are not meeting their contracted performance outcomes.” says Mr Seymour.  

    “Once the Board approves sponsors, the Charter School Agency will proceed with finalising their contracts. The Agency is also working hard to enable the first charter schools to open in term one, 2025. 

    “We’re also promoting more choice in the ECE sector, making it easier for more services to open up and respond to demand. Bureaucracy has dictated when and where early childhood centres can open by making licensing dependent on ECE network approval since 1 February 2023.  

    “Providers and parents are best placed to decide where early learning services should be established. Where there is demand, providers will follow. New services shouldn’t be hindered by bureaucracy. 

    “This bill also gives the legislative green light for new rules to be created about attendance records. The introduction of this rule-making power supports the requirement for schools to provide attendance data daily that is being introduced through new attendance regulations planned to come into force for Term 1 2025. 

    “Changes are being made so that schools will be ready to submit daily attendance data in term one 2025. Select kaupapa Māori education providers will begin their daily reporting in mid-2025.  

    “Daily attendance data will help us gauge whether our attendance initiatives are working as intended and keep track of trends. It can also help parents and schools to identify early signs of irregular attendance among students and respond appropriately before it becomes an issue. 

    “The future of New Zealand will be bleak if we are unable to transfer knowledge from one generation to the next. Education is intrinsically linked to economic growth – both personal and gross domestic product. These changes are to give every New Zealand child every opportunity to succeed.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Wicker Introduce Resolution Commemorating the 30th Anniversary Of the Eradication Of Polio In The Americas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    09.24.24

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced a resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of polio in the Americas, in which the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the region as being “polio-free” on September 29, 1994.  Nearly 60,000 children in the United States were reported to have polio in 1952, with more than 20,000 cases of paralysis.  The polio vaccine was discovered at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania by Jonas Salk and his research team between 1952 and 1953.  The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

    “Polio is a cruel disease, one that has historically caused considerable pain here in the United States, and abroad,” Durbin said. “But thanks to the effort of groups like Chicago’s Rotary International, today, polio remains endemic in only two countries worldwide: Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The complete worldwide eradication of polio is imminently achievable.  I’m pleased to introduce this resolution with my colleague, Senator Wicker, recognizing the important achievements we have made and urging a sustained commitment to finally eradicate this disease once and for all.”

    “We are closer than ever to eliminating polio – thanks in part to consistent U.S. investments over the last 30 years. I will continue working to build on this momentum and strengthen eradication-initiatives, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan,”Wicker said.

    “The Shot@Life campaign thanks Senators Durbin and Wicker for introducing this bipartisan Resolution and for their longstanding leadership in the fight to end polio,” said Cara Ciullo, Senior Director for Shot@Life.  “The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a critical leader in the global effort to ensure children everywhere have access to polio vaccinations.  U.S. government support for these activities protects vulnerable children and strengthens global health security, keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.”

    “Rotary is delighted to see this resolution highlighting progress toward ending polio,” said Michael McGovern, Chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee. “While we celebrate the fact that the Americas have been polio free for more than a generation, we can’t become complacent. Polio anywhere is a risk everywhere. A polio free world is Rotary’s top priority and we are grateful for continued US leadership toward that shared goal.”

    In the resolution, the Senators highlight Rotary International, an international association founded in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, and now headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, which has made eradicating polio globally one of its top priorities.  Rotary International has been a key contributor to reducing outbreaks of polio worldwide, including contributing more than $2.7 billion in the global fight against polio.  Since 1988 the number of cases of polio around the world has been reduced by 99 percent, as a result of the efforts and support from Rotary International, WHO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Foundation, the United States, and other national governments.

     Text of the resolution can be found here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee On Supreme Court Ruling In Donald Trump Immunity Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    09.24.24

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “‘When the President Does It, that Means It’s Not Illegal’: The Supreme Court’s Unprecedented Immunity Decision.”  The hearing explored the ramifications of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. United States.  Durbin began by questioning Mary McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, a Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, and a former Department of Justice (DOJ) official about the Supreme Court majority opinion in Trump v. United States, which established a framework for determining presidential immunity.  In the framework, the justices stated that there is no immunity for unofficial acts; but evidence of immunized official conduct is inadmissible to secure convictions for prosecutable conduct, such as unofficial acts.

    “Professor McCord, as a former prosecutor, could you walk us through what prosecutors need to establish to successfully secure convictions, and exactly how this prohibition on evidence in Trump v. United States would prevent prosecutors from doing so?”  Durbin asked.

