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  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump’s Bold Trade Action Draws Praise

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Donald J. Trump made clear to the world that the days of economic surrender are over. After being sold out by career politicians for generations, President Trump is enacting fair trade policies that will restore our workforce, rebuild our economy, and finally put America First.

    The move drew immediate praise:

    Coalition for a Prosperous America Chairman Zach Mottl: “A permanent, universal baseline tariff resets the global trade environment and finally addresses the destructive legacy of decades of misguided free-trade policies. President Trump’s decision to implement a baseline tariff is a game-changing shift that prioritizes American manufacturing, protects working-class jobs, and safeguards our economic security from adversaries like China. This is exactly the type of bold action America needs to restore its industrial leadership. Today’s action will deliver lasting benefits to the U.S. economy and working-class Americans, cementing President Trump’s legacy as one that ushered in a new Golden Age of American industrialization and prosperity.”

    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association SVP of Government Affairs Ethan Lane: “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

    Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell: “President Trump is a champion of the domestic steel industry, and his America First Trade Policy is designed to fight the unfair trade that has harmed American workers and weakened manufacturing in the United States. The recently reinvigorated 232 steel tariffs have already started creating American jobs and bolstering the domestic steel industry. President Trump is working to turn America into a manufacturing powerhouse and the steel tariffs are driving that movement. President Trump’s initial 232 steel tariffs and the historic tax cuts led to investments of nearly $20 billion by steel manufacturers in the United States. Since the revised tariffs took effect, Hyundai Steel announced a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana, demonstrating that the tariffs are working to bring more steel investments and production to the United States. The domestic steel market is stronger when other nations are forced to compete on a level playing field. On a level playing field, American workers can outcompete anyone. We look forward to continuing working with President Trump and his administration to ensure a level playing field for Americans and a robust domestic steel industry that strengthens our national, economic and energy security.”

    Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul: “Today’s trade action prioritizes domestic manufacturers and America’s workers. These hardworking men and women have seen unfair trade cut the ground from beneath their feet for decades. They deserve a fighting chance. Our workers can out-compete anyone in the world, but they need a level playing field to do it. This trade reset is a necessary step in the right direction.”

    National Electrical Contractors Association CEO David Long: “President Trump has consistently prioritized policies that put the electrical industry as a priority, and we recognize his commitment to strengthening our nation’s economy. As these new tariffs take effect, we look forward to working with the Administration to ensure that electrical contractors and the entire electrical industry can continue powering America efficiently while navigating potential cost and supply chain challenges.”

    Bienvenido Empresarios: “As an organization committed to empowering Hispanic Americans and strengthening our nation’s future, Bienvenido supports policies that build a more resilient American economy, safeguard our communities, and reassert U.S. leadership on the global stage. President Trump’s emphasis on using economic leverage — including tariffs — reflects a broader strategy to counter China, confront the deadly fentanyl crisis, and bring critical industries back home. Now is a time for tough, decisive action when national security and American livelihoods are at stake. Our hope is that these measures lead to stronger enforcement, fairer trade, and long-term prosperity for all Americans.”

    America First Policy Institute: “Tariffs worked then—and they’ll work again. Under President Trump, tariffs brought back jobs, lowered inflation, and strengthened national security. It’s not just economic policy—it’s America First in action.”

    Speaker Mike Johnson: “President Trump is sending a clear message with Liberation Day: America will not be exploited by unfair trade practices anymore. These tariffs restore fair and reciprocal trade and level the playing field for American workers and innovators. The President understands that FREE trade ONLY works when it’s FAIR!”

    Gov. Jeff Landry: “Pro Jobs. Pro Business. Pro America.”

    Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso: “President Trump is acting boldly to put America first. America needs fair and free trade. We can’t allow other countries to keep abusing our workers and job creators. It’s time we had a level playing field. I applaud President Trump’s 100% commitment to Made in America.”

    Sen. Jim Banks: “The decision by President Trump today to impose reciprocal tariffs will be so good for Indiana. … Those are the manufacturing jobs that President Trump is bringing back from overseas.”

    Sen. Bill Cassidy: “The president’s trade agenda can pave the way for stronger trade deals, fairer rules, and real results. I am excited to work with President Trump to make it happen. Louisiana’s workers and families deserve nothing less.”

    Sen. Roger Marshall: “President Donald Trump is fighting for long-term solutions to put America’s farmers and ranchers first.”

    Sen. Ashley Moody: “It’s liberation day in America! Today, @POTUS sent a message to the world that the era of America being taken advantage of is over.”

    Sen. Markwayne Mullin: “President Trump is going to charge foreign countries roughly half of what they *already* charge us to do business. Literally who can argue with this?”

    Sen. Pete Ricketts: “President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises to level the playing field and stand up for the American people. Reciprocal tariffs will ensure equal treatment for American businesses. @POTUS is working to reshore jobs lost overseas and secure our supply chains. He is working to open new markets for our nation’s agriculture products. He is demonstrating to foreign adversaries like China that we will no longer be taken advantage of.”

    Sen. Rick Scott: “The days of the U.S. being taken advantage of by other countries are OVER! Pres. Trump is making it clear that he will ALWAYS put American jobs, manufacturing and our economy first. As Americans, let’s stand with him and support one another by buying products MADE IN AMERICA.”

    Sen. Eric Schmitt: “President Trump is bringing America back. We won’t be ripped off by other countries anymore. We’re bringing back manufacturing, unleashing energy production, and paving the way for prosperity.”

    Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “For too long, other countries have ripped us off with bad trade deals – resulting in American jobs and manufacturing moving overseas. But change is coming. The Golden Age of America’s economy is here. Happy Liberation Day.”

    House Majority Leader Steve Scalise: “The United States and American workers will no longer be ripped off by other countries with unfair trade practices. Thank you President Trump for putting America’s workers and innovators first with reciprocal tariffs that level the playing field and make trade FAIR.”

    House Majority Whip Tom Emmer: “For too long, foreign countries have taken advantage of us at the expense of American workers. President @realDonaldTrump says NO MORE.”

    House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain: “Tariffs work! @POTUS has proven tariffs are an effective tool in achieving economic and strategic objectives. The President’s long-term strategy will pay off.”

    Rep. Elise Stefanik: “I strongly support President Trump’s America First economic policies to strengthen American manufacturing and create millions of American jobs. For too long, Americans have suffered under unfair trade practices putting America Last. We will not allow other countries to take advantage of us and we must put America and the American worker first.”

    Rep. Jason Smith: “America shouldn’t reward countries that discriminate against American workers and manufacturers. On Liberation Day, President Trump is correcting this and demanding fair treatment for American producers.”

    Rep. Mark Alford: “The days of the United States being taken advantage of are OVER. Republicans are putting American workers FIRST.”

    Rep. Jodey Arrington: “For too long, our leaders have allowed other nations to rip us off through numerous unfair trade practices resulting in suppressed wages, lost opportunities, and unrealized economic growth. Just as he did in his first term, President Trump is fighting to ensure an even playing field for our manufacturers, farmers, and workers so we can unleash American prosperity and Make America Great Again.”

    Rep. Brian Babin: “Trump’s tariffs aren’t starting a trade war—they’re ending one. For decades, other countries ripped off American workers with unfair tariffs and barriers. Now, we’re finally fighting back.”

    Rep. Andy Biggs: “Past administrations have allowed the United States to be ripped off by allies and adversaries alike. President Trump said “NO MORE!” The Art of the Deal.”

    Rep. Vern Buchanan: “For too long, unfair trade practices devastated America’s manufacturing base and stole millions of blue-collar jobs. It’s time to level the playing field and bring those jobs back. @POTUS is fighting for American workers.”

    Rep. Michael Cloud: “America-First means putting the American people first. We will no longer be taken advantage of as a nation and people.”

    Rep. Andrew Clyde: “For far too long, the U.S. has been ripped off by countries across the globe with unfair trade practices. Now, we’re finally leveling the playing field. THANK YOU, President Trump, for putting American workers and manufacturing FIRST.”

    Rep. Mike Collins: “This is fair. Whether it’s our military or economy, other countries have taken advantage of the U.S. for far too long. That time is over.”

    Rep. Chuck Edwards: “Many countries are taking advantage of the United States by imposing tariffs against us while we don’t have reciprocal tariffs against them. @POTUS has used tariffs to produce successful trade deals for us in his first term, and I support his plan to use them again to create a more level playing field and secure fairer trade deals for America. The quicker other countries agree to fairer trade deals, the quicker the tariffs can end.”

    Rep. Scott Franklin:“For years the US handcuffed itself and played nice while other countries imposed massive tariffs and took advantage of us. We’re done putting America last. @POTUS is leveling the playing field, ending trade imbalances and prioritizing American workers and manufacturing again!”

    Rep. Russell Fry: “HAPPY LIBERATION DAY. Thanks to @POTUS, America is DONE being taken advantage of. A new era has begun.”

    Rep. Lance Gooden: “For decades, Washington allowed Texans to be ripped off by foreign countries. Those days are now over. @POTUS is committed to making America wealthy again!”

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: “If you want to do business in America, you need to play by our rules. For too long, American businesses, big and small, have been ripped off by bad trade deals and unfair competition. President Trump is putting a stop to it. He’s standing up for our workers, our companies, and our consumers.”

    Rep. Abe Hamadeh: “The America First Republican party is the party of the working class, the forgotten men and women. On this Liberation Day, we further our commitment to them, that we will reshore our manufacturing, restore fair trade, and rebuild the greatest economy in the world.”

    Rep. Pat Harrigan:“If you want access to the most powerful economy in the world, treat us fairly. If not, don’t expect a free ride. That’s real leadership and @POTUS is delivering it!”

    Rep. Andy Harris: “President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade. America is being respected again.”

    Rep. Diana Harshbarger: “President Trump is bringing back the American Dream. Our taxpayers have been ripped off by foreign countries for far too long, but those days are over. President Trump is right to impose these reciprocal tariffs.”

    Rep. Clay Higgins: “@POTUS’ trade agenda puts American industry and America first. I support the President’s action to protect our domestic producers.”

    Rep. Wesley Hunt: “Today, President Trump empowered the American middle class.  His policies on tariffs will bring automotive manufacturing back to America.”

    Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: “Since President Trump has been elected, we’ve attracted $5 trillion in private investment, foreign & domestic companies have announced Made in USA manufacturing, countries have reduced tariffs or changed foreign policies. President Trump is sticking up for American workers & farmers, repatriating our supply chain and protecting our national security.”

    Rep. Addison McDowell: “My district was hit hard over the years by unfair trade deals. Finally, we have a President who wants to put the American worker FIRST.”

    Rep. Mary Miller: “America will no longer be taken advantage of! This is how you put America First.”

    Rep. Riley Moore: “For decades, foreign countries have enjoyed free access to the greatest consumer marketplace on the face of the planet, all while still charging our domestic producers hefty duties or imposing significant barriers to access their markets. Today that ends. President Trump is the only president in my lifetime to acknowledge how unfair trade has gutted the heartland and shipped countless jobs overseas. By finally reciprocating in-kind, we’ll force foreign competitors to the negotiating table, lower trade barriers, and ultimately create real free and fair trade across the board. I’m confident this move will boost our domestic manufacturing industry and fuel demand for American products across the globe.”

    Rep. Tim Moore: “President Trump is leveling the playing field for American workers and bringing back MADE IN AMERICA!”

    Rep. Troy Nehls: “President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs make it clear that our country will not be ripped off anymore. We are bringing back American manufacturing and putting America First.”

    Rep. Ralph Norman: “Happy LIBERATION Day … ✅Protect the American worker ✅Strengthen manufacturing ✅Reduce unfair trade practices … Our economy will be competitive again!!”

    Rep. Andy Ogles: “He’s resetting the negotiating table. He’s resetting the deck here to say, ‘You know what? For too long, you’ve taken advantage of our free market and you’ve literally leached jobs away from the American people … Let’s have a serious conversation and let’s do something that’s fair and mutually beneficial for both sides.’”

    Rep. Guy Reschenthaler: “I fully support President Trump’s critical efforts to right this generational wrong, bring manufacturing jobs home, and rejuvenate American working families. Made in America is back.”

    Rep. John Rutherford: “Tariffs help bring American jobs back home, incentivize buying American, AND put pressure on Canada and Mexico to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants from their countries into ours. Even the Biden Admin kept or increased tariffs that President Trump imposed during his first presidency. Under Trump, inflation stayed around 2% and our GDP grew to 3%. Smart tariffs are a long-term investment in the American economy that are worth the short-term cost.”

    Rep. Greg Steube: “What many fail to realize: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are a long-overdue response to years of unfair trade policies against America. For decades, America has been ripped off by other countries who have repeatedly slapped tariffs on our goods, blocked our products, and flooded our markets with theirs. The numbers don’t lie–the rest of the world has profited at the expense of American workers and businesses. President Trump is finally putting America First by taking bold, necessary actions that past leaders wouldn’t take.”

    Rep. Marlin Stutzman: “If Australia doesn’t want our beef – WE DON’T WANT THEIRS! Thank you @POTUS for opening the door of fair treatment for America’s Cattlemen”

    Rep. Tom Tiffany: “Gone are the days of America being taken advantage of by foreign countries. The American worker comes FIRST.”

