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  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Presses FDA Commissioner on Senseless and Inefficient Mass Firings, Conflicts of Interest at FDA & Trump Admin Laying the Groundwork to Rip Away Mifepristone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Murray Grills Trump’s FDA Nominee on Cancellation of Critical Vaccine Meeting, Upholding Science on Mifepristone, Contraception

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray Q&A with Commissioner Makary***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, grilled FDA Commissioner Marty Makary on the Trump administration’s reckless and chaotic efforts to fire thousands of critical employees at the FDA, conflicts of interest at the agency, and the Trump administration’s attempts to lay the groundwork to rip away access to mifepristone based on discredited junk science from anti-abortion activists.

    In opening comments, Vice Chair Murray said:

    “Commissioner Makary, the FDA has a really important job to do. Lives literally are at stake. And that work requires the utmost diligence, and care, and commitment to following the science and upholding FDA’s gold standard. We all expect to walk into the drugstore and know that what we are buying has passed a safety and efficacy standard. And we have to be assured of that, and we have to be assured that the work’s been done—that we don’t have to question that.  

    “So, I don’t think it’s careful leadership when one-in-five people across the FDA are fired, only to frantically then bring some back—because you didn’t stop and think two seconds about whether these jobs were actually important.

    “We really, Mr. Chairman, cannot cheap out on the FDA, and expect to maintain the gold standard that means that people know that drugs are safe.

    “We can’t just cut, cut, cut and hope no one gets sick when you’re slow to issue a recall, or hope no one needs that medicine that had its approval delayed, or hope there isn’t another infant formula issue while your staff are getting fired, or getting rehired, or wherever they are.

    “This work really takes investments, this Committee knows that, and it expects expert staff—like the people that have been shoved out the door. Drug approvals are already getting delayed. Food and drug safety inspections are lagging behind.

    “We are going in the wrong direction, fast. We still have yet to see from you a full budget request from you. That is unacceptable.

    “You are now testifying that the budget proposes to slash FDA by more than 11 percent. That’s actually news to all of us—and I will tell you right now, that is not going to fly. It is reckless, and it is not going to happen as long as I have anything to say about it.”

    [FDA STAFFING]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by pressing Dr. Makary on the harm and inefficacy caused by the Trump administration’s mass layoffs and efforts to push out qualified employees across FDA, which have resulted in more than 4,000 staff leaving the agency since the beginning of the Trump administration. “Commissioner Makary, when it comes to your mass firing of FDA employees, in April, you said, ‘I can tell you there were no cuts to scientists or inspectors.’ Well that is not true,” Senator Murray said. “I think Senator Ossoff covered that, and I think the point here is that all of this firing and rehiring—I don’t see how that’s efficient. Frankly, it kind of shows that you don’t know what you’re doing—and you’re breaking things in the process here. So, let me ask you a question, and hopefully it is an easy one for you. Does it save taxpayer dollars to fire staff who work in centers that are fully funded by user fees—not taxpayer dollars—yes or no?”

    “You asked me to do an assessment of the staff when I came here for my confirmation hearing, and I hear that you’re criticizing me for bringing back some individuals after the cuts that I was not a part of,” replied Commissioner Makary.

    “That’s good—I’m just saying in the long run, this has been very inefficient,” Senator Murray replied. “But my question to you is not about that it, and I know you’ve covered it with several other members. So does it save taxpayer dollars to fire staff who work with centers that are fully funded by user fees, not taxpayer dollars. Is that efficient?”

    “The cuts were to HR, IT, communications—,” Commissioner Makary said.

    Senator Murray pressed, “They’re funded by user fees, it is not saving any money.”

    “In part,” Commissioner Markey interjected.

    “But many of the staff you fired were in centers that are actually fully funded by user fees. You know that, correct?” Senator Murray clarified.

    Commissioner Makary continued to dodge.

    “I’m asking you a specific question about the centers that are fully funded by user fees,” Senator Murray continued.

    “That’s one center. That’s the tobacco center,” Commissioner Makary said. “You just said we can’t just keep cut and cut—we can’t keep hiring and hiring, the agency doubled since 2007. So, let me ask you, what is the right number of employees?”

    “No, you’re here to answer my questions here, and I’m going to ask some more,” Senator Murray replied. “Without critical support staff you fired, inspectors cannot plan their trips. They cannot do their jobs. I want to ask you, what percent of planned inspections has FDA missed since those April 1st firings?”

    Commissioner Makary said, “In the 12 labs that we have that evaluate food products in the food inspection realm, there are no—as of last week, I just did a check—there are no backlogs. They are running at 100 percent efficiency. There are no drug approval delays despite the—you know, what people want to attribute—”

    “That is not what I’ve been told. I have been told—and I would like you to go back and check and report back to us, because we know that some of the planned inspections… that were supposed to take place have been missed. And, to me, why that’s so important, if there is not inspections, the public doesn’t have the information that they need. I am going to run out of time, so I want to move on,” Senator Murray replied.

    “There are no cuts to inspectors,” Commissioner Makary said.

    “Will you go back and check for me, please?” asked Senator Murray.

    “Absolutely,” replied Commissioner Makary.

    [CONFLICTS OF INTEREST]

    Senator Murray continued by asking about reports of eyebrow-raising conflicts of interest at FDA: “I understand that the FOIA staff producing documents related to ongoing litigation by the Children’s Health Defense—Secretary Kennedy’s organization—was shielded from the RIFs, while other FOIA staff are responsible for FOIA responses at other FDA centers were targeted for termination. Is that true?,” Murray asked.

    “That’s not true, senator, we have our FOIA staff. They continue to work at the FDA. I’ve made sure that all the FOIA staff at the FDA are doing their job. We are also using AI to reduce the burden on that staff,” responded Commissioner Makary.

    Senator Murray pressed, “Well for the record, my understanding is that the Children’s Health Defense FOIA staff were not fired when other ones were… And that seems like a real conflict of interest to me, considering that the Secretary’s extensive history with that organization, Children’s Health Defense, and his goal to remove authorizations for vaccines. So, I just want that on the record—”

    “It’s not true. Well, all FOIA staff are in place,” Commissioner Makary continued to claim.

    [MIFEPRISTONE]

    Senator Murray moved on to her next question, pressing Commissioner Makary on the Trump administration’s attempts to lay the groundwork to restrict access to medication abortion based on junk science being pushed by anti-abortion extremists. Murray asked: “If a study came out saying that people who took a certain medication experience a certain rate of ‘serious adverse events,’ but the study’s authors refused to say what they were counting as an adverse event—would raise some serious questions about the study’s validity?”

    “Yes, senator. So I have the natural inquisition of a scientist that’s done a lot of research. So, I would want to see the underlying data, yes,” replied Commissioner Makary.

    “I am, of course, talking about the recent sham ‘study’ from the Ethics and Public Policy Center—it’s an anti-abortion group, it’s bank-rolled by extremists, they fought to overturn Roe v. Wade,” Murray said. “And this ‘study,’ if you can call it that, is unsound and has been widely panned by medical experts. But, days after its release, you and Secretary Kennedy are now suggesting we need a ‘complete review’ on the safety of mifepristone.”

    “Now, to be clear: mifepristone has been proven safe and effective in more than 100 studies over three decades. And the people that are now pushing that bogus ‘study’ and saying mifepristone is dangerous for women are the exact same people who think that abortion is never necessary to save a woman’s life, and that 10-year-olds should somehow be forced into childbirth. I believe that this administration is laying the groundwork to rip away access to medication abortion across the country,” Murray said. “This has not gotten enough attention. And I know you’d prefer to keep it that way, but I want you to know: I’m not going to let that happen.”

    “I have not seen that study, Senator, and you have not seen that study. So how can you call it a sham, bogus study? Neither of us have seen the study, the underlying data, or the methodology,” Commissioner Makary said.

    “Actually, that’s not true,” Murray replied. The Ethics and Public Policy Center is an anti-abortion advocacy group that was an advisory board member for Project 2025, has submitted amicus briefs to the Supreme Court opposing mifepristone, and does not believe in life-saving abortions—putting them far outside the medical mainstream. As the Washington Post fact-check of the ‘study’ points out, unlike most credible medical studies, the Ethics and Public Policy Center report did not undergo a formal external peer review before publication and “moreover, the report oddly does not reveal the database it used”—making it impossible for anyone to view the underlying data. That hasn’t stopped the anti-abortion Ethics and Public Policy Center from launching an activist campaign around the release of the data and even admitting the goal was to “eliminate” abortion pills.

    On May 14th in a HELP Committee hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) secured a commitment from Secretary Kennedy that HHS and FDA would review what RFK Jr. referred to as “alarming” new data on mifepristone—referencing the EPCC study alone. “It’s alarming, and it indicates that at the very least, the label should be changed,” Secretary Kennedy said. “I’ve asked Marty Makary at the FDA to do a complete review and report back.” Senator Hawley secured the same commitment from President Trump’s nominee to serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services in a HELP Committee hearing on May 8th—again, based solely on the EPCC ‘study’ that has not been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal and has attracted widespread scrutiny for appearing to dramatically overstate what it characterizes as “serious adverse effects” associated with the pill.

    ____________________________________

    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Murray has a long history of demanding accountability and careful oversight when it comes to the safety of products families use every day. At the end of 2022, Senator Murray passed legislation giving FDA new authority to, for the first time ever, regulate the safety of cosmetic products and force a recall when necessary—and she successfully fought to secure funding for this important work last year as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Murray has also previously pressed FDA and industry for answers and action regarding asbestos in children’s make up kits, demanded answers from Johnson & Johnson regarding asbestos found in baby powder, and was a leading voice in holding FDA accountable and pushing for solutions following the infant formula contamination and shortage crisis in 2022.

    Senator Murray leads the Democratic caucus on reproductive health care and, throughout her career, has beat back countless Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and other family planning services—and is widely credited with successfully pushing the Bush administration’s FDA to follow the science and make Plan B available over the counter. Senator Murray led the response in Congress to FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a lawsuit brought by Republican anti-abortion extremists trying to rip away access to mifepristone, a safe and effective abortion medication that was approved by FDA in 2000—Murray led multiple amicus briefs, organized her colleagues, and raised the alarm at every turn. Last June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case on standing groups but Murray made clear that “the nationwide threat to medication abortion has not gone away—far from it. If Donald Trump and his anti-abortion allies return to power, they will do everything they can to rip away access to mifepristone and ban abortion nationwide.” Murray also spearheaded efforts in Congress urging the FDA to follow the science and review the application of Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, after the FDA’s Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend FDA approval.