    Professor McCord responded that a prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt “every element of the offense charged.”  The majority’s opinion in Trump v. United States will hamstring prosecutions of conduct that the opinion does not immunize by prohibiting the introduction of evidence of official acts that would “help secure [a President’s] conviction, even on charges that purport to be based only on [their] unofficial conduct.”  In Professor McCord’s response, she referenced Justice Barrett’s concurrence, which argued that, “[t]he Constitution, of course, does not authorize a President to seek or accept bribes…[y]et excluding from trial any mention of the official act connected to the bribe would hamstring the prosecution.”

    Durbin continued, “Justice Barrett went on to argue that the majority’s concern that ‘allowing into evidence official acts for which the President cannot be prosecuted may prejudice the jury’ is already addressed by the rules of evidence, which ‘are equipped to handle that concern on a case-by-case basis.’  Do you agree with that?”

    Professor McCord responded that she agreed.  She continued to say, “that includes when evidence might be prejudicial than probative.”

    Durbin then asked Philip Lacovara, a former Deputy Solicitor General of the United States for criminal and national security matters and Counsel to the Watergate special prosecutor, about finding the basis of presidential immunity in the Constitution. 

    Mr. Lacovara replied that “this is one of the great ironies of the decision by Chief Justice Roberts.”  He continued to say, “it’s not just a question of not being able to find authority in the text of the Constitution—any form of immunity… for commission of crimes by a president—the Constitution clearly says the opposite.  The president is subject to impeachment… [the] text [of the Constitution] goes onto to say, ‘but the party convicted, that includes the president, should nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgement, and punishment according to law.’”  He states that the framers of the Constitution clearly demonstrated that the president is subject to the normal course of law. 

    Durbin concluded the hearing by stating, “Holding a hearing on the Supreme Court decision is almost routine in this committee… History will judge that it was the right thing to do in light of the gravity of this decision.  And secondly, questioning the ethics of the Supreme Court happens to be our responsibility under the Constitution.”

    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    On July 1, the Supreme Court’s rightwing supermajority ruled that not just Donald Trump—but also future presidents—may be immune from abusing the levers of government to overturn an election or engage in other misconduct. The Court held in a misguided 6-3 decision that “the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”

    Durbin previously condemned the ruling and announced this hearing, describing the decision as “judicial activism unmoored from the text of the Constitution and intentions of our framers” that “Congress cannot turn a blind eye to.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith urges U.S. to independently investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) sent a letter, cosigned by 102 of his colleagues, to urge the U.S. to investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.  

    See below for the full letter. 

    Dear President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Attorney General Garland: 

    On September 6, we learned about the fatal shooting in the West Bank of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle resident and recent graduate of the University of Washington. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Eygi’s family during this moment of tragedy, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. 

    We are deeply disturbed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) preliminary investigation that found “it is highly likely” Ms. Eygi “was hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her” during a “violent riot.” This contradicts credible, independent eyewitness accounts that suggest the shooting was intentional without provocation. A Washington Post investigation based on interviews with eyewitnesses and West Bank residents, photos, and videos indicates the shooting occurred “more than a half-hour after the height of confrontations in Beita, and some 20 minutes after protesters had moved down the main road — more than 200 yards away from Israeli forces.” 

    Given the evidence, we believe the United States must independently investigate whether this was a homicide. To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity. There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi’s death. We therefore call on the White House, State Department, and Department of Justice to lead an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi. This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family. 

    We request a written explanation provided to the family and the undersigned members to the following questions no later than October 4, 2024: 

    1. What does the U.S. government currently know about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Eygi’s killing? 

    1. Will the U.S. government conduct an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi? 

    1. What would be the proposed timeline and plan for such an investigation? 

    1. How will the U.S. government seek accountability if the Israeli government refuses to cooperate with such an investigation? 

    We appreciate your attention to these matters and look forward to your prompt response.” 

    A full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Ensuring First Nations children in Victoria are school ready

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Albanese Government is expanding the Connected Beginnings program, helping more First Nations children thrive in the crucial early years.

    Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today announced more than $2 million for Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative to deliver the Connected Beginnings program in Bairnsdale.

    The program connects First Nations children aged zero to five with a range of early childhood education, health and family support services – helping children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school.

    The new site will support around 100 local First Nations Children. The Bairnsdale site joins 46 other locations across the country supporting more than 23,000 First Nations children. 