    Rep. William Timmons: “President Trump’s tariffs are a necessary move to protect American workers and rebuild our economy. We are finally breaking free from decades of unfair trade deals that gutted our industries. These tariffs will bring jobs back to our districts, strengthen manufacturing, and ensure our children inherit a country that is not just a consumer, but a producer. Thank you, @POTUS.”

    Rep. Beth Van Duyne: “For far too long, the United States has been taken advantage of by our foreign trade partners. The American people re-elected President Trump to bring back truly fair trade with other countries. Reciprocal tariffs are a first step to have a level playing field for American products and to start bringing back manufacturing to our country!”

    Rep. Daniel Webster: “President @realDonaldTrump is delivering on his mandate to restore America’s economic strength. For too long, unfair trade deals have hollowed out our factories and shipped American jobs overseas. By standing up to bad actors like China and Venezuela and enforcing fair trade, President Trump is defending American industries and putting American workers first.”

    Rep. Tony Wied: “President Trump has made it clear with these reciprocal tariffs that we will no longer allow other countries to take advantage of us. His goal is simple: to bring jobs and manufacturing back to our country and open up foreign markets to American products. If companies want to avoid these tariffs, they will do business in the United States. I applaud the President for taking a stand against years of unfair trade practices and making sure we put American workers and consumers first. It’s time our foreign trading partners finally live up to their end of the bargain.”

    Rep. Roger Williams: “For too long, America Last policies have put the U.S. auto industry at a disadvantage. As a car dealer and small business owner, I support @POTUS’ Executive Order to increase competition, boost revenue, and bring back American jobs.”

    U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer: “Today, President Trump is taking urgent action to protect the national security and economy of the United States. The current lack of trade reciprocity, demonstrated by our chronic trade deficit, has weakened our economic and national security. After only 72 days in office, President Trump has prioritized swift action to bring reciprocity to our trade relations and reduce the trade deficit by leveling the playing field for American workers and manufacturers, reshoring American jobs, expanding our domestic manufacturing base, and ensuring our defense-industrial base is not dependent on foreign adversaries—all leading to stronger economic and national security.”

    Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick: “Today, the world starts taking us seriously. Our workforce will finally be treated fairly.”

    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “President Trump signed the Declaration of Economic Independence for the American people. For decades, the trade status quo has allowed countries to leverage tariffs and unfair trade practices to get ahead at the expense of hardworking Americans. The President’s historic actions will level the playing field for American workers and usher in a new age of economic strength.”

    Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “FARMERS COME FIRST — @POTUS is leveling the playing field, ensuring American farmers and ranchers can compete globally again!”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Thank you, @POTUS! ‘Made in America’ is not just a tagline — it’s an economic and national security priority.”

    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: “For too long, America has been targeted by unfair trade practices that made our supply chain dependent on foreign adversaries, eroded our industrial base, and hurt American workers. This has gravely impacted our national security. President Trump’s strong action will help make America safe again. @DHS, primarily through @CBP, is ready to collect these new tariffs and put an end to unfair trade practices. Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for putting America FIRST.”

    Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer: “Promises made, promises kept”

    Secretary of Energy Chris Wright: “President Trump is a businessman; he’s a negotiator. The result of that has been and will continue to be improvements for the American people. We are in the midst of a negotiation, and he is fighting every day to make the cost-of-living conditions better for Americans.”

    Secretary of Education Linda McMahon: “At the White House this afternoon, we celebrated Liberation Day — setting our economy on the path of future prosperity for our children. Business owners, workers, and taxpayers have been waiting for strong economic leadership. @POTUS’ actions today prove we are done being taken advantage of in international trade.”

    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump’s Liberation Day reciprocity plan is commonsense. If you tariff us, we’ll tariff you. This will strengthen our economy and make America wealthy again!”

    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Today is the day we will liberate ourselves from unfair trade practices and outdated ways of thinking. Tariffs are an important tool in the President’s toolbox to stop foreign countries from ripping us off, protect America’s workers, and restore U.S. manufacturing. I stand with @POTUS as he finally levels the playing field. Happy Liberation Day!”

    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For four years, Americans couldn’t afford groceries, let alone a house. This Liberation Day, @POTUS is bringing manufacturing and jobs back. President Trump is making the American Dream achievable again!”

    Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin: “Massive announcement by @POTUS today restoring U.S. dominance, cementing his America First vision, and Powering the Great American Comeback.”

    Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler: “Small businesses will no longer be crushed by foreign governments and unfair trade deals. Instead, we will put American industry, workers, and strength FIRST. Thank you @POTUS for bringing back Made in America!”

    National Security Advisor Mike Waltz: “Economic security is national security. Thank you President Trump for putting America first.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on the Passage of the Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    Washington, DC—Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, released a statement following the passage of the continuing resolution.

    “The continuing resolution fight was about more than just keeping the government open,” said Congresswoman Adams. “It was about refusing to turn over even more power to President Trump, Elon Musk, and standing against these devastating cuts.”

    The continuing resolution includes deep cuts to critical programs and funding for Charlotteans:

    • $700 million in cuts to rent subsidies for low-income households and working Americans. Meanwhile, lack of affordable housing and eviction rates continue to rise in Mecklenburg County. 
    • $116 million in cuts to the Small Business Administration which will eliminate programs for Charlotte’s more than 40,000 small businesses.
    • $2 billion in cuts to airport, roadway, and port safety projects. This comes after the tragic DC plane crash in January that departed from Charlotte.
    • Underfunds homeless services by $168 million. Mecklenburg County’s homeless rate grew by 3% over the last year.
    • Fails to fully fund The Emergency Food Assistance Program by $20 million. Nearly 12% of Mecklenburg County households are food insecure.
    • Fails to renew $293 million in bipartisan emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation projects as Western North Carolina still works to recover from Hurricane Helene.
    • Fails to provide valuable community project funding to local organizations and municipalities that offer services like healthcare, housing assistance, food security, and other critical community needs.

    “I have never celebrated a government shutdown, but I cannot understate the harm that will come from this bill,” Adams continued. “As this administration continues to wage their wars on education, healthcare, social security and federal employees, Congress has given them a blank check. It’s a disservice to all our constituencies.”

    Rather than giving line-item budget allocations, the continuing resolution allocates agency funds in large pots of money without directing where they specifically go. This gives President Trump a “blank check” as he is able to reallocate or cut these funds as he sees fit, with few limitations.

    “As we navigate the impacts of this disastrous bill, my priority remains taking care of my constituents,” said Congresswoman Adams. “If anyone in my district is suffering from the fallout of the continuing resolution, I encourage them to reach out to my offices and we will assist you however we can.”

    To contact Congresswoman Adams’s Charlotte office, call (704) 344-9950. To contact her Washington, DC office, call (202) 225-1510. For information and resources, you can also visit our website at adams.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Governor Hochul is on “The Beat With Ari Melber”

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Hochul was a guest on MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber.”

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Ari Melber, MSNBC:  We turn now to someone leading one of the largest states in the country, the New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a prominent Democrat who recently explained that she views the tariffs as a reckless tax on hardworking New Yorkers and that this could risk tanking the economy. Thanks for being here, Governor.

    Governor Hochul: Good to see you again.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: Absolutely. You do real work with real people. This is a real thing that you’ve warned will affect them. What’s your response to these new tariffs tonight?

    Governor Hochul: This is the largest tax increase in American history, nothing short of that. And a place like New York, I have the privilege of governing the 10th largest economy in the world.

    I have Wall Street, I have rural farmers. I have the Walmart moms who are pushing that big shopping cart with the oversized toilet paper and paper towels and baby food – because I was that mom – who are now wondering, even at Walmart, are my prices going to go up? So this is cataclysmic. It is an earthquake, and we’re going to feel the tremors for a long time.

    I have to ask why. Who are we liberating? We’re not liberating Wall Street. We’re not liberating the senior couple who’s watching their portfolio, their nest egg become scrambled. They’ve been saving their whole lives. Who are we helping here? We’re hurting real people in our state and across this country.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: Yeah. And you know, in politics sometimes they say there are the show horses or the workhorses. You seem to have led New York as more of a workhorse saying, “Let’s get down to business, let’s get real economic opportunity.” Some people around the country, they hear New York, they think Times Square. But there’s a lot more to it than that.

    As you’ve argued and your Democratic colleague, Chuck Schumer was making the same point. That President Trump’s tariffs will cost upstate New Yorkers $7 billion per year. He says it could hit this region harder than just about any place in the country. Do you agree and, and what can Democrats do about it?

    Because unlike some other issues we’ve covered, there aren’t legal arguments for the courts to come in and stop the tariffs. The president has this authority and he’s just using it in a way that a lot of people say is dangerous.

    Governor Hochul: Right. This is a pounding on upstate – and I’m from upstate. I’m the first governor from Buffalo since Grover Cleveland and we sit on the border with Canada. We have 450 miles of shared border with Canada. They’re our largest trading partner.

    The majority of our imported food comes from Canada. Buffalo – half of the Sabers game. I’m a hockey fan as well. They’re Canadians. They buy Buffalo Bills season tickets. They buy theater tickets, they shop in our stores. It’s going to affect the number of people already.

    There’s a decline of 20 percent of Canadians coming across the border to visit because they’re angry. They’re really pissed off about this, and they were our friends, but also the cost of doing business. I talked to one farmer yesterday who’s devastated. He said, “You know what? This is gonna cost me more every single month for the extra shavings.”

    They get the wood shavings for the stalls from Canada. They get their fertilizer from Canada. They get their steel and aluminum to repair fences and barns from Canada. He said, it’s going to cost me, just for feed alone, $10,000 more a month.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: So can anything be done?

    Governor Hochul: Well, I’ll tell you what I’m working on in my budget as we speak. I have a plan to put $5,000 back in New Yorker’s pockets. People have little kids, a tax credit for families, a middle class tax cut, the largest rate decrease in 70 years. I even have an inflation rebate.

    We’re putting $500 back in people’s pockets because they paid so much more in sales tax. So I’m looking at this holistic – but here’s what’s gonna happen. I’m going to put $5,000 back in their pockets. The tariffs are gonna suck $6,000 out. So how are people supposed to get ahead? Yeah, we are fighting. We’re doing our best, but I’m pleading with Washington. Keep your promise. You said on inauguration day, prices will go down. The opposite is happening. And why are we doing this?

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: We heard – and in many ways the country heard – from Senator Cory Booker here over the past day and tonight, does he have the right idea looking for new or unusual measures to confront this Trump second term?

    Governor Hochul: Yes. Yes. These challenging times call for creative solutions, and that’s what I’m doing with my budget and speaking out, using my voice as someone who represents a population of 20 million. We are not just a blue state, we have many red parts. It is fascinating to me that the parts of our state that are being hit the hardest were the ones that voted for Donald Trump, those rural areas, Elise Stefanik’s district in the North Country. That’s who I’m talking to.

    So he’s got to realize that, whether it’s on Long Island, these people who supported him and voted for him, who are now gonna be hit, they’re gonna be losing their jobs. I don’t know who is supposed to benefit from this. These are real people who count on the president to keep his promises.

    And I talked to them in diners and I went to grocery stores to talk about how expensive it is. I raised kids. I’m the first mom governor the state has ever seen. I know exactly what they’re going through. I think about my parents’ home, their first home was a trailer park. The people who never got out of that trailer park, they shop at Walmart, and if their prices go up 10 to 25 percent, they can’t make it work.

    So Democrats have to stand out and point to those people that we represent and say, “I’m speaking for them. You’re hurting them. Those are my people. And you have to get through me to do that.”

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: We’ve been talking about some things that I know you’re passionate about. The budget you’re working on upstate, we just talked about and of course confronting the president’s tariffs.

    Now I want to ask you about something you might not wanna talk about, but here we are on the news – and that is this New York City Mayor’s race. All around the country, people tend to know the mayor of New York. Whether it’s Rudy Giuliani or Eric Adams, who’s had his recent controversies, and now someone that you are politically linked to – Andrew Cuomo is running, and this is someone who, at times, has been very prominent. People know his name.

    But if you look at the record, there are a ton of questions, including of course, how he left office. Let’s just remind folks a little bit about some of his record:

    […]

    I know you want to focus on other things, but this is reality and he is running. Should he be Mayor of New York?

    Governor Hochul: Here’s my position. Despite what you may think coming out of Washington, we still live in a democracy. The voters will decide who the next mayor is just in a matter of months, and they have all the facts right before them. They’ll evaluate the candidates, and I’m putting my faith in the very smart, engaged voters of this city to decide who my next partner will be, or if the existing partner will continue.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: Do you think he’d make a good partner?

    Governor Hochul: Whoever it is, they better work with the governor. Because I have a lot of control over the city, and I can help in countless ways. I’m responsible in large part for a reduction in crime, working with NYPD and the mayor because I’ve brought so much more money to the table.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: But when you say look at the facts, sometimes people say that and it means go get informed. And other times it’s what lawyers say in a closing argument. Look at the facts, which tell you that potentially the best thing for New York is not trying to have you two work together, given all that history and what I don’t imagine is a close relationship right now, if I may.

    Governor Hochul: It’s not up to me. The voters will decide who the Mayor of New York is. I’m the governor. I have a lot of authority and involvement, but I also represent the 8.3 million people who call New York City home. I have their interests at heart and I’ll always fight for the city as I have for the last three years.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: New York Governor Kathy Hochul on many topics tonight. Thank you for joining me.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you.