    In March, at Dr. Makary’s nomination hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Murray pressed Dr. Makary to commit to upholding the science on mifepristone and contraception—he refused to definitively answer her question.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Joins Resolution Reaffirming U.S.-Canada Partnership

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–The United States and Canada share three oceans and the world’s longest border.  About 400,000 people and more than $2.5 billion worth of goods and services move across the U.S.-Canada border each day.  The relationship between the two countries fosters one of the most significant bilateral trading relationships in the world.
    U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) and Angus King (I-Maine) in introducing a resolution to recognize the U.S.-Canada partnership and its shared interests in economics, energy, critical minerals and national security.
    “Canada is America’s top trading partner and one of our strongest allies,” said Crapo.  “The almost $1 trillion exchanged in trade between the U.S. and Canada in 2023 powers 8 million U.S. jobs and 2.4 million Canadian workers.  Our two nations are inextricably linked economically and strategically–sharing deep historical and cultural ties.  This resolution reiterates our firm commitment to bolster the long-term, mutual relationship with our Canadian neighbors far into the future.”
    Idaho exports more products to Canada than any other country.  According to the Idaho Department of Commerce, in 2023, Idaho exported $1.5 billion in goods to Canada—more than a quarter of which were food and agricultural products.  Additionally, Idaho imported $360 million worth of Canadian food and agriculture goods.  Idaho’s largest import/export industries include:
    Agriculture and food;
    Wood, paper, pulp and printing;
    Electrical equipment and machinery;
    Mineral products; and
    Chemicals, cosmetics and fertilizers.
    Cramer and King serve as co-chairmen of the bipartisan, bicameral American Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, and Senator Crapo is a member.
    “Representing a Northern border state, I recognize the importance of the unique partnership between the United States and Canada,” said Cramer.  “Not only are our neighbors to the north crucial economic and national security partners, but they are literally our closest ally.  This resolution celebrates our closeness and is a testament to the enduring strength, friendship and importance of the U.S.-Canada alliance across the country and the globe.”
    “The United States and Canada have always been closely tied; we share our economies, cultures, military interests and more.  In fact, in Maine, even our next door neighbor lives right across the border,” said King.  “I continue to be proud of the work we have achieved under the American-Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus alongside my Senate Co-Chair Kevin Cramer, but know that the current situation presents many unfortunate challenges.  While I am excited to reintroduce this resolution to reaffirm our two nations’ commitment to one another, we must acknowledge the close ties between our countries to resolve and mitigate any potential disruptions to our intertwined interests.  As close trade partners and allies, I look forward to strengthening this close alliance to tackle these shared challenges and seize new opportunities.”  
    Among other provisions, the resolution recognizes the relationship between the United States and Canada is critical to promoting peace, expanding global economic opportunity and being prepared to respond to unforeseen events.  It also reaffirms the bilateral and international alliance between the two nations, which allows both countries to face common threats together and uphold common values, including democracy, human rights and the rule of law. 
    Additionally, the resolution emphasizes the shared defense and security commitments between the two nations, including the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), joint border security initiatives, and cooperation in combating transnational threats such as illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.
    The resolution is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont).  A similar resolution was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Mark Amodei (R-Nevada).
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Hattiesburg, MS – A Hattiesburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Velton Taylor Williams, Jr., 31, of Hattiesburg unlawfully acquired and used SNAP benefits in November 2023. Williams admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for himself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Williams also admitted to using TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash benefits intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18.

    Williams pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.

    The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Federal Pandemic Fraud Unemployment Benefits Scheme

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

    ABINGDON, Va. – The final defendant charged in a 17-member conspiracy that defrauded the United States, committed program fraud and mail fraud in connection with a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.

    Jason Dale Worley, 47, of Meadowview, Virginia, pled guilty today to filing a fraudulent claim for pandemic unemployment benefits. He will be sentenced on August 29, 2025.

    Earlier this month, Crystal Shaw was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. Shaw, one of the lead organizers of this conspiracy, was sentenced to the statutory maximum term of imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay $287,459 in restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for her role in this conspiracy.

    Previously sentenced as part of the conspiracy were: Christopher Webb, 20 months; Russell Stiltner, 24 months; Jessica  Lester, 19 months; Cara Camille Bailey, 19 months; Justin Meadows, 18 months; Terrence Vilacha, 18 months; Joseph Hass, 27 months; Daniel Horton, 21 months; Brian Addair, 24 months; and Stephanie Amber Barton, Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe, Clinton Michael Altizer, and Jeramy Blake Farmer were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day.

    Jonathan Webb, the individual charged with recruiting others to file fraudulent claims, mostly inmates at local jails, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and was ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution. Josef Brown, another incarcerated individual who recruited others to file fraudulent claims, was sentenced to 35 months in prison and was ordered to pay $119,660 in restitution.

    All defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for the fraudulent claims.

    According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw developed a scheme to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment befits via the Virginia Employment Commission website. The scheme involved the collection of personal identification information (PII) of inmates housed at SWVRJA-Haysi and Abingdon, as well as personal friends and acquaintances of Brown, Webb, and Shaw. The conspirators used that information to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits for incarcerated individuals and others who were ineligible for the benefits.

    In total, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief to which they were not entitled.

    As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General were charged with identifying major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. According to the United States Department of Labor, Virginia paid approximately $1.1 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

    Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Syreeta Scott, Special Agent in Charge, Mid-Atlantic Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentences.

    Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Virginia Employment Commission.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Every Democrat Just Voted Against Tax Cuts, Pay Raises, and More

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The One, Big, Beautiful Bill has PASSED the House of Representatives — without a single Democrat voting to cut taxes, secure the border, or protect taxpayer-funded benefits for Americans who need them.
    Here are only a few of the policies Democrats just unanimously opposed:
    The largest tax cut in history. This means $13,300 more for American families and wage increases up to $11,000 for workers with a double-digit percent decrease to their tax bills — plus NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, a tax cut on seniors’ Social Security benefits, an expanded child tax credit, and a tax deduction on American-made vehicles. Americans making between $30,000 and $80,000 per year will see their taxes cut by 15% next year.
    Raising wages. American workers will see wage increases of up to $11,600; a typical family with two kids will see take-home pay rise by up to $13,300.
    Strong border security. This makes President Trump’s border crackdown permanent with the largest investment ever — funding AT LEAST one million illegal immigrant deportations per year, thousands of miles of new border wall and barriers, 18,000+ new immigration officials, and pay raises for our great ICE and Border Patrol agents.
    Protecting Medicaid for American citizens who need it. This ENDS taxpayer-funded benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system and requires able-bodied Americans to work if they receive benefits.
    Pay raises for troops. This increases special pay for servicemembers and gives them higher allowances for housing, healthcare, and family assistance.
    Ending taxpayer-funded chemical castration and mutilation. It reverses the Biden-era mandate that Medicaid cover so-called “gender transition” procedures.
    Modernizing air traffic control. This will allow President Trump to act where the Biden Administration failed by completely overhauling the systems that keep Americans flying safely and efficiently.
    Revolutionizing the nation’s defense. This funds President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield, restocks America’s arsenal, expands our naval fleet, and improves military readiness to meet the needs of a changing world.
    Protecting family farmers. The bill prevents the greedy death tax from hitting two million family-owned farms that would otherwise see their exemptions cut in half and cuts taxes on farmers by over $10 billion.
    Unleashing American energy dominance. The bill increases onshore and offshore oil and gas leases, spurs job growth, makes energy more affordable, and makes America less dependent on foreign adversaries.
    Reversing runaway spending. This delivers $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings  — the most in U.S. history and the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: One, Big, Beautiful Bill Clears House

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill — a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cement an America First agenda of prosperity, opportunity, and security into law — is one step closer to the finish line following its passage by the House of Representatives.
    Here’s what they’re saying about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:
    American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farm Bureau applauds the House passage of H.R.1, which modernizes farm bill programs and extends and improves critical tax provisions that benefit America’s small farmers and ranchers. Updated reference prices will provide more certainty for farmers struggling through tough economic times. Making business tax deductions permanent and continuing current estate tax exemptions will ensure thousands of families will be able to pass their farms to the next generation. We urge the Senate to work together and swiftly pass legislation to deliver much-needed relief to America’s farm and ranch families.”
    U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Neil Bradley: “The House sent a clear message today—American workers and businesses want and need permanent tax relief. A competitive, pro-growth tax code doesn’t just grow the overall U.S. economy, it raises wages for workers and improves the lives of Americans. The legislation passed out of the House this morning contains critical measures that support main street businesses, enhance America’s global competitiveness, and bolster sustained economic growth. The Chamber commends Speaker Johnson for his leadership and commitment to ensuring the permanence of President Trump’s pro-growth tax reforms, and applauds the lawmakers involved in driving this effort forward. We encourage the Senate to continue to move the legislative process forward to deliver lasting benefits for American workers and businesses.”
    Airlines for America: “A4A commends the House for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which includes a critical investment of $12.5 billion for modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic facilities, systems and infrastructure. ATC staffing shortages and antiquated equipment, such as copper wires, floppy disks and paper strips, have been a serious concern for years—we are past time to make meaningful change and ensure that the United States has a world-class aviation system. This funding is a vital down payment on updating the system that guides 27,000 flights, 2.7 million passengers and 61,000 tons of cargo every day. The legislation also makes smart, strategic investments in Customs and Border Protection personnel and training for the aviation workforce of tomorrow while supporting American energy dominance in aviation fuel production. We encourage the Senate to move swiftly to pass this bill and send it to the President.”
    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein: “Cattle farmers and ranchers need Congress to invest in cattle health, strengthen our resources against foreign animal disease, support producers recovering from disasters or depredation, and pass tax relief that protects family farms and ranches for future generations. Thankfully, this reconciliation bill includes all these key priorities. NCBA was proud to help pass this bill in the House and we will continue pushing for these key policies until the bill is signed into law.”
    Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: “Big news from DC—the House just passed President Trump’s tax bill, bringing No Tax On Tips one step closer to the finish line. While it still needs to clear the Senate, this is a big win for hardworking @Uber drivers and couriers across the country 👏”
    Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz: “Congratulations to President Trump and Speaker Johnson for passing their reconciliation bill in the House. This bill offers historic tax cuts for small businesses and ordinary Americans. By making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and expanding key provisions, such as the small business tax deduction, which Job Creators Network was the loudest voice for, this bill offers significant tax relief for decades to come. It will allow small businesses, the backbone of the American economy, to expand, hire, raise wages, and reinvest in their communities, ushering in a new economic Golden Age. On behalf of all small businesses, JCN thanks President Trump and Speaker Johnson for their leadership in passing this bill, which the media said couldn’t be done on this aggressive timeline. Now it’s time for the Senate to follow suit and pass similar legislation, which includes the House’s key small business tax cuts, as soon as possible.”