    The community-led program is a key contributor to the early childhood Closing the Gap targets, driving an increase in preschool enrolments and improvements to developmental outcomes.

    The Government partners with SNAICC National Voice for our Children and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to deliver the program.

    The new Bairnsdale site is part of an $81.8 million Government investment to expand to 50 sites across Australia. Once all 50 sites are established, the program has the potential to support up to 20 per cent of all First Nations children aged zero to five.

    Other Connected Beginnings sites in Victoria include Ballarat, Mildura, Shepparton and Whittlesea.

    Once all Victorian sites are up and running the program will support around 1,700 First Nations children across the state.

    Learn more about the Connected Beginnings program at: education.gov.au/early-childhood/community-child-care-fund/connected-beginnings.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

    “All children, no matter their background or where they live, should be able to access the transformational benefits of quality early childhood education and care.

    “Connected Beginnings is delivering significant positive results for First Nations children right across the country, helping to Close the Gap by improving developmental outcomes.

    “The Connected Beginnings program is empowering communities to design and deliver the program in a way which supports their individual needs and aspirations.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Ged Kearney:

    “Labor is committed to closing the health gap that leads to a significantly lower life expectancy for First Nations people.

    “Connected Beginnings is all about centring the voices of First Nations Australian and a community-led approach.

    “From child care, to pre-school, to primary school, Connected Beginnings is setting First Nations kids up for best start in life.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Labor Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone:

    “The Connected Beginnings program is making a big difference for families across Australia and its expansion in Bairnsdale is a terrific outcome.

    “The first five years of a child’s life are the most important and this program will provide foundational support to First Nations children in the Gippsland community.

    “Kids thrive when they have the best support available, and Federal Labor’s more than $2 million commitment will help children develop the skills needed to make a successful transition to school.”

    Quotes attributable to SNAICC Chief Executive Catherine Liddle:

    “Through Connected Beginnings, more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Bairnsdale will benefit from culturally integrated services, including maternal and child health, early childhood education, and family support.

    “With Connected Beginnings, communities are empowered to customise and implement the program to meet their specific needs and aspirations, driving authentic progress. 

    “This initiative means around 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the region will receive access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate services, laying a solid foundation for their learning journey.”

    Quotes attributable from GEGAC CEO Kenton Winsley:

    “We have long known that the strength of GEGAC’s Early Years services is that the families are immediately connected to the wide range of other services that GEGAC provides. Everything from maternal and child health services to medical and dental, counselling services, and cultural education events; here on site are the full range of supports our families need to raise healthy, deadly kids.

    “Connected Beginnings is going to enable us to take that holistic, connected approach to the next level, by engaging with new partners, and further involving the community, so we are all working together in the best interests of these children.

    “Our community is where we draw our strength from. We know that when we involve community members and empower them to be advisors and advocates, we get better outcomes for our people.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Cleaver, Lee Introduce Bill to Prepare Workers and Next Generation for Technology Driven Workforce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would identify how artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies will change the workforce of the future and provide workers, teachers, and our nation’s students with the resources to develop integral skills required to participate in that workforce. U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    “With the rapid development of technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, there is boundless opportunity to boost innovation, productivity, and prosperity across the nation,” said Congressman Cleaver. “However, as with all new technologies, we must work to ensure the benefits will be distributed equitably across society. As has been highlighted by our work as co-chairs of CBC TECH2025, too often Black and Brown communities get left out when our leaders fail to make intelligent and proactive investments in growing a workforce that supports all Americans. To maximize the potential of these emerging technologies, the U.S. must ensure that we not only have a workforce capable of leading the world in these industries, but also that workers of every background and in every region share in the spoils. I’m proud to partner with Representative Lee and Senator Butler in introducing the Workforce of the Future Act to strengthen the pipeline of America’s technology workforce and safeguard our status as a global leader in innovation.”

    “With the advent of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, it’s essential that we ensure we don’t widen the digital divide that disproportionately harms people of color,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The Workforce of the Future Act will invest $250 million into preparing our students, teachers, and workers for the advanced technology jobs that will shape our future. This bill is about equity, and ensures that the opportunities of tomorrow are available to all communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in the tech sector.”

    The Workforce of the Future Act would require the Department of Labor (DOL), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Department of Education (ED) to conduct a study on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on job outlooks across sectors.

    This bill would also authorize $250 million in grant funding for labor organizations and state, local, and tribal entities managing education and workforce development programming to foster the development of emerging and advanced technology education in K-12 schools. It would also train a new generation of emerging and advanced technology teachers and provide workers with up-skilling and lifelong learning opportunities.