    Ari Melber, MSNBC: Really appreciate it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, 45 Senate Democrats Demand Trump Rescind Illegal Executive Order Threatening Federal Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter urging President Donald Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus. The senators blasted the move as a “gross overreach” of presidential authority, asserting that the executive order is a clear attempt to gut the federal merit-based civil service and implement a system of political cronyism. They stressed that the order poses a grave threat to the ability of over one million federal workers to carry out their missions and deliver important services for the American people – and thus should be rescinded immediately.
    “We write today in outrage over your recent executive order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, a gross overreach of the authority granted in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA). This order is an insult to the hardworking public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people,” the senators began.
    “The executive order effectively classifies two thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions, a blatant misuse of a limited authority intended to provide operational flexibility to address legitimate security needs,” the senators continued. “There is no evidence that the long-standing collective bargaining agreements at these agencies have jeopardized our nation’s security in any way; to the contrary, the protection collective bargaining has provided for employees allows them to conduct their work on behalf of the American people—including blowing the whistle on fraud or abuse—without political interference.”
    “This Administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of federal collective bargaining agreements and is actively trying to bend the law to undermine protections for federal civil servants. We urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order so that our dedicated public servants can continue to work on behalf of the American public without fear for their job or political retribution,” they concluded.
    U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also joined the letter.
    The letter is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear President Trump: 
    We write today in outrage over your recent executive order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, a gross overreach of the authority granted in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA). 
    This order is an insult to the hardworking public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people. They care for our veterans, deliver disaster assistance, prevent wildfires, help farmers improve crop yields, manage health benefits for 9/11 first responders, research treatments and cures for diseases, keep air travel safe, process tax returns, staff our national parks and much, much more. Nearly one third of these dedicated civil servants are veterans seeking to continue their service to our country out of uniform.  
    The executive order effectively classifies two thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions, a blatant misuse of a limited authority intended to provide operational flexibility to address legitimate security needs. The national security exemption has existed for nearly 50 years and has been used only sparingly by Republican and Democratic Administrations—including during your first term—to exclude federal offices with an unquestionable core function in intelligence, counterintelligence, or national security. There is no evidence that the long-standing collective bargaining agreements at these agencies have jeopardized our nation’s security in any way; to the contrary, the protection collective bargaining has provided for employees allows them to conduct their work on behalf of the American people—including blowing the whistle on fraud or abuse—without political interference. 
    Federal employees’ collective bargaining agreements are critical to ensuring they continue to serve the American people with the peace of mind that comes with being protected from unfair labor practices. Unlike in the private sector, federal employee unions in most cases cannot negotiate pay or benefits, which are set by Congress, and they are legally prohibited from striking. The federal collective bargaining agreements do, however, protect federal employees from illegal firings, retaliation, and discrimination. They also promote resources for whistleblowers and veterans. These federal union contracts give employees in the civil service protections from retaliation so they can serve the American people fairly and effectively without partisan political interference.  
    This executive order, which ruthlessly strips collective bargaining agreements for over one million federal workers, is the most recent attack your Administration has levied against our merit-based civil service in the effort to cut the workforce and replace them with political cronies. While the CSRA does give the president the authority to limit collective bargaining agreements due to national security concerns, the executive order’s direction to terminate mass swaths of federal employee collective bargaining agreements is clearly intended to broadly dismantle the CSRA, which is specifically designed to grant federal employees the right to collective bargaining as a means to resolve workplace issues while maintaining the smooth functioning of government operations.  
    When the Secretary of Labor testified in February in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Members of Congress asked her both in-person and through questions for the record whether she and the Administration would commit to honoring all legally binding collective bargaining agreements signed by federal agencies and labor unions, and whether federal employees have the right to organize and collectively bargain without fear of retaliation. The Secretary answered, “if confirmed, I will follow the law and work with the experts at the Department to understand the collective bargaining process at the Department and the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreements in place.” This Administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of federal collective bargaining agreements and is actively trying to bend the law to undermine protections for federal civil servants.  
    We urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order so that our dedicated public servants can continue to work on behalf of the American public without fear for their job or political retribution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scientists worked with Warlpiri to track down bilby poo – and uncover clues to help conserve these iconic animals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hayley Geyle, Ecologist, Charles Darwin University

    Sarah Maclagan/Author provided

    The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals — and the last surviving bilby species. Once found across 70% of Australia, its range has contracted by more than 80% since European colonisation.

    Today, these nocturnal marsupials, still culturally significant to many Indigenous peoples, are restricted to remote deserts. They face an ongoing threat of extinction.

    Local elders, Indigenous rangers and scientists hold valuable knowledge about bilby populations, the threats they face, and strategies needed to sustain them into the future.

    Our new study, published today in Conservation Science and Practice, reveals how collaboration between scientists and Indigenous land managers can help yield new and vital information.

    In the field, we used two methods – one based on Warlpiri knowledge and one based on standard scientific protocols – to locate bilbies and collect scat (poo) samples in the North Tanami Indigenous Protected Area in the Northern Territory.

    By drawing on Warlpiri tracking expertise and Western scientific methods, we uncovered crucial information on bilby populations that could help conserve these rare creatures.

    The greater bilby is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals.
    Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock

    Understanding bilby numbers is important – but hard

    Bilbies turn over tonnes of soil each year, helping to improve soil health, help seeds germinate and enhance water infiltration. Their deep, complex burrows also provide shelter for other species.

    They’re crucial to the health of desert ecosystems; protecting bilbies means protecting the web of life they support.

    To do this, we need to know more about:

    • how many bilbies there are
    • how they respond to land management techniques such as planned burning
    • how they respond to threats such as feral predators.

    Yet, bilbies are notoriously difficult to monitor directly via live capture. They’re nocturnal, shy and solitary. And they inhabit vast landscapes, making it very hard to estimate population numbers.

    Bilby tracks North Tanami (pen for scale).
    Hayley Geyle/Author Provided

    Luckily, the tracks, diggings and scats bilbies leave behind provide ample clues. DNA from scat (if it can be found) can be used to estimate how many bilbies are present in a particular area.

    Systematic ecological surveys, often used to monitor wildlife, can be rigid and expensive, especially in remote regions.

    We need flexible methods that align with local knowledge and the practical realities of monitoring bilbies on Country.

    A new approach to monitor and manage bilbies

    We tested two methods of locating bilby scat for DNA analysis.

    The first was systematic sampling. This is a standard scientific approach where fixed lengths of land were walked multiple times to collect scat.

    This ensures sampling effort is even over the search area and comparable across sites. However, like most species, bilby distribution is patchy, and this approach can lead to researchers missing important signs.

    The second method was targeted sampling, guided by Warlpiri knowledge, to search in areas most likely to yield results.

    This allowed the search team to focus on areas where bilbies were active or predicted to be active based on knowledge of their habits and food sources.

    Altogether, we collected more than 1,000 scat samples. In the lab, we extracted DNA from these samples to identify individual bilbies. These data, combined with the location of samples, allowed us to estimate the size of the bilby population.

    We then compared estimates that would have been derived if we had only done systematic or targeted sampling, or both, to assess their strengths and limitations for monitoring bilby populations.

    The deep, complex burrows of bilbies also provide shelter for other species.
    Kelly Dixon/Author provided

    What we found

    We identified 20 bilbies from the scats collected during systematic surveys and 26 – six more – from targeted surveys. At least 16 individual bilbies were detected by both methods. In total, we confirmed 32 unique bilbies in the study area.

    When it came to population estimates – which consider how many repeat captures occur and where – combining data from both types of surveys produced the most accurate estimates with the least effort.

    Targeted sampling tended to overestimate population size because it focused on areas of high activity. Systematic sampling was more precise but required greater effort.

    Combining both approaches provided the most reliable estimates while saving time.

    In the lab, we extracted DNA from bilby scat samples to identify individual bilbies.
    Hayley Geyle/Author provided

    What this means for conservation

    Our research highlights how collaboration that includes different ways of knowing can improve conservation.

    By adapting standard on-ground survey techniques to include Warlpiri methods for tracking bilbies, we produced better data and supported local capacity for bilby monitoring.

    Elders also had opportunities to share tracking skills with younger people, helping keep cultural knowledge alive.

    Conservation programs often rely on standardised ecological monitoring protocols – in other words, doing things much the same way no matter where you’re working.

    While these protocols provide consistency, they are rigid and don’t always yield the best results. They also fail to incorporate local knowledge crucial for managing species like the bilby.

    Our approach shows how integrating diverse ways of working can deliver more inclusive and effective outcomes, without compromising data reliability.

    A path forward

    Bilbies face ongoing threats including:

    • introduced predators (particularly foxes)
    • habitat degradation and
    • inappropriate fire regimes.

    Their future depends on collaborative efforts that draw on scientific and Indigenous and local knowledges.

    This study provides an example of how such partnerships can work – not just for bilbies, but for other species and ecosystems.

    As Australia confronts biodiversity loss, this research underscores the importance of listening to those who know Country best.

    By valuing and respecting local expertise, we can build a stronger future for bilbies and the landscapes that are their home.

    Hayley Geyle is employed by Territory NRM, who receives funding for threatened species projects from the Australian government through the Natural Heritage Trust. She also works on the Digital Women Ranger project. She is affiliated with Territory NRM and the Northern Institute (Charles Darwin University).

    Cathy Robinson is employed at CSIRO and is Group Leader in the Agriculture and Food Sustainability Program and Research lead for the Digital Women Ranger Program which is supported by the Telstra Foundation. Cathy is also an Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University, Chair of IUCN Australian Expert Advisory Panel for the Green List, and Executive Advisor for the Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership at the University of Queensland.

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

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

    – ref. Scientists worked with Warlpiri to track down bilby poo – and uncover clues to help conserve these iconic animals – https://theconversation.com/scientists-worked-with-warlpiri-to-track-down-bilby-poo-and-uncover-clues-to-help-conserve-these-iconic-animals-245153

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Safety – Streamlined H&S regime drives focus on key risks – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is applauding the Government’s moves to reduce paperwork, ambiguity, cost and duplication in health and safety regulation.
    “We’re very much on board with the Government’s direction of travel with the health and safety re-set announced this week,” the federation’s workplace safety spokesperson David Birkett says.
    “It’s been a bone of contention what exactly ‘reasonably practicable’ means for the steps farmers need to take to be compliant with the law.
    “The changes announced this week will result in greater clarity for farmers, and other business owners, on what they need to do.”
    In the last of a series of announcements this week, the Government has said industries will be able to initiate discussions on new Approved Codes of Practice.
    These ACOPs will be specific about what health and safety steps need to be fulfilled by a person in charge of a business, targeting that sector’s particular risks.
    “Our farming sector will take that opportunity, I’m sure,” Birkett says.
    “Agriculture knows agriculture, so it’s logical that farming organisations are best placed to develop something that’s practical.
    “Federated Farmers welcomes greater input of industry to lead best practice and give certainty and confidence on health and safety obligations.
    “But we also need assurance this isn’t passing the buck, and that WorkSafe will be tasked and resourced to work with us, and complete these ACOPs.”
    Federated Farmers is also welcoming confirmation that landowners will not be liable if someone is injured on their land while doing recreation or adventure activities.
    Instead, health and safety responsibility will lie with those running such activities.
    “Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is right when she says uncertainty and scope creep has led to some farmers refusing access for such activities out of concern around their legal liability,” Birkett says.
    “One big downside of that uncertainty has been some reluctance to allow farm access to recreational hunters, despite growing numbers of feral pest animals across New Zealand.
    “Changing the regulations so that health and safety is the personal responsibility of hunters, not the owner of the land they’re on, will be a boost to keeping deer, pig, goat and possum numbers down.”
    Birkett says it’s also a positive move to clarify the health and safety responsibilities of company directors and managers.
    “That’s going to cut out duplication of effort and add to efficiency, and will be especially welcomed by larger and corporate farms.
    “None of the changes coming are about letting farmers off the hook in terms of strong health and safety measures,” Birkett says.
    “The welfare of farm staff and family members is still the paramount concern.
    “But if we can land a more streamlined, targeted and efficient set of rules and processes, farmers and other business operators can focus on addressing the truly relevant risks.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Science – Co-existence with genetic modification possible in New Zealand: review – AgResearch

    Source: AgResearch

     

    Co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries will be challenging, but is achievable, a review has found.

     

    In a just-published article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, leading researcher and Chief Technical Officer for AgResearch subsidiary Grasslanz Technology, John Caradus, looked at the issue through a global lens to see what the experience of other nations had been.

     

    Proposed legislation in New Zealand is expected to allow greater use of GM and gene editing technology, including in plants; making coexistence critical to the needs of different industries of the primary sector. The issue was repeatedly raised in recent submissions on the Gene Technology Bill before the NZ Parliament.

     

    “We know co-existence is achievable because several other nations have successfully managed it, including nations that are both major producers of GM products and non-GM products, with the latter including products from the organic sector,” Dr Caradus says.

     

    “Organic farmers obviously have a particular interest given GM use is regulated to be zero. Co-existence regulations and guidance have been developed in many countries and can occur with appropriate planning and communication within farming communities. This must be working effectively when you consider that countries with the largest areas devoted to organic agriculture also have amongst the highest land area used for GM crops.”

     

    Genetic modification and gene editing have enabled major gains in the performance of crops globally, and opportunities to enhance pasture plant species are now being tested.

     

    Dr Caradus says co-existence has been a contentious issue since GM technologies were commercially released in the 1990s. In New Zealand in 2002, a public controversy emerged over the importation of corn claimed to be contaminated with GM corn, prompting a formal probe by Parliament.