    Click here to see how the One, Big, Beautiful Bill helps small businessesNational Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons: “Today’s House passage of this historic legislation marks a major victory for manufacturers across America. This pro-growth legislation preserves crucial tax policies that will enable manufacturers to create jobs, invest in their communities, grow here at home and compete globally. In short, this is a manufacturers’ bill … This is a pivotal moment. It’s time to double down on policies that encourage manufacturers to invest and create jobs in America and keep our industry strong and our nation competitive on the world stage—because when manufacturing wins, America wins.”
    Business Roundtable President and COO Kristen Silverberg: “Under Speaker Johnson’s leadership, the House has achieved a major milestone toward extending and strengthening President Trump’s historic tax reform. Business Roundtable commends the House on taking a giant step forward to protect and boost the economic benefits that tax reform delivered for American businesses, workers and families. By maintaining a competitive corporate tax rate and enhancing essential domestic and international tax provisions, the House budget reconciliation bill will help fuel U.S. investment, innovation and economic growth. As the Senate prepares to act, we stand ready to continue working with Congress and the Administration to pass the most competitive, pro-growth tax package possible.”
    American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers: “We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to help restore American energy dominance. By preserving competitive tax policies, beginning to reverse the ‘methane fee,’ opening lease sales and advancing important progress on permitting, this historic legislation is a win for our nation’s energy future. We look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen pro-investment provisions and keep America at the forefront of energy innovation.”
    National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors CEO Eric Hoplin: “We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and extend our sincere thanks to Speaker Mike Johnson, Chairman Jason Smith, the Ways and Means Committee, and House leadership for championing this pro-business, pro-worker legislation. This is a win for the people who roll up their sleeves every day to power our economy, entrepreneurs who build businesses from the ground up, and the workers who keep them running. We urge the Senate to act swiftly and send this bill to the President’s desk so America’s job creators and workers can keep driving our economy forward. The bill makes the 199A deduction permanent and expands it to 23%, helping millions of small businesses, including most wholesaler-distributors. It raises the death tax exemption, protecting family-owned businesses, and restores vital incentives that encourage investment, innovation, and long-term economic growth.”
    Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan: “H.R. 1 delivers a big, beautiful boost to U.S. entrepreneurship and small businesses. SBE Council applauds U.S. House passage of this critically important legislation. In addition to permanent tax relief and incentives that will help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their firms, level up their businesses, and support their employees, various measures in the legislation correctly right-fit various federal programs and functions that have gone awry and consequently have undermined fiscal accountability and the private sector. Time is of the essence in getting the One Big Beautiful Bill to President Trump’s desk, and we urge the U.S. Senate to move post haste on the work that must be done to deliver the big benefits of the package to small business owners, all taxpayers, and the U.S. economy.”
    National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen: “We commend the House for recognizing the importance of improving ATC infrastructure and strengthening the controller workforce to enhance safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System. Business aviation’s ability to serve citizens, companies and communities is only possible because the U.S. leads the world in aviation … As the House reconciliation bill moves to the Senate for consideration, we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance these forward-looking provisions that bolster an essential industry, support countless workers and promote American competitiveness.”
    America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Jim Nussle: “Thank you to the U.S. House of Representatives for securing credit unions’ not-for-profit tax status as part of H.R. 1 and recognizing the industry’s importance to strong Main Streets across the country. More than 142 million Americans trust and rely on credit unions to achieve their American Dream, and this bill allows them to continue on their path of financial freedom. We will continue to advocate for policies that create more opportunities for credit unions to bolster our nation’s economic prosperity. We call on the U.S. Senate to continue to protect the credit union tax status as they consider this legislation.”
    National Taxpayers Union Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold: “The bill passed by the House contains growth-focused tax relief and some important first steps toward long-needed spending restraint. The Senate now has a strong package that it can build upon and further improve.”
    National Association of REALTORS Executive Vice President Shannon McGahn: “We appreciate House leaders for taking this important step with this tax reform bill, which supports hardworking families and strengthens the real estate economy. With lower tax rates, SALT relief, and new incentives for small businesses and community development, this proposal brings real benefits to everyday Americans.”
    National Electrical Contractors Association CEO David Long: “These provisions recognize the real-world needs of the electrical construction industry. Whether it’s power generation, grid modernization, cutting-edge data center projects, or clean energy installations, electrical contractors are at the forefront of America’s infrastructure evolution. This legislation gives our contractors the certainty they need to plan, invest, and grow.”
    American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO Rosanna Maietta: “This is a win for Main Street businesses. We commend lawmakers for including critical tax provisions in the budget reconciliation bill that will prevent a tax increase on American workers and the small businesses that are the backbone of America’s hotel and lodging industry. This is a critical step to stave off the expiration of important tax provisions that will provide our members, the majority of whom are small business owners, the level of certainty they need to effectively operate their businesses. We urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to President Trump’s desk.”
    National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler: “America’s pork producers are one step closer to more certainty with the House’s reconciliation bill passage, which includes necessary legislation to keep farms afloat during uncertain times.”
    Associated Equipment Distributors President and CEO Brian P. McGuire: “AED commends House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team for securing House passage of the budget reconciliation bill. This legislation delivers pro-growth tax policies, streamlines energy project approvals and strengthens surface transportation infrastructure investments. We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure final passage of this comprehensive package.”
    American Federation for Children CEO Tommy Schultz: “We are grateful for the efforts of Speaker Johnson and Congressional leaders in both chambers who have stood up so far to ensure that President Trump’s goal of school choice for every family in every state becomes a reality. American parents deserve nothing less, and we will continue working to get school choice across the finish line as the Senate can deliver on a historic national school choice tax credit. Bringing school choice to every state will be a legacy item for the lawmakers who stand boldly behind parents. We will continue to stand with them to achieve this goal.”
    National Federation of Independent Business SVP for Advocacy Adam Temple: “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes the most important thing Congress can do to help small businesses and their workers – increasing and making the Small Business Deduction permanent. The bill also provides a tax cut for small business owners through lower individual rates, encourages new capital investments, and helps small business owners provide greater health care benefits to their employees. Members of Congress have a historic opportunity to provide over 33 million small business owners with permanent tax relief and NFIB strongly encourages them to do so.”
    Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor: “We’re grateful to our champions on Capitol Hill who have worked hard to preserve and extend rural priorities, like the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit. This budget reconciliation package would give farmers and ethanol producers the freedom and flexibility to deliver for the American people. It ultimately delivers on the President’s agenda—it’s good for rural communities, good for innovation, good for investment, and good for American energy dominance.”
    Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner: “On behalf of our network of grassroots activists and small business owners nationwide, AFP congratulates Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, and all the committee chairs for shepherding this legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives. Thanks to the efforts of policy champions across the House GOP conference, we are one step closer to giving Americans the pro-growth tax policy they voted for in November. Beyond cementing the foundation for a post-Biden economic recovery, we are poised to embrace an all-of-the-above approach to U.S. energy production, and finally secure our southern border.”
    National Foreign Trade Council Vice President for International Tax Policy Anne Gordon: “We would like to once again thank Chairman Smith and the Ways & Means Committee and staff for their tireless work on this bill and Speaker Johnson and the leadership team for their efforts to bring critical U.S. tax legislation one step closer to becoming a reality. We congratulate the House on passing the One, Big, Beautiful Bill and urge the Senate to take up work on it as quickly as possible.”
    American Land Title Association CEO Diane Tomb: “We commend the House for passing legislation that recognizes the needs of American small businesses, including the thousands of title and settlement companies ALTA represents. The expanded deduction under Section 199A is a welcome step that supports the long-term health of our small business members and the communities they serve. ALTA is especially pleased to see the preservation of Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, which play a vital role in fueling real estate investment, promoting property improvements and driving local economic growth. Provisions supporting homeownership, including those related to mortgage interest and capital gains exclusions, help provide certainty for buyers, sellers and lenders alike—strengthening the entire housing ecosystem. We urge the Senate to build on this momentum and protect the real estate and housing incentives that help Americans build wealth, promote generational stability and drive our economy forward.”
    NRA Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director John Commerford: “This morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which includes the complete removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). This represents a monumental victory for Second Amendment rights, eliminating burdensome regulations on the purchase of critical hearing protection devices. The NRA thanks the House members who supported this bill and urges its swift passage in the U.S. Senate.”
    RATE Coalition Executive Director Dan Combs: “Today’s vote is an historic step toward securing a tax code that rewards investment, supports job growth, and puts American workers first. This legislation builds on the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, preserving the policies that have helped drive wages up, unemployment down, and investment back into the U.S. economy. The House has done its part to move this forward. Now it’s time to keep that momentum going and get this across the finish line.”
    Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity Director Patrice Onwuka: “BOOM. Tax cuts, welfare reforms, green spending cuts, and border strengthening. Major credit is due to @SpeakerJohnson for getting @potus @realDonaldTrump #OneBigBeautifulBill through the House. He has proven to be a quiet force for conservatives. Now onto the Senate.”
    Border Czar Tom Homan: “Thank you to the House and the leadership of President Trump in passing the Big Beautiful Bill. This Bill will add infrastructure and technology to make our gains on the borders permanent. It puts more boots on the ground to target cartel activity, alien smuggling, child trafficking and drug smuggling.  It will provide the needed funds and manpower to increase the great work of ICE on our deportation operations nationwide. We have many more public safety and national security threats to remove. This funding will allow ICE to vastly increase these efforts and keep the promise to America that we will enforce immigration law against those that are in this country illegally.  Now the Senate needs to step up. Border Security and National Security should not be a partisan issue. Let’s get this done!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall, Moran, Baldwin, and Bennet Introduce Bill to Spur Innovation in the Livestock Feed Sector