    Major concerns have been raised over the impact AI will have on the job market, particularly in the manufacturing, automobile, and entertainment industries. Throughout 2023, writers, musicians, and other entertainment industry workers held strikes in an attempt to prevent AI from supplanting their jobs.

    Concerns have also been raised about AI not impacting all communities equally. Many AI models are trained on biased data, leading to outcomes that disproportionately harm marginalized groups, especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. These biases can manifest in hiring practices, criminal justice systems, healthcare, and more.

    “Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly change the reality of work. We must continue to understand those impacts, ensuring that we adequately prepare America’s workers to thrive in the evolving job market,” said Senator Butler. “The purpose of this legislation is to solidify our commitment to today’s – as well as tomorrow’s – workers, preparing them to work in tandem with AI and to be ready for the jobs of the future.”

    “As advancements in AI rapidly increase, so do concerns regarding the potential effects of this technology on our workforce,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation will help protect American workers by identifying the impacts AI has on jobs, and investing in education and workforce development to better prepare our students, educators, and workers for the future.”

    Specifically, funding from the Workforce of the Future Act would be administered by the Labor and Education Departments and distributed as follows:

    1. $80,000,000 for the creation of K-12 educational programming utilizing emerging technology to foster interest in and increase exposure to science, technology, engineering, art, and math;
    2. $80,000,000 for initiatives to increase the development and recruitment of emerging and advanced technology teachers; and
    3. $90,000,000 for workforce development, upskilling, and lifelong learning programs specifically targeted towards workers in industries or occupations that are projected to see worker displacement as a result of AI adoption.

    The Workforce of the Future Act is endorsed by The Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Microsoft, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), the Urban League, and the California Department of Education.

    Official text of the Workforce of the Future Act is available here.

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mary Peltola’s flip-flop on biological men in women’s sports exposed

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 24, 2024

    Extreme Democrat Mary Peltola flip-flopped to allow biological men invading women’s sports, a new investigation revealed.

    “Democrat Mary Peltola’s shameless flip-flop isn’t just a betrayal of Alaska’s women and girls—it’s a full-blown assault on fairness in sports. Peltola has made it clear she’d rather pander to radical San Francisco leftists than represent Alaska values.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    Vulnerable Alaska Democrat’s Embrace of Transgenderism Could Cost Her In November
    Daily Wire
    Mary Margaret Olohan
    September 24, 2024

    When Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola ran for the Congress seat in 2022, she danced around addressing whether trans-identifying men should be allowed in women’s sports. Fairness is important, she indicated, but she needed to learn more.

    “I need to better acquaint myself with this issue, which I believe is more complicated than some make it out to be,” Peltola told the Anchorage Daily News in August 2022. “My starting point is that sports should be fair for all students, and we must protect the rights of all students – especially those that are already subject to significant discrimination. I look forward to learning more, and focusing on the many other pressing challenges the U.S. Congress is facing.”

    Fast forward about a year to April 2023, when Peltola voted against the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023” — legislation prohibiting school athletic programs from allowing boys who identify as girls to play in girls’ sports. The bill, which passed the House of Republicans, would have made it a violation of Title IX for federally-funded education programs to allow men in women’s athletic programs.

    When Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace put forward an amendment to that same legislation, which would have required a study on the effect that men participating in women’s sports has on women, Peltola voted against it.

    She also co-sponsored the far-left “Equality Act,” legislation that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prevent “discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation,” meaning that individuals who identify as another gender could not be denied access to the locker room of their choice.

    The Equality Act would specifically require public women’s facilities, such as women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters, to admit men who identify as transgender women. Critics have pointed out that women who are trying to escape violent men and seek refuge in shelters would then be forced to share living spaces with men who identify as women.

    As “Must Read Alaska” reported at the time, the bill would apply to institutions like Anchorage’s “Downtown Hope Center,” a faith-based cold-weather shelter where women can seek refuge during the night.

    Peltola’s positions may put her out of step with her home state. The Alaska Board of Education voted in August 2023 to block boys who identify as girls from playing on girls’ athletic teams. And the Alaska House of Representatives passed a law in May 2024 banning boys from playing in girls’ sports. The bill then went to the State Senate, where it is expected to die, but the House Republicans who voted for the bill told Alaska Public Media that they were prioritizing the issue at the request of their constituents.