     

    “In the first decade of commercial GM use, there were a significant number of contamination incidents resulting from GM presence in non-GM crops and seed, some with a significant financial penalty,” Dr Caradus says.

     

    “However, these types of incidents seem to be less frequent in recent times. New Zealand needs to learn from mistakes that occurred in the first decade of GM crop use and determine effective methods for ensuring co-existence of GM, non-GM and organic farming systems.”

     

    Strategies for effective co-existence included both on-farm management decisions and downstream segregation during processing of seed in the supply chain. Co-existence on the farm was reliant on physical containment to stop pollen dispersal and seed movement, which could be assisted by using biological/molecular containment through genetic manipulation to disrupt the pollination and fertilisation process.

     

    Read the full review at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00288233.2025.2479724

     

    Find out more about the genetically modified or edited pasture that AgResearch scientists are working on at:https://www.agresearch.co.nz/our-research/pasture-biotechnology/

     

     

    AgResearch’s core focus is to deliver high quality science to enhance the value, productivity and sustainability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sectors. More at www.agresearch.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: US tariffs will upend global trade. This is how Australia can respond

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law, Taxation and Climate Change, Queensland University of Technology

    US President Donald Trump has imposed a range of tariffs on all products entering the US market, with Australian exports set to face a 10% tariff, effective April 5.

    These import taxes will be charged by US customs on each imported item. The punitive tariffs on 60 countries range as high as 34% on imports from China and 46% on Vietnam, and exceed the rates agreed between the United States and other global trade partners.

    “For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.

    The impact on Australian industries will be both direct and indirect. The largest Australian export to the US is meat products, totalling A$4 billion in 2024, and our farmers may divert some product to other nations.

    Direct and indirect impacts

    The larger economic risk is to our regional trading partners.

    While Australia faces only 10% tariffs, our major trading partners China, Japan and South Korea all face much higher US tariffs under the new regime. So the risk of a manufacturing slowdown in those countries could dampen demand for Australia’s much larger exports – iron ore, coal and gas.

    Australian investors reacted swiftly, wiping 2.1% off the main stock market index, the S&P/ASX 200, in the first hour of trade.

    Another problem will be the disruption to global supply chains. It is not just finished products impacted. For instance, the 25% automobile tariff will be extended to auto parts on May 3. This means even if a car is entirely built in the US, it will still be more expensive because many components are imported.



    Read more:
    What are tariffs?

    What sectors has the US complained about?

    On April 1, the US released an annual trade report that identifies what it describes as “foreign trade barriers”. There was a long list of grievances with both tariff and non-tariff barriers identified.

    The report identified Australia’s biosecurity restrictions on meat, apples and pears. The Australian biosecurity rules do not directly ban any products, although in practice raw beef products are excluded.

    Trump singled out Australian beef in his speech. “They won’t take any of our beef,” he claimed.

    In a speech riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods, this was one of them. Australia take shelf-stable US products, but not raw products for which consumer safety can not be assured.

    The US cited two other main Australian trade barriers. US drug companies have criticised the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme approvals processes. The Albanese government’s plan to strengthen the News Media Bargaining Code that requires tech companies to pay for news published on their platforms was also targeted.

    How can Australia respond?

    Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are in agreement over what we should do in response. They say Australian law and policy is not up for sale. We don’t negotiate on biosecurity, we don’t negotiate on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme process, and our local news media deserves protection from Big Tech.

    1. All avenues start with negotiations

    The preferred option is for a negotiation with the US to secure an exemption.

    A dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) sends a strong message to our trading partners and will also mean there’s an expert adjudication on this unprecedented move.

    However, the US has sidelined the WTO in recent years and Albanese has ruled out this route.

    2. Consultation

    The second potential action is to initiate consultations under the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement. There is a formal process identified in the agreement to which Albanese referred, with a threat of “dispute resolution mechanisms”.

    Albanese has ruled out imposing “reciprocal tariffs” on US imports, noting this would only push up prices for Australian consumers.

    3. Find new markets

    Third, we can find other markets. Australian agricultural products are some of the most desirable in the world. Australian producers will have other options. Indeed, the latest data for beef exports showed exports to China jumped 43% from January, to Japan up 27%, and to South Korea up 60% from the previous month.

    What has the government said?

    Albanese announced a response package, including $50 million to help pursue new markets. He said the tariff announcement was “not the act of a friend” and had “no basis in logic”:

    It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs. This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs.

    Albanese’s response contains only one direct trade measure. That is the plan to strengthen anti-dumping provisions on steel, aluminium and other manufacturing. This means countries looking to sell their products too cheaply in Australia will face countervailing duties. It is a measure that aligns with trade rules.

    The decision by the US to impose tariffs in this way shows complete disregard for the world trade order established after World War II.

    The rules that have existed since this time aimed to limit trade barriers (such as tariffs). They also recognised the importance of supporting developing countries to be part of the world economy.

    Some of the biggest US tariffs are to hit some of the lowest-income countries. This will impact their economies badly and disadvantage people already living in poverty.



    Read more:
    Why developing countries must unite to protect the WTO’s dispute settlement system

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

    – ref. US tariffs will upend global trade. This is how Australia can respond – https://theconversation.com/us-tariffs-will-upend-global-trade-this-is-how-australia-can-respond-253621

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on New Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on President Trump’s announcement of additional across-the-board tariffs on all imports, which are in effect a national sales tax on American consumers, farmers, and businesses.
    “The President’s new national sales tax on Americans is reckless, harmful, and could have irreversible consequences. This is the biggest tax increase in a generation, and will increase costs by more than $5,000 a year for the average family. The economic chaos and uncertainty the President is creating is endangering our economy.
    “I support targeted tariffs to take on our adversaries, such as those used by the previous Trump, Biden, and Obama administration to counter China’s steel dumping. But the President’s across-the-board tariffs will only raise costs, hurt businesses, and eliminate jobs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Klobuchar Calls for Congress to Pass Her Legislation to Reverse Canada Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WASHINGTON—On the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for support of her bipartisan legislation with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) to undo President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports. The administration is imposing a 10 percent tariff on energy from Canada and a 25 percent tariff on other goods — a move that amounts to a tax hike on American consumers and businesses. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner.

    “This resolution is about drawing a line in the sand and saying you cannot abuse your emergency powers to start an unjustified trade war,” said Klobuchar. “You cannot abuse your emergency powers to hurt one of the finest relationships in the world, the relationship between America and Canada, and you cannot drive up prices, eliminate jobs, and put in place a national sales tax.”

    Along with Klobuchar, Kaine, and Warner, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Rand Paul (R-KY).

    Specifically, the senators’ legislation would work by terminating the President’s February 1 declaration that President Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and thus eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports as a result. The declaration invoked the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of that law in its nearly 50-year history to justify across-the-board tariffs on a longstanding U.S. ally. 

    A rough transcript of Klobuchar’s remarks is available below. Download video HERE. 

    Senator Klobuchar: Madam President, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan resolution led by my colleague who is here today, Senator Tim Kaine, which I co-lead with him and Senator Warner to restore stability to our trade with one of our greatest allies, greatest friends, and that is the country of Canada. 

    This resolution does one thing, and it does it clearly. It terminates the President’s declaration related to the Canadian border that he is using as an excuse to impose across-the-board tariffs, which are, in fact, taxes on Canadian imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 

    Passing this resolution just became even more urgent because of the President’s announcement of even more across-the-board tariffs this afternoon, including a minimum 10% tax on all imports and even higher tariffs on certain countries, including our friends and allies. 

    This is a country that has thrived on the fact, and our economy has grown because we do business with the world. And already with the President’s announcement, which he calls Liberation Day, I call it a National Sales Tax Day, because the estimates are that these tariffs will result in about $5,000 in taxes, that’s right, on the average family in America every single year. 

    What has happened? Well, the stock market is closed, but the futures are tanking. They are tanking, and that is because people get that this is not going to work for our American economy. They don’t want a national sales tax. People involved in the economy of this country, everyone from small business owners on and they’re going to be the first hit by this, because they do not actually have the wherewithal and the big conglomeration to try to deal with it. 

    Small farmers in my state that are already dealing with retaliatory tariffs, that are already dealing with the fact that Canadians who used to buy their stuff don’t want to buy it anymore, or other countries aren’t buying their stuff. And what happens then, the Canadians look for other markets, and there’s other countries, other manufacturers, other farmers, and other nations that say “we are more than happy to fill your contract, sir. We are more than happy to help you out with that aluminum, Mam.” Because of these tariffs. 

    …

    This resolution is about drawing a line in the sand and saying you cannot abuse your emergency powers to start an unjustified trade war. You cannot abuse your emergency powers to hurt one of the finest relationships in the world, the relationship between America and Canada, and you cannot drive up prices, eliminate jobs, and put in place a national sales tax. 

    Canada is not just our neighbor with my state, it’s our number one trading partner. In fact, we do so much business with Canada that it is more than the total of our number two, number three, and number four, largest markets combined. We are the fourth biggest ag exporter, the state of Minnesota, in the country. So, we know a little bit about how this works. 

    In 2023 alone, our state exported 7 billion in goods to Canada, including ag products, machinery, and medical devices. That’s a major hit for the retaliatory tariffs that we’re going to see. 

    The damage could extend to every sector of our economy. I just mentioned tourism. So I chair the Canadian American Interparliamentary Group. I go to Canada a lot. I know our partners over there. I know the people in the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, all of them. And the one thing that has united us to a T is this friendship, that has far transcended this President. 

    I remember it was the Canadian Embassy in one of the worst of times for our country, that had banners draped in the front of their embassy that said, “friends, neighbors, partners, allies.” Those banners aren’t hanging there right now, and they’re not going to put them up any time soon. 

    It was the Canadians that were the first to arrive after 9/11 to volunteer, to help out our country in its greatest moment of need. They fought alongside us in two World Wars. This is a long-standing friendship and an incredible trade relationship based on mutual respect and trust, and yes, two strong economies. 

    Because these new tariffs are already causing harm, as I noted, they amount to a national sales tax. 

    Since the administration began to propose and implement or pause but hang over people’s heads, wide-ranging tariff, wholesale prices have gone up on everything from meat and coffee to natural gas and lumber. 

    Homeowners Association, Home Builders Association, Retail Association, how many business groups? Are the Republicans not listening to them anymore? And add to that, the Steelworkers. Do they not care about that? They’re opposed to that, and they support this resolution that Senator Kaine, and Warner, and I have come together to introduce.

    With these tariffs across the world, we’re going to see a $20,000 increase to the price of a home and a $3,000 increase to an American-made car. This might not mean much to Elon Musk and the billionaires in Trump’s cabinet, but it means a lot to the people in my state. 

    Tariffs can be an important tool. Sure, you can have targeted tariffs. That’s not what this is. These tariffs on Canada are an abuse of the emergency powers, and if they want to negotiate this, put it in the upcoming negotiations of the USMCA, the United States, Mexico, Canada, Trade Agreement that I supported, that President Trump negotiated in his last administration. Why wouldn’t he do it there? Why, instead, is he doing his usual shock and awe, jarring the economy? This is going to be a blanket permission slip for tariff wars. 

    And I will note again, thank Senator Kaine, our bipartisan group of supporters, and the United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists, North American Building Trades Union, AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce, National Taxpayers Union, and the National Retail Federation have all endorsed this resolution. Maybe we don’t care about all those businesses and all those workers, but maybe we should listen to them. 

    This resolution is about restoring common sense and responsible governance. It is about Congress reasserting its constitutional role on trade, and it’s about standing up for American workers, businesses, and consumers who are being asked to pay the price of this trade war. 

    Let’s change course, before the damage becomes even more permanent. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. 

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Secures Economic Assistance for Farmers in Oklahoma

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced that he has secured a total of $10 billion for economic assistance for farmers through his legislation, the American Relief Act. An estimated total of over $230 million of that dollar amount will go to farmers and producers in Oklahoma specifically. After securing the funding, Congressman Cole released the following statement: 

    “As a lifelong Oklahoman, I know firsthand just how important our farmers, ranchers, and producers are. While the agriculture industry does drive our state’s economy, farmers are essential to not only Oklahoma, but to the entire country. Therefore, today, I am proud to announce that I have secured over $230 million in economic assistance for farmers in the state of Oklahoma, which will bridge the gap until a new Farm Bill is passed through Congress,” said Congressman Cole. “As the representative for over 13,000 farms and ranches in Oklahoma’s Fourth District alone, I will always ensure that these farmers and ranchers are properly represented in Congress. I would also like to thank both House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania and former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Frank Lucas of Oklahoma for helping target the money in ways that would most benefit the hardworking producers that are the backbone of the rural economy.”

    How to apply for assistance:

    Producers must submit Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) applications to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office by August 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax, or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account.

    If not already on file for the 2024 crop year, producers must have the following forms on file with FSA:

    • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
    • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
    • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
    • Form CCC 943, 75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification (if applicable).  
    • AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.
    • SF-3881, Direct Deposit.

    For any questions regarding the application and forms above, please contact your local FSA county office.

    If a producer does not receive a pre-filled ECAP application, and they planted or were prevented from planting ECAP eligible commodities in 2024, they should contact their local FSA office.