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) today reintroduced the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act – bipartisan legislation that would establish a pathway at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for novel feed additives and increase livestock efficiency and production.
    “The agricultural industry sets the gold standard when it comes to livestock production,” Senator Marshall said. “Back home, producers are committed to making more with less and leaving the world safer, cleaner, and healthier than they found it. However, outdated regulations are holding back our feed industry and forcing innovations to happen overseas instead of here in America. I’m proud to work with Senators Moran, Baldwin, and Bennet to develop a bipartisan solution that will increase our ranchers’ access to the products they need and support rural America.” 
    “This legislation will help bolster the animal feed industry and make certain producers in Kansas and across the country continue to have access to feed additives that support animal nutrition,” Senator Moran said. “By expanding research and reducing bureaucratic hurdles at the FDA, more of these products will be available to farmers, encouraging a stronger food supply chain.”
    “Wisconsin farmers and ranchers should have the tools they need to grow their businesses and compete on the world stage. Right now, we know there are additives farmers could be using to reduce their environmental impact and provide nutritive benefits to their livestock, but bureaucratic red tape is holding them back,” Senator Baldwin said. “I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to break down barriers for our farmers, help them access these innovative products, and support our rural economies.”
    “While producers in Europe and South America are using innovative feed additives to stay competitive, bureaucratic red tape has left America’s cattlemen and dairy farmers without any options. We need to create a level playing field for Colorado’s livestock industry by giving them every available tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of their farms and ranches, while ensuring health and safety,” Senator Bennet said.
    Joining Senators Marshall, Moran, Baldwin, and Bennet are Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota).
    “Iowa farmers and ranchers feed the world with the best products available. Now, it’s time for Congress to remove bureaucratic hurdles at the FDA so products can safely get to market faster and producers can access more tools. Our bill will bolster our food supply chain and ensure America remains globally competitive in animal feed products,” Senator Grassley said.
    “Everyone benefits when healthy livestock produce safe, high-quality meat and dairy products – and that begins with how they eat,” Senator King said. “Unfortunately, manufacturers of supplemental additives to livestock feed face needless, burdensome hurdles and bureaucratic red tape which prevents farmers and ranchers from getting their hands on new, innovative products. The bipartisan Innovative FEED Act will expedite the period between the early stages of development and regulatory approval – creating a level playing ground for the agricultural industry and ensuring healthier, sustainable options for consumers.”
    The legislation is endorsed by the American Feed Industry Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), Environmental Defense Fund, North American Renderers Association, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).
    “The animal food industry envisions a healthier world for both people and animals through advanced animal food solutions, but the FDA’s outdated review system has not kept up with the pace of innovation,” said Constance Cullman, President and CEO of American Feed Industry Association. “Thanks to Senator Marshall’s continued leadership, Congress now has the ability to pursue a legislative fix that would give the FDA the tools it needs to more appropriately review new animal food ingredients with non-nutritive benefits. The AFIA thanks Senators Marshall, Baldwin, Moran, Bennett, King, and Grassley for introducing the Innovative FEED Act.”
    “Supporting the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act is a critical step toward empowering American farmers with the tools they need to drive innovation in agriculture,” said Chuck Conner, President and CEO of National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “By modernizing the regulatory process, this legislation paves the way for the introduction of advanced feed technologies that can improve livestock production, reduce environmental impact, and enhance economic opportunities for farmers across the country.”
    “We commend Sens. Roger Marshall, Tammy Baldwin, Jerry Moran, and Michael Bennet for their bipartisan Innovative FEED Act to modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory framework for approving animal feed ingredients. U.S. dairy farmers benefit from access to safe and effective feed additives as they continue to innovate on multiple fronts,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation. “The bipartisan initiative led by Sens. Marshall, Baldwin, Moran, and Bennet will help them do just that, and we look forward to working with them to enact this bill into law.” 
    “We commend Senator Marshall and his colleagues for recognizing the importance of modernizing the regulatory framework for animal feed ingredients,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “This bipartisan legislation demonstrates continued momentum for commonsense reform that promotes innovation, supports U.S. agricultural competitiveness, and protects food safety. The Senate’s engagement brings us one step closer to aligning U.S. policy with other global competitors who have already modernized their systems. NGFA urges Congress to act swiftly and pass this critical legislation.”
    “The North American Renderers Association (NARA) strongly supports the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act,” said Kent Swisher, President and CEO, North American Renderers Association. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation is critical to advancing innovation and sustainability in animal agriculture and feed production. NARA thanks the Senators Marshall, Moran, Bennet, and Baldwin for leading legislation that will allow U.S. renderers and feed manufacturers to more rapidly adopt new technologies that enhance animal welfare, improve feed efficiency, and reduce the environmental footprint of animal agriculture.”
    “IDFA members and dairy farmers need innovative, science-backed tools that help lower methane emissions in the dairy supply chain,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “We support the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act because it will create an appropriate regulatory pathway for some of these promising enteric methane technologies, which provide environmental benefits and new market opportunities for farmers, and we thank Senator Marshall, R-KS, Senator Baldwin, D-WI, Senator Moran, R-KS, and Senator Bennet, D-CO, for this bipartisan effort.”
    “NASDA supports the Innovative FEED Act’s goals to promote voluntary adoption of innovative new tools producers can use to increase the efficiency of their livestock operations,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “Most state departments of agriculture inspect and regulate animal feed ingredients, which will include the new products covered under this legislation. This bipartisan legislation is important and timely to ensure that producers, regulators, and the feed industry can collaborate to increase innovation amidst a competitive market in a way that is safe for animals, producers, and consumers.” 
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Background:
    American livestock and dairy producers are essential to American communities and are among the top exporters in the global market. Part of what makes these industries the best in the world is their commitment to innovation and the utilization of the latest technologies to improve production while also reducing their environmental footprint.
    As the original conservationists, farmers, and ranchers steward the land and rely on feed additives to improve the quality and efficiency of meat and dairy. However, innovation to meet these growing demands has stalled due to outdated, one-size-fits-all federal policies.  
    Over the years, agricultural stakeholders have called for the development and marketing of safe and effective feed additives that can be used in animal food to improve livestock production. Global competitors have been working to meet this demand. Europe, Asia, and South America have updated their policies to have feed products on the market that demonstrate increased efficiency in meat production and byproduct and waste reduction. 
    The Innovative FEED Act would: 
    Amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, establishing a new category in the animal food additive petition process to cover ingredients that address animal health, food safety, or environmental benefits in an animal’s diet.
    Help American livestock producers cut regulatory red tape while adding value to their products and remaining competitive on a global scale.
    Ensures farmers are rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability efforts, and market their products to companies and nations that have set climate reduction goals.
    Modernize the approval process by establishing a new pathway for manufacturers to receive approval for feed additives that improve efficiency in meat and dairy production while also reducing byproducts.
    Establish strict guardrails to ensure only qualifying products are eligible for this pathway while also ensuring products are safe to use. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Secretary Rollins at The White House for MAHA Commission Report 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today joined President Donald Trump, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and other Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) leaders at the White House today for a roundtable event to discuss the MAHA Commission Report.
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch the full event.
    See the full transcript below from the White House event.
    President Trump: “I have to say we have the greatest farmers in the world, and we love our farmers, and we want to pay respect to our farmers, and we always will. And we won the farmers by a lot in the election, in all, every election, all three elections, and we won by a lot. And I will never forget that, and they are foremost in our thought and representing, I think, the farmers better than just about anybody can do is Senator Roger Marshall, could you say a couple of words, Roger, please…”
    Senator Marshall: “Mr. President, we’re not tired of winning yet. Congratulations. What a week you’ve had overseas, one win after another, One Big, Beautiful Bill across the House floor this morning. You’re the best closer in the game, and this is one of the greatest days of my life, professionally speaking, as well.”
    “And I just want to acknowledge my MAHA mom out here as well, that my wife, Laina, was a MAHA nurse and a MAHA mom and a MAHA grandma. Now, Laina, will you please stand up as well?”
    “Mr. President, you know, I spent 25 years delivering babies. Most every day. We saw a huge epidemic of diabetes of pregnancy, and this has exploded in so many different directions. Now we have an epidemic of mental health, in our youth, obesity rates, 20, 30% of our children on prescription drugs. 60, 70% of adults on a prescription drug. We can do better than this, and it does start with the farmer. It starts with soil health. And I just want you to know that our farmers are so committed to this as well, and so many of them are already doing great things. They’re making the soil healthier. They’re using less pesticides. They’re doing all the right things. It’s going to take a little bit more effort and time to get everybody with those practices, but the American farmer and rancher were the original environmentalists, the original conservationists, and they’ll be right here working beside us, and we appreciate your support of them as well.”
    To watch the full remarks, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Banks Call for End of Taxpayer-Funded Student Loans for Terrorists

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) in introducing the No Loan Forgiveness for Terrorists Act. This bill prohibits students from receiving credit for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) while working at organizations that engage in illegal activities. The legislation works to codify an Executive Order from President Trump that would end taxpayer-funded student loan forgiveness for students that participate in illegal, anti-American behavior.
    “Hard-working Americans should not be footing the bill for radical students who support and embolden blatant terrorism. No one should be rewarded for wreaking havoc on college campuses. The President has ended taxpayer-funded loan forgiveness, and it is Congress’ job to make his Executive Order permanent. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation along and stop funding college for terrorists,” said Sen. Tuberville.
    “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay student loans for radicals who aid terrorists, mutilate children, or promote illegal immigration. This bill codifies President Trump’s order to stop subsidizing anti-American extremism,” said Sen. Banks.
    Read full text of the bill here. 
    BACKGROUND:
    Sen. Tuberville currently serves as the Chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family, where he has frequently spoken out against the antisemitism, riots, and lawlessness we are seeing on college campuses. He has expressed that people have the right to free speech in this country, but they do not have the right to riot or commit crimes. If these students – or paid activists in some cases – are breaking the law, they should go to jail.
    The No Loan Forgiveness for Terrorists Act would:
    Preventing students from receiving credit through the PSLF program while working at organizations that engage in the following activities:
    Aiding or abetting violations of federal immigration laws
    Materially supporting terrorism
    Materially supporting the castration or mutilation of children
    Aiding and abetting illegal discrimination
    Violating State tort laws, including against trespassing and disorderly conduct
    Last year, Sen. Tuberville also cosponsored the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act which would prevent pro-Hamas protestors convicted of a crime from having their student loans forgiven. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Honors Two Fallen Alabamians Ahead of Memorial Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    “We may never have met Michael or Jason, yet they courageously were willing to give their lives for their fellow Americans. We will continue to share their stories to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.”
    WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) honored two of Alabama’s fallen soldiers and their families in advance of Memorial Day. On the Senate floor, Senator Tuberville shared the stories of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Wesley Hosey of Clay and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jason Barfield of Ashford.
    Earlier this month, Senator Tuberville also introduced a resolution that would designate May 2025 as “Fallen Heroes Memorial Month.”
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s remarks can be found below and his full remarks can be found on Rumble or YouTube. 

    MICHAEL WESLEY HOSEY
    “For U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Wesley Hosey, there was never a question in anyone’s mind as to what he wanted to do when he grew up. Every Career Day, he would always dress up as a soldier. Michael loved reading about history —and he loved our country. So much so, that his friends and family gave him the nickname, ‘’Merican…’”
    “Because Michael was only 17 when he graduated from Clay-Chalkville High School, his dad, also named Michael, had to sign his permission for him to enlist in the Army. As a Vietnam veteran, the elder Michael knew all too well what his son was signing up for. Yet, the Hosey family supported Michael’s decision to serve his country. There’s no question that this courageous young man also came from a courageous family.”
    “Michael had a giving heart and continued to earn the trust of the locals—especially all the kids. His sister Laurie recalls him always asking his family to send candy when they sent him a package. At first, she found this odd because Michael wasn’t a big candy eater, but they’d always send Skittles or gum. She later realized Michael wasn’t asking for candy [for] himself—but to share with all the kids in the country. Sadly, Michael lost his life on September 17, 2011, during Operation Enduring Freedom—one week before his 28th birthday. When sharing his story, Laurie wants us to remember that ‘Freedom is not free.’ It’s a reality that her and Michael’s parents—Condi and the older Michael—still carry with them every single day.”
    JASON BARFIELD
    “Jason lived his life with the goal of making a difference. His mom Kelli says that Jason believed that there was good in everyone—even if you couldn’t find it at first, that just meant just to dig a little bit deeper. Jason lived by the motto that ‘Every Day is A Good Day.’ He also had a gift for music and was in the band at Ashford, Alabama, High school. He enjoyed singing in church, playing the saxophone, and was teaching himself to play the piano. Jason’s hard work and talents earned him a four-year band scholarship to Huntington College—but he chose to forego the scholarship to enlist in the Marines, because he wanted to be part of the best.”
    “Jason surprised his family for Christmas in 2010 and spoke about his new goal to re-enlist in the military and become a chaplain. The Barfield’s didn’t know this would be their last holiday that they would spend together. Jason was killed in action on October 24, 2011, at the young age of 22. Sensing the danger that was ahead, Jason pushed eight of his fellow Marines, a native translator, and a K-9 out of the way from the booby trap explosion that would claim his own life. Jason’s platoon Sergeant Gunney Thrash, said, ‘His name and his actions for his fellow Marines will outlive all of us.’”
    ON IMPORTANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
    “Michael Wesley Hosey and Jason Barfield are two young men who never got to start a family or fully pursue their dreams. We are forever grateful and indebted to them for their sacrifice that gives us the assurance to continue to sing the national anthem, not with a question mark—but with a declaration that we are the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave.’  I’m reminded of the words in John 15:13—’Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.’ We may never have met Michael or Jason, yet they courageously were willing to give their lives for their fellow Americans. We will continue to share their stories to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. As Memorial Day approaches, I hope we take the time to honor America’s fallen, along with the brave families who have been left behind. May we never forget that freedom is not free.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Murray, Cantwell Call Out Trump’s Outrageous, Partisan Decision to Slash Flood Protection Funding for Blue States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff, Murray, Cantwell Call Out Trump’s Outrageous, Partisan Decision to Slash Flood Protection Funding for Blue States

    Army Corps work plan zeroes out hundreds of millions of dollars for key California and Washington waterway construction projects, among others — steering hundreds of millions to red states

    WATCH: Padilla, Schiff blast the gutting of critical California water infrastructure funding

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, joined the Washington state Senate delegation for a press conference calling out President Trump’s outrageous, overtly political decision to zero out critical funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects in blue states like California and Washington while steering hundreds of millions more to red states.