    “Alaskans are outraged by Rep. Mary Peltola’s misguided championing of the radical transgender agenda,” Cindy Glassmaker, an Alaskan mother of three daughters who play or played high school sports, told The Daily Wire.

    “Peltola’s stance is a slap in the face to every female athlete,” Glassmaker added. “We’re not buying this woke nonsense that cancels women’s sports and hands women’s hard-earned rights to biological men.”

    Peltola did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire asking for clarity on her gender positions.

    Since 2022, Peltola has received about $6,000 from the Human Rights Campaign, which pushes transgender sex change hormones, surgery, and puberty blockers for children, and $5,500 from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the action arm of Planned Parenthood, which boasts of being the “second largest provider” of transgender hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

    Her opponent, Nick Begich, told The Daily Wire that Peltola is endangering the rights of women in Alaska.

    “Mary Peltola’s reckless push to allow biological males to compete against girls isn’t just unfair— it’s a direct assault on women’s athletics,” Begich said. “Alaska can’t allow Peltola’s radical woke ideology to erase opportunities for our daughters, sisters, and mothers. It was our late Senator Ted Stevens who fought for Title IX and Mary Peltola should not be working to erase such an important part of his legacy.”

    Peltola finished first in the August primary, coming in at 50.38% with 48,418 votes. Begich followed her at 26.98% with 25,930 votes, and Nancy Dahlstrom came next with 20.01% and 19,234 votes.

    But NRCC polling released Monday found Begich “surging into the lead” against Peltola. Begich is now leading Peltola 44% to 40% on the first round ballot, with 10% undecided.

    That polling found that the more voters learn about Peltola, the less they like her.

    “Among those who have seen, read, or heard something recently about Peltola, a plurality of voters are left with a more unfavorable impression of Peltola.”

    “Mary Peltola is taking on water despite her initial spending advantage, driven in large part by Republican ads highlighting her support for the Biden agenda and votes against Alaska’s veterans and those actively serving in uniform,” says a memo from American Viewpoint on the key findings of the Alaska survey. “If this trend continues, Nick Begich will be the next Member of Congress from Alaska.”

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault on Campus

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Mazie K. Hirono
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing legislation to support survivors of sexual assault on college campuses. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, would require that every college and university that receives federal funding have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response.
    “As we continue working to ensure that our students are safe on campus, the S.O.S. Campus Act would help to ensure that survivors of sexual assault at colleges and universities receive the treatment and support they deserve,” said Senator Hirono. “All students deserve to be safe and supported on campus and I will keep fighting to combat sexual violence and ensure that survivors can access much-needed medical, legal, and mental health resources.”
    Sexual violence and harassment on college campus is heavily underreported, in part due to shortcomings in existing reporting structures. After a change to Title IX under the Trump administration, many universities experienced a drastic decrease in the number of sexual assaults being reported. The Association of Title IX Administrators estimated that upwards of 90% of sexual misconduct cases are handled “informally” and without formal protections and guidance for survivors. 
    The S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to:
    Emergency and follow-up medical care,
    Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement,
    Medical forensic or evidentiary exams,
    Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and
    Information on their legal rights.
    Local rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations are currently providing many of these services in communities and on campuses around the nation. The legislation recognizes the importance of these partnerships by requiring that universities either consult with or partner with these organizations to ensure that survivors can access the services they need.
    Full text of the legislation is available here.
    Senator Hirono has been a strong advocate for making sure survivors of campus sexual assault have the resources they need to be supported. Earlier this Congress, she reintroduced the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), which, like the S.O.S. Campus Act, would provide additional resources for colleges and universities to support survivors. Specifically, GEEA would create an Office for Gender Equity (OGE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that would, among other things, be responsible for providing Title IX coordinators with annual trainings, detailed information, and best practices about Title IX compliance. ED’s OGE would also be responsible for administering a new $160 million grant program to provide resources for colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other entities to comply with Title IX.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Passes Amendment to Combat Pine Beetle Infestation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Nick LaLota(R-Suffolk County) successfully passed his amendment to H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, focusing on the devastation caused by the southern pine beetle in the Northeast, particularly within Long Island’s Pine Barrens. LaLota’s amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on the causes, effects, and solutions for the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern United States, ensuring that the problem is addressed with targeted actions.