    Please stay tuned for future announcements as additional disaster assistance is released and available to Oklahomans.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Leads New York Delegation Letter Opposing Trump’s Executive Order Eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, led a letter signed by fifteen members of New York’s delegation to President Donald Trump, expressing strong opposition to his Executive Order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). 

    IMLS is the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries, supporting education, digital literacy, and cultural preservation through grants and resources. Its support is crucial for sustaining community access to information and fostering innovation, especially in smaller and rural institutions. 

    In their letter, the Members wrote: “Your Executive Order would have a devastating impact on New York, which is home to an extensive network of museums and libraries, many of which serve as vital educational and cultural hubs for their communities. Many of New York’s museums and libraries have received vital funding from the IMLS, including the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. The programming supported by this funding enriches the lives of New Yorkers and visitors alike.

    “The IMLS represents just 0.0046% of the federal budget, yet it supports a sector that generates over $50 billion in economic benefits and sustains more than 726,000 jobs nationwide.  

    “The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 clearly established that the IMLS is legally obligated under Section 9133 to allocate federal funding to state libraries through the Grants to States program. Congress enacted this law with a clear intent to ensure that federal support would reach libraries nationwide, recognizing the indispensable role they play in education, innovation, and community building,” the Members continued.  

    Representative Nadler was joined on the letter by Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Laura Gillen (NY-4), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), George Latimer (NY-16), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Grace Meng (NY-6), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Josh Riley (NY-19), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Thomas Suozzi (NY-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-7) 

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

    As members of New York’s Congressional Delegation, we are writing to express our strong opposition to your recent Executive Order, which calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”1 The proposed cuts to the core functions of the IMLS pose a significant threat to the survival of our nation’s cultural and educational institutions.  

    The IMLS plays a crucial role in supporting these institutions and is a cornerstone of our cultural and educational landscape. Your Executive Order would have a devastating impact on New York, which is home to an extensive network of museums and libraries, many of which serve as vital educational and cultural hubs for their communities. Many of New York’s museums and libraries have received vital funding from the IMLS, including the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. The programming supported by this funding enriches the lives of New Yorkers and visitors alike.  

    From the world-class institutions of the Hudson Valley and the Capital Region to the diverse cultural centers of Western and Upstate New York, these institutions attract visitors from around the globe, enrich local economies, and provide indispensable learning opportunities for residents of all ages. Additionally, New York City has the highest concentration of museums in the United States, with over 188 museums and cultural institutions. Furthermore, the New York Public Library, the largest public library system in the country, risks losing vital funding that supports essential services benefiting millions of residents and visitors each year. 

    The decision to eliminate or cut the IMLS’s core functions is not only shortsighted but also economically unsound. The IMLS represents just 0.0046% of the federal budget, yet it supports a sector that generates over $50 billion in economic benefits and sustains more than 726,000 jobs nationwide.  

    The arts and humanities play a vital role in enriching American life, showcasing the diversity and creativity that define our nation. They are not merely cultural assets but essential lifelines for communities, providing education, job training, internet access, and spaces for civic engagement.  

    The United States is renowned for housing some of the world’s most distinguished and groundbreaking cultural institutions. Museums and cultural venues represent a wide range of American experiences, from iconic Broadway theaters in New York City to unique sites such as the National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Texas, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Collectively, more than 35,000 museums across the nation support over 372,100 jobs and generate $15 billion in annual revenue. 

    As hubs of literacy and innovation, our nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic, and special libraries deserve increased support, not reduced funding. These institutions are crucial for preserving American art, history, and culture while promoting community engagement and lifelong learning. The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 clearly established that the IMLS is legally obligated under Section 9133 to allocate federal funding to state libraries through the Grants to States program.2 Congress enacted this law with a clear intent to ensure that federal support would reach libraries nationwide, recognizing the indispensable role they play in education, innovation, and community building.  

    Support from IMLS is crucial for libraries to maintain statewide digital resources and collections, create support systems for individual public, school, and academic libraries, and facilitate interlibrary loan programs. At a time when the nation should be investing in cultural preservation and community support, eliminating IMLS funding threatens to dismantle the foundational support that libraries and cultural institutions rely on to strengthen our democracy and promote social cohesion.  

    We strongly urge you to immediately rescind this Executive Order and instead prioritize the continued funding of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. These institutions are fundamental to our communities, our economy, and our shared cultural heritage. Eliminating their support would undermine the very foundation of educational and cultural access that Americans rely on every day. We are committed to collaborating with your administration to protect these vital resources and ensure they continue to serve the American people.  

    Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell On Vote To Support Kentucky, Reject Tariff War: “The Last Thing We Need Is To Pick Fights With… Friends”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today following his vote in favor of legislation to undo the tariffs on Canada, Kentucky’s largest trade market:

    “As I have always warned, tariffs are bad policy, and trade wars with our partners hurt working people most. Tariffs drive up the cost of goods and services. They are a tax on everyday working Americans. Preserving the long-term prosperity of American industry and workers requires working with our allies, not against them. With so much at stake globally, the last thing we need is to pick fights with the very friends with whom we should be working with to protect against China’s predatory and unfair trade practices. That includes what we do on trade. Tariffs make it more expensive to do business in America, driving up costs for producers and consumers across the board. In Kentucky, broad-based tariffs could even have long-term consequences right in our backyard. Consider our state’s 69,000 family farms that sell their crops around the globe, or the hardworking Kentuckians who craft 95% of the world’s bourbon, or our automotive and manufacturing industries that rely on global supply chains. Make no mistake: goods made in America will be more expensive to manufacture and, ultimately, for consumers to purchase, with higher broad-based tariffs.  At a time when Americans are tightening their belts, we would do well to avoid policies that heap on the pain. We ought to strengthen our friendships abroad, and reinforce our allies as pillars of American prosperity and security.”

    BACKGROUND: In Kentucky, local storeowners are already hearing about their suppliers’ prices going up. One estimate suggests the president’s tariffs could cost the average Kentuckian up to $1,200 each year. Canada is the top export market for Kentucky, exporting $9.3 billion and importing $6 billion in goods annually.

    Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soy farmer in Magnolia, Kentucky in the Wall Street Journal: “It’s hitting us on all fronts,” said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soy farmer in Magnolia, Ky. “You’re talking about the potential of a flat-out crisis in rural America and the farm economy.”… Trump’s first trade war led to more than $27 billion in losses of agricultural exports, according to USDA research. Soybeans accounted for nearly 71% of that. In response, China started importing more soybeans from Brazil, and U.S. soybean farmers have yet to regain their market share, according to Ragland of the soybean association.

    McConnell op-ed in the Courier Journal: Kentuckians can’t afford the high cost of Trump’s tariffs

    McConnell article in Foreign Affairs magazine: The Price of American Retreat

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Releases Smith: President Trump Trade Order Helps Deliver American Workers and Manufacturers a Level Playing Field February 13, 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Smith (8th District of Missouri)

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (Mo.) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to examine the use of reciprocal tariffs on imports from any country that currently applies tariffs or other unfair barriers on similar exports from the United States:

    “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation, but for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. We must look at every avenue – including reciprocity – to ensure that U.S. interests are treated fairly. This new initiative by the Trump Administration follows a steady stream of bold actions to secure commitments from key trading partners to help safeguard our communities, halt China’s attempts to skirt U.S. tariffs, and initiate a wholesale review of America’s trade policies to thwart unfair practices by other nations and bring in additional revenues to our country. President Trump and congressional Republicans will continue working tirelessly to restore American leadership by standing up for working families, farmers, and small businesses here at home and in markets around the world.”

    READ: Trump Administration Closes the Door on China Skirting U.S. Tariffs Through De Minimis Shipments

    READ: Smith: President Trump’s Tariffs Show He Is Keeping His Promise to Protect America’s Communities

    READ: Smith Applauds President Trump’s Early Action to Protect American Workers and Businesses from Unfair Trade Practices

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens New Business Recovery Assessment Center in Mitchell County

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of a Business Recovery Assessment Center (BRAC) in Mitchell County to assist businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by Hurricane Helene.

    Beginning Wednesday, April 2, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the BRAC to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.  

    The BRAC’s hours of operation is listed below.

    Business Recovery Assessment Center (BRAC)

    Mitchell County

    Maryland Community College Small Business Center

    67 Hotel Place

    Spruce Pine, NC 28777

    Opening: Wednesday, April 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Hours:     Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Closed: Saturday & Sunday

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Assessment Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

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

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

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.  

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, regrading landscaping for better drainage, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.  

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.250% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 27, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scientists worked with Walpiri to track down bilby poo – and uncover clues to help conserve these iconic animals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hayley Geyle, Ecologist, Charles Darwin University

    Sarah Maclagan/Author provided

    The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals — and the last surviving bilby species. Once found across 70% of Australia, its range has contracted by more than 80% since European colonisation.

    Today, these nocturnal marsupials, still culturally significant to many Indigenous peoples, are restricted to remote deserts. They face an ongoing threat of extinction.

    Local elders, Indigenous rangers and scientists hold valuable knowledge about bilby populations, the threats they face, and strategies needed to sustain them into the future.

    Our new study, published today in Conservation Science and Practice, reveals how collaboration between scientists and Indigenous land managers can help yield new and vital information.

    In the field, we used two methods – one based on Walpiri knowledge and one based on standard scientific protocols – to locate bilbies and collect scat (poo) samples in the North Tanami Indigenous Protected Area in the Northern Territory.

    By drawing on Warlpiri tracking expertise and Western scientific methods, we uncovered crucial information on bilby populations that could help conserve these rare creatures.

    The greater bilby is one of Australia’s most iconic yet at-risk animals.
    Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock

    Understanding bilby numbers is important – but hard

    Bilbies turn over tonnes of soil each year, helping to improve soil health, help seeds germinate and enhance water infiltration. Their deep, complex burrows also provide shelter for other species.

    They’re crucial to the health of desert ecosystems; protecting bilbies means protecting the web of life they support.

    To do this, we need to know more about:

    • how many bilbies there are
    • how they respond to land management techniques such as planned burning
    • how they respond to threats such as feral predators.

    Yet, bilbies are notoriously difficult to monitor directly via live capture. They’re nocturnal, shy and solitary. And they inhabit vast landscapes, making it very hard to estimate population numbers.

    Bilby tracks North Tanami (pen for scale).
    Hayley Geyle/Author Provided

    Luckily, the tracks, diggings and scats bilbies leave behind provide ample clues. DNA from scat (if it can be found) can be used to estimate how many bilbies are present in a particular area.

    Systematic ecological surveys, often used to monitor wildlife, can be rigid and expensive, especially in remote regions.

    We need flexible methods that align with local knowledge and the practical realities of monitoring bilbies on Country.

    A new approach to monitor and manage bilbies

    We tested two methods of locating bilby scat for DNA analysis.

    The first was systematic sampling. This is a standard scientific approach where fixed lengths of land were walked multiple times to collect scat.

    This ensures sampling effort is even over the search area and comparable across sites. However, like most species, bilby distribution is patchy, and this approach can lead to researchers missing important signs.

    The second method was targeted sampling, guided by Warlpiri knowledge, to search in areas most likely to yield results.

    This allowed the search team to focus on areas where bilbies were active or predicted to be active based on knowledge of their habits and food sources.

    Altogether, we collected more than 1,000 scat samples. In the lab, we extracted DNA from these samples to identify individual bilbies. These data, combined with the location of samples, allowed us to estimate the size of the bilby population.

    We then compared estimates that would have been derived if we had only done systematic or targeted sampling, or both, to assess their strengths and limitations for monitoring bilby populations.

    The deep, complex burrows of bilbies also provide shelter for other species.
    Kelly Dixon/Author provided

    What we found

    We identified 20 bilbies from the scats collected during systematic surveys and 26 – six more – from targeted surveys. At least 16 individual bilbies were detected by both methods. In total, we confirmed 32 unique bilbies in the study area.

    When it came to population estimates – which consider how many repeat captures occur and where – combining data from both types of surveys produced the most accurate estimates with the least effort.

    Targeted sampling tended to overestimate population size because it focused on areas of high activity. Systematic sampling was more precise but required greater effort.

    Combining both approaches provided the most reliable estimates while saving time.

    In the lab, we extracted DNA from bilby scat samples to identify individual bilbies.
    Hayley Geyle/Author provided

    What this means for conservation

    Our research highlights how collaboration that includes different ways of knowing can improve conservation.

    By adapting standard on-ground survey techniques to include Warlpiri methods for tracking bilbies, we produced better data and supported local capacity for bilby monitoring.

    Elders also had opportunities to share tracking skills with younger people, helping keep cultural knowledge alive.

    Conservation programs often rely on standardised ecological monitoring protocols – in other words, doing things much the same way no matter where you’re working.

    While these protocols provide consistency, they are rigid and don’t always yield the best results. They also fail to incorporate local knowledge crucial for managing species like the bilby.

    Our approach shows how integrating diverse ways of working can deliver more inclusive and effective outcomes, without compromising data reliability.

    A path forward

    Bilbies face ongoing threats including:

    • introduced predators (particularly foxes)
    • habitat degradation and
    • inappropriate fire regimes.

    Their future depends on collaborative efforts that draw on scientific and Indigenous and local knowledges.

    This study provides an example of how such partnerships can work – not just for bilbies, but for other species and ecosystems.

    As Australia confronts biodiversity loss, this research underscores the importance of listening to those who know Country best.

    By valuing and respecting local expertise, we can build a stronger future for bilbies and the landscapes that are their home.