    Senators Padilla, Schiff, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) criticized the Army Corps’ plan released late last week that announced their intention to zero out all Army Corps construction funding for California ($126 million), as well as cut $500 million for the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state. This funding was included in the Corps’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request, in the Senate’s bipartisan draft FY 2025 funding bill, and even in House Republicans’ draft FY 2025 funding bill. But the Trump Administration — using the new discretion afforded by the yearlong continuing resolution House Republicans drafted that was signed into law — ignored the draft bills and instead apportioned funding on a brazenly political basis.

    The four California flood control projects losing Army Corps funding include the American River Common Features Levee Improvement Project, the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, the Lower San Joaquin River Project, and the West Sacramento Project. These projects will protect some of the most at-risk areas in the nation, including Sacramento County, which the Corps considers the most at-risk region for catastrophic flooding in the United States.

    “When anyone takes the oath of office, even Donald Trump as President of the United States, you become the president for all Americans — not just for red states or for blue states, but for every state and every community equally,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet, since the minute Donald Trump returned to office, he’s set out to politicize the office he holds, now trying to take hundreds of millions of dollars in flood prevention funding away from the states that happened to not vote for him and redirect them to projects in states that supported his election. It’s absolutely wrong. In California, that means cutting every last dollar of funding that was allocated for certain flood control projects. For a president so obsessed with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse, I know where he can find it. He just has to look in the mirror. Communities up and down California — including farmers and farm workers in the Central Valley and Pajaro — will now be at a higher risk of flooding because Donald Trump’s playing politics with federal funding.”

    “Natural disasters don’t discriminate based on whether a state is red or blue, and the administration and Congress shouldn’t either when it comes to protecting communities from natural disasters. This puts us on a very dangerous path, a path where anything can be on the chopping block for a partisan reason. Today, it’s funding for these projects. Tomorrow, it could be another form of funding meant to save lives. There will be a domino effect of threats aimed at blue states. When you’re elected to be president of the United States. You’re not a half president. You’re not president for only half of the country, not if you do the job right. These baseless attacks threaten millions of people from both parties whose lives are endangered by floods,” said Senator Schiff.

    Overall, the Army Corps’ plans would steer roughly $258 million more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million in construction funding for blue states, relative to the Corps’ FY 2025 request, which was fully funded in the draft FY 2025 bills that were produced on a bipartisan basis in the Senate and by Republicans in the House. These requests have historically been fully funded. Trump’s work plan steers two thirds of all Army Corps construction funding to red states while the budget request and House and Senate bills would have split that funding evenly to red and blue states.

    Padilla and Schiff voted against the continuing resolution earlier this year, which cut the Army Corps’ construction account by 44 percent.

    Senator Padilla has fought tirelessly for California communities devastated by atmospheric river flooding. Last spring, he urged the Biden Administration to prioritize sustained federal investment in the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project to protect disadvantaged communities along the central coast of California. In 2023, he met with families, small business owners, and farmers in Watsonville and Pajaro impacted by extreme storms after he and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) successfully led the California Congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to approve a Major Disaster Declaration.

    Additionally, Padilla successfully pushed for the inclusion of a study on the impact of extreme weather on Army Corps dams and levees in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

    Video of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here, and Senator Schiff’s full remarks can be viewed here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Growing a productive & resilient rural sector

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is sharpening its focus and support for New Zealand’s world-leading food and fibre producers through Budget 2025 – backing the growth and resilience of our largest and most Important sector.
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says Budget 2025 confirms $4.95 billion in continuing baseline funding over the next four years for MPI to support farmers, growers, fishers, and foresters to lift on-farm productivity and profitability, strengthen rural communities, and drive higher returns at the farm and forest gate.
    “This year alone, the food and fibre sector is forecast to contribute $56.9 billion to the economy, that’s why we’re focused on unlocking new global opportunities –from the UK and EU, to the Gulf, and India– while cutting red tape so producers can get on with the job.”
    To further strengthen the sector’s resilience, Budget 2025 includes a new focus on driving growth and rural wellbeing through a series of targeted grassroots investments:

    $246 million over four years in a new Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) to help lift food and fibre sector productivity, profitability, and resilience;
    $2 million over four years in a contestable rural wellbeing fund;
    $1m extra over four years for Rural Support Trusts and other organisations to support farmers and growers;
    $400,000 over four years in direct grants for New Zealand’s A&P shows;
    Ongoing support for catchment groups of $36 million over the next four years, through the Ministry for Primary Industries;
    $250,000 for the 2025/26 financial year for Rural Women New Zealand to boost its on-the-ground support for rural communities.

    “These initiatives back the people behind the sector who make our rural economy tick.”
    The new Investment Boost tax incentive will also improve cashflow and make on-farm and forest investments more affordable, allowing for Farmers and Growers to immediately deduct 20 per cent of the cost of new machinery or farm equipment, on top of existing depreciation rates.
    Budget 2025 also continues our commitment to $400 million over four years with an additional $23 million carried over to accelerate the development and rollout of new tools and technologies to reduce emissions without closing down farms or sending jobs and production overseas – a key part of ensuring the sector is globally competitive into the future.
    “When our rural communities do well, the whole country benefits. Budget 2025 is about ensuring our farmers and growers have the tools and support they need to succeed – not just for today, but for the long-term prosperity of New Zealand,” the Government’s team of Agriculture ministers, Todd McClay, Andrew Hoggard, Mark Patterson and Nicola Grigg say. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PSGF to driving farm & forest gate returns

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is investing $246 million in a new fund over four years through Budget 2025 to supercharge growth and productivity in New Zealand’s world-leading food and fibre sector, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today.

    The new Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) replaces the former Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund and will focus on practical projects that reduce costs across the food and fibre sector value chain and deliver stronger returns on investment to the farm and forest gate.

    The Fund will support projects that are business-led, market-driven, and commercially focused – with a clear aim of delivering strong economic outcomes and high growth potential.
    “Every New Zealander depends on the success of the food and fibre sector – making up 80 per cent of our goods exports it powers our economy and puts food on our tables. Without agriculture and forestry, we would not be able to compete on the world stage,” Mr McClay says.

    “That’s why the Government is moving at pace to increase farmgate returns, reduce compliance costs, implement smarter and better rules, and build resilience into rural communities.”

    The PSGF refocuses MPI’s existing investment tools to back projects that drive higher-value outcomes across the food and fibre sector value chain – supporting the Government’s goal of doubling exports by value in 10 years and returning value to the farmgate.

    “We’ll be working with the sector to find the best projects that help drive returns, including new high-value products, and providing practical tools for farmers and growers,” Mr McClay says.

    “Projects that increase productivity and support the quality demanded by global consumers will remain a priority. As a trading nation, we need to enable initiatives that lift the bottom line, improve efficiency, and give our products a competitive edge in global markets.”

    “This is about partnering with the sector to unlock real growth – helping producers, processors, and exporters to scale up, innovate, and deliver more value for the New Zealand economy,” Mr McClay says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New fund to back rural wellbeing programmes

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is investing in the wellbeing of rural communities through a new fund that backs practical, on-the-ground programmes designed to build resilience and support the 360,000 hard working men and women who power our primary sector. 
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says Budget 2025 provides $2 million over four years for a new contestable Rural Wellbeing Fund to back farmers to back themselves. 
    “When rural communities thrive, all of New Zealand benefits. The food and fibre sector is the engine of our economy, and that means backing both production and the hardworking people who drive it,” Mr McClay says. 
    Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the fund builds on the Government’s Budget 2025 investment of an extra $1 million over four years to boost the work of Rural Support Trusts and other providers that support farmers and growers. 
    “This is about giving rural people the tools and connections they need to stay supported.
    “Initiatives that bring people together through events, advice, or peer networks, are a key part of building long-term resilience across the sector,” Mr Patterson says. 
    The fund will be administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries, with successful applicants selected by a governance group including industry representatives. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing the future of A&P shows

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is securing the backbone of rural New Zealand by supporting the volunteers and communities that bring A&P shows to life, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.Budget 2025 delivers $400,000 over four years to support more than 90 A&P shows across the country, providing each with a direct grant of $1,000 a year to help keep these iconic events running.
    “A&P shows are a cornerstone of rural life — they help bridge the urban rural divide, celebrate farming success, showcase our world best food and fibre, and are powered almost entirely by local volunteers,” Mr McClay says.
    “This is about backing the people behind the scenes who put in the hours to make these shows happen. Their work keeps communities connected and our rural culture alive.“When rural communities thrive, our whole country benefits. This is a practical investment in regional pride, rural resilience, and the communities that make our most productive sector stronger year after year,” Mr McClay says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tackling wilding pines to boost resilience

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is tackling the spread of wilding pines and backing rural resilience with a 20 per cent increase in funding this year – taking the total direct investment this coming year to $12 million. 
    Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay, and Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the Government is focused on protecting the productive heart of New Zealand’s economy. 
    “Wilding pines cost the rural community significantly and are often the bane of farmers lives, we have an obligation to work with them to control their spread, and reduce on farm burden,” Mr McClay says.
    “This additional $2 million funding ensures those working to contain wildings over the next year can stay ahead of the spread. It’s a smart investment in rural productivity, land management, and our long-term rural resilience.”
    More than two million hectares are affected by wilding infestations, with untreated areas expanding by an estimated five per cent each year. Left unchecked, the economic impact could reach $3.6 billion over 50 years.
    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says wilding pines threaten our farmland, water catchments, native biodiversity, and increase the risk of wildfires. They take over productive land, drain vital groundwater, and choke out native species.
    “Since 2016, the Government has invested more than $150 million into the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, alongside more than $33 million contributed by partners and communities,” Mr Hoggard says.
    “This year’s investment continues to support the people doing the work – regional councils, iwi, farmers, researchers, and volunteers – who are making a real difference across ten priority regions.
    “We’ve pushed back some of the worst infestations and protected key landscapes. This funding keeps that momentum going and gives landowners the tools to protect and restore productive land.”
    The programme is led by Biosecurity New Zealand and delivered in partnership with councils, landowners, iwi, industry, and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing catchment groups to drive productivity & resilience

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is backing farmers to lift on-farm productivity and improve land management through investment in catchment groups that support practical, locally-led solutions.
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Environment and Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says Budget 2025 commits $36 million over four years through MPI’s On Farm Support team—including $4.3 million for long-standing groups and new regional projects.
    “This funding supports farmer-led groups that are already delivering real results on the ground—improving water quality and land management, and helping farmers adapt to changing conditions,” Mr McClay says.
    “It includes $2.8 million in 2025/26 to extend funding for six established groups and the New Zealand Landcare Trust, giving them certainty to keep delivering trusted programmes in their communities.”
    The groups receiving continued support include Thriving Southland, Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment Collective, Wai Wānaka, Hurunui District Landcare Group, Eastern Plains, and King Country River Care.
    Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says the Government is also investing in two new regional projects to expand reach and impact.
    “We’re putting $900,000 into the Karamu River Catchment Collective to support sub-catchment groups across the Heretaunga Plains, and $670,000 into the Piako Waihou Catchment Trust, which will deliver five demonstration sites focused on wetland restoration, waterway management, and the retirement of unproductive land,” Mr Hoggard says.
    “Catchment groups are a practical way to empower farmers to collaborate, innovate, and share knowledge. Farmers know their land best—this investment gives them the tools and support to manage it in a way that boosts productivity and delivers long-term environmental gains.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Strengthening rural resilience & celebrating Rural Women

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is backing the grassroots work of Rural Women New Zealand – the people who support and connect rural families, communities, and businesses across the country.