    “This tiny pest, no larger than a grain of rice, has wreaked havoc on over 5,000 acres of forest in my district alone, threatening our ecosystem and critical natural resources. The southern pine beetle infestation has put immense pressure on Long Island’s Pine Barrens, which serve as a vital habitat for wildlife and play a crucial role in protecting our water supply,” said LaLota. “My amendment is not just about studying a pest; it’s about taking proactive measures to protect our environment, safeguard the drinking water of millions, and ensure that our forests’ rich biodiversity and natural beauty remain intact for future generations. Without intervention, the consequences for our ecosystem and local economy could be severe so we must take action now.”

    LaLota spoke on the House floor ahead of the amendment’s passage, click HERE to watch.

    To read the full text of the amendment, click HERE.

    Background:

    The Pine Barrens, crucial for preserving clean drinking water and home to endangered species, have suffered significant damage from the pine beetle infestation. LaLota’s amendment will enable federal, state, and local officials to better understand and mitigate the pine beetle’s impact, fostering resilient forest ecosystems across the region.

    Along with this amendment, LaLota has fought to preserve the abundant natural environment Long Island is blessed with.

    Earlier this year, LaLota announced he had secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program. This funding for the Sound is provided by the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill LaLota helped pass, which was signed into law in March.

    In January, LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The same month, LaLota testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of including a reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program in the biannual Water Resources Development Act.

    The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028. In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone’s HEARTS Act to Address Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young People Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Federal bill inspired by New Jersey student-athlete tragedies heads to the Senate, aiming to safeguard young lives across the nation

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that his Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act has overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Pallone authored the HEARTS Act in response to the rising number of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) incidents among young people, particularly student-athletes, ensuring schools are better equipped to handle life-threatening cardiac emergencies with vital resources and training.

     

    “I introduced the HEARTS Act because too many young people are tragically dying from sudden cardiac arrest,” Pallone said. “In New Jersey, we’ve seen devastating losses like that of Edison’s Kittim Sherrod, who collapsed and died at just 17 during track practice from an undiagnosed heart condition. The HEARTS Act ensures that schools have the AEDs, training, and resources needed to act swiftly during a cardiac emergency. No child should lose their life because schools weren’t prepared—we owe it to our students and their families to act now.”

     

    The bill was inspired by local tragedies like that of Kittim Sherrod, a standout football star at Edison High School, who passed away in 2009 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an often undiagnosed condition. The HEARTS Act aims to prevent future tragedies by ensuring that schools across the country are equipped with life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs), and CPR training for both staff and students.

     

    With strong bipartisan backing, the HEARTS Act was expanded to include provisions from the Access to AEDs Act, ensuring that AEDs are available in schools and childcare centers and that students, staff, and sports volunteers receive critical CPR and AED training. A federal grant program will be established to support these efforts, making sure schools can access the funding they need to implement these life-saving measures.

     

    In his remarks on the House floor, Pallone emphasized the need for immediate action, saying, “The HEARTS Act will raise awareness about the causes of sudden cardiac arrest and ensure schools are more prepared to deal with cardiac emergencies so we can save lives. This legislation has the support of the American Heart Association and the Smart Heart Coalition, among others. We cannot afford to delay—this is about saving young lives.”

      

    The HEARTS Act mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patient advocacy groups, and health professional organizations to develop and distribute educational materials on cardiomyopathy to schools, parents, and teachers. This educational push is critical, as cardiomyopathy, the condition that took Sherrod’s life, is often silent until a fatal cardiac event. According to the CDC, approximately 2,000 young people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year—a sobering figure that highlights the urgent need for this legislation.

     

    Support for the HEARTS Act has been widespread, with organizations such as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation, and the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation applauding Pallone’s leadership in raising awareness and helping schools prepare for cardiac emergencies.

     

    “Having a cardiac emergency response plan in place and people nearby who know what to do can be the difference between life and death for the more than 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year. The HEARTS Act will help improve the safety of our schools and playing fields and we urge the Senate to quickly follow the House to make this policy the law of the land,” Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association.

     

    “The John Taylor Babbitt Foundation is thrilled to see this critical piece of legislation pass out of the House of Representatives. Creating heart safe communities for our children continues to be a priority for our organization and this law would provide access to resources in helping to achieve that goal,“ JoAnne Babbitt, Vice President, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and co-founder of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation.

     

    “The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation wholeheartedly supports the HEARTS Act of 2024 (H.R 6829) and commends Rep. Frank Pallone for stewarding this lifesaving legislation. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a public health crisis. It strikes 356,000 people a year in the U.S., including 23,000 youth. Enacting this legislation will undoubtedly help improve the current survival rate of ~10 percent—not only in schools, but also in communities,” Mary. M. Newman, MS President, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

     

    “We are thrilled the HEARTS bill has passed the house and thankful to Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-06) for championing legislation for kids with cardiomyopathy.” said Kathy Swenson, executive director of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation. “This disease is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest, and this legislation has the potential to save the lives of many children.”