    Hayley Geyle is employed by Territory NRM, who receives funding for threatened species projects from the Australian government through the Natural Heritage Trust. She also works on the Digital Women Ranger project. She is affiliated with Territory NRM and the Northern Institute (Charles Darwin University).

    Cathy Robinson is employed at CSIRO and is Group Leader in the Agriculture and Food Sustainability Program and Research lead for the Digital Women Ranger Program which is supported by the Telstra Foundation. Cathy is also an Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University, Chair of IUCN Australian Expert Advisory Panel for the Green List, and Executive Advisor for the Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership at the University of Queensland.

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

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

    – ref. Scientists worked with Walpiri to track down bilby poo – and uncover clues to help conserve these iconic animals – https://theconversation.com/scientists-worked-with-walpiri-to-track-down-bilby-poo-and-uncover-clues-to-help-conserve-these-iconic-animals-245153

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump highlights Australian beef in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown

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

    US President Donald Trump singled out Australia’s beef trade for special mention in his announcement that the United States would impose a 10% global tariff as well as “reciprocal tariffs” on many countries.

    In a long speech in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said: “Australia bans – and they’re wonderful people and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef.

    “Yet we imported US$3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone.

    “They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but we’re doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight, I would say.”

    Australia bans US fresh beef imports because of biosecurity concerns. The US just-released Foreign Trade Barriers report says, “the United States continues to seek full market access for fresh US beef and beef products”.

    Trump announced a “minimum baseline tariff” of 10%, which would apply to Australia as well as to all other countries.

    Initially, given Trump’s language, there was confusion about what will happen with beef but later it was clarified it would face the basic 10% general tariff, and nothing more.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the new US trade regime and said Australia would continue to try to get exemptions for Australia.

    The trade decision was “not unexpected” but had “no basis in logic” and “was not the act of a friend”.

    Albanese announced a response package, but flagged the government did not want to take the US to the World Trade Organisation. The package includes:

    • strenghening anti-dumping provisions

    • providing A$50 million to affected sectors to secure and pursue new markets

    • sending five missions abroad to develop other markets

    • setting up a new resilience program, involving $1 billion in loans to capitalise on new investment opportunities

    • putting Australian businesses at “the front of the queue” in a “buy Australian” policy in government procurement

    • setting up a strategic reserve for Australian critical minerals.

    Albanese re-emphasised Australia would make no changes to the country’s biosecurity rules.

    Under Trump’s announcement, varying “reciprocal” rates are being imposed on individual countries according to the barriers they impose on American items.

    The president described this as “one of the most important days in American history”, saying it represented a “declaration of economic independence”.

    China will face a 34% tariff, while there will be a 25% global tariff on cars imported into the US. Imports from the European Union will have a 20% tariff imposed.

    There will be 25% on imports from South Korea, as well as 24% on imports from Japan and 32% on those from Taiwan.

    Trump’s message to countries seeking special treatment could not have been blunter.

    “To all of the foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else, who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions from these tariffs, I say, terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don’t manipulate here your currencies – they manipulate their currencies, like, nobody can even believe, when it’s a bad, bad thing, and very devastating to us.

    “And start buying tens of billions of dollars of American goods.

    “Tariffs give us protection against those looking to do us economic harm.”

    He said the new US trade regime would raise trillions of dollars that would reduce American taxes and pay down its debt.

    Opposition campaign spokesman James Paterson described the announcement as “disappointing”, He said Australia should work “calmly and directly” with the US administration to get a better deal.

    Nationals leader David Littleproud said action against beef would mean the price of Big Mac burgers would go up for American consumers. Australian beef exported to the US is especially for burgers.

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

    – ref. Trump highlights Australian beef in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown – https://theconversation.com/trump-highlights-australian-beef-in-liberation-day-trade-crackdown-253111

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australian beef highlighted by Donald Trump in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown

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

    US President Donald Trump singled out Australia’s beef trade for special mention in his announcement that the United States would impose a 10% global tariff as well as “reciprocal tariffs” on many countries.

    In a long speech in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said: “Australia bans – and they’re wonderful people and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef.

    “Yet we imported US$3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone.

    “They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but we’re doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight, I would say.”

    Australia bans US fresh beef imports because of biosecurity concerns. The US just-released Foreign Trade Barriers report says, “the United States continues to seek full market access for fresh US beef and beef products”.

    Trump announced a “minimum baseline tariff” of 10%, which would apply to Australia as well as to all other countries.

    Initially, given Trump’s language, there was confusion about what will happen with beef but later it was clarified it would face the basic 10% general tariff, and nothing more.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the new US trade regime and said Australia would continue to try to get exemptions for Australia.

    The trade decision was “not unexpected” but had “no basis in logic” and “was not the act of a friend”.

    Albanese announced a response package, but flagged the government did not want to take the US to the World Trade Organisation. The package includes:

    • strenghening anti-dumping provisions

    • providing A$50 million to affected sectors to secure and pursue new markets

    • sending five missions abroad to develop other markets

    • setting up a new resilience program, involving $1 billion in loans to capitalise on new investment opportunities

    • putting Australian businesses at “the front of the queue” in a “buy Australian” policy in government procurement

    • setting up a strategic reserve for Australian critical minerals.

    Albanese re-emphasised Australia would make no changes to the country’s biosecurity rules.

    Under Trump’s announcement, varying “reciprocal” rates are being imposed on individual countries according to the barriers they impose on American items.

    The president described this as “one of the most important days in American history”, saying it represented a “declaration of economic independence”.

    China will face a 34% tariff, while there will be a 25% global tariff on cars imported into the US. Imports from the European Union will have a 20% tariff imposed.

    There will be 25% on imports from South Korea, as well as 24% on imports from Japan and 32% on those from Taiwan.

    Trump’s message to countries seeking special treatment could not have been blunter.

    “To all of the foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else, who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions from these tariffs, I say, terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don’t manipulate here your currencies – they manipulate their currencies, like, nobody can even believe, when it’s a bad, bad thing, and very devastating to us.

    “And start buying tens of billions of dollars of American goods.

    “Tariffs give us protection against those looking to do us economic harm.”

    He said the new US trade regime would raise trillions of dollars that would reduce American taxes and pay down its debt.

    Opposition campaign spokesman James Paterson described the announcement as “disappointing”, He said Australia should work “calmly and directly” with the US administration to get a better deal.

    Nationals leader David Littleproud said action against beef would mean the price of Big Mac burgers would go up for American consumers. Australian beef exported to the US is especially for burgers.

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

    – ref. Australian beef highlighted by Donald Trump in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown – https://theconversation.com/australian-beef-highlighted-by-donald-trump-in-liberation-day-trade-crackdown-253111

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australian beef targeted by Donald Trump in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown

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

    US President Donald Trump singled out Australia’s beef trade for special mention in his announcement that the United States would impose a 10% global tariff as well as “reciprocal tariffs” on many countries.

    In a long speech in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said: “Australia bans – and they’re wonderful people and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef.

    “Yet we imported US$3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone.

    “They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but we’re doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight, I would say.”

    Australia bans US beef imports because of biosecurity concerns. The US just-released Foreign Trade Barriers report says, “the United States continues to seek full market access for fresh US beef and beef products”.

    While exactly what will happen with beef is unclear, Trump announced a “minimum baseline tariff” of 10%, which would apply to Australia as well as to all other countries.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the new US trade regime, and said Australia would continue to try to get exemptions for Australia.

    The trade decision was “not unexpected” but had “no basis in logic” and “was not the act of a friend”.

    Albanese announced a response package, but
    flagged the government did not want to take the US to the World Trade Organisation. The package includes:

    • strenghening anti-dumping provisions

    • providing A$50 million to affected sectors to secure and pursue new markets

    • sending five missions abroad to develop other markets

    • setting up a new resilience program, involving $1 billion in loans to capitalise on new investment opportunities

    • putting Australian businesses at “the front of the queue” in a “buy Australian” policy in government procurement

    • setting up a strategic reserve for Australian critical minerals.

    Albanese re-emphasised Australia would make no changes to the country’s biosecurity rules.

    Under Trump’s announcement, varying “reciprocal” rates are being imposed on individual countries according to the barriers they impose on American items.

    The president described this as “one of the most important days in American history”, saying it represented a “declaration of economic independence”.

    China will face a 34% tariff, while there will be a 25% global tariff on cars imported into the US. Imports from the European Union will have a 20% tariff imposed.

    There will be 25% on imports from South Korea, as well as 24% on imports from Japan and 32% on those from Taiwan.

    Trump’s message to countries seeking special treatment could not have been blunter.

    “To all of the foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else, who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions from these tariffs, I say, terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don’t manipulate here your currencies – they manipulate their currencies, like, nobody can even believe, when it’s a bad, bad thing, and very devastating to us.

    “And start buying tens of billions of dollars of American goods.

    “Tariffs give us protection against those looking to do us economic harm.”

    He said the new US trade regime would raise trillions of dollars that would reduce American taxes and pay down its debt.

    Opposition campaign spokesman James Paterson described the announcement as “disappointing”, He said Australia should work “calmly and directly” with the US administration to get a better deal.

    Nationals leader David Littleproud said action against beef would mean the price of Big Mac burgers would go up for American consumers. Australian beef exported to the US is especially for burgers.

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

    – ref. Australian beef targeted by Donald Trump in ‘Liberation Day’ trade crackdown – https://theconversation.com/australian-beef-targeted-by-donald-trump-in-liberation-day-trade-crackdown-253111

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cleaver’s Statement on President Trump Levying National Import Tax, Instigating Global Trade War

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

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement on President Trump’s decision, with the permission of Congressional Republicans, to instigate a global trade war, levy a new import tax on everyday goods, and raise prices on American families.

    “Tariffs are not an all-encompassing economic strategy—at least not one that is made for long-term prosperity. When used appropriately, they are a tool in America’s toolbox to protect vital industries and our national security. When used inappropriately, as I believe the president is doing with across-the-board import taxes on our allies and adversaries alike, they lead to higher prices, fewer jobs, slower economic growth, and more contentious relationships with nations around the world. With inflation already on the rise again due to previously implemented tariffs, this is a recipe for disaster.

    “Missouri families, including our farmers, are already struggling with the cost of living, but rather than focusing on lowering essentials like groceries, housing, and healthcare, President Trump has instigated a reckless trade war—and the American people will pay the price. 

    “The president has admitted himself that these new taxes will create more pain for American families, farmers, and small businesses, saying that he ‘couldn’t care less’ about the prospect of higher prices on everything from cars to groceries. Well, the American people care, and they will make their feelings known if the president does not quickly reverse course, repair the relationships that America has spent decades forging, and focus on lowering costs for the public.”

    ###

    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: Cotton, Colleagues: Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    April 2, 2025

    Cotton, Colleagues: Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today reintroduced the Cormorant Relief Act, legislation that would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations. The legislation would restore U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations to allow producers to fight the cormorants, which threaten the livelihoods of aquaculture operations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states.

    Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) are cosponsoring the legislation. Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi-04) is leading companion legislation in the House. 

    “Double-crested cormorants pose a significant threat to Arkansas’s fish farmers, but unnecessary regulation currently prevents them from taking additional steps to protect their ponds. Our bill would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations from the birds that are eating into their bottom line,” said Senator Cotton. 

    “Every year, Alabama’s catfish farmers battle predatory double-crested cormorants in addition to the high input costs and overreaching regulations experienced by our entire agriculture industry. This commonsense bill allows our aquaculture producers the ability to better manage these cormorants that cause millions of dollars of losses year after year. Catfish is a vital part of our state’s economy, and I will always support our hardworking farmers and processors,” said Senator Britt.

    “Mississippi catfish producers battle every day just to break even, something that is made harder because of the vast flocks of cormorants feasting at their ponds.  The immediate losses due to bird predation, combined with subsequent losses due to disease, cost the aquaculture industry millions of dollars annually.  It is essential that we allow producers to do more to protect their crops from bird predation, which is what this legislation will accomplish,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.

    “Alabama is the number two state in American catfish production, raising one-third of the world’s catfish,” said Senator Tuberville. “As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know firsthand how critical catfish are to our economy. America’s catfish farmers should be able to protect their livelihoods against these invasive birds without fear of repercussions from the federal government. It is important that we put our American catfish farmers first!”

    “Cormorant overpopulation is hurting fish populations and threatening industries that depend on healthy fisheries,” Congressman Ezell said. “This bipartisan bill gives Mississippians the ability to manage these predatory birds and keep our aquaculture industry protected. Protecting our fisheries is key to supporting local economies and farmers, and I’m proud to work with those leading this effort.”

    Text of the legislation may be found here.

    This legislation is supported by the National Aquaculture Association and the Catfish Farmers of America.