    Budget 2025 includes a $250,000 investment for the 2025/26 financial year to help the organisation expand its reach during its centenary year and continue its vital role supporting rural families and communities.

    “If agriculture is the backbone of the New Zealand economy, then rural women are its beating heart,” Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg says.

    “Rural women are at the heart of our rural economy – they lead businesses, care for families, and hold communities together.

    “By backing Rural Women New Zealand, we’re investing in the strength and resilience of the rural sector itself. This is about ensuring women have the resources and support they need to lead their communities into the next century.”

    Founded in 1925, the organisation has stood the test of time by adapting to the evolving needs of rural women and their communities.

    “Rural Women New Zealand has been a backbone of rural life for 100 years,” Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson says.

    “This funding will support the important work they do every day – helping connect people to services, building strong local networks, and advocating for rural voices to be heard.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology

    bodnar.photo/Shutterstock

    If you’re browsing the supermarket fridge for reduced-fat milk, it’s easy to be confused by the many different types.

    You can find options labelled skim, skimmed, skinny, no fat, extra light, lite, light, low fat, reduced fat, semi skim and HiLo (high calcium, low fat).

    So what’s the difference between two of these common milks – skim milk and light milk? How are they made? And which one’s healthier?

    What do they contain?

    Skim milk

    In Australia and New Zealand, skim milk is defined as milk that contains no more than 1.5% milk fat and has at least 3% protein. On the nutrition information panel this looks like less than 1.5 grams of fat and at least 3g protein per 100 millilitres of milk.

    But the fat content of skim milk can be as low as 0.1% or 0.1g per 100mL.

    Light milk

    Light milk is sometimes spelled “lite” but they’re essentially the same thing.

    While light milk is not specifically defined in Australia and New Zealand, the term “light” is defined for food generally. If we apply the rules to milk, we can say light milk must contain no more than 2.4% fat (2.4g fat per 100mL).

    In other words, light milk contains more fat than skim milk.

    You can find the fat content by reading the “total fat per 100mL” on the label’s nutrition information panel.

    How about other nutrients?

    The main nutritional difference between skim milk and light milk, apart from the fat content, is the energy content.

    Skim milk provides about 150 kilojoules of energy per 100mL whereas light milk provides about 220kJ per 100mL.

    Any milk sold as cow’s milk must contain at least 3% protein (3g protein per 100mL of milk). That includes skim or light milk. So there’s typically not much difference there.

    Likewise, the calcium content doesn’t differ much between skim milk and light milk. It is typically about 114 milligrams to 120mg per 100mL.

    You can check these and other details on the label’s nutrition information panel.

    How are they made?

    Skim milk and light milk are not made by watering down full-cream milk.

    Instead, full-cream milk is spun at high speeds in a device called a centrifuge. This causes the fat to separate and be removed, leaving behind milk containing less fat.

    Here’s how fat is removed to produce skim and light milk.

    Who should be drinking what?

    Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend we drink mostly reduced-fat milk – that is, milk containing no more than 2.4g fat per 100mL. Skim milk and light milk are both included in that category.

    The exception is for children under two years old, who are recommended full-cream milk to meet their growing needs.

    The reason our current guidelines recommend reduced-fat milk is that, since the 1970s, reduced-fat milk has been thought to help with reducing body weight and reducing the risk of heart disease. That’s because of its lower content of saturated fat and energy (kilojoules/calories) than full cream milk.

    However, more recent evidence has shown drinking full-cream milk is not associated with weight gain or health risks. In fact, eating or drinking dairy products of any type may help reduce the risk of obesity and other metabolic disorders (such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes), especially in children and adolescents.

    The science in this area continues to evolve. So the debate around whether there are health benefits to choosing reduced-fat milk over full cream milk is ongoing.

    Whether or not there any individual health benefits from choosing skim milk or light milk over full cream will vary depending on your current health status and broader dietary habits.

    For personalised health and dietary advice, speak to a health professional.

    Margaret Murray 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. What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-skim-milk-and-light-milk-255608

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Russia is labelling Oscar Jenkins a ‘mercenary’, not a prisoner of war. What’s the difference – and why does this matter?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old former teacher from Melbourne, was one of many foreigners who responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call in 2022 for volunteers to join Ukraine’s armed forces to help repel Russia’s invasion.

    In early 2024, Jenkins joined Ukraine’s International Legion of Territorial Defence, which has attracted some 20,000 fighters from 50 countries since the war began. He had no previous military experience, but this wasn’t a requirement to join.

    In December, Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine and accused of serving as a “mercenary” in Ukraine’s 66th Mechanised Brigade’s 402nd Rifle Battalion. He was tried in a Russian court and sentenced on May 16 to 13 years imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony.

    When a foreigner volunteers to fight in a war, their legal status under international law can be complicated.

    Are they a soldier with the full authorisation of one of the warring parties to engage in hostilities? Or are they an illegal mercenary?

    And what happens if they are captured?

    Why legal status matters

    The answers to these questions have very real importance to the thousands of foreigners who have joined Ukraine’s International Legion since 2022.

    Russian authorities have classified all of Ukraine’s foreigner fighters as “mercenaries”. They’ve used this label to deny foreign fighters the status of “prisoner of war” (POW), with the requisite protections that come along with that under international humanitarian law.

    While foreigners are permitted under international law to enlist in the armed forces of a state for political or moral reasons, mercenaries have historically been outlawed due to their sole motivation being financial gain.

    International humanitarian law (the rules that govern war) define mercenaries as individuals who are not nationals or residents of a state engaged in war and are recruited to fight outside that state’s official armed forces.

    They are motivated solely by private gain (like money or promises of reward), often well in excess of what the traditional armed forces are paid. Mercenaries are essentially professional soldiers who sell their services to a state without any real ties to that country.

    Once a fighter is classified as a “mercenary”, they lose all the legal protections that are traditionally afforded lawful combatants.

    This includes prisoner of war status if they are captured and immunity from prosecution for fighting in a conflict. Prisoners of war are also entitled to humane treatment and access to food and medical care. And they cannot be subjected to sham trials or torture.

    According to my research, many of the foreign nationals who joined the International Legion were motivated by a desire to defend Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. They were sworn into Ukraine’s armed forces and paid the same as a Ukrainian soldier of equal rank.

    Once enlisted in the armed forces, they were immediately exempt from “mercenary” status, irrespective of their motivation for joining.

    As such, these foreign fighters should be entitled to the full range of protections guaranteed to members of Ukraine’s armed forces under the Geneva Conventions.

    Labelling lawful foreign members of the Ukrainian armed forces as “mercenaries”, and denying them their protections, is an abuse of international law.

    How can Australia protect its nationals?

    If an Australian enlists in Ukraine’s armed forces and is captured by Russian forces, there is a limited toolkit the Australian government can use to help him or her. However, it is not powerless.

    Through its embassy in Moscow, Australia can request access to detainees to assess their welfare while in prison. Russia can, however, decline this access. Details of a detainee’s capture may also be withheld.

    Australia can also apply diplomatic pressure to ensure humane treatment of prisoners and their full POW rights.

    This can be done by working with international bodies, such as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention or organisations like the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), which can request access to detainees.

    It appears the government is already doing some of these things. According to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the government has been working with Ukraine and the ICRC to advocate for Jenkins’ welfare and release, and providing consular support to Jenkins’ family.

    Australia also has an obligation to warn its citizens they will likely face severe consequences if they travel to Ukraine to fight and are captured by Russian forces, given Russia’s misuse of the “mercenary” label.

    Through back-channel negotiations, Australia could also push Ukraine or its allies to include Australians being held by Russia in future prisoner swaps.

    In January of this year, Ukraine and Russia carried out such an exchange of 470 prisoners from both nations. And in talks last week in Turkey, both sides agreed to release another 1,000 prisoners on each side.

    Such exchanges have involved foreign fighters in the past. In 2022, 10 foreign citizens were included in a prisoner swap, including five Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, a Swede and a Moroccan. Several of them had been convicted of being mercenaries and sentenced to death after a Russian sham trial.

    There is no guarantee Jenkins would qualify for such an exchange, however, if Russia continues to classify him as a mercenary.

    Shannon Bosch 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. Russia is labelling Oscar Jenkins a ‘mercenary’, not a prisoner of war. What’s the difference – and why does this matter? – https://theconversation.com/russia-is-labelling-oscar-jenkins-a-mercenary-not-a-prisoner-of-war-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-this-matter-256996

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: UNESCO intangible cultural heritage: Gesar epic tradition

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

    Editor’s note: The Gesar epic tradition was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. This recognition honors the Gesar epic as one of the world’s oldest and most important oral traditions.

    The epic, which is performed through storytelling, song and recitation, is an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Tibetan, Mongolian, Tu, Yugu and other ethnic groups in China. It is a narrative that tells the heroic tale of King Gesar, a divine warrior and ruler who defends his people, fights against evil forces, and brings justice and prosperity to his kingdom.

    The epic is significant not only for its literary and artistic merit but also for its social function as a way to preserve cultural values, history and identity. Its performance often involves both professional and amateur performers, who engage in the oral tradition of storytelling, sometimes accompanied by music and dance, providing a dynamic experience for audiences. The epic’s deep roots in various cultures make it a key symbol of shared heritage across the region.

    The Gesar epic is believed to have originated in ancient Tibetan oral traditions, with some estimates suggesting its origins as far back as the 10th century. The story of King Gesar was initially passed down orally by bards and storytellers, evolving over time as it spread across different regions and cultures. Over the centuries, the epic has undergone numerous adaptations, with various versions in different languages, including Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese.

    The earliest written records of the Gesar epic began to appear in the 11th century, with manuscripts preserved in Tibetan monasteries. The oral tradition, however, remained the dominant mode of transmission for much of its history. In these performances, the narrative is typically sung or chanted by a “Gesar bard” or “epic singer,” who often improvises parts of the story, tailoring it to the particular audience or occasion. The epic was passed down through generations, not only as a form of entertainment but also as a source of moral instruction and cultural pride.

    King Gesar, as portrayed in the epic, is depicted as a supernatural hero with divine powers. He battles against malevolent forces and brings peace and justice to his people. The story is filled with symbolism and allegory, reflecting themes of good versus evil, the struggle for justice, and the importance of wisdom and courage. The epic’s cultural significance grew as it spread to different ethnic communities, each of which contributed its own variations and perspectives on the narrative.