     

    “The HEARTS Act will take precautions to save lives, which were not in place 15 years ago when my grandson Kittim Sherrod succumbed to this silent disease Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Many youths’ lives were lost due to the lack of knowledge as well as the lack of the proper equipment available to assist in saving lives. I am so thankful that Frank Pallone continued in the quest to take action to make a difference in the future of our children’s heart health. Thank you, Congressman Frank Pallone, Kittim did not die in vain,” Razeenah Walker, President of The Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation.

     

    The bill now moves to the Senate, where its passage is crucial to ensuring that schools across the nation can implement these life-saving measures.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Helps Secure Nearly $2.5 Million For Community Policing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Long Branch, NJ –– Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced he has helped secure nearly $2.5 million in federal funding for Highland Park, Neptune, Perth Amboy, Sayreville and Old Bridge police departments. This funding was made possible through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Hiring Program (CHP), Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program (LEMHWA), and Technology and Equipment Program (TEP). These funds will be used to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts by hiring officers, improving access to mental health and wellness services for officers, and acquiring effective equipment and technologies.

    “We rely heavily on our local law enforcement officers to build relationships with the communities they serve, and to work together to prevent crime and promote public safety,” said Congressman Pallone. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement officers who work hard to help make New Jersey a safe place to live. I’ll continue advocating for federal funding to ensure our municipalities have the resources they need to promote public safety.”

    Grant awards are as follows:

    2024 Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Hiring Program (CHP) Awards

    • Highland Park – $375,000 to hire 3 officers
    • Neptune – $375,000 to hire 3 officers
    • Perth Amboy – $250,000 to hire 2 officers

    2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program Awards

    • Sayreville – $162,050 to support its Psychological Wellness Program

    2024 COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program (TEP) Awards

    • Old Bridge – $1.3 million

    “This generous grant from the Department of Justice will help strengthen our police department and enhance public safety in Highland Park. We are committed to ensuring a safer community for all, and this funding allows us to continue that important work. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Congressman Pallone for his support and to the Department of Justice for this critical investment in our future,” said Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster.

    “Strong communities are safe communities, and that is what we strive for every day in Neptune Township,” Mayor Tassie York said. “We are grateful for the tireless support of Rep. Frank Pallone and his efforts to secure this funding which will play a critical role as we push forward on building an even better Neptune Police Department,” said Neptune Township Mayor Tassie D. York

    “Our priority is to ensure our students feel safe and supported at school. In response to growing safety concerns across the country, the city and school district in Perth Amboy have teamed up to take proactive steps, maintaining a secure and focused learning environment for our students. With the support of Congressman Pallone and the COPS Hiring Program, we are bringing in specially trained School Resource Officers (SROs) to work directly with our schools. This strong partnership highlights our shared commitment to safety, giving students, teachers, and families the confidence that we’re doing everything to protect and support our community.”said Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin J. Caba.

    “I am pleased the Borough will be receiving $162,050 from the federal Department of Justice through the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program,” said Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien. “I want to extend my appreciation to Congressman Pallone for his efforts, as this grant will allow the Sayreville Police Department to enhance mental health and wellness resources for our officers, ensuring they are well-supported in serving and protecting our community.”

    “I would like to thank the Department of Justice for considering our application and awarding this grant to Old Bridge Township which will assist our Police Department in upgrading its technology equipment, emergency operations center, and much more,” said Old Bridge Mayor Debbie Walker.

    Additionally, New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety received $4 million to investigate illicit activities relating to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or prescription opioids, as well as $1 million to investigate precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman, Evans Announce $21 Million for Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Westpark Redevelopment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

    Grant to connect Westpark Redevelopment to park, SEPTA station; Funding comes from RAISE grants, thanks to the infrastructure law;
    Members have secured highly competitive RAISE grants for Philadelphia for four consecutive years—each year since infrastructure law passed

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) announced $21,395,555 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). The grant will support the creation of a new of street grid and pedestrian infrastructure to facilitate the redevelopment of the Westpark Apartments in West Philly. The funding comes from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).