    Background:

    • The double-crested cormorant is a large water bird that feeds primarily on fish, consuming approximately a pound of fish per day. The cormorant population in North America has been increasing for decades as they have no natural predators and a growing prey base. As a result, these birds cause millions of dollars in losses across the aquaculture industry each year. 
    • From 1998 to 2016, an Aquaculture Depredation Order existed allowing aquaculture producers to take double-crested cormorants committing or about to commit depredation of aquaculture stocks. However, a lawsuit brought against the Fish and Wildlife Service challenged the Aquaculture Depredation Order renewal and in 2016 the order was vacated. Currently, aquaculture facilities must pursue individual depredation permits, which impose constraints on farmers and prevent them from adequately protecting their fish against this avian predator.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Votes to Undo Tariffs on Canada, Reassert Congress’s Authority Over Trade Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch slams Trump’s trade war on the Senate Floor: “These tariffs will be a dagger in the heart of the Vermont economy.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance and Senate Agriculture Committees, voted to end President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canadian imports—a tax on Vermont businesses and manufactures, farmers, and families. The vote comes on the same day President Trump imposed new global tariffs, throwing the economy into chaos.  
    “These tariffs on Canada are terrible for Vermont’s economy, arbitrary, and frankly—really stupid. President Trump’s trade war has raised prices for working families across the country and eroded trust between our neighbor and best ally in trade. I voted to end these reckless tariffs and reassert Congress’s power over trade policy,” said Senator Peter Welch after the vote. 
    Before voting, Senator Welch took to the Senate Floor to denounce President Trump’s announcement of new, blanket tariffs, which will devastate Vermont and the global economy. The Senator’s remarks followed a press conference earlier today where Senator Welch described President Trump’s trade policy as “Totally bad. Totally wrong. Doomed.” 
    “I want to talk about how these tariffs will be a dagger in the heart of the Vermont economy. The question for this institution is will we, as the United States Senate, accept the responsibility that each and every one of us, as Senators, has to stand up for the independent authority and responsibility of this institution?” asked Senator Welch from the Senate Floor.  
    “…What I’m seeing is a lawless rampage on the part of the Executive, being accommodated by an appeasing Congress, not standing up for its authority in many different areas…A couple decades ago this Congress gave, and delegated, some authority to the President in a national emergency to impose tariffs. That authority was given with the expectation, and rightly so in a mutually respectful civil society, that a President would use it for the intended purpose and with restraint. Whether it was Republican or Democrat…” Welch continued. “What President Trump has done is run roughshod over that, showing no restraint and using that delegation of authority, not for a national emergency, but for whatever his latest policy idea is and whatever leverage he wants to extract. We cannot allow that to happen and maintain the separation of powers that is so fundamental to the long-term well-being of our country. Senator Kaine is absolutely right. This is not a partisan question, it’s an institutional question: Do we see our role—do we see our responsibility—for maintaining that system of checks and balances? I do. That’s the heart of this matter.”
    In his remarks from the Senate Floor, Senator Welch shared the concerns of impacted Vermonters, including farmers, food banks, manufactures, construction companies and homebuilders, maple sugar makers, and more.  
    Watch his full remarks here:  
    Earlier today, Senator Welch joined Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) to slam the Administration’s trade war: 
    “Nobody supports tariffs economically. Economists have looked at this and they don’t work, and they do a lot of hurt…. We have an affordability crisis in this country. Working families are struggling to pay their bills. And just in Vermont—to make it very concrete—we get a lot of our electricity from Canada. We get a lot of our gasoline—on the northern part of Vermont—from Canada. We get our home heating fuel from Canada. And those bills for folks are going to go up immediately,” Senator Welch said. 
    “Canada is our friend. It’s not China. And along the border, where we have decades and decades of mutual respect, that’s starting to change—into distrust. And a confident country treats its allies with respect, and these tariffs are going to do direct and immediate economic harm to everyday Vermont families and farmers, maple sugar producers. But it’s also going to start eroding the trust that is the benefit of good relations over time…Totally bad. Totally wrong. Doomed. And the only question is: How much pain will he inflict on everyday Vermonters before he comes to his senses and withdraws this tariff policy?” Senator Welch concluded.
    View the livestream here:  
    Background on S.J.Res. 37 and the Trade War: 
    The bipartisan joint resolution of disapproval, cosponsored by Welch and led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), would terminate President Trump’s February 1st emergency declaration used to launch the trade war with Canada and eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports. President Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half-century history.   
    Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. Recently, Senator Welch hosted a roundtable in Newport with Vermont and Canadian business leaders to discuss President Trump’s Trade War. He has also held events in St. Albans and virtually to hear directly from impacted Vermonters. 
    Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 U.S. states, including Vermont. In 2024 alone, trade with Canada accounted for 35% of Vermont’s exports, 67% of imports, and 56% of its total trade. One in four businesses in Vermont relies on trade with Canada.   
    In many cases, Vermont manufacturers buy imports from Canada to manufacture products. Tariffs on Canada threaten business closures and job layoffs, higher homebuilding costs, increased grain costs for farmers, and more expensive equipment for maple producers—among other costs that will get passed on to working families. 
    A new poll from AP-NORC found that a majority of voters—60%—disapprove of the president’s handling of trade negotiations, and 58% disapprove of his handling of the economy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Issues Statement on Potential Harm President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs Will put on Price of Groceries, Everyday Goods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Issues Statement on Potential Harm President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs Will put on Price of Groceries, Everyday Goods

    Today, President Trump announced the rollout of a sweeping set of tariffs that will raise the cost of everyday goods for ordinary Georgians

    The tariffs will increase costs on many consumer purchases, including cars and groceries, and risk the loss of Georgia manufacturing jobs

    Today’s announcement will directly harm Georgia’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors

    Senator Reverend Warnock is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness

    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, issued the following statement after President Trump rolled out a sweeping set of tariffs that raise the prices of everyday goods, like groceries.

    “I was sent to the Senate to advocate on behalf of Georgians from across the state, to help bring down their everyday costs, to fight to protect their jobs, and to help more people afford things like a car and a home.”

    “Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive.”

    “The chaos of these tariffs will raise the prices of cars, groceries, housing, and so much more, all while putting American farmers, the backbone of our state’s economy, in the middle of an international trade war that will only lead to reduced access to foreign markets and even shuttered farms.”

    “Tariffs can be a good tool to protect American jobs and force other nations to play by the rules. But when they are imposed in such an unpredictable, chaotic, and sweeping manner, it is the average American who will bear the brunt in the fallout of these actions.”

    “I will continue to fight back on any actions that put Georgia and American families in overwhelmingly burdensome financial situations. These tariffs won’t help anybody and will wreck our economy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Tariffs that Will Hurt WA State Businesses, Agriculture & Economy, Raise Costs on Everyone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***TODAY: Senate to vote on a resolution to reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada—Trump’s trade war with Canada, which has resulted in severe, 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on nearly all goods, is already seriously hurting WA businesses and agriculture industry***
    Washington state is one of the most trade-dependent states in the U.S., with 40 percent of WA jobs tied to international commerce
    Senator Murray: “Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s reckless and sweeping new tariffs, which are expected to go into effect later today and will raise costs, and severely harm Washington state businesses, agriculture, and our overall economy. A recent analysis found that Trump’s tariffs could raise costs on the average American household by $5,200 a year—and these price hikes on working families are coming at the very same time that Republicans are forcing through Congress massive new tax cuts for billionaires.
    The Senate will also vote today on a resolution from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada by nullifying the emergency declaration issued by President Trump that underpins them. The resolution requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate and would also need to be brought up and passed in the Republican-controlled House in order to go into effect.
    “Trump’s ham-fisted, utterly pointless tariffs are a tax that families in Washington state will pay on nearly everything they buy—whether at the grocery store, the car dealership, or your neighborhood coffee shop.
    “We have all the data in the world that tells us exactly how these tariffs will hurt American businesses and push up prices—that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Trump and his cabinet are choosing to ignore the mountains of evidence we have that tariffs do not work and push ahead because they simply don’t care. They don’t care if small businesses have to close their doors, if farmers lose access to markets, or if prices go up—because it won’t affect Trump and his cabinet full of billionaires.
    “Trump’s trade war is an especially deep cut to farmers, fishers, and producers in Washington state—I’ve talked to so many who are absolutely furious that Trump is putting their livelihoods at risk because he cannot seem to grasp the basic fact that they actually rely on international markets to sell their goods. Trump doesn’t have a clue—and businesses in Washington state are already paying the price for his ignorance.
    “Today I will vote for Senator Kaine’s resolution to reverse Trump’s disastrous tariffs on Washington state’s largest trading partner, Canada—Trump’s trade war has already forced businesses in Washington state who rely on imported materials and business from Canada to lay off employees and close their doors, and is upending supply chains across the Pacific Northwest.
    “Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
    Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce and approximately $60 billion in annual exports. Washington is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will struggle to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—as one example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and Liberation Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Market Day Report on RFD-TV today to discuss the Senate Agriculture Committee’s hearing yesterday on his legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act – a bipartisan bill that would bring back whole and reduced milk to American schools.
    Senator Marshall also discussed President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs and how the president is leveling the playing field for American workers and businesses while also fighting for long-term solutions for farmers and ranchers.

    [embedded content]

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s interview.
    Highlights from the interview include: 
    On health benefits of consuming whole milk:
    “Growing up, my grandfather stopped by our house twice a week with whole milk from our farm… We had a generation of healthy kids. But today… 40% of our children are obese. We have a generation of children now that have not ever [drunk] much milk… They’re going to have osteoporosis, osteopenia, at a decade sooner than previous generations.
    “… Whole milk helps absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. It’s very important. There’s good fats in milk. It helps your brain health… Lots of good things about whole milk.”
    On whole milk being part of the solution to Make America Healthy Again:
    “The big movement with my MAHA moms is whole foods. I think whole milk is equally the same. Rather than breaking it down in its part, God made it whole. Let’s drink it that way. I think it’s much healthier for you, and the benefits outweigh any potential risk.
    “The problem with our diets today is about 70% of our calories come from opening a package one way or another. So that’s what we need to change as far as getting the obesity levels down in our nation. Whole milk is not the problem, whole milk is part of the solution.”
    On Liberation Day:
    “Today is liberation today, and I think about milk products. Right now, Canada has a 200% tariff on cheese and butter going into their country. I just want to remind all your listeners what happened in Trump 45 – that there was a tariff war, a trade war with China. He gave the farmers $28 billion from that tariff money. Just last week, President Trump released $10 billion of emergency economic aid for our farmers because of high input costs and low commodity prices. 
    “Our farmers trust President Trump, and just like again with Trump 45 he used those tariffs as levers to negotiate really good trade deals with Japan, with South Korea, USMCA, and China Phase One, and we’re still benefiting from those trade agreements. I think the bright spot in agriculture in Kansas anyways, of course, the cattle and beef industry, a lot of that beef is going overseas, to South Korea, to Japan, and China as well.
    “We have to give the president a little bit of leeway… This is a national security issue, we want to stop the fentanyl flowing into this country, and the president is using these tariffs as levers on Mexico, Canada, and China to say, stop making fentanyl, stop bringing it into our country.”
    On unfair trade practices harming American ranchers and farmers:
    “Every time I talk to the president, he asks me, ‘How are my farmers and ranchers doing?’ And I say, ‘Well… you know, we’re struggling.’ He says, well, ‘Tell them I love them, that I’ll take care of them.’ He realizes 90% of rural America voted for President Trump.
    “On the other hand, though, farmers and ranchers have been complaining to me since I was a boy, that there’s unfair trade practices. Again, [the] European Union [has] a 50% tariff on most agricultural products. India, 50% to 100% – they use non-tariff barriers as well. And those farmers and ranchers said, we want free and reciprocal trade agreements. We have a president now who’s out here fighting for long-term solutions for our farmers and ranchers, not just the short-term gain. So I understand, I have empathy. There’s going to be some short-term pain. We are the tip of the spear. The president knows that. He’s going to do everything he can to make it right with his farmers and ranchers. So we appreciate them hanging in there with us.
    “We’re the patriots. We are the modern-day patriots of our nation, our Republic. We are the backbone of this country. We give our country values and that agriculture is a way of life, so much more. So the president gets that. Give us a little bit of grace, and we’ll make it right.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Slams Trump’s Massive Cuts To Food Bank Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Amid Sky-High Grocery Prices, Trump Is Denying Food To Hungry Families 

    New York Food Banks Receive Tens Of Millions Of Dollars’ Worth Of Food Through Now Slashed Federal Programs 

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference slamming the Trump administration’s massive cuts to funding for food banks.

    Last month, President Trump slashed $1 billion in federal funding used to purchase food for food banks and other organizations that provide meals, like schools and child care centers. Now, he is canceling another $500 million in already approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). New York receives roughly $30 million through TEFAP each year in regular funding; this supplemental money would have funded additional food purchases at New York’s regional food banks and their partner soup kitchens and food pantries.

    Senator Gillibrand was joined by CEO of Hunger Free America Joel Berg. 

    “Seventy-two days into Trump’s presidency, grocery prices are still sky-high, with no sign of improvement on the horizon,” said Senator Gillibrand. “And as hungry families turn to food banks and soup kitchens for help, Trump is now slashing the funding they rely on. It’s outrageous. Programs like TEFAP have overwhelming bipartisan support. They help serve every community – rural, urban, Democratic, Republican – in every state in times of need. They are not an extraneous expense; they are an investment in healthy kids, healthy families, and healthy futures. I am calling on the Trump administration to provide answers on what plans – if any – it has to keep Americans from going hungry after these cuts, and I will be doing everything in my power to reverse them.”

    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program is available here or below.

    Dear Secretary Rollins:

    We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance.

    In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.

    According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans.

    Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets.

    To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions.

    1. Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases?

    2. Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP?

    3. Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds?

    4. Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers.

    5. Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded?

    6. Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP?