    Today, the Gesar epic remains an important cultural treasure, though it faces challenges in the modern world. The rise of digital media, urbanization and the decline of oral traditions have all affected the transmission of the epic. However, the epic is still performed in many regions, particularly in Tibetan and Mongolian communities, and there have been efforts to revitalize and preserve the tradition.

    Many local communities continue to celebrate the Gesar epic during festivals, religious ceremonies and other social gatherings. Professional epic singers, some of whom are well-known figures, continue to perform the epic at public events and festivals, drawing large audiences. 

    Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to document the various versions of the epic, ensuring that its linguistic and cultural diversity is preserved. Some academic institutions and cultural organizations have worked to promote the study and performance of the epic, providing training for new generations of epic performers. Initiatives to include the epic in educational curricula and to integrate it into cultural tourism have also helped raise awareness and foster greater appreciation for this heritage.

    UNESCO’s recognition of the Gesar epic tradition acknowledges its status as a masterpiece of oral literature. The epic, according to UNESCO, is a vital part of the region’s cultural identity, fostering social cohesion, moral values and a sense of belonging among the communities that perform it.

    UNESCO has praised the epic for its multifaceted role in preserving history, culture and language, saying the epic is not only an art form but also an essential means of transmitting traditional knowledge and wisdom across generations.

    In its recognition, UNESCO also emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts to preserve the tradition in the face of modernization. The inclusion of the Gesar epic on the Representative List is intended to ensure its preservation through documentation, promotion and the encouragement of new performances. It is hoped that such efforts will help ensure the continuity of this important cultural heritage and its transmission to future generations.

    Discover more treasures from China on UNESCO’s ICH list:

    • 2024: Spring Festival

    • 2022: Traditional tea processing

    • 2020: Wangchuan ceremony, taijiquan

    • 2018: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

    • 2016: Twenty-four solar terms

    • 2013: Abacus-based Zhusuan

    • 2012: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers

    • 2011: Shadow puppetry, Yimakan storytelling

    • 2010: Peking opera, acupuncture and moxibustion, wooden movable-type printing, watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, Meshrep

    • 2009: Yueju opera, Xi’an wind and percussion ensemble, traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper, traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon, Tibetan opera, sericulture and silk craftsmanship, Regong arts, Nanyin, Khoomei, Mazu belief and customs, Dragon Boat Festival, Manas, Craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocade, Xinjiang Uygur Muqam art, Hua’er, China engraved block printing technique, Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures, Chinese paper-cut, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese seal engraving, Grand song of Dong ethnic group, Traditional Li textile techniques, Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges, Farmers’ dance of China’s Korean ethnic group

    • 2008: Kunqu opera, Guqin, Urtiin Duu

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Lee Introduce OFF Act to Protect Farmers, Cut Government Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) ) reintroduced the bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act today to protect agricultural producers and cut government waste by making needed reforms to federal checkoff programs. Senators and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) cosponsored the legislation.

    “America’s farmers and ranchers deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their checkoff dollars are being spent,” said Senator Booker. “Checkoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers.”

    “America’s farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers’ money and play favorites with who they serve,” said Senator Lee. “These programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. The OFF Act will implement accountability measures to cut waste, enforce transparency, and ensure that our farmers get the services they pay for.”

    “We must change the agricultural checkoff programs that put money in the hands of corporate lobbyists at the expense of farmers and ranchers,” said Senator Warren. “The OFF Act will put commonsense safeguards in place to ensure accountability and transparency for our farmers.”

    The OFF Act is endorsed by organizations representing over 200,000 American farmers and ranchers.

    “We commend Senators Booker and Lee for their important work on fighting for fairness in the Beef Checkoff,” said United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper. “USCA looks forward to this bill preserving the original intent of the Checkoff and implementing more transparency and accountability. The Checkoff must work for cattle producers who both support and benefit from it.”

    “America’s farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,” said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. “We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It’s the USDA’s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act’s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.”

    “We are grateful to Senator Lee and Senator Booker for their work to bring accountability and transparency to the beef checkoff program and to recognize that the cattle and beef production systems in the USA are not one size fits all,” said Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director, American Grassfed Association. “The OFF act will allow cattle and beef producers of all production methods to be served by the dollars that they pay into the system.”

    “We applaud this bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Booker and Senator Lee to bring needed transparency and accountability to the antiquated beef checkoff program that has long been used to undermine the interests of America’s independent cattle producers,” said Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA.

    “We applaud the Members of Congress for their longterm leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “If we’re going to be forced to pay into USDA’s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.”

    “Scandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,” said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. “American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.” 

    Background:

    Under checkoff programs, farmers are required to make payments into the programs which are meant to increase demand for their products through marketing and research. Slogans like “Got Milk?” and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” are the result of checkoff program marketing campaigns that allowed agricultural producers to access large-scale advertising by promoting their product categories as a whole without individual branding. These campaigns are directed by multiple boards and are funded with the checkoff dollars collected from farmers.

    Unfortunately, some checkoff programs have exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior. One investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that a subcontractor organization had used checkoff program funding to award its employees unauthorized bonuses totaling approximately $302,000 – then requested further funds to remedy its poor financial situation. More recent audits reveal the USDA’s oversight of checkoff programs still needs improvement.

    The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would:

    • Prohibit checkoff boards with an annual assessment revenue of over $20 million from entering into contracts to carry out checkoff activities with parties that lobby to influence government agriculture policy.
      • Exempt institutions of higher education.
    • Prohibit board members and employees of checkoff programs from engaging in any act that may involve a conflict of interest.
    • Prohibit engagement in anticompetitive activity, deceptive practices, or the disparaging of other commodities.
    • Require that contracts entered into by the board be recorded to describe goods and services provided/costs incurred.
    • Require checkoff boards to publicize a transparent budget.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Inspector General of USDA.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Comptroller General.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Padilla, Schiff Slam Trump’s Outrageous, Partisan Decision to Slash Flood Prevention Funding for Blue States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Work plan released by Army Corps zeroes out hundreds of millions of dollars for key WA, CA waterway construction projects, among others—steering hundreds of millions to red states
    ***WATCH: WA, CA Senators hold press conference calling out Trump’s decision*** 
    Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate delegations from Washington state and California joined together to call out President Trump’s outrageous, nakedly-political decision to zero out critical funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects in blue states like Washington and California while steering hundreds of millions more to red states.
    U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) blasted the Trump administration’s plans, released late last week, detailing how the Army Corps intends to zero out all Army Corps construction funding for the state of California, as well as $500 million for the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state. California was set to receive well over $100 million in funding for projects, and the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state was set to receive $500 million—in the Corps’ fiscal year 2025 budget request, in the Senate’s bipartisan draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill, and even in House Republicans’ draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill. But the Trump administration—using the new discretion afforded by the yearlong CR House Republicans drafted that was signed into law—ignored the draft bills and instead apportioned funding on a nakedly political basis.
    On Tuesday, a top Army Corps official testifying before the House failed to provide any justification for the decision and noted that the ultimate decision rested with Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), headed by Russ Vought.
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this,” said Senator Murray. “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even House Republicans— and turning the Army Corps construction fund into his personal political slush fund. I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely, and I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shafting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more.”
    “The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma received $45.4 million less in this budget,” said Senator Cantwell. “This is a huge problem for the next five years. We want to stabilize our ports. We want the Army Corps to do their investment on important waterway issues. We want to grow economic opportunity at an age when the Pacific economy is continuing to grow. We want to be on the doorstep of that access and to be efficient about delivering it, not giving those jobs away to Canada and Mexico.”
    “When anyone takes the oath of office, even Donald Trump as President of the United States, you become the president for all Americans — not just for red states or for blue states, but for every state and every community equally,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet, since the minute Donald Trump returned to office, he’s set out to politicize the office he holds, now trying to take hundreds of millions of dollars in flood prevention funding away from the states that happened to not vote for him and redirect them to projects in states that supported his election. It’s absolutely wrong. In California, that means cutting every last dollar of funding that was allocated for certain flood control projects. For a president so obsessed with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse, I know where he can find it. He just has to look in the mirror. Communities up and down California — including farmers and farm workers in the Central Valley and Pajaro — will now be at a higher risk of flooding because Donald Trump’s playing politics with federal funding.”
    “Natural disasters don’t discriminate based on whether a state is red or blue, and the administration and Congress shouldn’t either when it comes to protecting communities from natural disasters. This puts us on a very dangerous path, a path where anything can be on the chopping block for a partisan reason,” said Senator Schiff. “Today, it’s funding for these projects. Tomorrow, it could be another form of funding meant to save lives. There will be a domino effect of threats aimed at blue states. When you’re elected to be president of the United States, you’re not a half president. You’re not president for only half of the country, not if you do the job right. These baseless attacks threaten millions of people from both parties whose lives are endangered by floods.”
    Overall, the Army Corps’ plan would steer roughly $258 million dollars more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million dollars in construction funding for blue states, relative to the fiscal year 2025 request—which, historically, has been fully funded and was fully funded in the draft fiscal year 2025 bills produced on a bipartisan basis in the Senate and by House Republicans in the House. Trump’s work plan steers two-thirds of all Army Corps construction funding to red states while the budget request and House and Senate bills would have split that funding roughly evenly to red and blue states.
    Supporting the Howard Hanson Dam has been a longtime priority for Senator Murray, and she has pressed the Army Corps to prioritize funding for the Dam for years. Under the last administration, Senator Murray was able to secure critical funding boosts for Howard Hanson Dam, including $220 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $50 million to begin construction of a new facility in the funding bills for fiscal year 2024 that Murray wrote as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Back in 2010, Murray secured $44 million in badly needed emergency funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Howard Hanson Dam. In the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill she cleared unanimously out of Committee last year, Senator Murray secured $500 million for the dam, which would support fish passage and address dam safety and water supply issues for cities like Tacoma and Covington. $500 million was also included in the House’s draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. The funding is needed to execute a construction option on the contract for the project, which would have allowed construction to begin in 2026 as scheduled.
    Congress typically provides specific, detailed instructions in its annual appropriations bills on how the Army Corps (and so many other agencies) must spend funding provided by Congress. Annual appropriations bills note exactly what Army Corps projects must be funded and at what levels. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year appropriations bills that deliver for communities across America, Republicans in Congress put forth a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) that failed to include hundreds of specific directives on how funding must be spent. For months, Senator Murray warned of the dangers of passing Republicans’ slush fund CR, noting, for example, that it would allow the administration to zero out funding for Army Corps projects. 
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this.
    “We are not going to stop fighting for our communities, and we are going to make every single person understand what is happening—and what it means for our states, for our communities, and for this democracy.
    “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. And ‘we’—isn’t just the four of us here. It includes our Republican counterparts and even our House colleagues.
    “But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even the House Republicans—and turning the Army Corps construction funds into his personal political slush fund.
    “To give you a sense of how blatantly political this is, consider the fact that the Corps’ budget request last year, the bipartisan Senate bill my committee passed unanimously, and the House bill—yes the Republican House bill—all split this funding just about evenly—every one of them split it just about 50-50 between red and blue states.
    “Now compare that to Trump’s partisan takeover. This thing is totally lopsided—roughly two-thirds goes to red states and one-third for blue states.
    “This is not how it should work—an out-of-control Republican president punishing blue states and rewarding his friends instead.
    “I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely. Trump slashed over $100 million for projects that reduce flooding for crying out loud! I mean who is pro-flooding?
    “And I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shifting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more. 
    “This is a project years in the making, and it is being slashed at the stroke of one careless pen, at the will of one corrupt President alone.
    “So why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need a safe water supply?
    “Why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need to be protected from floods?
    “It’s clear he simply doesn’t care.
    “But it’s actually worse than what I just laid out—because Trump is not just taking hundreds of millions of dollars from blue states for projects that we all agreed on. He is actually shoveling this money to projects that were not funded by either bill in either chambers—and that is nakedly political.
    “Suddenly, projects in or near his allies’ districts are funded.
    “So we need answers. And more than that, we need accountability.
    “Yesterday, a top Army Corps official testified before the House, and let me tell you: she had absolutely no acceptable—or even half-convincing—justification for these decisions.
    “In fact, she very explicitly stated that OMB—not the experts at the Corps—called the final shots.
    “That should raise everyone’s eyebrows—Russ Vought calling the shots for your constituents.
    “So we’re here to call this out—and we are going to fight tooth and nail to make this right, and make these critical projects whole.
    “I will tell you right now: I will not let defunding Howard Hanson Dam stand in any future bipartisan spending bill.
    “And, I will continue warning my colleagues about passing another partisan CR, which gave this administration that power to pick winners and losers like this in the first place.
    “I warned about exactly this before I voted against the CR—I warned that Trump could, and would, abuse the discretion in a slush fund
    CR to rob our communities. And now, here we are.
    “So every single member needs to pay close attention to what is happening here—and needs to speak out.
    “Because it may not be your state today but what happens when your governor disagrees with the President? What happens when you vote against him and your state loses out on funding?
    “Take my word—you don’t want to find out. We have to put a stop to this, and push back now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Investment Boost tax incentive takes effect immediately