    “From visiting housing developments across Philadelphia, I’ve seen firsthand the transformational work PHA does to not only provide safe, affordable housing, but build vibrant communities,” said Senator Casey. “I fought for this funding to better connect Westpark residents with resources and opportunities in their community and beyond. I’ll keep working to deliver funding to make Philadelphia more livable for all who call the city home.”

    “Any day that we can announce more federal dollars heading to Pennsylvania is a good day,” said Senator Fetterman. “This RAISE grant will support the infrastructure needed to create the new Westpark housing development and connect the campus to transit and green space. This is a smart, thoughtful project that will greatly improve the lives of the people who will live at the redeveloped Westpark Apartments. It exemplifies that values of PHA and is a stellar example of the critical work they do. I’m proud to have fought alongside Senator Casey and Congressman Evans for this funding.”

    “This is great news for West Philadelphia and another way that the Biden Infrastructure and Jobs Act I voted for continues to deliver for Philadelphia and the region. I thank Senators Casey and Fetterman for their continued partnership as we work together to deliver for our shared constituents,” said Congressman Evans.

    “We at PHA are extremely grateful to Senator Casey, Senator Fetterman, Congressman Evans, and all our federal partners for this exciting news,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “The grant marks a tremendous milestone in the redevelopment of Westpark. It will ensure that once the project is complete, residents will have ready access to SEPTA and to public parkland. Senator Casey, who advocated for this grant, proves once again that he is a true champion for expanding housing opportunities in Philadelphia and across the state. And I’m confident that Westpark will serve as a national model for a 21st century public housing and affordable housing development.”

    This project will construct an extension of the existing street grid in West Philadelphia in order to create new space for housing and connect the Westpark Apartments campus to SEPTA’s 46th Street station. It will support a new network of shared streets, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure that will create the roads necessary to integrate new, forthcoming housing more seamlessly into the neighborhood.

    2024 marks the fourth consecutive year the Members of Congress have secured highly competitive RAISE grants for infrastructure projects in Philadelphia. Last year, SEPTA received $25 million to modernize trolleys and the City received the same amount for the North Philadelphia School Zone Traffic Safety Project. In 2022, the “Great Streets PHL” project was awarded $25 million to make safety improvements to high-crash corridors in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty. In 2021, shortly following passage of IIJA, SEPTA won $15 million to renovate the 19th and 37th Street Trolley Subway Stations and make them accessible for people with disabilities. To see more federal investments Senator Casey has delivered to Philadelphia and the Commonwealth, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beatty Boosts STEM Education Equity & Awareness with STEM Week Bill   

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

    Washington, D.C. — Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-3) and Mike Carey (OH-15) introduced the National STEM Week Act. The bill would create an annual week dedicated to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education access and interest, especially among communities with limited access to educational resources.

    “Ohio is the heart of American innovation and will soon be home to the most advanced semiconductor fabrication facilities in the world thanks to historic investments from the Biden-Harris administration and Intel. STEM fields power these industries of the future, so it is vital that we help future generations in our community develop the skills they need to make the most of this generational investment,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Establishing a National STEM Week to promote education in these fields, particularly among underserved communities, gives our kids the chance to actually see what a future in STEM looks like and will ensure that every student – no matter their background or zip code – has the tools needed to become the next generation of American innovators.”

    “As Ohio students begin another school year, it is all the more important to recognize the role that STEM education plays in preparing them for the future,” said Congressman Carey. “Science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning can inspire new curiosity, a lifelong passion or a successful career. Unfortunately, not every student has the same access to this transformative education. A National STEM Week will help emphasize the value of these subjects to students, parents and teachers alike.” 

    “It has long been the philosophy of COSI that science, technology, engineering and math need not be confined to a laboratory or a classroom,” said Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO of COSI, one of the nation’s top ranked science museums and a co-developer of this bill. “They form the fabric of our daily lives, existing everywhere for everybody to experience and learn from.  This belief is what inspired us to co-develop the National STEM Week Act – which will inspire students in Ohio and beyond to appreciate the wonders of STEM that exist all around us. We applaud Representatives Carey and Beatty for their leadership in introducing this bill, and their underlying appreciation for the role of STEM in creating a better America.”  

    Specifically, the bill aims to promote STEM education and careers among all students regardless of their geographic or socio-economic status, support both formal and informal learning tools like field trips and clubs, and encourage families, teachers and industry leaders to participate in students’ STEM education.

    Full text of the National STEM Week Act is available here.

    For inquiries, please contact Cassandra Johnson at Cassandra.Johnson@mail.house.gov.

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