    We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján: President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs Will Make Life More Expensive for Families and Put New Mexico Jobs at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Experts Say Trump Tariffs Could Throw U.S. Into a Recession, Increase Annual Costs By Thousands for New Mexico Families 

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump’s announcement to impose additional tariffs on global trading partners:

    “President Trump’s sweeping tariffs are a tax on hardworking New Mexicans. From the cost of groceries, to the price at the pump, to buying a car or building a home, these new tariffs will make daily life more expensive for many New Mexico families and businesses.

    “While President Trump should be focused on lowering prices for Americans, he is instigating a trade war and making everyday Americans the casualties. President Trump – who has said that he doesn’t care if costs go up – is creating economic uncertainty, shrinking life savings, putting New Mexico jobs at risk, and driving up costs for working families.

    “These tariffs are new and drastic tax increases on New Mexicans and the American people. President Trump is recklessly threatening the American economy – all while working to give the wealthiest few another tax handout and blowing up the national debt.”

    What People Are Saying: 

    Chamber of Commerce: “[T]he imposition of tariffs … will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains.”

    National Association of Manufacturers: “Ultimately, manufacturers will bear the brunt of these tariffs, undermining our ability to sell our products at a competitive price and putting American jobs at risk.”

    United Steelworkers: “Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.”

    International Association of Machinists: “The 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., will result in job losses, increased prices, and a variety of other negative impacts.”

    National Association of Home Builders: “Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices.”

    American Farm Bureau: “farmers and rural communities will bear the brunt of retaliation. … Tariffs that increase fertilizer prices threaten to deliver another blow to the finances of farm families.”

    National Farmers Union: “We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. … Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers.”

    Retail Industry Leaders Association: “Stacking tariffs on household goods will also raise costs on American families.”

    Food Industry Association: “New tariffs will also drive up the cost of doing business and food prices at a time consumers are extremely concerned about prices.”

    National Consumers League: “these tariffs could hurt everyday Americans. … Higher prices on basic goods would make life harder for families across the country, all as a result of these ill-conceived trade policies.”

    American Automakers: “Our American automakers, who invested billions in the U.S. to meet these requirements, should not have their competitiveness undermined by tariffs that will raise the cost of building vehicles in the United States and stymie investment in the American workforce.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Stuck in the past: Trump tariffs and other policies are dragging the U.S. back to the 19th century

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Eric Strikwerda, Associate Professor, History, Athabasca University

    During Donald Trump’s first term as president, the United States lurched from the absurdity of his lies to the use of his office for personal financial gain, his schoolyard insults and his utter contempt for critics. His term ended with his irresponsible and dangerous incitement of the assault on the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

    This time around, Trump is replying on outdated tools — tariffs, small government, territorial expansion and nationalism — to solve modern problems of globalization, wealth disparities, the decline of manufacturing jobs and exploitative capitalism.

    On April 2, he announced a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all countries that import goods to the U.S., including Canada. Canada has also been hit with a 25 per cent levy on Canadian-made automobiles.

    The Trump administration’s current use of 19th-century tools to solve 20th-century problems that are wholly inappropriate for the 21st century threatens to take America back to the 19th century. This is an incredibly dangerous road for the U.S to take.

    The rise of the nation state

    The 19th century was marked by the rise of the nation-state — a single political entity united by geography, culture and language.

    This was, in many respects, the result of the rapidly industrializing world shifting away from monarchical rule and mercantile economics toward limited democratic rule and free-market capitalism.

    It was a time of tariffs, small government, territorial expansion and nationalism. It was also a time of mass migration from Europe to North America, where rampant nativism, colonialism and unchecked and exploitative capitalism shaped the landscape.

    The prevailing belief at the time was that nation-states should use tariffs, adopt isolationist policies to cut off the outside world and seize territory where possible. These measures, it was thought, would foster national unity and allow capitalism to thrive by letting the “invisible hand” of the marketplace work its magic.

    Protective tariffs promised to grow domestic industries, but the economic benefits were not evenly distributed. Wealth disparities grew wider as millions of immigrants arrived on North American shores, only to find deplorable living conditions in the cities and hardscrabble farmland out in the country.

    Some newcomers prospered, of course, but they tended to be those who arrived with money already in their pockets. And they fast learned how to exploit the lack of state-directed regulation, patches of corruption amid rapid western expansion and growing nativism and poverty to their own benefit.

    Many of the 20th century’s problems flowed from these 19th-century trends.

    The economic fallout of tariffs

    Following the financial Panic of 1873 and its ensuing economic depression in both Europe and North America, nation-states unleashed tariffs to protect their domestic economies. It was the wrong strategy to pursue, as it slowed trade even more by limiting the free flow of goods and capital. Money, as is now well-known, needs to move to grow.

    Working families chafed at the lack of labour protections like bargaining rights, health and safety measures, unemployment insurance and sick benefits. In response, they formed unions and initiated waves of strikes throughout the western industrialized world.

    Western North American farmers were furious that tariffs forced them to buy on protected markets while selling on unprotected ones subject to international market prices. They organized, too, by forming farmer co-operatives and backing movements like the Granger movement, populism and progressivism to protect their interests.

    Nation-states, warmed by rising nationalist fires, formed military-defence alliances across Europe and its colonial and former colonial holdings, including Canada. In 1914, these alliances led to the First World War, a global and industrial war the likes of which the world had never seen.

    The Great Depression

    By the 1930s, unrestricted and largely unregulated capitalism, together with astonishing wealth disparities and monopolistic tendencies, plunged the world into the decade-long Great Depression.

    Many governments’ initial response was to impose tariffs once again, and just as in 1873, they only made the problem worse. The simultaneous rise of fascism, which was largely nationalism run amok, brought the world to war again at the end of the decade, to devastating consequence.

    The post-war years saw a concerted international effort at using the nation-state to regulate domestic economies by investing in social services and programs and to rein in runaway capital when its excesses threatened stability.

    International bodies like the World Bank, the United Nations and the International Court of Justice were created to promote peace and stability. This new approach wasn’t always successful in its goals, but so far the world hasn’t seen any global hot wars or massive economic depressions.

    The end of history

    In 1992, historian Frances Fukuyama infamously declared that the world had reached “the end of history.”

    He didn’t mean that time stopped, of course. Instead, he was arguing that the liberal nation-state represented “the end-point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.”

    In his view, the western industrialized world had reached the pinnacle of successful governance and unlimited prosperity.

    Yet, even as western liberal democracy was congratulating itself on its own success, these same nation-states, in conjunction with large corporations, were seeking out lower labour costs and greater profit in the developing world.

    The result was a hollowing-out of North America’s industrial heartlands, along with rampant exploitation of vulnerable labour in places like Asia, South Asia and South Central America. Once mighty American cities declined. Wages failed to keep up with inflation. Farm debt soared.

    This is where the Trump administration re-enters the story — tapping into the frustration and disillusionment of frustrated Americans by promising to restore a “golden age” that never was.

    Trump’s 19th-century playbook

    Despite his promises, Trump’s tariffs are unlikely to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. As history has shown, tariffs do not revive industries that are already gone; instead, they will only make Americans pay more for the things they need.

    A return to small government won’t “make America great again,” either. Instead, it risks repeating the 19th-century pattern of making the rich richer and gutting the very social programs millions of people rely on. The Trump administration’s massive and ongoing cuts to the Social Security Administration are already well under way.

    Trump’s rhetoric about territorial expansion, including threats to annex Greenland and Canada, won’t make the U.S. more secure. It will just exacerbate the sort of international tensions the world saw in 1914 and 1939.

    And with limited resources left to exploit, it’s becoming harder for capital to sustain itself, even as it seeks to wrest whatever is left from our planet, the realities of environmental catastrophe be damned.

    Nationalism, meanwhile, won’t foster a sense of national unity. It will only deepen existing divisions based on race and class. And if history is any guide, the consequences could be even more dire this time around, even pushing the world toward a global conflict unlike anything seen before.

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

    – ref. Stuck in the past: Trump tariffs and other policies are dragging the U.S. back to the 19th century – https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-the-past-trump-tariffs-and-other-policies-are-dragging-the-u-s-back-to-the-19th-century-253106

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Food Deserts, Increase Access to Healthy Food

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have introduced legislation to eliminate food deserts and expand access to affordable and nutritious food by incentivizing food providers to expand access to healthy food options in underserved communities. The Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (Ohio-13) and Jennifer McLellan (Va.-04).                                                                                                                       
    “Many West Virginians struggle to access fresh, nutritious food to keep their families and communities well fed. I’m proud to reintroduce the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act, which will expand access to healthy foods through food banks and local grocery stores in rural communities across West Virginia and the nation,” Senator Capito said. 
    According to recent data, an estimated 18.8 million Americans live in what the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) classifies as a “food desert.” Urban areas designated as food deserts lack a grocery store within one or more miles. Rural areas designated as food deserts lack a grocery store within ten or more miles. Studies have shown that Americans who live in communities with low-access to healthy food options are at higher risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
    Specifically, the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act – which defines a grocery market as a retail sales store with at least 35% of its selection (or forecasted selection) dedicated to selling fresh produce, poultry, dairy, and deli items – would encourage investment in food deserts across the country that have a poverty rate of 20% or higher, or a median family income of less than 80% of the median for the state or metro area. 
    It would grant tax credits or grants to food providers who service low-access communities and attain a “Special Access Food Provider” (SAFP) certification through the Treasury Department. Incentives would be awarded based on the following structure:
    New Store Construction – Companies that construct new grocery stores in a food desert will receive a one-time 15% tax credit after receiving certification.
    Retrofitting Existing Structures – Companies that make retrofits to an existing store’s healthy food sections can receive a one-time 10% tax credit after the repairs certify the store as an SAFP.
    Food Banks – Certified food banks that build new (permanent) structures in food deserts will be eligible to receive a one-time grant for 15% of their construction costs.
    Temporary Access Merchants – Certified temporary access merchants (i.e. mobile markets, farmers markets, and some food banks) that are 501(c)(3)s will receive grants for 10% of their annual operating costs.
    The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act boasts the support of numerous organizations, including: Feeding America, the National Grocers Association, and Share Our Strength.
    Bill text for the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon State Agencies Mobilize in Coordinated Response to Harney County Flood Emergency

    Source: US State of Oregon

    n response to the ongoing flooding in Harney County, Governor Kotek has declared a State of Emergency and directed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to coordinate response efforts across state agencies.

    Since March 14, 2025, Harney County and surrounding areas have experienced historic levels of rainfall and snowmelt, overwhelming rivers, streams, and wastewater systems. Floodwaters have inundated roadways, damaged critical infrastructure, and introduced environmental and public health risks, including contamination of waterways and disruption to essential services.

    Governor’s Emergency Declaration (ORS 401.165) enables rapid mobilization of state resources to support Harney County’s local efforts.

    State Agency Actions Include:

    • Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is working closely with local, tribal, and federal partners to support life safety, protect critical infrastructure, and address emerging needs. Regional coordinators and liaisons have been deployed to assist on the ground, and OEM is actively managing resource requests to ensure communities have the support they need. OEM has also established a Joint Information System and is actively coordinating public information efforts to support the public receives accurate, timely, and consistent updates throughout the emergency.
    • Oregon Health Authority (OHA) The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has deployed emergency preparedness and tribal coordinators to support local and tribal partners with critical resources, information, and guidance. Medical volunteers from SERV-OR are assisting at medical shelters, with one deployed and at least 10 more available this week. OHA is also addressing drinking water concerns, immunization needs—such as tetanus prevention—and identifying individuals with medical conditions who may need extra support. Remote public health communication support is also being provided.
    • The Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (ODHS OREM) has delivered essential supplies, including water, hygiene kits, portable toilets, and handwashing stations, to the Burns Paiute Tribe, the American Red Cross shelter in Harney County, and other affected areas. Two shower trailers are in place, with a third on the way. Nine ODHS OREM staff are on-site working with local teams. ODHS OREM recovery coordinators are helping survivors assess their needs and connect with services as they begin to recover.
    • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) DEQ staff has been in contact with the City Public Works team, providing technical support remotely. The operations staff has kept the sewer ponds intact, which are not in the immediate flood zone at this time. DEQ onsite program staff provided an EPA fact sheet to the county as well as an onsite disaster planning and response handbook.
    • Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) ODA has been actively supporting our partners at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in response to the floods in Harney County. We’ve provided resources on federal programs that may assist impacted farmers and ranchers and shared guidance on animal care during flood conditions. Our focus remains on ensuring the agricultural community has the information and support needed to navigate this challenging time.
    • Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office has deployed 25 personnel to support local response to sandbagging efforts to reinforce the levee. They are joined by Colton Fire, Merrill Fire, Klamath County Fire District 1, and Chiloquin Fire and Rescue Departments.

    It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness the swift coordination of federal, state, local, and Tribal resources coming together to support communities in need,” said Stephen Richardson, Emergency Coordination Center Manager. “A powerful example of that collaboration was the rapid repair of a compromised dike—an urgent fix that helped prevent further impacts and protect lives and property.”

    This coordinated effort reflects Oregon’s commitment to whole-of-government response under the CEMP. The State will continue to assess needs and respond dynamically as conditions evolve.

    Looking Ahead

    While Harney County is currently the most severely affected, state agencies remain vigilant in monitoring flood conditions statewide and are prepared to support other communities if necessary.

    For the latest updates visit OEM’s newsroom page at Home – Newsroom or follow @OregonOEM on social media. Visit our flood dashboard here: State of Oregon Flood Dashboard.

    MIL OSI USA News –