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Investment Boost has passed into law, meaning a major new tax incentive to encourage businesses to invest, grow the economy, and lift wages is now in place, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
    “Investment Boost takes effect immediately. This means businesses that go out today and buy machinery or tools or equipment or vehicles or technology can immediately deduct 20 per cent of that cost from taxable income – meaning a much lower tax bill.
    “The feedback to Investment Boost has already been massive, with businesses telling us it will be a game-changer.
    “This change will benefit farmers, tradies, hairdressers, manufacturers, and other businesses by helping them invest in productivity improving assets. It is all designed to help firms become more competitive and, therefore, able to lift workers’ wages.
    “The Treasury and Inland Revenue estimate Investment Boost will improve economic growth, lifting New Zealand’s GDP by 1 per cent, wages by 1.5 per cent and our capital stock by 1.6 per cent over the next 20 years, with around half these gains expected in the first five years.
    “Investment Boost applies to new assets purchased in New Zealand as well as new and used assets imported from overseas. It includes commercial buildings but excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand.
    “There’s no cap on the value of eligible investments. All businesses, regardless of size, can benefit.
    “Investment Boost delivers more bang for buck than a company tax cut because it only applies to new investments, not those made in the past.
    “The policy will reward businesses who make new investments by reducing their tax bills in the year they purchase new assets. For example, with Investment Boost, an advanced manufacturing firm that purchases a $200,000 environmental test chamber would reduce its tax bill by more than $10,000 in the year of purchase.
    “After many difficult years, New Zealand is once again on a steady economic growth path, thanks to our careful economic management supporting lower inflation, lower interest rates, and more business-friendly policies.
    “Businesses have been knocked around by challenging local and international economic conditions. This tax incentive shows that we are backing them to succeed. 
    “Now is the right time to support New Zealand’s economic recovery by making it easier for businesses to invest, hire more workers, pay them better, and contribute more to our long-term prosperity. 
    “It is only through a strong economy we can create jobs, lift incomes and afford the frontline public services like schools, hospitals and Police that Kiwis deserve.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Who Attempted to Carjack a Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON – Kentrell Flowers, 19, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for the attempted gunpoint carjacking of an unmarked vehicle occupied by a Deputy U.S. Marshal. 

               The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Acting U.S. Marshal Ron Carter of the District Court for the District of Columbia, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

               Flowers pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, 2025, before District Court Judge Richard J. Leon to using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition to the 120-month prison term, Judge Leon ordered Flowers to serve five years of supervised release. 

               According to court documents, on July 5, 2024, at 1:17 a.m., two deputy U.S. Marshals were working a protective detail on the 2100 block of 11th Street, NW. The deputies were parked in separate unmarked vehicles when a silver minivan pulled up alongside one of them. A man, later identified as Flowers, got out of the van, approached the driver’s side-door, and pointed a pistol directly at the deputy marshal.

               The deputy marshal pulled out his own department-issued firearm. The deputy fired four shots through the side window, striking Flowers in the mouth. The second deputy marshal at the scene also fired on Flowers. 

               Flowers fell to the ground. The deputy marshals provided first aid, while the silver minivan driven by the unknown accomplice fled the scene. A second unknown suspect ran away on foot. Flowers was treated at a local hospital.

               Law enforcement recovered Flowers’.40 caliber Smith & Wesson which was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. 

               This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared English and Emory V. Cole.

    24cr331

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Highlighting Safety Measures to Protect Nation’s Food Infrastructure

    Source: US FBI

    “Wherever in the country you may live—from California to Nebraska to Georgia to points in between—the cyber risk and the national security risk for farms and ranches and our food processing facilities is growing exponentially,” said Gene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, which partnered with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to host the August 12 symposium. “The threats are evolving. They’re becoming more complex and more severe.”

    Examples shared during the daylong event included ransomware attacks that cripple operations, network hacks that take control of systems, and the theft of seeds worth millions of dollars in intellectual property and research.

    Kowel said the FBI is monitoring four major threats to the nation’s agriculture sector, which—like water, power, and transportation—is considered part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The threats include ransomware attacks, malicious software (malware) from foreign adversaries, theft of data and intellectual property, and bioterrorism.

    Foreign actors—most notably the People’s Republic of China—are actively seeking ways to disrupt the United States’ agriculture industry, Kowel said. He urged farmers, cattle ranchers, and others to add cyber hygiene to their long list of chores. Cyber hygiene includes basic steps like using multi-factor authentication to access networks and backing up critical data.

    “We all know that in agriculture today, almost all of our data is stored in the cloud,” Kowel said. “Almost all of our complex machinery is connected to the internet, connected to the cloud, so protecting that control and protecting that data is critical.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Farmington Resident Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor as Part of DOJ/FBI Operation Restore Justice

    Source: US FBI

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Farmington, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    The two-count Indictment named Nathan Fike, 40, as the sole defendant.

    According to the Indictment presented to the Court, on or about October 4, 2023, Fike distributed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The government further alleges that, on or about February 9, 2024, Fike knowingly possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Indictment occurred in connection with Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated, nationwide enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators that, as announced today by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders over a five-day period. The coordinated effort was executed by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country (read the Operation Restore Justice news release here).

    The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Receives 22-Year Prison Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Child

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the prolonged sexual abuse of a minor over nearly a decade in the Navajo Nation.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, between May 16, 2009, and May 15, 2012, Cedric Martinez, 31, engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a minor victim, who was under the age of 12, at a residence in Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, within the Navajo Nation.

    Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to fifteen years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ontario County Woman Sentenced for HIPAA Violation

    Source: US FBI

    ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tonya D’Agostino, 53, of Farmington, NY, who pleaded guilty to HIPAA: unlawfully obtaining/disclosing individually identifying health information, was sentenced to serve one year probation by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. D’Agostino was also ordered to pay $13,410.42 in restitution.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on March 23, 2023, D’Agostino mailed a USPS Priority Mail parcel to an individual in Medina, NY, which contained individually identifiable health information of four individuals. D’Agostino did not have authorization to obtain or disclose the individually identifiable health information. She did this in an attempt to obtain $216,000 from the individual who received the parcel.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Naomi Gruchacz.           

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Computer Programmer Convicted for Helping Run One of the Biggest Illegal Television Show Streaming Services in the United States

    Source: US FBI

    After a two-week trial, a federal jury in Las Vegas yesterday convicted a Cuban citizen and U.S. permanent resident for helping operate an illegal streaming service with one of the largest quantities of infringing works. The defendant, who was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, is the eighth and final defendant to be convicted in the case.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Yoany Vaillant, 43, worked as a computer programmer for Jetflicks, an online, subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas that permitted users to stream and, at times, download copyrighted television episodes without the permission of relevant copyright owners. At one point, Jetflicks claimed to have 183,285 different television episodes, far more than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or any other licensed streaming service. At Jetflicks, Vaillant worked directly with Kristopher Dallmann and Jared Jaurequi, who were convicted of criminal copyright offenses by a different jury earlier this year.

    According to his resume, Vaillant had 15 years of computer programming experience when he started at Jetflicks and knew 27 computer languages. During the four-and-a-half months that Vaillant worked at Jetflicks he made significant contributions to the operation of the service, including fixing issues affecting the automated downloading, processing, syncing, uploading, and streaming of Jetflicks’ inventory of infringing television episodes.

    Evidence at trial showed that Vaillant and his co-conspirators scoured the internet to find infringing television programs from pirate sites around the world — including some of the biggest sites specializing in infringing content such as The Pirate Bay, RARBG, altHUB, and Nzbplanet — using automated software and computer scripts that ran nonstop. Vaillant and his co-conspirators reproduced hundreds of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization and streamed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the United States, often providing episodes to subscribers the day after the shows originally aired on television. The vast scale of Jetflicks’ piracy affected every significant copyright owner of a television program in the United States and resulted in millions of dollars of losses to the U.S. television show and streaming industries.

    Vaillant was one of eight defendants indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2019 for running Jetflicks. In that case, Vaillant’s co-defendant Darryl Polo, a computer programmer, pleaded guilty to four criminal copyright counts and one money laundering count, which related to Jetflicks as well as another illegal streaming site he operated. Co-defendant Luis Villarino, also a computer programmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement at Jetflicks. The court sentenced Polo to four years and nine months in prison and Villarino to one year and one day in prison.

    In February 2022, the court transferred the case to the District of Nevada for trial. The court in the District of Nevada subsequently severed Vaillant’s case from the other remaining five defendants — Dallmann, Jaurequi, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, and Peter Huber — and those defendants were tried in Las Vegas last June. Dallmann ran the Jetflicks operation with assistance from Jaurequi and Courson; Garcia was in charge of customer support and helped obtain television show content; and Huber provided computer programming services. A jury found all five defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, and Dallmann was also found guilty of three additional counts of criminal copyright infringement and two counts of money laundering by concealment. This was the largest internet piracy case by volume of infringed works — and first illegal streaming case — ever to go to trial.

    The court will sentence Dallmann, Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, Huber, and Vaillant on Feb. 3 and 4, 2025. The court will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.

    Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti, Trial Attorney Michael Christin, and Acting Deputy Chief Christopher S. Merriam of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

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